…Swears In 12 others, 27 LG Caretaker Bosses
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has sworn-in thirteen commissioners with a lawyer, Mrs. Ngozi Njoku emerging as the commissioner for Health.
The governor also swore in 27 caretaker chairmen of the 27 local government areas of the state as well as an Economic Adviser.
Mrs. Njoku, a former commissioner for women affairs in the state, is the current director-general of Imo Foundation. She would also oversee the ministry of women affairs which had been merged with that of health.
Information available to 247ureports.com has it that the governor decided to merge the ministry of health with that of women affairs after concessioning the hospitals and community health centres owned by the state government.
Governor Okorocha, who presided at the swearing in ceremony of the new commissioners, said that the assigning of portfolios was done to put square pegs in square holes, describing that the new commissioners as the bridge between the old and the new generation politicians in the state
He commended the immediate-past commissioners for sustaining the noble ideals of the Rescue Mission Government in the state, explaining that they were dropped because of other considerations that had nothing to do with failure, and urged the new commissioners to work hard to justify their appointments.
The governor, also told them to take credit for the things they have done, and not for what others had done, adding that they should add more feathers to the flying wings of the state.
His words “Imo state would be celebrating her 40th anniversary in a month time. And there is a popular saying that a fool at 40 is a fool forever, but to the glory of God, Imo state is not foolish at 40 but wise at 40 because of the giant strides of the Rescue Mission Government. Imo security is at its best 4 years and 8 months down the line. Imo was known as a kidnapping haven but now, Imo is considered as one of the safest states in the country, courtesy of the Rescue Mission Government.”
He continued, “All appointees are meant to tighten their seatbelts with a view to making Imo better. All hands must be on deck to sustain the gains made in education, security, infrastructure and other facets of the administration too numerous to mention. The appointees should improve on the gains so far recorded by the Rescue Mission Government”.
“I want also to call for attitudinal change amongst Imolites, especially now that Imo is approaching 40. And I want to also ask all including Imo workers to queue into the change mantra of the state government by making sacrifices that will help the generation of Imo unborn.”
He continued, “My quest to make Imo better is not for personal aggrandizement or riches but honest desire to change the landscape of the state. As a result there is urgent need for Imo people to cooperate with me in moving the artisans to a place, relocating the markets that are not well positioned to make the state attractive to tourists and investors.”
The commissioners sworn-in with their portfolios were Chief Law Eburuo (Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Planning), Barr. Ngozi Njoku, (Health, Women Affairs & Social Development), Chief (Mrs.) Getrude Oduka (Education, Science and Environment), Barr. M.O. Nlemadim (Attorney-General & commissioner for Justice), Hon. Chidi Ibeh (Information, Youths & Sports), Hon. Udo Agoha (Agric & Natural Resources), Dr. Vitalis Ajumber (International Resources & Pension Matters).
Others are; Barr. Obinna Mbata (Finance), Barr. Emma Ibediro (Local govrnemnt & Rural Development), Barr. Ifeanyi Araraume Jnr., (commerce, Land and tourism), Chief Innocent Eke (Community government, culture & Traditional Affairs), Hon. Rodney Ajaelu, (Public Safety & Public Utilities), Chief (Mrs.) Josephine Udoji, (Works & Transport).
Chief Ikechukwu Njoku was also sworn-in as the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor.
It would be recalled that Okorocha has run the local government system in the state with caretaker chairmen in the last five years with no intention to conduct local government elections.
