In a practical display of solidarity to His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma’s show of love for humanity, the Imo State House Of Assembly has commended the Governor of Imo State for his quick intervention and response to rescue Imo citizens who were held hostage in far away Ghana, in the hands of child traffickers.
Moving the Motion, the Member Representing Nkwerre State Constituency, Hon Barrister Nze Chisom Ojukwu, has described Governor Hope Uzodimma’s swift rise to the occasion to rescue Imo daughters who were obviously stranded in Ghana, as not only fatherly but has proved beyond all reasonable doubt that the Governor is very desirous of protecting all Imo citizens, irrespective of social status or political leaning.
Further describing the People’s Governor as a Man of capacity, the only voice from Nkwerre State Constituency also noted that the wife of the Governor, Her Excellency Barrister (Mrs) Chioma Uzodimma, in her motherly disposition and usual heartwarming manner, rose to the occasion and promptly responded to the ugly situation by supporting His Excellency who sent a high powered delegation to Ghana, led by the prolific lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House Of Assembly, Rt Honourable Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Nkechi Ugwu, to not only rescue our girls, but to also bring them back home, to the warm embrace of the first family, who have concluded plans to rehabilitate them.
Hon Chisom Ojukwu, who is also the House Committee Chairman On Budget And Appropriation, while calling on his Honourable Colleagues to lend their voices to the Motion of urgent State importance, proudly stated that Governor Uzodimma should rightly be addressed as Omepuru Umu Nwogbenye.
The Motion which was seconded by the Chief Whip and Member Representing Oru-East State Constituency, Hon Chigozie Nwaneri, was supported by ALL Honourable Members present during Plenary.
In their different contributions to support the popular Motion, the following lawmakers were united in expressing gratitude to God for giving Ndimo a Governor, such as Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma at this point, and in these challenging times :
The Majority leader and Member Representing Owerri West State Constituency, Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi,, who described it as a welcome development said, ” The Governor rose to the occasion by rescuing our girls. This is commendable. Our Governor also ensured that girls from Plateau State were part of the contingent to be brought home”..
For Hon Johnson Duru, who is the Member Representing Ideato South State Constituency, “our girls were mischievously trafficked to Ghana, but graciously, our Governor rose to the occasion. I thank the Chief Sponsor of the Motion for bringing it. Our Governor has not only rescued these girls but has decided to rehabilitate them. This is a job well done “.
For the Deputy Minority leader and Member Representing Owerri Municipal State Constituency, Hon Clinton Amadi, “I am filled with joy. The quick intervention of the Governor is highly commendable. This quick response has made the people of Imo State to be proud of the Governor, who had already promised to reintegrate and rehabilitate them”.
For the Minority leader and Member Representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie “we were shocked to see these girls on social media, confessing to what is abominable. Our Governor has done well and must be commended. Other States have quietly queued into what our Capacity Governor has done “.
For Hon Dr Henry Agbasonu, Member Representing Ezinihitte Mbaise State Constituency, “I commend the Mover of the Motion, Ndimo are proud at the quick intervention of His Excellency and his Amiable wife. When I saw the video, I shed tears. The Governor and his wife have demonstrated parenting”.
For Hon Kelechi Ofurum, and Member Representing Owerri North State Constituency, “The Perpetrators must be brought to book. Child trafficking is a heinous crime, and should not be handled with kid gloves. Majority of the girls are from Ideato Nation, with three of them from same parents. This is wickedness and should be condemned. However, I commend the Governor for being the true representative of the people”.
For Hon Okey Udeze, Member Representing Ideato North State Constituency. “This is a serious slap on our faces. The people of Ideato Nation are not happy over the development. However, we thank our dear Governor for his swift response. We also commend the wife of the Governor, who incidentally is our daughter and sister. This matter has a direct influence from the family. Everything should be done to protect this from reoccurring”.
For Hon Johnleoba Iheoha, Member Representing Ikeduru State Constituency, “I salute the mover of the laudable Motion. More importantly, our capacity and dynamic Governor should be given a 21gun salute”.
For Hon Sam Ikechukwu Osuji, the Member Representing Isiala Mbano State Constituency, “this is not the best of news from Ghana concerning our girls. It shows failure of parenthood. However, I thank our dear Governor for his show of love and display of human kindness. Sending our Deputy Speaker, Rt Honourable Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Nkechi Ugwu is an indication that he knew what he wanted. I commend their speeches in Ghana. They represented us well. Our Governor made us more proud by equally rescuing girls from other states in the country. This showed one thing : love for humanity. This Motion is therefore apt, timely and homely. Thank you”.
For Hon Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie, “His Excellency has demonstrated and, indeed, shown he is a good father. Within 24 hours of the breakout of the news on social media, the Governor demonstrated he is a leader for all. This is in his character. His wife has countlessly also shown she is an uncommon mother. I thank her specifically. The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu, has by leading the delegation and the speed with which he went to Ghana, with his team, shown he is a man of immense capacity”.
For Hon Ikenna Ihezuo, Member Representing Orlu State Constituency, “I wept when I saw and watched the video of our girls on social media. Some of them are from Orlu. Perhaps, they were lured to Ghana, with a promise of giving them jobs, education etc. Child trafficking is a serious crime, and we must get to the bottom of it, using this case. Our Governor has shown he is a leader. His wife has also shown she is not only beautiful but very intelligent and committed to the welfare of Imo citizens. This is not her first time of showing her true motherly colour. I am impressed. I thank the Deputy Speaker for leading the delegation”.
For Hon James Uba Esile, Member Representing Onuimo State Constituency, “Imo State is blessed with a responsible and responsive governor. Our Governor is one who sees beyond the ordinary. I thank him. Child trafficking is an abuse, and we condemn it. This is modern slavery, and something urgent should be done with this particular case. However, the reactions of Imo citizens on the Governor’s swift response to rescue our girls in Ghana is commendable. It is a validation that Governor Uzodimma is truly loved in Imo state, hence he won 27/27 in the last election in November 2023. We also thank the first lady. Let us therefore work hard to see that this act does not repeat itself again. May God bless our governor”.
For Rt Honourable Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh, Member Representing Obowo State Constituency, “Obowo girls are not involved, but I rise to commend the Governor for rising to satisfy the demands of his office. His Excellency’s first job is to protect lives and property, and this he has done. The first lady has also demonstrated who she is. She is a mother indeed. Borrowing from Luke Chapter 15 verse 4, our Governor ensured he sent the delegation to go to Ghana to look for and rescue our girls, while we were all here in the State watching. This is spiritual. Also, Security agencies should take the advantage of this matter to know that there is a cartel behind this trans-border child trafficking. The security agencies, both here in the State and at the Federal level should do everything possible to crack and dismember the cartel behind this crime. We commend the Deputy Speaker, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and of course, the Eze Igbo in Ghana, who incidentally is from Nwangele in Imo State, and finally, our sister, Hon Abike Dabiri”.
Mr Speaker, before ruling, also said that the Chairman of Nigerians in diaspora, Ghana, who first brought this news to the fore, should also be highly commended because without his help,the plight of the girls wouldn’t have been known
Fully satisfied with the contributions from his colleagues, the Speaker of Imo State House Of Assembly, Rt Honourable Chike Olemgbe, put it to vote and it was unanimously adopted. Thereafter, he Ruled as follows :
“Be It Resolved By This Honourable House To Commend Our Darling Governor And His Wife, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma And Her Excellency Barrister Mrs Chioma Uzodimma For Rescuing The Young Girls From The Hands Of Human Traffickers In Far Away Ghana”.
The Clerk was, thereafter, directed to communicate the Resolution of the House to His Excellency the Governor.
Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
11/06/2024
