Dr Macdonald Ebere, Ex-Imo APC Chairman
By Gregg Mmaduakolam
Imo Gov. Hope Uzodinma has praised the immediate past state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Macdonald Ebere, for his stewardship, describing him as one of the best politicians in the state.
Uzodinma made the remark at the Grand Civic Reception organised by Owerri Nchi Ise in honour of their son, Dr Macdonald Ebere in Owerri.
He said that Ebere served the party well as a state chairman, saying he conducted the affairs of APC well during his tenure.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Macdonald Ebere is one of our best. It is in the interest of equity and political stability which makes it very necessary that position should go around that made us to see the need to make him the state chairman of our great party.
“I am very delighted to associate with one of our own, Sir Macdonald Ebere PhD and his family for his good stewardship as the state chairman of the greatest political party in Africa.
“With the goodness of the Lord and with wisdom of President Bola Tinubu, he was also appointed as the Chairman of Federal College of Fisheries, Lagos.
“Indeed, I am very happy, whatever we may think or reason, the only reason and purpose that we are here today is to join the Ebere family to thank Almighty God for the good work God has done for him,” Uzodinma said.
The governor also thanked all who identified with Ebere at the event, adding that the ex-APC chairman is not just his political friend, but the wife is my little cousin.
“So, my relationship with him is organic, whatever that is, what doing is what doing well,” he said.
The governor used the medium to warn individuals stealing the state government’s lands within the Owerri Capital City to desist from such acts.
He said, “if Owerri looks good, it means Imo is good and if Owerri doesn’t look good, that means Imo is not good.”
Uzodinma explained that the state had a Development Plan approved by the House of Assembly for the next 25 years, adding that it was the trajectory of development in the state.
“My government cannot be distracted, the people that will sing the chorus are here those that will criticise are here. What is important by the common denominator is that we are all united in agreement that Imo must be good,” he said.
“I only beg you Owerri indigenes to allow us to develop Owerri. We want to make Owerri to be the capital of Imo, you didn’t choose to become those who will be taking us to court over land.”
In an address, Dr Macdonald Ebere, thanked Uzodinma for many infrastructural developments he did in Owerri.
He urged the governor to assist the indigenes to develop Ugwuegbema area as a tourism centre.
According to him, the place is where the Owerri indigenes originated from and it will serve as their cultural identity and place of tourism if developed.
He added that the community had spent more than N80 million for the tourism project at the place, regretting that for about two weeks now work had stopped due to lack of money.
He also extended invitation to the governor to attend Oru Owerri Cultural Festival that comes up at the end of July this year as he had not attended the event since his six years as a governor of the state.
Ebere, thanked Uzodinma for his assistance in his education, political tutelage and all the assistance he rendered to him since 2003.
He equally listed road constructions, Digital City, Flyover, Control Post Roundabout, appointments, ICC and New Technology as some of the things governor did in Owerri.
Earlier Mr Ernest Ibejiakor, Imo Commissioner for Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals, expressed his appreciation to Uzodinma on what he had done and is still doing for Owerri people and Dr Macdonald Ebere in particular.
He also expressed his thanks to President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ebere, the chairman Federal College of Fisheries, Lagos.
On their part, Mr Cyril Emeh, Chairman of Oha Owerri Nchi Ise, on behalf of his other colleagues blessed Dr Macdonald Ebere for his stewardship in the country.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu
