strong>Imo gov signs 29 bills into law within two years
Candidate of Action Alliance in the 2019 Imo State governorship election, Uche Nwosu, has asked Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to arrest Governor Hope Uzodimma’s aides, who have been indicted in his ‘arrest’ and invasion of St. Peter’s Anglican Church.
Hooded policemen attached to the Government House, Owerri, had ‘arrested’ Nwosu during the outing service in honour of his late mother, Jemaimah Nwosu.
The policemen, who were earlier mistaken for unknown gunmen, dispersed worshippers after shooting sporadically in the church before taking Nwosu away.
Chief Principal Security Officer to the governor, Shaba Adamu, allegedly coordinated the operation, which has been roundly condemned by Nigerians, just as the governor’s aides were indicted in the invasion of the church and Nwosu’s purported arrest.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, Nwosu disclosed that the indicted aides were inside a black Ford utility vehicle, while the hooded policemen attacked the church.
He said he would reveal their names as soon as the police finish their investigation, adding that they were also among the squad that attacked former Governor Rochas Okorocha last year.
MEANWHILE, Uzodimma, yesterday, said the state government, under his watch, hadsigned no fewer that 29 bills into law since he assumed office on January 15, 2021.
Uzodimma became governor on January 14, 2020, when the Supreme Court, in a judgment sacked former Governor Emeka Ihedioha after upturning his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2019 poll.
The governor was subsequently, sworn-in on January 15, 2020 at the Heroes Square, Owerri. In a statement issued at the weekend by Special Adviser to Uzodimma on Public Enlightenment, Eze Ugochukwu, he revealed that the governor had always been inclined to a friendly administration through the consent approach.
His words: “Governor Uzodimma has consistently sought the consent of the Imo people though their representatives in the House of Assembly before engaging in any state policy or programmes.
“So far, the governor has signed 29 bills into law under his administration in less than two years in office.” The bills passed from 2020 till date are: The Imo State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law No.1 of 2020; Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 2 of 2020; Environmental Transformation Commission (Amendment) Law No. 3 of 2020; COVID-19 and other Dangerous Infectious Diseases Prevention and Eradication Law No. 4 of 2020; Waste Management Agency Law No. 5 of 2020; Land Use Charge Law No. 6 of 2020 and University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Aboh-Okpala (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 7 of 2020.
Others are: “The Governors Pension and Privileges (Repeal) Law No. 8 of 2020; Oil (Licensing and Control) Law No. 9 of 2020, Traditional Rulers Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters (Amendment) Law No. 10 of 2020; Polytechnic (Amendment) Law No. 11 of 2020; 2020 Appropriation (Review) Law No. 12 of 2020 and Bureau for the Co-ordination of Donor Assisted Projects (Establishment) Law No. 13 of 2020, among others.
