We Mocked Abia, But Imo Is Now The Shame Of South-East — Chima Amadi

…Says A Failed Leader Cannot Produce Successful Successor

…Warns Imo People Worth More Than N1,000, Cup of Rice

Philanthropist and founder of The Mazi Organization (TMO), Dr. Chima Amadi, said Imo State has become “a shame” among South-East states owing to six years of deception, hardship and failed leadership under the Hope Uzodimma administration.

Amadi, popularly known as Mazi Gburugburu, passed the verdict on Wednesday during the Action People’s Party (APP) rally at his country home in Umuekune community, Ngor Okpala Council Area of Imo State.

During the rally monitored by THE WHISTLER, Amadi was officially unveiled as a member of the party and presented with his membership card.

The billionaire entrepreneur told the gathering that the state, whose residents once mocked Abia State for being underdeveloped, now trails behind all its neighbours in development.

“A few years ago, we used to mock those of our brothers from Abia State. Can anybody in Imo State say anything now to anybody from Abia State? That tells you that if you elect a good person or good people, good things will happen. Just behind us here is Enugu State. You can see the wonderful things happening in Enugu State. We can’t even compare with Ebonyi anymore. Ebonyi has gone far away from us. Imo State has become a shame,” Amadi declared.

The philanthropist attributed the alleged underdevelopment of Imo in the past six years to deliberate deception and corruption.

“Why do we need change in Imo State? Because in the last six years, Imo State has experienced the worst form of deception. Because in the last six years, we have experienced the kind of hardship that nobody should experience,” he stated.

Speaking further, Amadi alleged that the insecurity has persisted in the state because the current administration was profiting from it.

“The reason that it has persisted is not because there is nothing the people governing us can do. The reason is because they are benefiting from the insecurity, because if they are not benefiting from the insecurity, I wonder why someone whose responsibility is to protect lives and property would just be silent and do nothing and allow people to live in fear,” he said.

He claimed that about five local governments in Imo State have been deserted by residents, who have become “refugees, even in their own state,” yet the areas report high voter turnout during elections.

“However, on election day, these local governments that people have run away from will post more voters than even places where something is happening. The reason is simple, because somebody is benefiting politically from insecurity. The reason is simple, because somebody is benefitting financially from insecurity,” Amadi explained.

On education and healthcare, the new APP chieftain lamented that “The educational system in our state has become so bastardised that many of you have stopped sending your children to public schools. Many of your children now attend substandard private schools where they charge you exorbitant fees just to teach your children rubbish.”

Amadi further claimed that many public primary schools now have just one teacher, forcing parents to send their children to substandard private schools.

“What is more worrisome is that those who have destroyed the public educational system are the owners of private schools. So, the destruction of public education is deliberate. And what is equally more worrying is that every year, billions of Naira are allocated in the budget to education. Where is this money? Where are these monies? I know where they are. One man has pocketed them,” Amadi alleged.

On healthcare, he said: “When we were growing up, we used to go to different health care centres in different local governments. These health care centres, some of them may not have doctors, but you will see some nurses in those hospitals. But today, those health care centres have all collapsed.”

He appealed to voters to shun vote-buying in the 2027 gubernatorial election.

“And do you know the reason why they are emboldened in taking your money? Because they know that there is nothing you can do about it. Because they know that come election day, your value is just 1,000 Naira and a cup of rice. The rice that they even share these days is not even original. Leave that rice for three weeks, and it will spoil. So your worth is just 1,000 Naira. The money they have pocketed, they use to buy you off. And then you suffer for four more years,” he said.

Amadi also addressed the speculation about Governor Uzodimma’s alleged succession plans. He wondered how an alleged failed administration could produce a successful successor.

“Do you think that somebody who has failed will bring somebody who is successful? Do you think that the snake will give birth to anything that is not long? My brothers, my sisters, if you are not tired of this, my people and I are tired. And it is time to give this government a red card,” he declared.

“They have only one strategy. Just one strategy. And that strategy is to write results. And that strategy is to take ballot boxes and run away. And that strategy is to rig elections. But we have several strategies. Our strategy is with the people. Our strategy is with you.”

Amadi stressed that his entry into the APP signals the start of a movement.

“Today is not just an ordinary day. We are not just welcoming new members into our party. We are starting a movement. A movement that will lead Imo into the El Dorado that we all desire and contribute to the future of Nigeria,” he said.

“Let me state without any apologies. The Action People’s Party is not a platform for hesitation. We are not a platform for indecision and personal aggrandisement. We are a platform for disciplined individuals. We are a platform for people who want to make sacrifices for the betterment of our state. We are a result-oriented platform.

“Governance is not rocket science. If you elect good people, good things will happen. It’s as simple as that. And yet they tell us that the moon will shine on that day. Any moon that will shine like the one that is shining in Imo State now, please let there be an eclipse and cover it in Jesus’ name.”

Earlier, Prince Uchenna Nnamdi, the National Chairman of APP, welcomed Amadi to the party.

Nnamdi described Amadi as “a man of the people, a man of impeccable character, a man of high value and vision, highly educated.”

The rally was attended by members of the National Working Committee, State Working Committee, Director General of The Mazi Organisation, Honourable Henry Onwukwe, and traditional rulers, amongst others.