Governor Hope Uzodinma has assured Ndi Imo that his administration has received trailers of bags of rice to the state from the Federal Government approved palliative under President Tinubu led administration.
The Governor while speaking at a reception organized for the First Lady of Nigeria Senator Dr Oluremi Tinubu CON, made it clearly known to Imolites that a bag of rice will henceforth be sold at 40,000 naira only.
At the time of filling this report this Monday morning by 9News Nigeria, Imolites were observed to be on keen interest to receiving the practicability of the 40,000 naira 50kg bags of rice to be circulated in the state inline with the directives of the FG mandating all the Governors to distribute the FG Rice palliative to Nigerians.
Regrettedly, the 50Kg bags of rice that is supposedly sold at N40,000 per bag at Press Time is no where to be seen across the state while the selling price of Rice across Nigerian market has remained the same N120,000 and above.
Governor Hope Uzodinma had earlier acknowledged that he has received some trailer loads of bags of Rice to be sold at 40,000 Naira in Imo state.
Recall that Governor Uzodinma stated this at the visit of Her Excellency Dr Oluremi Tinubu to the state on Friday while she was addressing the Monarchs.
In addition to this wonderful state working visit of her Excellency Dr Oluremi Tinubu, to Imo state, Governor Hope Uzodinma has described Oluremi Tinubu as the best First Lady he has ever known in politics.
At a preliminary thank you visit to Imo monarchs in Owerri Friday afternoon, First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has said that the glory of the country is by the corner, hence all hands must be on deck to realise the full potentials of the Nation.
She said though challenging times are here with Nigerians, they are not situations that cannot be surmounted if they show sincere commitment.
The First Lady spoke on Friday in Owerri where she was treated to a rousing reception by traditional rulers at the Eze Imo Palace in Owerri, ahead of the conferment of honorary doctorate degree on her by the Federal University of Technology Owerri Saturday, December 7, 2024.
Mrs Tinubu spoke on a day Governor Hope Uzodinma described her as the best First Lady he has come across since more than 40 years ago he joined politics.
Addressing the galaxy of traditional rulers from the 27 local government areas of Imo State and their Ugoezes as well as other government functionaries and other leaders, Dr Oluremi Tinubu hinted that she was also in the State to thank the monarchs for the support they extended to her and her husband, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before, during and after the election that brought them in office in 2023.
“Remember that when I came here last year, with the wife of the Vice President, we told you we will come back. Now, we are back, and we have come to thank you. Nigeria will be better because God is with us, and this Christmas will be sweet.”
She commended Imo people for their sense of tolerance and emphasised the need for Nigerians to live together in peace wherever they have found themselves, noting that it was a thing of joy that Heads of the Yoruba and Arewa in Imo came out happily to join their Igbo counterparts to receive them.
Mrs. Tinubu further commended the leadership quality of Governor Hope Uzodinma which she said has left Imo State more developed in all facets of human endeavour. “We saw the roads while coming. Beautiful roads, and your Governor is doing very well.”
She however encouraged Nigerians to devoted their time to hard work and to the training of their children, saying,” hard work does not kill, rather it pay.
“We should inculcate the spirit of hard work in our children as well as take agriculture seriously. Nigeria is blessed and we need to unlock the potential of the blessing with hard work and commitment.”
Addressing the audience, Governor Uzodinma said he has not seen a dedicated, compassionate, generous First Lady like Sen Tinubu since he started playing politics more than 40 years ago.
The Governor told the First Lady to feel at home in Imo with her entourage because the love which Imo people have for her and her husband is genuine.
Governor Uzodinma used the opportunity to remind the audience that President Tinubu’s government was doing a lot to make Nigeria a better place for all, noting that the circumstances that have brought difficult situation in the country are global and surmountable.
He therefore urged the entto continue with their support for President Tinubu whom he said, has been working tirelessly to surmount the economic problems the country is facing currently with the removal of fuel subsidy and the wars in Ukraine and other parts of the world.
Drawing from Mrs. Tinubu’s earlier promise to the monarchs that the year’s Christmas will be sweet, Governor Uzodinma said that the State has received some trailer loads of rice that will require Imo people to buy a bag of rice at N40,000 during this Yuletide season.
Uzodinma commended the Federal government for her interventions in different areas where Imo State sought for her assistance, and the First Lady, for “adopting” his wife, Chioma, as her daughter.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers cum Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, Eze EC Okeke, thanked the First Lady for her thoughtfulness in fulfilling her promise to come to thank the monarchs.
Eze Okeke also thanked her for taking the Governor’s wife as her own daughter while her husband, President Tinubu adopts Governor Uzodinma as his son.
Eze Imo assured the First Lady that Imo people will continue to support the government of her husband, insisting that the President is doing his best to change the narrative of the country for the better.
Eze Okeke also congratulated the First Lady on the honour she will receive from FUTO on Saturday.
On the entourage of the First Lady were the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hajia Yusuf Abbas, wife of the Governor of Imo State, Chief Barr. Chioma Uzodinma and her colleagues, wives ministers among others.
PHOTO: L-R: Wife of the Speaker, Hajia Fatima Tajudeen Abass, Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, the First Lady, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, Eze Imo/Chairman, South East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Eze E C Okeke, his wife, Ugoeze Augustina, Governor Hope Uzodinma, his wife, Chioma when Mrs. Tinubu and her entourage were received at the Eze Imo’s Palace in Owerri, Friday before she proceeded to the convocation ceremony at FUTO Owerri on Saturday.
Since Governor Hope Uzodinma has stated that 50kg trailers of rice have arrived Imo State through the help of Federal Government to reduce hunger which is ravaging the country, Imo people are curious to receive the goodnews against looming hijacks from some political camps. The rice if well distributed will automatically fall the price of rice in Imo markets are citizens will ever be thankful to President Tinubu and his team .
-Princely Onyenwe reporting
