By Bismarck Udo Nnanna
The Director-General ,Directorate for Support Groups, Diaspora Affairs, Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Imo State, Comrade (Dr.) Bryan Diamond Agu, has called on Ndi-Imo in the Diaspora to rally support for the governorship aspiration of former governor Emeka Ihedioha ahead of the 2027 elections, describing his previous administration as a model of institutional governance and developmental clarity.
Agu made the call in a statement issued on behalf of the Imo ADC support groups for Diaspora Affairs, Civil Society, and NGOs, where he highlighted the strategic importance of Imo citizens living across the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of Africa to the state’s political and economic future.
According to him, Ndi-Imo in the Diaspora have distinguished themselves globally in medicine, engineering, academia, finance, technology, and human resource management, and possess the capacity to contribute meaningfully to governance and development at home.
He noted that their exposure to structured economies and efficient institutions places them in a unique position to identify leadership with the competence to drive sustainable growth in the state.
The ADC chieftain said the seven-month administration of Ihedioha between May 29, 2019, and January 14, 2020, demonstrated a commitment to transparency, fiscal discipline, and institutional reforms, adding that the introduction of the Treasury Single Account, Central Billing System, payroll automation, and the strengthening of due process mechanisms restored accountability in public finance.
He further stated that the reforms earned Imo recognition by the National Bureau of Statistics as the least corrupt state at the time, a development he said boosted investor confidence and signalled a shift from opaque governance to a system-driven administration.
Agu explained that the “Rebuild Imo” agenda of the former governor focused on reconnecting economic corridors through strategic road rehabilitation, opening up rural communities under the Rural Access and Mobility Project for agro-industrial development, and repositioning agriculture as a business venture rather than subsistence.
He added that reforms in the health sector, water and sanitation, the civil service, and the ease of doing business framework were all geared towards building a productive population and attracting both local and foreign investments.
The Director-General described the January 2020 judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which removed Ihedioha from office, as an interruption of a developmental trajectory rather than just a change in political leadership.
The DG of lmo ADC Support Groups commended the former governor for not defecting to the ruling party after the court verdict, saying the decision underscored his belief in democratic institutions and the sanctity of the people’s mandate.
The Media guru who has taken the gospel of why Ihedioha must be reelected across five countries in Europe thus far stressed that the Imo Diaspora community remains a critical development partner through remittances, grassroots mobilisation, investment networks, and policy exposure, and urged them to move from passive observers to active participants in the state’s political process.
He said the ADC, under the national leadership of Senator David Mark and the state leadership of Prof. James Okoroma, provides a credible platform for competent and issue-based governance.
Describing the 2027 governorship election as a historic opportunity to “complete an interrupted mission,” Agu called on Imo sons and daughters abroad to invest ideas, mobilise resources, influence grassroots participation, and support credible leadership.
He maintained that the quest for the Douglas House should not be seen as a return of an individual but as a restoration of functional institutions capable of delivering the dividends of democracy.
“The future of Imo is both local and global, and a state that ignores its Diaspora ignores its greatest development partners,” he said.
Agu therefore urged Ndi-Imo across the world to unite in support of Ihedioha’s 2027 governorship ambition to rebuild the state through merit, accountability, planning, and inclusive development
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