A renowned social critic and university don, Prof Protus Nathan Uzorma, has said that it is in the best interest of Imo people that the government of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha takes her time to get things right once and for all.
Prof Protus stated this in Owerri recently while fielding questions from journalists, while responding to question on alleged sluggishness of the government of Ihedioha to hit the ground running even after 100 days in office.
Prof Protus said that Imo people should be cautious with any government that comes with the fire brigade approach of the last administration.
The social critic reminded Imo people that former governor Rochas Okorocha told Imo people in 2015 that he was in a hurry to deliver but ended up destroying the state in a hurry.
In his word, “Okorocha told us he was in a hurry to develop Imo, and we have seen all the things he did in a hurry, the roads have hurriedly gone bad while the schools are hurriedly collapsing”.
According to him, Rt. Hon. Ihedioha, who is an astute administrator having occupied various government positions in the past cannot be in a hurry. I will use my pen to slow down Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, if he tries to be in a hurry.
Prof. Protus, who is a PDP stalwart in the state, said that he will be the first to talk against the government at any time it strays, but said the government needs time to tackle the many years of rot.
Explaining that Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha is not slow but rather a meticulous man who takes his time to get it right, he applauded the payment of pension which took some time to plan out. He urged the government to continue the good work.
Speaking on Imo retirees, he noted that pensioners deserve their payment without undue stress.
Prof Protus called on the government to get to the root of the missing bail-out fund which up till now cannot be accounted for by the last administration. He further said that such fund, if available, can help to pay pensioners.
When he was asked to comment on the presence of waste at various corner of the street, he said the body saddled with the responsibility to dispose the dirts should sit up.
He commemded former governor Ohakim whose regime witnessed a clean environment in the state, for taking up the responsibility to ensure a clean Imo.
According to him, there is no way the heaps of rubbish in Imo during the last administration could be compared to what we have today.
He pointed to some locations where waste bins have been deposited for easy disposal.
Such efforts by the government, he said are very commendable.
The social critic called on collaboration between the state, federal and other security agencies geared towards stemming the tide of insecurity in the state.
He admitted that operation Iron gate launched by the state government has drastically reduced the 8 years of insecurity in the state caused by security insensitivity of past government.
Prof Protus who has written several books on Security, commended the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies for working hard to curb crime and criminality.
He advocated for community policing as a proactive policing strategy.