The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has revealed reasons behind his frequent visit to Abuja, saying it is in the best interest of the state.

The Governor, made the disclosure during the first anniversary thanksgiving service of his second term in office at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri while responding to remarks by the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace Most Revd Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji.

Ugorji had in his homily, advised Uzodinma to be more present in the state rather than spending so much time in Abuja.

However, in response to the Archbishop’s advice, the Governor said the state is among those that makeup Nigeria and for any state to derive the maximum benefits from the Federal Government, its leadership must maintain a robust presence at the national level.

Uzodinma said as the Chairman of the APC Governor’s Forum and the South-East Governors forum respectively, the two positions made it necessary for him to be in constant touch with Abuja.

The Governor, maintained that how often a Governor stays at home cannot be a useful yardstick to determine his administration’s achievements.

He said a good leader must leverage every available opportunity to advance the course of his citizens.

“Being in Abuja has not hindered the payment of workers’ salaries. It has not slowed down the war against insecurity. It has not slowed down the pace of numerous ongoing projects across the state,” Uzodinma claimed.

In a similar vein, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic and Creative Media, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu said the presence of the Governor in Abuja has proven what he termed indispensable results in the area of attracting federal government interventions to the state.

Nwaogwugwu said aside the Archbishop’s advice, it is imperative to debunk the misconceptions being peddled by those he called the Governor’s detractors, whom he also accused of blowing the issue out of proportion.

He maintained that in every ramification, the results speak for themselves as the state has never before, witnessed federal presence more than the present administration of Uzodinma.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, mentioned that the conversion of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a Federal University of Education, the elevation of the Federal Medical Centre to a Federal University Teaching Hospital and the reconstruction of Owerri-Port Harcourt and Owerri-Aba Roads are the major Federal projects attracted by the Governor.

“These are just a few among other intangibles of the dividends of democracy that Imo State has enjoyed under Governor Uzodinma, thanks to his strategic engagement with the National Government,” he maintained.

Nwaogwugwu added that if staying in Abuja will ensure that the state gets its fair share of national benefits he saw no reason why the Governor will stay at home.

“The Governor’s primary responsibility is to use his office to improve the lives of Imolites and he is doing just that. The reward for good work is more work. And in this context, good work means staying at the epicenter of decision-making to attract more benefits to Imo State. As illustrated in the attached achievements, the dividends of Governor Uzodinma’s strategic presence in Abuja are unmatched,” Nwaogwugwu claimed.

Gov Uzodinma replies critics, gives reasons for frequenting Abuja