On Thursday, the Labour Party governorship candidate in Imo, Athan Achonu, launched his campaign, promising to pay priority attention to insecurity if elected.

In a speech at the event held at the Chioma Ajunwa Sports Complex, Nguru, in Mbaise LGA, Mr Achonu described the spate of insecurity in Imo as unacceptable and must end.

“Insecurity has turned Imo into a river of blood and arson,” Mr Achonu noted, adding that “ending the daily massacre of defenceless Imo people and restoring peace, security and tranquillity in the state will be my priority agenda upon my inauguration in January 2024.”

The governorship candidate said he had offered scholarships to thousands of Imo students, employed hundreds, and invested in agro-industries, regarded as one of the biggest in the South-East.

“The whole blackmail and gangsterism against me were motivated by a morbid fear of my towering antecedents. Nothing will deter me from my determined march to take back the state from the abyss of misgovernance, back to the path of glory,” added Mr Achonu.

He further pledged to industrialise Imo by establishing two industrial parks in each zone in Imo, including a pharmaceutical park in the Orlu zone. Mr Achonu promised to grant full financial and administrative autonomy to the local government councils if elected.

Labour Party chair in Imo Callistus Ihejiagwa said the choice of Aboh Mbaise for the launch was deliberate to show solidarity with former Governor Emeka Ihedioha and the Mbaise people.

Mr Ihejiagwa said the people of Mbaise were robbed of a well-deserved and popular victory in 2019, hence the decision to start the campaign from there.

“It is to let them know that LP feels their pain and will assuage it when elected into office in November,” he said.

(NAN)