The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has warned that Local Government Chairmen and Councillors who do not reside in their council areas should be thinking of resigning their positions.

Uzodimma read the riot act during a stakeholders meeting held at the Imo Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat, Mbari Owerri.

The Governor explained that the meeting was devoid of politics, but to interact with stakeholders in the State and the leadership of the six hundred and fifty six (656) autonomous communities in the state to take strategic decisions in the interest of residents in the area of insecurity, education, affordable health care and making life more meaningful to the people.

Uzodimma said :”There is always a time when citizens come together to make bold decisions for the good interest of the people.”

He stressed the need to have local government administration that must be managed from the Local Government and not from the urban cities. “No government is active without social mobilisation,” he stressed, and called for synergy among all actors in government to move the State forward.

The governor further announced the establishment of Local Government Implementation Committees to take responsibility for ensuring that resolutions reached in strategic areas of security, education, health and youth empowerment are effectively implemented.

He enjoined traditional rulers and community leaders to rise to their responsibility and not allow their communities to be destroyed or overrun by hoodlums.

He further announced decision of government to establish a world class health centre in every community and a General Hospital in each local government area to ensure access to health care, and encouraged the leaders to ensure that everyone in the community enrols in the ongoing Imo Social Health Insurance Program saying: “It is time for you to show leadership and help the people to enrol in the the scheme.

“There must be a new way of thinking for a new Imo to emerge. I want my youth population to think differently.”