… As she empowers wives of slain officers
By Iheanyi Enwerem
The Imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has assured security officers and families of slain officers in the state of the continuous support of his administration, as he commended the wife of the Inspector General of Police, and President of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun, for her exemplary leadership, building capacity among police officers’ wives and empowering the widows of fallen police officers in different states.
The Governor stated this on Thursday, through his Deputy, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, PhD, when the Police Officers Wives’ Association, POWA, led by its president, the wife of the Inspector General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokum, visited the office of the Deputy Governor, at the Government House, Owerri.
The Governor informed the group of the mutual relationship that exists between his administration and the security agencies in the state, which has helped to quell and arrest the insecurity in the state.
The Governor, while promising to sustain the love and support he has extended to the families of officers whose lives were cut short by men of the underworld in the state, highlighted government’s efforts in assisting the bereaved families, paying 105 million naira as compensation to families of 20 police officers, who paid the ultimate price in 2021 and again, in 2023, paid 185 million to families of 5 officers, who passed on in the course of securing the state.
The Governor also reiterated his call for wealthy individuals and corporate organisations, especially, proprietors and proprietress of private schools in the state to award scholarships to children of the fallen heroes, in recognition of the gallantry of their late parents and helping the families.
The Governor also noted the efforts of the wife of the Governor and the Imo First Lady, Her Excellency Barr ( Mrs) Chioma Uzodimma, in assisting women in the state through empowerment and advocacy for the respect of their fundamental human rights, especially, the girl child, widows and the vulnerable group, through the ministry of Women Affairs and Vulnerable Group.
He went on to call for a robust partnership with POWA, for a continuous support to the welfare of the association and the widows of the lost officers.
The Governor, however, poured encomiums on the group for their positive relationship with the state government, since the inception of the 3R administration.
He further appreciated the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for fighting insecurity to a standstill in the country, and also the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, for his services in securing Imo state.
Earlier, the IGP’s wife Mrs. Egbetokun, stated that she is in the State for the social development and empowerment of wives of fallen officers in the State, as part of ways of showing that the services their husbands rendered to the state and country at large, was never in vain, as she commended the state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma for the collaboration and support he has offered to the security agencies, especially, the Nigeria Police, as she promised for more collaboration between POWA and the state government.
Adding his voice, the Imo state Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, generously thanked the Governor of Imo state, for his show of love and immense support to the men of the Nigeria Police. He explained that the Governor’s invaluable support to the security agencies is the reason the people of Imo state are enjoying peace at the moment. CP Danjuma while commending the wife of the IGP, Mrs Egbetokum, informed that she is in the state with her team, comprising of wives of senior police officers, to appreciate the Governor and government of Imo state for assisting their members in the state and to also empower widows of the fallen heroes with cash grants, skill acquisition, ranging from agriculture, hair dressing and fashion. The CP, also pleaded for prompt payment of gratuities of the slain officers.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of a plaque of honour to the Deputy Governor.
Present at the visit were: the Head of Service, Mrs. Chikodi Emenalom, the Principal Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. John Njoku, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor, Sir (Barr) Tobechi Ekomaru and other principal officers of the Office of the Deputy Governor.