BY GRACE IGWEANYI
As part of efforts to secure the support of the people in the next
governorship election in Imo State, some governorship aspirants have resorted
to using proxies to dole out loans to desperate loans seekers in the State.This Newspaper investigation reveal that some governorship hopefuls are using proxies to give out the loans on their behalf using it as political tool to earn political support.
One of the aspirants from Imo East Senatorial zone (Owerri zone) who has been a serial governorship aspirant since 1999 is said to have adopted this political strategy as a plan to get the support of the people when the elections come in 2019.
It was also gathered that the loans are mainly soft loans which range from N20, 000 to N200, 000 and repayable with a low interest rate of about 2%, which is less 3% less of a bank loan.
“We are giving out these loans and the response has been very encouraging.
“The level of response has been impressive and it goes to tell you that a lot of people really need support to start their businesses” one of the managers of the firm managing the loans on behalf of the top politician told this newspaper.
Another governorship hopeful from Imo North Senatorial District (Okigwe Zone) has also revived his foundation.
The foundation has been operational but went comatose sometime last year.
Because the top politician is said to have his eyes on the governorship seat of the State in 2019, the foundation has buzzed back to life doling out relief materials and support to the less privileged in the rural areas.
Some other politicians who have interest in the governorship contest in the State are said to be making plans to revive their foundations.
One of the governorship aspirants in the PDP who later decamped to another political party after he lost the PDP governorship ticket in 2014, is said to be making arrangements to kick start his foundation which supported the less privileged when he was vying for the governorship contest.
The use of foundations as a tool to woo voters was one of the strategies to the success of the present governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
His Rochas Foundation located along Owerri- Okigwe road ran a free education programme that attracted interest from a huge population in the State. The foundation operates till date a school in Owerri t which has enabled millions of young Imolites to have access to free education.
The spiral effect of the free education programme of the Rochas foundation effortlessly attracted overwhelming support for Okorocha’s governorship ambition in 2011 which he won, defeating then incumbent governor Ikedi Ohakim.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
All Rights Reserved.
This Material and any other material on this platform
may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written or
distributed in full or in part without written permission
from INNONEWS.COM
No comments:
Write comments