OWELLE Rochas Okorocha was yesterday sworn in as Governor of Imo State at about noon at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, the state capital.
In his speech at the event, Okorocha promised to offer free education and create jobs, among others.
Chief Judge of the State, Benjamin Nzemanze, administered the oath of office on Okorocha and his deputy, Jude Agbaso.
The immediate past Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, and his Deputy, Dr. Ada Okwuonu, were absent at the ceremony.
At the event were Ohakim's predecessor, Chief Achike Udenwa and his wife, Theresa; Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, a serving minister, Emma Iheanacho; Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Goodluck Opiah, Deputy Speaker, Jonas Okeke; former Education Minister, Prof. Fabian Osuji; Senators Chris Anyanwu (Imo East), Sylvester Anyanwu (Imo North); former Minister Tim Menakaya, out-going Vice Chancellor, Federal University Technology, Owerri, Prof. Celestine Onwuliri, in-coming senator for Orlu, Chief Hope Uzodinma, and an APGA chieftain, Martin Agbaso, among others.
Okorocha said: "I declare free education in Imo State. A child without education is a futureless child. I will send a new law to the state assembly. Any parent who fails to send his child to school will be punished by law."
The governor said his administration would fight crime and open a "black book" in which names of convicted felons would be entered for posterity.
He also disclosed that a human rights and justice department had been established in the state to check indiscriminate arrest and detention of people in the state.
His words: "My administration shall introduce what we call black book. Government will do what it can to make our youths busy. I will concentrate on community government to decentralise power, Government House shall be in all communities in Imo State. I have established the Department of Justice and Fairness. No criminal will go unpunished in Imo State."
Okorocha added: "I will go to the church to collect names of our youths looking for jobs to make sure you have satisfied spiritual fitness. I will rescue the few remaining industries we have."
On whether he would probe the Ohakim administration, the new governor said: "This government is not interested in witch-hunting anybody, but we shall audit the account of Imo State. I shall not look backward. I shall fight evil; the evil that has killed our land.
"Even in the face of that, I will deliver. I am not going to make excuses. We must end this circle of blames. The people of Imo State are all free."
Scores of people who came for the ceremony could not enter the venue as it was filled to capacity.
Source: Ohakim absent as Okorocha takes over in Imo (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49645:ohakim-absent-as-okorocha-takes-over-in-imo&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)