By Nwamkpa Modestus (KSM)
There is no gain saying the fact that Governor Hope Uzodimma is the sixth democratically elected Governor of Imo state since the state was manufactured, sorry created in 1976. He is the 4th since 1999 when this current qussi democratic arrangement started. He is of course the first person to be elected Governor after being a senator. Others became senators after being Governors.
Like Peter Obi of Ananbra state and Adams Oshiomhole from Edo state, he is the first Imo Governor to reclaim his mandate through the supreme Court. He is the first that got elected by winning 27 over 27 LGAs in the state. He is the first Governor that spent 4 years without acquiring a single property of his own anywhere in the state and the country. Yes, he is the first Governor to be sworn in on January instead of May 29.
Oh, i have forgotten the real essence of this exercise. Sorry for the digression. It is just that at times it is good to situate facts properly and position the minds of your readers. I needed to actually drive home the fact that Hope Uzodimma’s governorship has certain striking differences between him and his predecessors. Anyway, that is by the way.
Now, I have always hold the view that everybody has his own talents and these talents could be of advantage or disadvantage to the people. In this case, the talent of Governor Hope Uzodimma is manifestly advantageous to Imo state. His high rating, his reverence nationally, his high regards both in the ruling party and the ruling federal government, his eloquence, his national visibility and ofcourse his political tact are all paying off to the advantage of Imo state and her people.
In case, we don’t know, using the words of Orji Uzor Kalu recently, Governor Uzodimma is the highest sought after politician, at least in South East today. There is hardly anything that APC as a ruling party and the federal government do that Uzodimma is not fathomed in. He is like the epicenter of national politics in the country today. He is respected and revered nationally.
This is translating to the kind of image that Imo state is cutting out nationally and the kind of respect that is being accorded to the state by outsiders. Except for the insecurity that ravaged the state recently with ugly tales of kidnapping, banditry etc, which ofcourse has abated drastically, Imo state has continued to receive high dosage of reference nationally and this is due to the fact that Governor Uzodimma has acquinted himself very well in the eyes of outsiders.
Don’t forget that Imo state since 2021 has continued to receive over two million dollars from world bank through SEFTAS in recognition of its financial probity. This is salutary and something that some people may not be aware of. This is in addition to other similar recognitions and awards for the state under Hope Uzodimma.
Even the forner President Buhari visited Imo state more than any other state in the country, perhaps except his home state Katsina when he was president. The current president Tinubu has also continued in that trajectory. These frequent visits by both the forner and present Presidents are not for fun. It is because of the carriage of a man who is the Governor of the state. Some opposition chaps may dismiss this as nothing but they will not ask themselves why such was not the case with previous Governors of the state and other Governors in this country.
Governor Uzodimma has really placed Imo state in a pedestal where as Imo citizen, you are respected anywhere you go in this country. The Governor has connected the state to the national grid. There is no friction between the state and the centre unlike before. There is no much political bickering in the state. Imo state is today relatively peaceful politically unlike in the past. The state is now reputable as one of the few states notable for quality construction and ease of doing business.
All these are positive narratives and the lense through which Imo state is being viewed from outside. Imo state is now a story of positivity in several fronts. Imo is today a signpost of unblemished leadership, probity, discipline in land administration, anti corruption and open condemnation and punishment for infraction committed by even close agents of the government. Indeed, Imo image is positively looking up nationally. Hope Uzodimma represents a positive light for the state and her people nationally.
Nwamkpa Modestus writes from Owerri
