Some royal fathers and an elder statesman in Imo State have commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for leveraging his excellent working relationship with the federal government to attract meaningful projects to the state.
They noted that since Uzodimma started working closely with the APC-led federal government, Imo has benefited more from the centre than in previous years.
Eze Thomas Obiefule from Orlu Zone, who is one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in the state, Eze Oliver Ohanwe of Mbano from Okigwe Zone, and Prince Lemmy Akakem from Owerri Zone were united in their commendation for Uzodimma for his collaborative working relationship with the federal government.
The respected leaders who spoke separately to newsmen deplored the caustic attacks on the governor over his working visits to Abuja, saying that only ignorant and mischievous elements were engaged in that vile propaganda.
Chief Akakem listed the projects attracted by Uzodimma through such visits to include the upgrade of Alvan Ikoku College of Education to a Federal University, and the upgrade of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, to a Federal University Teaching Hospital.
He also named the approval granted to Imo State for the dredging of Oguta Lake to the Atlantic Ocean, the Naval Base in Oguta, and the Free Trade Zone also in Oguta.
Eze Obiefule, for his part, specifically stated that if not for Uzodimma’s closeness to the centre, insecurity would have sunk Imo State and the enemies of the state would have had their way.
“They had told our governor that they would make Imo ungovernable for him. Imagine a scenario where Uzodimma did not have the ears of the federal government, they would have overthrown him through insecurity and a state of emergency,” he said.
According to Eze Obiefule, the federal government also gave approval for the rehabilitation of key federal roads, which it will later pay back to Imo State after completion.
The roads, he said, include the dualised Owerri–Orlu, Owerri–Okigwe Road, Owerri–Mbaise-Obowo–Umuahia Road, and Owerri–Port Harcourt Road.
Also speaking, Eze Ohanwe expressed satisfaction that through his visits to Abuja, Uzodimma has attracted a lot of federal projects and appointments to the state, which was never the case before now.
He said Imo was also the first state to persuade the federal government to approve the liberalisation of the power sector, which is driving the Light-Up Imo project, soon to herald uninterrupted power supply to all parts of the state.
“You don’t expect the governor to stay in his cosy office in Owerri to attract all these. He has to move from office to office in Abuja to convince those responsible to give the necessary approvals. So it smacks of mischief hearing people talk of the governor travelling too often to Abuja,” he submitted.
He argued that it would not have been possible for Imo to be enjoying all the democracy dividends from the federal government if Uzodimma had restricted himself to the state.
According to Eze Ohanwe: “Don’t also forget that His Excellency is Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, a powerful position within the ruling party which he has also employed to full advantage for the benefit of our people. So it is idiotic for ignoramuses and attention seekers to parrot this Abuja nonsense.”
He added: “Don’t forget that the governor also attracted the establishment of a new Federal University in Okigwe.”
He called on the governor not to be distracted by the antics of opposition politicians who are jealous of his achievements and now want to run him down.
“We are encouraging His Excellency to even intensify his economic shuttles to Abuja. We are satisfied with the results. We don’t care what naysayers are saying,” he declared.
