IMO ALREADY LEFT EGYPT ON JANUARY 15, 2020
By Collins Ughalaa
The recent article by a good friend of mine, Martins Ori, attempts a poetic fusion of theology and politics, invoking the final words of Jesus Christ: “It is finished” (Consummatum est) – recorded in John 19:30 – and projecting them onto the political aspirations of Emeka Ihedioha. It is a clever piece of rhetoric, no doubt, rich in symbolism and emotional appeal. But beneath its polished surface lies a fundamental distortion of both spiritual truth and contemporary political reality in Imo State.
If “It is finished” must be invoked in the political history of Imo State, then let us be clear about it; that moment did not arrive in speeches or seasonal Easter declarations. It came decisively on January 15, 2020, when Hope Uzodimma was sworn in as governor. That day marked the true end of an era; an era of drift, decay, and administrative inertia, and the beginning of a purposeful march toward recovery, stability, and growth.
To appropriate Christ’s declaration is to speak of completion, fulfillment, and irreversible transition. It is not a slogan for political aspiration; it is the stamp of accomplished work. On the Cross, according to the Bible, Christ declared “It is finished” because the mission had been fulfilled. In Imo State today, that same spirit of completion is reflected not in promises, but in tangible, measurable achievements under Governor Uzodimma.
Before 2020, Imo State bore troubling signs of systemic decline. Critical institutions had collapsed or were comatose. Infrastructure lay abandoned. Workers faced uncertainty. Public confidence in governance had eroded. The state, in every sense, resembled the biblical Egypt, burdened, stagnant, and in urgent need of deliverance. Governor Uzodimma’s administration did not merely announce change; it executed it. And today, Imo State is a construction site, so much that the people wonder where the Governor gets all the money from.
Take, for instance, the revival of key state assets. The once-moribund Concorde Hotel, a symbol of Imo’s lost glory, is being restored to functionality. The Imo Standard Shoe Company, long weighed down by debt and neglect, has been taken over by the government after the Uzodimma administration cleared its obligations to AMCON. The Imo State House of Assembly complex, the seat of the legislature, once abandoned due to dilapidated structure, is one of the early institutions the governor recovered and repositioned. Today, it serves the state legislature well as the lawmakers now have a befitting place of work. These are not cosmetic gestures; they are strategic interventions designed to restore productivity, create jobs, and reawaken industrial and institutional confidence.
Equally significant is the administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline. Unlike the culture of reckless borrowing that defined past governments, Uzodimma has taken deliberate steps to service and reduce inherited debts – from about N259bn to N99bn – instead of taking fresh loans. This responsible financial management has repositioned Imo State as a credible and stable economic entity, capable of attracting both local and international investment.
In the civil service, the story is one of rebirth. Through the introduction of automated payment systems, ghost workers have been eliminated, transparency has improved, and workers now receive salaries with greater consistency and dignity. A once-demoralized workforce has regained its confidence, and governance has become more efficient.
Infrastructure development under Uzodimma has been nothing short of transformative. Across the state, over 150 roads are either completed or under construction; roads that previous administrations abandoned or never attempted. Strategic arteries such as the Owerri-Orlu Road, Owerri-Onitsha Road, Owerri-Okigwe Road, Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia Road, Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, and the Orlu-Akokwa-Uga Road have been reconstructed to modern standards. These are not just roads; they are economic lifelines, reconnecting communities, facilitating trade, and stimulating growth.
Unlike the era when flyovers were abandoned to rot away, under the Uzodimma administration, they are open to the public and put to meaningful use. In addition, the Control Post Flyover stands as a bold statement of urban modernization, easing traffic congestion and redefining the city’s skyline. Beyond aesthetics, it reflects a government willing to think big and act decisively.
Flooding, once a perennial nightmare in Imo State, is being aggressively tackled through innovative engineering solutions, including the now-renowned balloon drainage technology. Areas that were once abandoned by landlords and tenants and were impassable during the rainy season are experiencing relief, restoring normalcy to daily life and commerce.
In the power sector, the Orashi Electricity Project represents a long-overdue intervention in a state plagued by decades of unreliable electricity. By addressing power challenges, the Uzodimma administration is laying the groundwork for industrialization and economic expansion, not making promises based on aspirations.
Education has not been left behind. With four state-owned universities, Imo now offers expanded access to higher education, positioning itself as a hub for academic excellence in the country. This deliberate investment in human capital ensures that the state’s future is anchored on knowledge and innovation.
Healthcare delivery has witnessed a remarkable turnaround. The Imo State University Teaching Hospital and the Specialist Hospital in Umuguma have been upgraded, while new general hospitals in Umuokanne, Oguta, Omuma, and other communities are either completed or ongoing. The Mother and Child Hospital in Awo-Omamma stands as a testament to the administration’s commitment to maternal and child health. Additionally, the revitalization of primary healthcare centers across the state is bringing medical services closer to the grassroots. The introduction of a comprehensive health insurance scheme, providing free healthcare for civil servants, pensioners, and vulnerable groups, has further strengthened the social safety net. The Federal Medical Centre has been upgraded to a University Teaching Hospital, enhancing both healthcare delivery and medical education. This feat was considered impossible in the past, but under Uzodimma, “it is finished.”
Economic indicators are also telling a positive story. Recent data placing Imo State among those with an extremely low poverty rate – as low as 0.3% – underscores the fact that economic conditions in the state are improving. Increased federal allocations, coupled with enhanced internally generated revenue, have expanded the state’s fiscal capacity and enabled sustained development. Infrastructure upgrades extend to critical gateways such as the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, which is being enhanced to meet modern standards and attract greater commercial activity. Meanwhile, strategic partnerships, including projects linked to Afreximbank, signal growing investor confidence in Imo State’s economic direction.
These achievements have not gone unnoticed. Various organizations, professional bodies, and stakeholders have commended Governor Uzodimma’s performance, conferring awards and recognitions that serve as independent validation of his administration’s impact.
This is the context within which the phrase “It is finished” must be properly understood. It is not a hopeful chant for a future yet to come; it is a declaration that a broken past has already been confronted and dismantled. The old order, marked by institutional collapse, infrastructural decay, and governance failure, has been decisively addressed.
To suggest that Imo State is still in “Egypt” is to ignore the visible and verifiable transformation that has taken place since 2020. It is to reduce governance to rhetoric and overlook the concrete realities on the ground. Imo has not only left Egypt; it is firmly on its journey through the Promised Land.
Indeed, the metaphor of the Promised Land is apt. Today, Imo State is witnessing renewed economic activity, improved infrastructure, and a revitalized public sector. Opportunities are expanding, confidence is returning, and the state is reclaiming its place as a leader in the Southeast. Milk and honey, in contemporary terms, translate to prosperity and opportunity; and in Imo, one can proudly say “milk and money” are beginning to flow, not as an exaggeration, but as a reflection of a state that is steadily rebuilding its economic foundations.
Despite the challenge faced by the administration, which tried to slow the state down, the trajectory is unmistakable, and the progress undeniable. Governance is no longer about promises; it is about performance. And by that standard, the Uzodimma administration has demonstrated that the era of stagnation is truly over.
Ori Martins’ article, though eloquent, ultimately misplaces the moment of transformation. “Consummatum est” in Imo State is not a future aspiration tied to political ambition. It is a present reality grounded in governance outcomes. January 15, 2020, was Imo’s turning point. That was the day the chains of administrative failure were broken. That was the day the journey out of Egypt truly began.
And today, with visible progress across sectors, it is clear that the declaration still echoes, not as rhetoric, but as reality: It is finished.
