100 GLORIOUS DAYS OF PROSPERITY IN IMO
STATE
BY
SAM OSUJI

The tempo and texture of governance may not effectively be gauged in one hundred days. But morning shows the day. Today, it is one hundred days since Senator Hope Uzodinma took over the reins of power in Imo State. His grand entry into the seat of power was purely divine. Against all odds and human permutations, the distinguished Senator got his mandate restored on January 14, 2020. That fateful day marked a watershed in the annals of Imo State. Reeling out his vision a week later, the distinguished Senator promised a government of shared prosperity. Many people would not have understood him as Imolites had for close to a decade been thrown into a fit of despondency by leaders dancing the macabre dance of deceit.
Today, my pen moves with an unassailable speed because Gov Hope Uzodinma has proven that he is indeed a symbol of hope and prosperity. Indeed, it is not coincidental that he bears the name ‘Hope’. What Imo had needed and still needs is hope. And so when the governor of a state is a symbol of hope, the people are bound to be happy. Essentially, Gov Hope has lived up to expectations in a comprehensive and outstanding manner. In spite of the palpable distractions posed by Covid-19 and the misguided opposition elements, it is salutary that Gov Hope has remained undaunted and resolute in his bid to restore Imo to the path of prosperity.
One of the first silver-linings people saw in the government of Senator Hope was the sustenance of some remarkable policies of the previous government. The Governor clearly understood that government is a continuum, and the people the focus. He made a clean break with the ignoble past when governors would discard noble policies of predecessors to start formulating theirs. In the end, the people bear the brunt. Accordingly, the government continued with most of the road projects awarded by the immediate past government. Some of these roads include MCC Road, Control Post - World Bank Road, Naze Road, Naze – FUTO Road, among others. The Governor believes that when people ply on good roads, their means of livelihood is directly sustained.
The Governor has also lived up to his words to give first line consideration to the payment of salaries and pensions. This has given people even a greater hope to live with. There is no longer any apocalyptic feeling by workers and pensioners on the fate about their remuneration. Their bank alerts come as and when due. And where any short delay is encountered, it is merely due to technical hitches and not on the will of the government.
Within one hundred days, Gov Hope has increased the monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state. This exponentially increased from about six hundred million to over one billion naira. The unprecedented beefing-up of the IGR symbolizes two things. One, the Governor has brought a considerable level of finesse and professionalism in the running of government. Two, the Governor is passionate about building true and lasting infrastructure that will further prosper the people. With a similar drive, the Governor has plugged the gaping holes through which the state had been fleeced of scarce resources. Thus, he has brought efficiency to bear hence thousands of ghost workers and crafty schemes have been uncovered and dealt with.
Imo Adapalm has in less than one hundred days come in full stream. This is a company that for years had not yielded anything to the state. Indeed it was almost comatose. But Gov Hope came in and within three months revived the place. For the records, Adapalm is one of the flagship industries of the second republic administration led by Chief S.O. Mbakwe. It would amount to unjustifiable negligence to allow such a dream to collapse. It is therefore a celebratory feat that the industry is back to its feet. And from its end, the light of prosperity will continue to shine on Imolites through job creation and productivity.
Potable water has equally been restored to Owerri Metropolis. This in itself is a no mean accomplishment. For a state capital that has had dry taps for close to a decade, it is commendable that turn-around maintenance of the water works has been done with the people as the focus. Now, Imolites can drink clean and safe water for their overall well-being. With this accomplishment, the people would be saved of the trauma of typhoid and water-borne diseases. This is a radical shift from the recent past when the health of the state and her citizens had deteriorated so badly. Hospitals, in specific terms, used to rip off on the citizens as the number of morgues even increased. Thank God there is a Gov Hope Uzodinma on the saddle. A new sheriff is indeed in town!
There is prosperity in the area of security too. The Governor in spite of the prevailing socio-economic realities has launched a security outfit with hundred vehicles fully fitted with communication gadgets. It is a positive development also that these vehicles were purchased locally, from Innoson Motors, Nnewi. The security outfit is meant to flush out criminal elements from the state. The Governor notes that meaningful prosperity goes in tandem with security hence the massive investments on the security architecture of the state.
Perhaps, what still astound many today is the will, zest and efficiency with which the Governor attached to the fight against Covid-19. In a move unparalleled, the Governor restricted movements in and out of the state. He banned large gatherings and effectively locked down the state. In a proactive move, the Governor commissioned a world-class treatment centre for Covid-19. These lofty preventive measures have won the Governor many accolades from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other national and international health groups. Noting the implication of the lockdown, the Governor took an unprecedented step in procuring and distributing food stuffs as palliatives to all the electoral wards in the state. This is a rare show of commitment and passion for the people of Imo State.
A veritable sign that the Governor is in to dispense prosperity to Imolites can be seen in the nature of the appointments he recently made. In the appointments of Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants, the Governor made sure that he touched on every geographical limit of the state. These appointees would in turn be instruments of prosperity in their communities. Similarly, the appointment of Interim Managing Committees for the local councils, comprising chairmen and councillors from the 305 electoral wards in the state is commendable. It essentially symbolizes the passion of the Governor in ensuring prosperity at the local councils. Gone, indeed, are the days of the primordial secrecy that had characterized the affairs of the local councils in the state.
There is indeed no doubt that Gov Hope Uzodinma has come to serve with an uncommon passion and enthusiasm. The handwriting is already clear to everyone that a government of shared-prosperity is in place. No one can remember when last Permanent Secretaries in the state were empowered with brand new cars. Well, Gov Uzodinma did it to encourage these professionals and engender efficiency. All that Imolites have to do is to continue to build faith with the government. The aim of Gov Hope is for everyone in the state to prosper. This is why he had to forfeit his security votes and other appurtenances of power in order for Imolites to prosper. The future is bright and the horizon hopeful. Soon, the unpatriotic voice of distraction and opposition will be alone as the gargantuan strides of government will put them in eternal shock or convert them, ultimately. God bless Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Hon Chief Sam Osuji (08033242133) is a Special Adviser to Gov Hope Uzodinma.

My brother,there is no government nor a governor in nigeria.that have or can achieve anything meaningful,just 100 days in office,apart from paying of salaries..na roads with good draingage system,building and epuiping of health centers,power supply,building schools and co.make i hear word.sorry,i forget sey na ur job u dey do(image laundering).