By Willie Amadi.
On Monday, 10th March 2025, His Excellency, the Governor received us in audience having earlier approved the request by IHP for a courtesy visit. The IHP had a 50-man delegation. The Governor in his wisdom invited other leaders and groups in Owerri zone to coalesce into the meeting with the Convener of IHP, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho as the leader of the delegation. The galaxy of political and apolitical leaders in attendance confirmed the proactive intelligence and strategic mindset of the Governor as a master of the game and always on top of his game since his entry into politics.
The meeting with the Governor was timely and very crucial for an early stabilization and re- direction of leaders of the zone ahead of 2027, for a gradual consensus building and implementation of the Charter of Equity among the zones of the State going forward.
The opening prayer was led by Fr, Gerald Njoku of Peace & Justice Institute of the Assumpta Cathedral. The leader of the delegation, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho, Dr. Mrs Kema Chikwe and Gen. Collins Ihekire, rtd spoke on behalf of the delegation while Hon. Akarachi Amadi and Hon. Tochi Okere and Hon, Otuibe presided over the vote of confidence passed on the performing Governor of the State, the Governor-General of the South East, Dist. Sen. Hope Odidika Uzodinma (Onwa Imo).
In his opening address, the leader of the delegation recounted how in a public function in Lagos, he publicly disclosed the untiring efforts of the Governor in providing quality infrastructure for the State as against the deliberate fraudulent governance by some former Governors whose infrastructures namely, the Imo International Conference Center, IICC, the new Police Headquarters along Portharcourt road, the new Imo State High Court complex including but not limited to the orji and egbeada flyovers which have failed integrity test and threatening to collapse. The roads, unfortunately did not survive 6months post commissioning due to what the then Governor claimed was a result of “acidic rain” in Imo state.
The many solid internal and inter- State roads scattered among the zones and too numerous to list here will remain heartwarming and evergreen in the mind, psyche and admiration of all Imolites and other residents doing business in Imo State. Capt Ihenacho further highlighted the intangible achievements such as the conversion of Alvan Ikokwu college of education to a full fledged and pioneer University of Education in Nigeria, the upgrade of the Federal Medical Center to Federal University Teaching Hospital, the total recovery of the multi billion Ozumba Mbadiwe University, the construction of brand new University of Agriculture & Environmental Studies aswell as another brand new Polytechnic, the recent installation of modern night landing facilities at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport.The figure in other sectors like power, health, education, civil service reforms, land reforms, agriculture, digital technology, are legion and cannot be imagined. He thanked the Governor for the module he has deployed in managing the resources of the State and above all, wholeheartedly subscribing to the Charter of Equity as propounded by the Imo State Elders Council, Traditional Institutions, Clergy and Critical Stakeholders for a peaceful coexistence in the State.
Dr, Mrs Kema Chikwe simply described the Governor as the best Governor in the country because of the security and infrastructural challenges he faced as well as the rot he inherited on assumption of office. She said that if it took the Governor a little above a tenure to recover Imo State from the deliberate decapitation of both human, material and natural resources by the immediate past governments, one wonders what Imo State will look like at the completion of his second tenure with the array of multiple transformation in all aspects of good governance index, despite the lean resources of the State. She thanked the Governor for not behaving like the “child in a chinese toy shop” who greedly grabs every toy without any consideration for other children”. She prayed for God’s continued guidance and blessings upon the Governor and his family for the visible sacrifices he is making to leave Imo better than he met it in 2020.
General Collins Ihekire, rtd in his speech gave great kudos to the Road Marshall and Governor-General of the South East for the suave and strategic arrest of the insecurity that berthed his assumption of office, ochestrated by political opponents, leading to the attack of the State Prisons and resulting to the escape of over 3000 hardened dangerous criminals, many who were on death row. Gen. Ihekire praised the Governor for his sense of combating criminality, using both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to sustain the relative peace we now enjoy in the State. He urged him not to be deterd but rather determined to implement the Charter of Equity as an icing on the cake of his glorious and fruitful administration’s legacy.
The House of Representatives caucus led by Hon. Akarachi Amadi in appreciation of the general enconiums poured on the Governor for his sterling performance also praised him for the strategic positioning of Imo State in the power architecture of the country and his roles as Chairman of All Progressives Congress Governor’s Forum, his patriotic contributions to National politics directly favoring the South East and called for a vote of thanks and confidence for this great son of Imo State. The motion was ably moved by Hon. Tochi Okere and seconded on behalf of the Imo State House of Assembly by Hon. Otuibe representing Ezinihitte Mbaise State Constituency.
The Governor in accepting the numerous accolades stated that he is further encouraged by the fact that his “Landlord” has given a good testimony of his stewardship and tenancy at the Douglas House. A visibly elated and excited Governor nostalgically relayed his memory lane as a young man who together with great sons of Owerri zone, made it possible for Orlu son to become the Governor through a brotherly consideration by Owerri Zone leaders who are of the opinion that Orlu zone was lacking behind in infrastructural and material resources. He revealed that it would have been impossible for Orlu zone to produced the Governor of Imo State in the person of Chief Achike Udenwa in 1999 without that concession by Owerri zone. He thanked Owerri zone for that brotherly sacrifice which resulted in Orlu producing the Governor for almost 24 years out of the 28 years since 1999. He loudly and repeatedly stated that “I believe in the Charter of Equity, I still believe in the Charter of Equity.” Governor Uzodinma strongly believes that the Charter will rotate the Governorship to Owerri zone in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice apart from the urgent need for reciprocity.
He however, urged Owerri Zone leaders to work together in one voice and present a formidable leadership platform that will galvanize, reconcile and push the actualization of the Charter of Equity in their favor rather than being divisive and vulnerable to external and internal influences as always. He warned that power is not given, but taken and therefore admonished the zone to make sure that their zone is peaceful at all times to enable them realise their expectations.
He also urged Imo Harmony Project to continue to harmonize all interest groups and leaders at all levels and continue in the quite consultations and bridge building messages among other zones without heating up the polity to enable him provide governance for the remaining three years. He thanked a the Stakeholders for the unique support Owerri zone has given him in the past and assured them that as long as he remains part of them, God will use him to entrench fairness to all because God did not make a mistake in bringing him in as the Governor at this time.
Then the final advice and password-
“UNITE BEFORE YOU COME BACK AGAIN”
So IHP & OZOPOLF over to you. A word is enough for the wise !!!
Thereafter, the Governor had a group photograph with the IHP and other stakeholders.
EPILOGUE
The above narrative is the true reflection of what really transpired at the meeting and I stand to be corrected. It is therefore really surprising that some anti Owerri zone sentiments and interest groups mischievously presented a different narrative of the meeting in the social media. More worrisome is Chief Declan Emelumba’s killing of the real objective and reason for the meeting but took extra interest in the escalation of an irrelevant debate on whether the Charter of Equity is a law or not and syndicated it in most local tabloids in the State. A normal and professional Commissioner for Information, I believe, should be more circumspect in escalating government’s achievements, policies and political directions rather than trying to demarket political issues in which his boss, the Governor and his government has taken a position. It is quite elementary that the Imo State Council of Elders is a creation of the law passed by the House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor. The Imo State Council of Elders therefore being a body backed by law, is the highest advisory body in the State and in the performance of their sacred duty, proposed a Charter of Equity to foster a peaceful and brotherly mode of of power transition as it concerns the three senatorial zones in the State. The Charter had received enormous acceptance from the Traditional Rulers, the entire Clergy, Critical stakeholders. This led to a State Inter-denominational Thanksgiving Service organized by the State and Clergy to present the Charter before God, and with the Bible in his hand, His Excellency, the Governor promised to implement it for peace and fairness. The Charter was on that solemn occasion adopted on the alter of God.
Earlier, the Imo State Elders Council had visited the Governor to present the Council’s resolution, recommendations and advice on the Charter of Equity at the government house. The Governor in his response promised to ensure that Owerri Zone succeeds him in 2028, in keeping faith with his promise to God.
God gives power through human beings as earthly agents who must act according to the will of God and not of man at the appointed time. It is therefore, our fervent hope and prayer that Imolites shall become bonded once again as brothers and sisters with the eventual implementation of the Charter of Equity in 2027 to the glory of God Almighty.
Willie Amadi
Chairman, Social Media, IHP.
