18042021 - Ex-Gov Aliyu Lied, not all northern govs worked against Jonathan in 2015

Inside Uzodinma's road revolution
By James Okere
ONE of the key advantages of being
prepared for leadership and being
conversant with the critical needs of the
people is that such a leader does not grope in
the dark when entrusted with the
leadership position. In fact, a would be
governor who already had his programmes
tailored to capture the essential needs of the
people of the state only hits the ground
running, no matter the distractions,
including financial challenges. That
explains why Governor Hope Uzodinma did
not waste time in prosecuting his
developmental agenda for Imo state. Not
only was he prepared for the exalted office,
he was a “home boy” who virtually spent
his years among the people, knowing as it
were, their expectations from government.
Perhaps in the din of the rancorous
campaign among the candidates in 2019,
many may not have actually paid much
attention to Uzodinma’s development
agenda encapsulated in the 3Rs of
Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and
Recovery. In his detailed manifesto tailored
alongside that of the ruling APC, Uzodinma
pledged to recover Imo state from the cesspit
of corruption and dictatorship it had been
enmeshed. He promised to rehabilitate the
decayed infrastructure. He gave his word
to reconstruct the state including the psyche
of civil servants that had been battered
beyond the ordinary. He needed just two
critical factors to see through those lofty
promises: Will power and finance.
Whereas he had the former in excess,
finance was a stumbling block. But
believing that where there is a will, there
must be a way, Uzodinma confronted the
developmental challenges facing him.
Although he inherited an empty treasury
without even the luxury of a handover
note, the governor marched on sustained
by hope and faith. One of the key areas that
needed immediate attention was road
reconstruction. Prior to January 2020,
almost all the roads traversing the state
were death traps in a comatose state. Flood
had sacked many residents. Movement of
services and foods was faster than the speed
of a snail and to make matters worse, the
economy was negatively affected since
majority of the citizens relied on commerce
for survival. Those in the estate business
abandoned themselves to fate because
patronage was at the lowest ebb. They just
couldn’t force tenants to live in flooded areas
with the attendant health hazards and
mobility quagmire.
Interestingly, many citizens heaped the
blame of the bad roads on Uzodinma. That
was not misplaced, afterall, he is the sitting
governor. They conveniently suffered
collective amnesia and chose to forget that
for more than 20 years the problem had
become systemic. With the calmness of a
Bishop, the governor promised to fix the
roads as soon as the rains were over. He told
them that the burden of bad roads midwifed
by past administrations will be lifted from
their shoulders at the advent of the dry
season. As a man whose word is his bond,
the Imo State governor walked the talk by
awarding contracts for the construction,
reconstruction and rehabilitation of 46
roads across the state. At the last count, 22
of the roads have been completed and
commissioned.
These roads include Oparanozie Street,
Amaigbo Street, Edede Street, Lake
Nwaebere Street, Olokoro Street, Umuahia
Street, Okeikpe Street, Arugo Street,
Egbema Street, Ngwa Street, Douglas Road,
JP Ajaelu Street and Thomas Moore Street.
Others are Gozie Nwachukwu Street,
Archdeacon Dennis Road, Aladimna,
Assumpta/Ibariogwa Port Harcourt Road,
Federal Secretariat Road, now renamed
Muhammadu Buhari Drive, Dick Tiger
Road, Dick Tiger Street, Akachi Road now
Evan Enwerem way, Relief Market Road
and Chukwuma Nwoha Road. The harvest
of roads is the product of the commitment of
the shared prosperity Government of Gov
Hope Uzodinma to change the lives of Imo
people and resuscitate the economy.
Although those using the roads have
already testified to the positive changes
brought about in the conduct of their
businesses, the government deemed it fit to
invite prominent Nigerians to also bear
witness to what Uzodinma has done with
•How efforts are reviving Imo economy
•Uzodinma
the resources of the state within his one year
in office. President Muhammadu Buhari was
the first to open the floodgate of visitors/
witnesses to Imo to behold the road
revolution wrought by the shared
prosperity government of Senator
Uzodinma. As part of activities making the
one year in office of the governor, the
President virtually commissioned the
Federal Secretariat Road which was fittingly
named after him. Not surprised that Hope
Uzodinma had touched positively the lives
of Imo people within just 365 days in office,
Buhari proudly proclaimed the governor
as a shining example of what an APC
product and government can do in and for
Nigeria.
The President was not alone in his effusive
praise of the governor after the evaluation
of his progress report as exemplified in those
brand-new roads. His ever loyal deputy,
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of
Nigeria visited Imo twice in a space of two
weeks to endorse the governor for a job well
done. First, he came calling during the
official thanksgiving marking the one year
anniversary of the Hope’s administration.
The security breaches that occurred in Imo
penultimate week almost marred the
second visit of the Vice President. But the
That spirit of doing
more for the people
apparently galvanized
Gov Uzodinma to
invite his brother
Governor, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi of Ekiti State
to commission the
historical Chukwuma
Nwoha Road in
Owerri
gentle Professor was not deterred. On the
6th of April, he landed in Owerri to also
commission some roads and bear testimony
to the road revolution of the governor. Apart
from stressing the economic importance of
the roads, the Vice President urged the
people of Imo to hold fast to their governor
because of his zealous commitment to their
welfare. He was also happy that the
governor understood perfectly the needs of
the people and was resolute in delivering
democracy dividends to them. He therefore
urged all, especially the youths to give peace
a chance, noting that there can never be
any development in the absence of peace.
Whereas the Vice President downplayed
the unfortunate events of the previous day,
choosing instead to wave the flag of peace,
the Senate President, Alhaji Ahmad Lawan
was not that diplomatic. He fingered
enemies of the federal and state government
for being responsible for the security
breaches so as to take away the shine from
the glorious one year anniversary of the
Governor. Warning such people to desist
SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 18, 2021, PAGE 23
from their evil ways, the Senate President
commended Hope Uzodinma for refusing to
be distracted by the antics of the opposition,
but had gone ahead to deliver quality roads
to boost the economic fortunes of the state
and ease the movement of human, goods
and services across the state. He however
urged the people of the state to guard
jealously facilities of the government so as
to encourage the government to do more
for them.
That spirit of doing more for the people
apparently galvanized Gov Uzodinma to
invite his brother Governor, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi of Ekiti State to commission the
historical Chukwuma Nwoha Road in
Owerri. The history behind the road is that
it had been abandoned by successive
administrations in the last 20 years. The
road was named after a member of the
conquering Golden Eaglets of 1985. Flood
had driven out the residents away.
Landlords lost their property and income.
Tenants avoided the area like a plaque.
Despite its strategic importance in diverting
traffic from the city centre to Imo state
University and Okigwe Road, Chukwuma
Nwoha was desolate. But Uzodinma
changed the narrative. Apart from
recovering and reconstructing the road,
Uzodinma made it a dual carriageway. And
Fayemi, the Chairman of the Governor’s
Forum was carried away by the beauty and
splendor of the new road. While applauding
his Imo counterpart for redeeming his
campaign promises, the Ekiti State
governor praised Uzodinma for this
judicious use of state resources for the good
of the majority.
Although, Uzodinma had been upbeat in
the commissioning of all the roads since the
commencement of his one year
anniversary, that of Chukwuma Nwoha
was emotional for him as evidenced in the
speech he delivered at the ceremony.
Indeed the speech captured his vision to Imo
people especially the youths, asking them
to remain peaceful and supportive of his
government to enhance the opportunity of
more democracy dividends.
Hear him, “Today marks another
watershed in our matchless developmental
efforts, especially in the area of
Infrastructures. Today, we are practically
commissioning a brand new dualised
Chukwuma Nwoha road which had been
surrendered to flood and other ecological
processes before we came on board. We all
know how residents had deserted this road
before we embarked on its holistic
rehabilitation. Both landlords and tenants
had their tales of woes, yet their cries didn’t
reach the ears of previous administrations.
This particular commissioning is
heartwarming because this road is named
in honour of Chukwuma Nwoha, who as a
teenager was among the youngsters that
made the nation proud by winning the
under 17 world Cup in China in 1985. In
essence Chukwuma Nwoha road ought to
reverbrate a sense of national pride and
inspiration on its users. It should remind
them how our young Eaglets made us all
proud in far away China 36 years ago. It
should also inspire the younger ones to
strive to be immortalized like Chukwuma
Nwoha. But all that will be only when the
road is a delightful motorway to road users.
Unfortunately in the past 20 years, the
opposite was the case. What we had instead
was a stretch of stagnant pond water that
severed this critical Chukwuma Nwoha
link road, connecting MCC road to Egbu road.
Indeed what we met on ground was a great
eyesore and a big shame on our national
psyche. To the glory of God, that is now
history. We have not only recovered the
road but we have made it a brand new one
by turning it into a dual carriage way to
take more traffic off the ever busy Egbu road.
In our shared prosperity agenda,
encapsulated in the three RS of
Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and
Recovery, roads are important component
because of their socioeconomic benefits to
our people.
Apart from relieving residents the burden
of restlessness occasioned by flooding,t his
road relieves pressure from the city centre
as motorists coming from Umuahia, Mbaise
and Emekuku can easily pass through
Chukwuma Nwoha to IMSU , Okigwe road,
Orji and other parts of the city. Today, the
chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, His
Excellency, Dr Kayode Fayemi is here live
to commission this important road. He is
again bearing witness to our total
commitment to the service of our people
through provision of critical infrastructure.
President Muhammadu Buhari opened the
floodgate of harvest of roads followed by the
vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. The
Senate President, Alhaji Ahmad Lawan was
also here last week. As we have more than
46 roads fully completed or under
construction, it means that more
distinguished Nigerians will be touching
base with Imo State to bear witness to what
we have done in just one year.
What it means is that under a conducive
environment devoid of violence,
unnecessary distractions and malicious
political shenanigans, this government
would more than deliver on its mandate to
transform Imo State. It also means that Imo
State will only continue to march on
triumphantly to better and better years
ahead. Even more importantly, it signals
the irreversible end to the days suffocating
hardship in the land of “New Egypt”,
because we have made sure that NEVER
AGAIN, shall our people return to Egypt.
May I therefore use this opportunity to
appeal to our youths to give peace a chance
by refraining from being willing tools in
the hands of enemies of our state and
country. Since there can never be progress
without peace, all our people should
recommit to building an enduring society
where we shall pursue our legitimate
undertakings in peace”.
With 22 roads already completed and
commissioned, and 24 more awaiting
completion, Uzodinma has served notice
that his road revolution is not a fluke but a
sustainable programme designed to
transform the socio-economic lives of the
people. It is gratifying that these roads are
not concentrated only on the urban centers.
The rural areas are also beneficiaries. It is
even more gratifying that among the roads
under construction are the Owerri-Okigwe
and Owerri Orlu roads which are dual
carriageways that would connect the
capital city to the other senatorial districts
of Okigwe and Orlu and by extension
neighbouring states of Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi
and Anambra states. The two roads which
are going to be the signature projects of the
current administration more than speak
eloquently of the desire of Uzodinma to
return Imo to its true pride of place as the
Eastern Heartland of the Igbo nation.
Bandits now
targeting Igbo, say
Ibo Senior Citizens
By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI.
THE insecurity bedeviling Nigeria
and attendant loss of lives and
means of livelihood is giving Ibo Senior
Citizens’ Affairs Foundation, ISCAF, sleepless
nights.
The senior citizens are also irked that
“this hellish situation, which has taken
away the joy and hope of many families
in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria,
has continued unabated”.
ISCAF President and Bishop of Friends
of Jesus Global Mission, Rt. Rev. Dr. Maglorious
Enyioha, made the group’s feelings
known, during a press conference in
Owerri.
His words: “The saddest aspect of the
whole scenario is that Ndigbo, a people
that have suffered untold and unmitigated
pains, resulting from marginalization,
deprivation and deliberate exclusion
from membership of the circle of Nigeria’s
service chiefs that implement the
nation’s policies on security, have become
targets for faceless gunmen, herdsmen
and others, who shed innocent blood at
will.
“Recently, herdsmen invaded a community
in the northern fringes of Enugu
State, in the night, killing and maiming
scores of Ndigbo.
“Apart from Enugu State, all the states
that make up the old Eastern Region,
have lost lives to senseless killings, organized
by herdsmen and other classes of
murderers, simply described as unknown
gunmen, in a nation that boasts of gallant
and paramilitary forces.”
While lamenting that the other day, it
was Obigbo in Rivers State, the Bishop
equally grieved that “a fortnight ago, it
was the turn of Orlu, in Imo State, and
just last week, hell was let loose in Ebonyi
State and of course, by who?”