By Ogu Bundu Nwadike, M.A
In the spirit of the celebration of the first six months in office of the governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, KSC, FNIFST, governor of Imo State, citizens of the State have been applauding and commending him for his achievements so far.
The latest is the presentation of the far-reaching 2020 Budget of Rebuilding which spells boom for the State and the people. Also new in the catalogue of achievements is the additional roads in Imo State which contract has just been awarded. These and more give reasons for Ndimo to be happy!
Ahiajoku Lecture Series holds from Friday, November 29 to Saturday, November 30. It’s the 40th anniversary of the annual pan-Igbo festival of arts and culture.
The National Sports Summit holds at the Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri Thursday, November 28 and November 29. The mascot for Edo 2020 National Sports Festival was unveiled with the Minister of Sports, Dr. Sunday Dare in attendance with Dr. Amos Adamu, Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and a host of other international sports administrators.
Many good things are happening in Imo State within the first six months of the RebuildImo administration of Gov. Ihedioha. Imo people are happy and rejoicing!
The reasons for Ndimo appreciating their governor are now shifting from numerous to innumerable. They range from Gov. Inedioha steadily stabilizing the State, which was so fractious and quite tensive since the turn of the year 2019.
There’s palpable calm, peaceful and peaceable disposition among the people across the State. It’s not 100% but appreciable level of tranquility is observable just as the frayed nerves and high tension in the polity are steadily waning!
Also, the successful restoration of the civil service and the pension system, together with the local government system were adduced as other set of reasons for the eulogy the people are pouring upon their governor. Gratitude for good work well done is scriptural and very much allowed!
Indeed, for so long a time, Imo civil service, pensions, and local government systems laid in a waste, waiting for a Nehemiah. Civil servants at the State and local government levels kept losing faith, trust and confidence in the government.
While the local government system was pocketed, suppressed and repressed by the immediate past ex-governor, the civil servants suffered the bizzare experience of no leave, no transfer. Salary was cut to 70% and pension was cut to 40% by ex-governor.
All wasn’t well at all with local government, civil service and pension system in Imo State as at May 29, 2019. That’s an unarguable and incontrovertible truth!
But since Gov. Ihedioha assumed office on May 29, the difference is clear. I can see everything turning around for the good of Imo State. Everything is becoming all right. The governor is restoring joy and happiness in the lives of Imo people!
In the entire 27 LGAs of the State right now within the first six months in office, there are various projects that are designed to enhance job opportunities, higher productivities, and wealth creation. Things are really looking good for the best!
The administrative office complexes, the mini-stadiums and desk and chairs, the building projects are fastly going on simultaneously in all the 27 LGAs of the State. This has gainfully engaged a lot of youths in activities that now put money in their pockets in daily, weekly and monthly basis!
The 700 autonomous communities and people of the 27 LGAs are thanking God and praising Gov. Ihedioha for restoring life to the local government system. They very much appreciate the consequent return of economic activities in the rural areas. Hitherto long face and swollen red eyes of rural Imolites are getting clear and normal again!
The people of Okporo Orlu, Osu Mbano, Owerri, Ahiazu Mbaise and indeed all well-meaning Imolites are applauding and commending Gov. Ihedioha for restoring the technical colleges in the areas and by extension in the State. They understand the salient political, social and economic significances, implications and consequences of restoring the technical colleges.
Indeed, reconstruction, renovation and refurbishing work are ongoing at a fast pace in those vocational training and technical skills acquisition institutions across the State. Above everything else, it portends a great future for Imo youths and greater tomorrows!
The people of Ideato nation are giving God glory, and thanks to Gov. Ihedioha, because of the various ways the RebuildImo administration has favoured them. And in all sincerity, Ideato nation has been duly favoured by the Ihedioha administration!
In Ezemazu Urualla, in Ideato North, for example, the life threatening erosion menace in the area is receiving necessary attention, courtesy of the N500 million counterpart funding paid by Gov. Ihedioha.
Also, Ideato nation is happy and rejoicing because of the restoration of public electricity supply to parts of Ideato North and Ideato South that were disconnected since 2011.
The power sub-station in Ideato nation has been receiving attention and should be commissioned soon to enhance the quantity and quality of electricity supply both in Ideato nation and other parts of the State bring serviced by the power sub-station.
Similarly, the people of Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema LGAs have reason to praise the Lord. Gov. Ihedioha has favoured them in several pleasant ways. Electricity has been restored in parts of the areas where there’s not been light for years. Security has been fortified in the areas. And ISOPADEC has been granted autonomy. Job opportunities are opening for numerous youths and people of the areas.
The employment portals have been opened in Imo State and about 5000 people will be engage in the State civil service, via the Ministry of Education, very soon, after the applications and other processes are completed.
Contract tenders are being advertised on the newspapers and Imolites are filing their bids, with a hope of some getting the contracts. And indeed a number of contractors have been shortlisted, interviewed and awarded various categories of contracts and more are warming up to be patronized by the government!
The safety and security to lives and property in Imo State has been receiving tremendous improvement brand new patrol vans were recently provided in large numbers by the 27 LGAs with the support of the State Government for the security agencies to enhance their work in the State!
With the inauguaration of the “Operation Iron Gate” in the State, coordinated by the security agencies, criminals and hoodlums have been served quit notice or jail alternatives on apprehension by the adequately empowered men of the various security agencies in the State.
In short, if any sincere person looks around, he or she must see enough reasons to give God praises for the efforts of Gov. Ihedioha in Imo State within his first six months in office! No sector is left behind. The indicators of social and economic growth and development are blinking everywhere in the State, particularly in and around the capital, Owerri.
It’s not the purpose of this short essay to itemize the achievements of Gov. Ihedioha. As I hinted earlier, it’s got to an extent where the appropriate word for them is “innumerable”!
The good prayer is for God that started the RebuildImo Project to perfect it and see it good success in the order of Nehemiah and Zerubbabel. In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord! Amen!
By the grace of the same Almighty God, that liberated Imo people from strange the bondage of 2011-2019, Imo State is being rebuilt in earnest and with all sincerity by Gov. Ihedioha. To God be the glory!
