How Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma Overcame & Rebranded Imo APC

When Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2018, the Imo chapter was a hard sell and in total disarray because of the excesses of one man, who came with promises of Heaven on Earth but ended up in despoiling and ruining the State in record-breaking manner.

Then, the APC in Imo was a one-man show, one-family and cronies affair, without internal democracy, without discipline, without cohesion and quite authoritarian.

Many bad things were done by the then APC government. Imo treasury was looted like there will be no tomorrow. Corruption was formalized with phoney contracts and construction of plentiful “Chinese Roads,”‘ which were washed away almost immediately by the rains. The Imo APC Government then called it “acid rain,” nothing we did not hear.

Imo people were abandoned and poverty tormented them including the civil servants – who dressed smartly with odious body odour and empty stomach because they were owed and salaries got halved including working days.

Teachers, civil servants were converted to farmers without implements.

The State Secretriat became a shadow of itself as the slim hope of revival was dimmed by the “Imperial lord, ” whose word was the rule. Civil Servants stagnated in abject poverty, many died. Pensioners went to hell and preferred hell to earth because in Imo then, there was more hell in intensity and capacity.

Instead of people and politicians defecting to the APC – the ruling party, people were leaving it in droves.

There was total confusion, things fell apart, coalitions emerged and the stage was set for a protracted battle.

State resources were deployed, some gullible youths were recruited for the battle. Students were angry, market men and women were angry. There was so much corruption and stolen wealth was flaunted with impunity.

Imo people were circumnavigated and deceived with much talk without walk, fake State anthem that could not motivate. They loathed them – I mean “ndi agburu anyi – stock” and their APC with passion. The clamour for real change filled the air. It was so much that it attracted the attention of the Almighty God, who gave us Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma.

Then began a New Era of Hope. Like a man with a vision, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma came prepared. At Art Nouveau Event Centre, Port Harcourt Road, he unveiled his manifesto, his vision and plans for Imo people.

He promised Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. He promised to do things differently by instituting a paradigm shift. He vowed that it will not be business as usual.

He was the APC gubernatorial candidate without any support from the APC-led Imo State Government, it was hurting but he marched on with hope.  He was mocked and scandalized by those that should have supported him and denied access to state facilities like stadium but he kept pressing forward.

There was media blackout on him especially by the local press but the NewsBearer then edited by my very humble self stood in the gap, filled the void and gave him a ready platform.

At Oxygen Hotel, I met him for the first time. He came across as a humble and simple man.   I was impressed and carried away by his charm. He had an exuberant aura and mien that disarmed his opponents. He called me “Editor,” and I called him ” Your Excellency.” Barrister Prince Marcelinus Nlemigbo was also there, right at the beginning when it seemed impossible.

Imo people wanted Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma eagerly because he rescued them from the firm and emasculating grip of one-family government and stopped the plan by the same family to succeed itself. They cried for him, they sang a song for him – ask Dr Felix Ndukwe.

Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, campaigned vigorously across the length and breadth of the State with the message of hope. With the message of a New Dawn. He vowed to defeat the Egyptian taskmasters. He cried: “Pharaoh let my people go!”

Then came the gubernatorial election of 2019. The stage was set. Imo people, the electorate were ready to punish and banish the Egyptian taskmasters and their ilk from Imo political terrain but little did we know that there was another biased Pharaoh then in the mould of compromised Imo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) (I don’t care about his real name), who was steeped in injustice.

The Imo Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) REC then, messed up things by stealing the mandate freely given to Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma by Imo people and bestowing it illegally on the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who never actually met the requirements stipulated by the law.

Uzodimma went to court to challenge the illegality – yes,  he went to court and not to war. After seven months, the desperate Pharaoh, was sacked and his administration declared an illegality by the Supreme Court of Nigeria – but the wailing cannot stop.

The same Supreme Court affirmed the victory of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and declared him the true and real winner of the election.

It was then that the hard trouble started but Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma overcame and today Imo is resplendent and basking in the bliss of Shared Prosperity – that has made everyone a somebody.

Today, the glory of Imo State has been restored with the construction and commissioning of  more than 100 roads apart from other astounding achievements including the recovery of over 800 hectares of stolen and appropriated land by previous administrations and returning same to the original owners, provision of mobile clinics, purging the civil service of ghost workers, payroll thieves and repositioning the civil service for more efficient service delivery with the provision of vehicles to convey civil servants to and fro the State Secretariat,  abrogation of pension for former Governors, their deputies, Speakers and deputy Speakers, which was hitherto, draining the lean resources of the State, transparency and accountability in budget process, creation of employment opportunities for Imo people, recovery of stolen Imo assets, the massive road reconstruction that has been described as “revolution,” by no less a person than President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), recovery of Standard Shoe Factory, K.O Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, containment of insecurity in the State, establishment of Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri.with the help of the Federal Government,

establishment of Naval Base at Oguta, empowerment of Imo youths through the Skill-up Imo Project, activation of Universal Health Coverage for Civil Servants and indigent people, prompt and automated payment of salaries and pension, 13th-month salary, promotion of stagnated civil servants,  dredging of Oguta Lake –Orashi River waterway linking Imo State with the Atlantic Ocean and breaking the landlocked status of the entire Southeast Zone in the process etc.

Today, the lost glory of the All Progressives Congress in the State has been restored as many politicians and Imo people, who have seen the light, make haste to join.

The defections are massive, the list is endless and the momentum is gaining strength.

Imo government is all-inclusive with Imo Elders Council. It is no longer a one – man show or one-family affair alongside embezzlement forces. It is no longer business as usual.

Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, made a promise and has diligently kept it despite all the challenges including politically-motivated insecurity that has cost the State a lot in terms of resources to contain.

Today, Imo APC, has been rebranded, rejuvenated, stabilized and made marketable to Imo people as evidenced by the ongoing membership revalidation exercise that features the issuance of the novel Imo Social Security card and number – another laudable and innovative strategy to reduce poverty in the State – yet accusers of the brethren are pained.

Indeed, accusers of the brethren and enemies of the masses are not happy that Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma is determined to do the right things.

They have alleged that the social security card scheme is an attempt by the State Government to rig the November gubernatorial election because intending new members of the party are required to possss a voter card – arrant nonsense!

What is wrong with a government demanding that citizens should have voter identification card, which is part of their civic rights as citizens and it will enable them participate in the electoral process?

In the United States, a Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents under section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act. The number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration, an independent agency of the United States Government.

I am sure that the United States Government never used and will never use the personal data contained in the card to commit electoral fraud.

Citizens, who successfully registered and got their Imo State Social Benefit Number (IMSSBN) will have access to health insurance, loans and business support from the government. The IMSSBN, will as well generate citizen infopedia.

This programme will help tackle unemployment among the youths, as well as assist the government to make proper planning for the citizens in terms of social welfare packages and provision of social amenities including quality healthcare delivery.

Imolites are therefore encouraged to utilize this opportunity to get their IMSSBN to enable them benefit from the dividends of democracy provided by the state government

Soon and very soon, 10, 000 new teachers will be recruited in Imo State by the Shared Prosperity Administration of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and it is a continuous merry-go-round of dividends of democracy – who can fault that?

God bless Imo State!