Why Uzodimma Remains The Best Governor In Nigeria

BEN AHANONU 

Firstly, Iet me address the issue of Osita Okechukwu (former director general of the ill-fated and non-functional Voice of Nigeria, VON), who has chosen the path of infamy and odious stupidity by engaging in distasteful and vitriolic attack on the esteemed personality of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma because of the well-conducted Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship primary election by a committee headed by the Imo State Governor and which produced a clear winner.

The other things that happened in the wake of it are all common Nigerian political shenanigans that are not peculiar to the APC but the disturbing angle is why the sacked and tactless Osita Okechukwu, (who at one point in time, was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged conspiracy, abuse of office, and misuse of N1.3 billion), will want to single out Governor Uzodimma for rash criticism.

Interestingly, it has been established that Osita Okechukwu, who failed at VON by making it literally non-existent and also failed in his bid to replace the jailed Ike Ekweremadu at the Senate, is in serious pain and abject frustration because Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma chose Uche Nnaji instead of him for ministerial nomination.

Osita Okechukwu, a man with borrowed bravado that succumbs to despair when convulsing hopelessly with envy like a deranged fellow, can only smear, mud-sling and rant like an ant but cannot undo or rubbish the impeccable achievements of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma both as a two-term Senator and Governor. He cannot and will never attain the height of Uzodimma in terms of accomplishments in life.

I therefore see Osita Okechukwu as a drowning man desperately in need of a dramatic rescue that is why he is engaging in futile and spineless criticism of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, who as the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, used his good offices to broker peace between Igbos and Yorubas in Lagos thus dousing a conflagration that would have consumed the country.

In fact, there is no reason why the inconsequential Osita Okechukwu, (both in physical appearance and achievements) will challenge or castigate Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma – who is currently the best Governor in Nigeria and a recognized national leader with intimidating accomplishments.

I therefore warn Osita Okechukwu henceforth, to desist from such inglorious effort otherwise he will suffer the same fate as others that tried to scorn Uzodimma but ended in the pit of irredeemable ignominy and opprobrium.

Now, let me dwell on why Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma is the best Governor in Nigeria.

While there are many political leaders (some ambitious, some desperate), very few, sadly can be described as good leaders due to the fact that many appear to be quite deficient in some of the most essential qualities of a good leader, such as integrity and accountability.

Without doubt the word “politician” has many negative connotations in the world today and particularly in Nigeria, where it is seen – rightly or wrongly by many as a “dirty game” and this is buttressed by the fact that not many politicians possess good leadership qualities.

Fact however remains that political leaders are vital as they determine the allocation of power and resources and make decisions that can have major effect on a country’s well-being and its citizens.

According to experts: “Political leadership requires a leader to focus on a country’s long-term betterment, above and beyond any short-term personal gains. Strong political leadership requires a mixture of charm and honesty and the capacity to evaluate a circumstance and make a judgment based on what will be better for the majority.”

The foregoing is quite instructive as leadership in a democratic system needs statesmanship – which implies possessing integrity and ability to stand up for what is fair, even if it means resigning a government post or losing an election.

Since assumption of office as the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has consistently delivered good governance with passion and visionary dream.

Indeed, every successful leader has a visionary dream and understands how to turn his visions into success stories in the modern world.

Gov. Uzodimma, came with the 3-R Vision, which is the fulcrum of his government of Shared Prosperity and as a good communicator he has succeeded in communicating his vision clearly to Imo people, while ensuring that he delivers on it.

It was not easy for a Governor to mount the saddle without handover note by the previous and illegal regime that left virtually an empty treasury but Uzodimma was neither daunted, nor cowed by the deliberate treachery of the illegal administration of Chief Emeka Ihedioha. Instead, he rose to the occasion and decisively contained the challenges of COVID-19, the EndSARS Protest, unknown gunmen and politically-motivated insecurity.

Conscious of his avowal to reposition Imo State and turn it into a modern and beautiful State, Uzodimma embarked on many developmental projects including massive road reconstruction.

One interesting thing is that even as Gov. Uzodimma is initiating and completing these projects, he is not incurring debts – yes, he is not, instead, he is settling backlog of debts owed by past administrations and a case in point is the payment of N1.6 billion naira debt that enabled the recovery of Imo Standard Shoe Factory from Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.

Uzodimma is the best Governor in Nigeria because he has zero tolerance for corruption and has proven that with his transparent, visionary and sacrificial leadership.

Uzodimma is the best Governor in Nigeria because he is the only Governor that attracted a seaport and Naval Base at Oguta and ensured that Alvan Ikoku College of Education was made a full-fledged University.

Uzodimma is the best Governor in Nigeria because, he believes in a united and prosperous Nigeria. He is also working hard to position Imo State on the trajectory of enduring prosperity and socio-economic development.

Uzodimma is the best Governor in Nigeria because he is the first and only Governor of Imo State that abolished the payment of pension to former Governors, deputy Governors, Speakers, etcetera, which for many years, drained funds from Imo State Government budget.

Uzodimma is the best Governor in Nigeria because he is neither grabbing land nor stealing public funds instead, he is recovering land and money stolen by thieves in power and returning all to the rightful owners.

Following the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Land and Related Matters, Governor Uzodimma handed over more than 2,000 plots of land to the original owners.

Through the efforts of the Shared Prosperity Administration, many institutions have reclaimed their lost assets.

For instance, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education has recovered Alvan Quarters. The Magistrate Court quarters and many other property belonging to various institutions in the State including the designated new Government House Layout have been recovered.

The famous Eke Ukwu Owerri Market, which is the ancestral market of Owerri people, was equally recovered and now being reconstructed.

The Imo State Rubber Plantations, which were illegally ceded to private operators and cronies of the previous administration, have been recovered.

No doubt, Gov. Uzodimma remains outstanding as the best Governor in Nigeria and he attained such enviable position because he is a man of peace, but of great determination.

He is a man of integrity and great achievements. He is a man, that wants the best for his people and ready to make personal sacrifices for the good of the masses.

Gov. Uzodimma, is a kind-hearted man, who hates violence and shedding of blood. He loves his fellow human being, loves Imo people, loves his party – our great party, APC, loves his country,  loves his God.

Gov Uzodimma is never greedy. He is always contented and that is why his greatest investment is in human capacity development. He believes in making/building men and future leaders that is why he has no personal housing estate anywhere in Nigeria and proud to declare his transparency as Governor, which is spot-on.

Accordingly, leaders excel because they hold to their basic principles and convictions but that will not be possible without ethics – such is true of Gov Uzodimma – a principled leader,  fully embedded with ethical and moral uprightness – totally focused on attainment of goals and excellence in public service.

Meantime, Gov. Uzodimma, has promised that he will not only sustain the tempo of his achievements in the past fours but triple the record in his second term of office.

This is as the Governor has declared 2024, a year of action, prosperity, physical and mental well-being for Imo people in particular and Nigeria in general, despite the temporary economic challenges.

Uzodimma has also assured that the performance of his administration in the past four years would be a child’s play when compared to what will happen in the next four years.

In fact, for brevity purposes, I only mentioned some of Gov. Uzodimma’s achievements because if I should go ahead to list all of them including but not limited to the reconstruction and furnishing of Imo State House of Assembly Complex, rehabilitation of 305 health centres in the 305 electoral wards of Imo State, provision of mobile clinics, his largesse and benevolence to civil servants and other Imo workers, pensioners, students and thousands of Imo youths, who are skilling-up and getting empowered by Gov. Uzodimma, this space cannot contain it.

Now you can see why Uzodimma is truly, the best Governor in Nigeria.

To God Almighty be all the glory!

– Hon. Prince Ben Ahanonu is former Special Adviser (CSDP) to the Governor of Imo State.