As Hypocritical As Fabian Ihekweme 

BEN AHANONU

Having read the recent unintelligent piece – so banal and boring, against Governor Uzodimma obviously written by a hireling but signed by the drowning Fabian Ihekweme, with the caption: “IMO CIVIL SERVANTS RENDERED COMPLETELY REDUNDANT AND DELIBERATELY BEING WIPED OUT AND ANNIHILATED BY HOPE UZODINMA,” I saw a traitor and serial liar trying to bamboozle some innocent people, who might be impressionable, with premeditated lies and conjectures against the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma but I know and it is true that light will always outshine darkness and truth, which is constant will always prevail against deliberate falsehood.

The lies are barefaced and with the intent to incite Imo people against the government and cause crisis in the state.

The law enforcement agencies should take note of the divisive activities of this shameless and idle fellow, and be ready to hold him and his co-travellers responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the peaceful Imo State.

It is horrible that a person that bears the title of “Dr” – perhaps awarded, is making a precarious living as a faulty hatchet man.

For hypocritical Fabian Ihekweme to always ignore the good works of the Shared Prosperity Administration of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma but prefer to harp on what his warped mind sees as shortfalls though they are not, shows that he is wicked, selfish and has devilish intentions for Imo people.

One thing certain is that Fabian Ihekweme cannot fight the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. Honestly, it is a funny illusion, a huge and terrible mismatch and wild goose chase because he lacks what it takes – he lacks credibility, he lacks integrity, does not carry clout and lacks the ability.

To those that are clapping for him, I pity you for the fact that you are following a road that leads to nowhere. You are following a self-seeking and desperate man without integrity. You are following a traitor, who is whipping up sentiments with lies and who is fighting for his selfish gain like an ‘agbero’ – and that was what made the Labour Party to become irrelevant in Imo State. The moment Fabian Ihekweme joined the Labour Party – the party imploded. Is this the kind of man that will tell you the truth? Is this the kind of man that will save Imo State? If Fabian Ihekweme could not save the overrated Labour Party how can he save a big State like Imo? His politics and antics are self-seeking. He is unbelievable, a spurned and irredeemable hanger-on.

Let me pause here for the sake of modesty and for the avoidance of verbosity so that I can puncture his recent vicious lies against Governor Uzodimma and government of Imo State.

1. AJJAERO
Our brother, who is also the national president of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, upon emerging as the national leader of the NLC, chose to follow an ignoble path by antagonizing Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma for no just reason except political (instead of working with him) and attempted to impose his brother from Emekuku as Chairman of the Imo State chapter of the NLC, but that was swiftly resisted by the workers and members of the Imo State, NLC, and which resulted in the unfortunate incident that befell him. Joe Ajaero, did not come to fight for the workers because there was nothing to fight for.

2. LAND

Why the disingenuous Fabian Ihekweme is so obsessed with land is best known to him. It seems he is so angry because Gov. Uzodimma has made it impossible for anyone to grab or steal land in Imo State. For the avoidance of doubt, let me clarify that Gov. Uzodimma appointed himself as the Commissioner for lands not because of any selfish interest – never. He did that to stop the nasty corruption that pervaded the Ministry of Lands with the appointees as Commissioners being glaringly unable to withstand the pressure and be above board.
Now the question is why is Fabian Ihekweme making much ado about nothing? Why is he trying to make a mountain out of a molehill? After all, President Tinubu is currently the Minister of petroleum Just like former Presidents Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan and the loquacious Obasanjo were also ministers of petroleum during their tenure.

3. CIVIL SERVANTS AND CIVIL SERVICE

Firstly, let me state categorically that Governor Uzodimma did not cause the present economic hardship and poverty in Nigeria. Every state and everyone is affected so it is not peculiar to Imo State.

Upon assumption of office, Governor Uzodimma dealt with the menace of ghost workers in the State Civil Service and automated the payment of salaries and pension. Today, Imo civil servants and pensioners receive their salaries and pension promptly. Under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, only Imo Civil Servants in the entire country, enjoy free mass transit to and fro the Sate Secretariat. They have also been enrolled in the national health insurance scheme. They receive their full salaries and are being promoted, while working in a Secretariat that has been fully renovated and made conducive for maximum productivity. Of a truth, there are certain civil servants that have issues with payment of salaries but they are quite a few in number and I believe that the state government in her magnanimity, will treat their cases favourably but based on genuineness because some falsified their age and have overstayed in the civil service.

About the new NGN 70, 000, minimum wage, Governor Uzodimma never said overtly or covertly that he Will Not pay it. Government has bureaucratic procedures and I know that shortly the caring Governor of Imo State, will address the issue in a way that Imo Civil Servants will be happy. Although civil servants all over the world are like Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens – as they are always insatiable.

Governor Uzodimma loves Imo people including Civil Servants and he means it.

Then you begin to wonder what Fabian Ihekweme is purporting? Absolute nonsense.

For clarity, Fabian Ihekweme should know that it was during the administration of Rochas Okorocha that Civil Servants were made redundant and underpaid – not now.

4. UNEMPLOYMENT
Government does not create jobs. Government only provides the enabling environment for businesses to thrive, boost the economy and create employment opportunities. Fabian Ihekweme, claims to be educated but continues to display irritating mediocrity by failing to understand the elementary economics that the private sector, drives the economy, creates jobs and boosts the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Those states with high employment level like Lagos with seaports, Ogun, Rivers with seaports and headquarters of the Nigerian oil industry, even including Kano as he claimed, are more industrialized than Imo State so there is no basis for comparison. However, with the new industrial policy of the Shared Prosperity Administration of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma fully activated, Imo State will soon join the league of industrialized states in Nigeria with functional seaport and attendant benefits.

5. UZODIMMA’S ENGAGEMENTS OUTSIDE THE STATE

They are constitutional and proper. There is no established case of abdication of responsibility. With advancements in Information, Communication and Technology, ICT, the art of governance is no longer limited to a particular place or space. For instance, during the time COVID-19 pandemic was ravaging the whole world, ICT was fully deployed to run businesses and government activities all over the world. That was when virtual meeting and virtual church came into existence and will not stop soon. Often, the Federal Executive Council meeting was conducted virtually during the Buhari administration.
Imo State government has various agencies, departments, ministries, appointees and a deputy Governor. The work of Governor Uzodimma is mainly supervisory and other official state engagements that are not limited to Owerri – the capital city. Fabian Ihekweme should stop making a mockery of himself. Gov. Uzodimma is fully in charge.
For those that do not know, Imo State has a massive government house with many offices in the Abuja Central Business District, CBD, called Imo House, from where the Governor can operate, when necessary and as duty calls. I have been there. The same thing is applicable to Lagos, where the Imo State Liaison Office can be used to carry out the functions of government, when duty calls.

It is also true that before Governor Uzodimma became the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, PGF, he was not moving out of the State as such. The present situation is a result of the position he occupies in the country. Imagine how it would look like if the Chairman of the PGF was not present during a crucial election like the just concluded Ondo gubernatorial election. The most important thing is that there is no disruption in the governance of Imo State as it has nothing to do with the physical presence of the Governor every day. In fact, Ihekweme should stop playing to the gallery and begin to make positive impact. He should stop chasing shadows.

6. INSECURITY

In Nigeria today, insecurity is a national dilemma, which is neither peculiar nor limited to Imo State. The good news is that Governor Uzodimma is working diligently to ensure that Imo people and other residents are safe and adequately protected.

7. BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PRUDENCE

Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma is a smart and intelligent administrator. He knows the rules and the right things to do, which he is doing assiduously and poised to give a good account of his stewardship. Uzodimma is the only Governor that constantly evaluates the performance of his aides especially regarding transparency and financial prudence. His principle is clear: ” Do the right thing or get fired,” Fabian Ihekweme can attest to that.

Governor Uzodimma has zero tolerance for corruption and I advise the likes of Fabian Ihekweme to stop wasting their time because Uzodimma will shock them with clean and outstanding records at the end of his administration.

This is a Governor, who was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years and was wealthy before he became a senator and Governor. He is NOT greedy. He has seen it all hence not moved by anything. I am talking of “Onwa Oyoko,” “Omena Dollar.”
In conclusion, I urge Imo people to be wary of misleading falsehoods. Imo State under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma is on the right trajectory. There is no need for pessimism.

God bless Imo State.

I’m Hon. Prince Ben AHANONU radiating from the jungle…