Imo: Governor Uzodimma Was Out To Recover Stolen Oil Wells, Deserves Commendation Not Condemnation

OGU BUNDU NWADIKE, M.A

The truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth is that in sustaining the oil well case initiated by the Government of Rivers State, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, was out to recover oil wells that the previous government believed belonged to Imo State.
Instructively, from available records, the Federal Government of Nigeria had ordered that proceeds from the 17 oil wells that were in contention since the era of Chief Achike Udenwa as Imo governor, 1999-2007, be fully paid to Imo State. 

Incidentally, along the lines, the Government of Rivers State took the matter to Court, seeking for the benefits to be withdrawn from Imo State to Rivers State. But Governor Uzodimma said NO! 

The matter ran its course and at the end the Supreme Court ruled against Imo State in favour of Rivers State, despite all the efforts made by Governor Uzodimma to recover the the oil wells. 

It may be recalled that the recovery of all recoverable property belonging to Imo State formed major in Governor Uzodimma’s electioneering campaign promises.

And since assuming office in 2020, the governor has taken up the recovery of all recoverables as a first line charge of his government.

And as it would please God, the governor hasn’t relented and he hasn’t failed in his mission to recover all recoverables.

This may not be the appropriate platform to further highlight the successful recovery of property stolen by a previous governor. It’s an incontrovertible statement of fact. Governor Uzodimma has recovered a lot of property that was stolen from the Government and people of Imo State.

That’s why it’s too unfortunate to see and hear some recalcitrant leaders and members of Imo PDP attacked Governor Uzodimma because the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that the contested oil wells belongs to the Government of Rivers State.

Except for the divine experience of our Lord Jesus Christ, you don’t crucify a doer of good. As far the oil wells matter is concerned, Governor Uzodimma is a doer. He mustn’t be crucified!

The oil wells case was one of the things inherited by Governor Uzodimma from Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. He deemed for and right to pursue since it had to do with the overall good of Ndimo.

It would have been most incongruent for Governor Uzodimma to have jettisoned the process of recovering the oil wells which proceeds were accruing to the State for the benefits of the people.

Ironically, if the governor had put an end to the process of recovering the oil wells, most of the people in the opposition, who are today vilifying their governor for doing the right thing, would have been at the forefront of those that would have been screaming the loudest “crucify him”! Who can please Imo PDP?
So, in any way it’s looked at, the true report is that the governor was out for the good of Imo State by insisting on pursuing at the courts the  benefits of Imo State, which the Government of Rivers State dragged the State to the Supreme Court of Nigeria for judicial clarifications.

It’s unfortunate that the judgement didn’t favour Imo State. But that can’t rubbish or obliterate the governor’s good intentions for Imo State and Imo people.

Governor Uzodimma deserves commendations and not condemnations!

By God’s grace, Imo State is being rehabilitated, reconstructed and recovered by Governor Uzodimma!