Tour Of Uzodimma’s Projects Across The State With Editors Across The Country And The Facts In Issue

NWAMKPA MODESTUS (KSM)

For three days- Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we in the media team of Governor Hope Uzodimma, played host to Editors of National Newspapers and major National Televisions stations across the state on on-the-spot verification and assessment of the numerous projects of Governor Uzodimma since he assumed office. That was part of the programme for the second year anniversary of the Governor.  

Most of the Editors that came, about 60 of them, have not visited Imo State before. According to them, they only read and assess Imo from what they read in the News.  

However, since seeing they say is believing, we invited them over and they turned in their numbers as expected. We did not just want to give them a list of the projects on paper as others before now would want to do. We wanted them to visit every project, see the contractors, know the names of Contracting Companies and of course interview the citizens of host communities, where these projects are situated and hear from them directly. The idea was to be real and factual and that we did for these 3 days.  

We started on Thursday by taking them round the  projects within the Owerri Metropolis and Ohaji/Egbema area on four Coaster and two Hiace buses. We first visited Adalpalm and the New Imo State University of Agriculture at Umuagwo and they saw the massive turnaround of Adalpalm and were briefed by the heads of the institution and company. We came back to Owerri and took them to the following projects: the revamped Otamiri Water Scheme and its reconstructed inner roads. We went to Aba Road, Nekede/Ihiagwa Road, Ihechiuwa/ ShopRite roads, Chukwuma Nwoha/Egbu road and all the adjoining roads around Aladimma. We also took them to see the wonderful Balloon Drainage Technology up to the discharging point at Otamiri River that has addressed the perennial flooding around those areas.  We equally took them to Aba Road, Evan Enwerem Road, Egbeada Bye pass Road and all the Remodeled roundabouts within Owerri capital city. We equally showed them the ongoing second phase of the  Balloon Drainage Technology at Works Layout that is going to solve permanently the flooding issue that had been a problem by channeling all the flood water  around Works Layout, Rapour axis and its environs straight to Nwaorie River. We also took them to the  on-going work at  Umezuruike Hospital  area and the on-going rebuilding of Eke Ukwu Market.  

On Friday, we went to the Orlu zone. We took them to the following areas: the new School of Midwifery at Awomamma, Awo mamma/Okwudor road, Omuma road, the new Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma, where academic activities have started and they met with the students and staff of the school. From there, we took them to the Orlu/ Owerri Road and the IMSUTH Orlu including the IMSUTH Road. Recall that two sets of Medical students were recently graduated after spending over 9 frustrated years without graduation because the school lost accreditation.   On Saturday, we went to Okigwe zone and they saw the St Maris Road, Stadium Road including the Owerri/Okigwe roads. They were also shown the ongoing flood channelization at Amaraku junction up to down Ehime Mbano. There, the Traditional Ruler of Amaraku, HRH Eze Mbamara, described the work as a ‘Revolutionary one’ by Governor Uzodimma and commended the Governor for his great works.  

In fact, the Editors were shocked to see the great achievements of Governor Uzodimma and they were thrilled by the high standard of the constructions. In fact, many of them confessed that they never knew that Governor Uzodimma has achieved this much stating that this was the first time they were seeing a Governor achieve these within just a short time in office.  

Many of them said that before now, they were fed with the wrong narrative about Imo State only hearing bad news about the state like issues of insecurity and political fights. They thanked God that they were invited to see things for themselves. Some even apologized for writing out of ignorance about the Governor and the state in the past with a firm assurance that they would tell the world that Uzodimma is a wonderful working Governor having seen first hand for themselves.  It was a worthwhile experience for most of them.

Above all, they said they were surprised to travel round Imo State for three days and they were not killed nor did they hear gunshots anywhere as they were meant to believe before now. They did not see a state ravaged by insecurity as they were meant to erroneously believe before now. They said they were equally surprised that life was normal and people were happy as they moved around the state.  

 I have returned to my house now and though I was tired and weak, I could not allow the events to pass without forcing myself to put down this report. I doubted if I would make it that night for a get-to-gether with our visitors somewhere within the state before their departure because I was sagged out. It was really three hectic days but it was worth it honestly.  

To God Be The Glory!    

Truthfully Yours, Nwamkpa Modestus is my name and I approve of this factual report.