BY: CHIEDU UZODINMA
For Emeka Ihedioha, Governor Elect, Imo State, victory at the Imo governorship election could be heartwarming but at the same time confer enormous responsibility on him. Navigating the ship of governance of a State as complex and dynamic as Imo can be intriguing. It’s a mixed grill.
In his victory speech in Owerri recently, he announced his zeal to take Imo State to the next level. He promised an inclusive government, perhaps to douse rising suspicion of likely dominance of his administration by his Mbaise kinsmen.
The Mbaise clan is the largest in Imo State and there are fears they will hold on firmly the levers of power under Ihedioha.Dousing such suspicion by the Governor Elect is a welcome development, a clear indication that he is genuinely committed to a united Imo.
Ihedioha must walk his talk when he assumes office as Governor of Imo State. Okorocha had made so many promises when he became Governor but ended up reneging on some of them. This cost him so much- goodwill and squandering public support. Some of his later day policies were harsh and unacceptable.It dislocated the Imo economy, impoverished the people and made the State a laughing stock.
The erection of statues of no economic value to the State attracted opprobrium for Okorocha’s government and made Imo, a pariah among other States in the federation.
Okorocha may have gotten an average pass mark in providing infrastructure especially in Owerri metropolis but his resort to erecting projects of poor quality remains a sore talking point about his government.However, his projects could re examined, upgraded and improved upon and not totally discarded.
Emeka Ihedioha must set a new foundation for the social rebirth and economic rearmament of the State. The dysfunctional state of Imo as a result of years of poor governance which Okorocha administration accentuated to an unprecedented level requires the urgent attention of the incoming government.
The Governor Elect must devote considerable importance to human capacity development which will lead to the overall welfare and prosperity of an already despondent Imo citizenry. Workers salaries and pension of pensioners which became a privilege under Okorocha must be restored as a right.This will eliminate hunger which ravage the average Imolite.
Steering the State away from a public service driven economy to one propelled by the private sector is a major factor that will change Imo for good, and more importantly restore the happiness of the people. Various sectors of an ailing economy- Education, Health, Youth empowerment require proactive attention.
Since the State lost Aba to Abia State, the commercial nerve centre of the South East, Imo State has been in economic limbo, in dire straits, which has swelled unemployment among the youths and set the State backwards. Industrializing the State is the recipe to get the State on a solid economic rejuvenation.
Ihedioha should give no attention to the multitude of “big men and women”, the political bigshots in Imo State who have been in financial and political wilderness since Okorocha was in power. Imo people crave for a new dawn, a new order. They should not have cause to regret stopping Okorocha’s desperation to foist his son in law as his successor.
This makes the task before Ihedioha enormous and daunting. He must resist the temptation of falling to the whims and caprices of political bigshots who have a pitiable mentality of seeing government as a honey pot to feast on the commonwealth of the people.
Former Governors of the State, Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim, fell prey to the desperation and antics of political big wigs who bestrode the seat of power and leaned on the resources of the State for survival.
Governance is for the people and Ihedioha must realize that Imo people have become so sophisticated and will not brook excuses if he gambles with their expectations. The bitter truth is, so much is expected from the administration of the Governor Elect. The magnitude of the problems facing the State is a call to duty not just to Ihedioha but to those who mean well for our beloved State. An inclusive government which he has promised is indeed a welcome development and a recipe to heal frayed nerves.
The Governor Elect is capable and trusted.He had proved his mettle when he was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives where he made significant and landmark contributions to Nigeria’s socio economic and political advancement. His stay in the House for 12 years was adjudged impressive and remarkable which indicates he is equal to the task in liberating Imo from further ruins.
But he must walk his talk by strongly resisting the pressure of allowing Imo slip again into the bowels of political titans and godfathers.Tolerance must be the watchword of his incoming government. Past PDP governments in Imo State were associated with financial recklessness and lack of prudence in managing Government resources.One believes the State is not returning to such ugly and despicable era.
Ohakim and Okorocha enjoyed overwhelming support from the people when they were in office. Along the line, they went astray. Ohakim lost his compass mid way into his government. He was perhaps carried away by the paraphernalia and lure of public office. It was the same political big heads that came after him when he refused to play ball. This was dovetailed into the public domain which led to the fall of his government that nailed his second term bid.
Okorocha moved in the same pace- earned public appeal and goodwill- but lost his radar when he began his familocracy pattern of governance, a strange and alien system of government strange to the norms of modern democracy.
The Governor Elect has a burden on his hands, a big one for that matter.Expectation are high and results are expected, immediate results for that matter.
Imo people are known to be easy going. But like a tiger, you do not touch it’s tail and expect a friendly reception. They kicked Otokoto and his men away in 1996 when some men began to exhibit questionable wealth and oppressed them. They enthroned Okorocha into power in 2011 based on his impressive antecedents as a humanist but rejected his choice of his son in law as his successor in 2019 which they considered to be in tow his familorcracy agenda.
Ihedioha must understand that the burden of leadership is enormous. Imo People will not blink to serve him an alacat if he begins to deviate from the core objectives that made them entrust their future in his hands.
The ball is in his court.
“The Governor Elect is capable and trusted.He had proved his mettle as a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. His stay in the House for 12 years was adjudged impressive and remarkable which indicates he is equal to the task of liberating Imo from further ruins”
