Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State deserves commendation for hosting seven Super Falcons players of Imo origin who were part of the victorious Nigerian squad that clinched the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco.
This recognition of homegrown excellence is not only timely but inspirational to young talents across the state and beyond.
Celebrating our champions is important. These women did not only fly the national flag high on the continental stage but also made Imo State proud with their dazzling performance, resilience, and patriotism.
By honouring them, the Governor sent a strong message that excellence has roots in Imo and that such efforts will not go unnoticed.
However, while this celebration is noble, there remains a deeper, darker contradiction. Governor Uzodimma chose to host these heroines in Abuja, instead of Owerri where the national spotlight and institutional fanfare could have amplified the impact of their achievement.
However, For months, Imo has grappled with an alarming spate of killings, kidnappings, and state-wide unrest. Most recently, over 20 innocent civilians were reportedly massacred in Ideato North Local Government Area in what has been described as one of the most heinous attacks in the state this year. Yet, Governor Uzodimma has remained disquietingly silent, with no visible response or show of empathy to the bereaved families.
This silence is becoming a dangerous pattern. Each time violence erupts, Uzodimma’s administration retreats into indifference. No statements, no visits, no action. While sporting accomplishments are rightly celebrated, human lives must never be devalued. Leadership is not just about applause for winners—it is about standing with the wounded.
The contrast between Uzodimma’s energetic reception for the Super Falcons and his ghostly absence in moments of mass tragedy should worry every right-thinking Imolite.
One cannot selectively govern—a Governor is the father of all: athletes and orphans, the celebrated and the bereaved. Where is the same urgency in comforting those who have lost loved ones?
It is essential that the Governor understands that insecurity, if left unchecked, will undermine even his brightest achievements. Investors will not come. Tourists will not visit. Youths will not thrive. What is the value of honouring footballers when the very communities that raised them are burning?
The state needs more than handshakes and medals. It needs security architecture that works, a government that responds, and leadership that listens. Imo people are not asking for miracles.They are asking for accountability, empathy, and decisive action.
The world must know that Imo State values its daughters, sons, and citizens equally—whether on the football pitch or in the villages of Ideatoz Orsu, Mbaitoli, etc. Hosting champions must go hand in hand with protecting lives. Otherwise, it becomes mere optics in the face of tragedy.
Governor Uzodimma has done well to recognize the Falcons of Imo origin. He must now rise to the occasion and lead a war against insecurity in the same spirited way. The time for silence is over. The time for governance that protects, not just applauds, is now.
