Dr Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor of Imo State, has described Governor Hope Uzodimma’s 67th birthday as “a celebration of a charismatic administrator, whose achievements in his second tenure as Governor of Imo State have befuddled critics who perceive second tenure as a waste of time.” He made it clear that Governor Uzodimma’s record of achievements is a testament to his commitment to service.
Ohakim pointed out that the 67th birthday anniversary of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State is also a “story of a trail blazer, whose passion for selfless and public oriented leadership transcends mundane or parochial proclivities.” The former governor stated these in a statement issued in Owerri to mark the 67th birthday anniversary of Governor Uzodimma.
According to former Governor Ohakim, “Governor Uzodimma is a rare and strong breed administrator who is passionate about the common man hence all his actions as a governor have been tailored towards laying a concrete foundation upon which the next leaders in Imo State and beyond can build.” As a charismatic administrator, Ohakim asserted that “Governor Uzodimma has demystified the notion that second tenure for governors in Nigeria is for jamborees and, therefore, a wasteful venture,” positing that that anybody in doubt should visit Imo this yuletide season.
In his words: “We are not just celebrating Governor Hope Uzodimma’s birthday anniversary. We are proudly celebrating a governor whose achievements in his second tenure in office alone have bewildered Nigerians and many critics beyond scepticism. I am identifying with an altruistic brother and friend whose altruism and administrative ingenuity are unparalleled, and who has successfully made Imo State the cynosure of all eyes and the choice destination for tourists and corporate organizations both within and outside Nigeria.”
Former Governor Ohakim further opined that a commendable and emulatable leadership trait Governor Uzodimma is bequeathing others is the mentality that “any governor who means well for his people can work till his last day in office even in his second tenure for the good of the State. Ohakim advocated that birthday anniversaries for public office holders should be accessed and celebrated by the people who are better placed to profile such a public officer,pointing out that birthday anniversaries for public office holders should be a time for reflections.
Citing the late literary sage,Chinua Achebe, whom he quoted as having said that “a man whose name is called again and again by those trying to catch a bull in vain,has something he alone can do to bulls,” Ohakim averred that Uzodimma’s birthday affords Imo people, as well as the governor’s friends and associates another opportunity to celebrate “a nationalist and political maestro whose political savvyness and leadership drive has become positive reference points in Nigeria.”
