By Collins Ughalaa
The days of security challenges in Imo State are fast becoming a thing of the past as Governor Hope Uzodimma’s fight against insecurity is yielding tremendous results. No doubt, security challenges are not new in Imo State and not peculiar to the Uzodimma administration. Truth is that Imo State has grappled with a history of insecurity that has had significant implications for its residents and development, including communal conflicts resulting from land disputes, property or inheritance disputes, chieftaincy tussle, political disagreement, business or contractual disagreement, cultism and criminal activities, which have shaped the state’s social fabric and posed challenges to governance and stability over the years.
Before the emergence of Uzodimma, political violence and killings were commonplace in Imo State. It is only in the Uzodimma administration that one can beat his chest and say that there has not been any case of government-sponsored killing, assassination and kidnapping. Those who are conversant with the political history of Imo State know that political killings and other forms of violence, especially those said to be sponsored by the government, had been a recurring factor in the history of insecurity in Imo. The state has witnessed electoral violence, inter-party clashes and struggles for political dominance, particularly during election cycles, but none of these has happened under the Uzodimma administration. Politically-motivated attacks, assassinations and acts of intimidation took a toll on the state, including undermining the democratic process, instilling fear among the populace and eroding public trust in government institutions. Before now, the manipulation of state resources for political gains further perpetuated a culture of impunity and lawlessness, exacerbating insecurity in the state.
But things took an awful turn in 2021 due to a number of factors that came into play. The sad outcome was that armed non-state actors took advantage of the situation and unleashed mayhem on the state, attacking the custodial centre and the state police command on Monday, April 5, 2021. They released over a thousand inmates. Reports suggest that the inmates who escaped from lawful custody were recruited by the armed non-state actors and swelled their ranks. It was like an armageddon had happened.
Undaunted, the governor rolled up his sleeves and went to work to restore peace and security to the state. Knowing full well the complex and interconnected nature of the challenges, the governor spared no efforts in addressing them, adopting a holistic approach that combined kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to promote peace, reconciliation, and sustainable development. These strategies were aimed at addressing root causes of insecurity in the state and building trust among communities. The outcome of the governor’s effective and unrelenting efforts is that businesses are back on their feet and nightlife, which Imo State, especially the state capital of Owerri, is known for, has returned.
As a state rich in tourism potential, the need for security and peace cannot be overstated. It, therefore, calls for joy seeing that the devil that tormented the state yesterday has been terribly degraded, freeing up the space for the people and visitors alike to move freely and do their business. One can, therefore, understand the joy that heralded the presence of Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi of the Zion Church Ministry Worldwide, who was in Ngor-Okpala LGA of Imo State for a three-day crusade. Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi is a prominent Nigerian gospel preacher from Oru West LGA of Imo State, and he is making waves across the country through his ministry. With a passion for spreading the word of God, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi has become a household name, inspiring countless individuals to deepen their faith and relationship with God.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi’s journey into ministry began at a young age. He felt an unmistakable calling from God to preach the gospel and bring hope to the hopeless. With unwavering dedication, he pursued his calling, studying the scriptures and developing his gift for preaching. He founded the Zion Ministries, a platform through which he shares the message of salvation, redemption and God’s unconditional love for mankind. Through his ministry, he has reached millions of people across Nigeria, organising crusades, conferences and Bible study sessions. His teachings focus on the transformative power of faith, encouraging believers to live a life pleasing to God. His preaching style is electrifying, characterized by his energetic and dynamic delivery, holding his audience spellbound with twists of vernacular and jokes, making the gospel accessible and relatable to his audience. His messages are infused with a deep understanding of the scriptures, personal anecdotes, and a genuine passion for saving souls.
Ebuka Obi’s three-day crusade brought about four million people – including foreigners – to one place of worship. It is said that about 20 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, etcetera, sent representatives. These worshippers came to the worship ground through different routes in Imo State. For three days, they journeyed to Ngor-Okpala, which was one of the epicentres of insecurity in Imo, and returned home without the least incident of insecurity. This speaks volumes of the quantum of work Governor Uzodimma has done to win the war against insecurity in Imo.
Overwhelmed by how security has returned to Imo State and how his programme had gone on for days without hitches, the evangelist picked the microphone and applauded the governor’s effective fight against insecurity during a ministration. He noted that security and safety of people were important during such large gatherings, which he said often boost the tourism potential of the state by attracting significant numbers of participants. He reiterated that the governor’s proactive security measures ensured that the event – and others before it – went on smoothly.
At the end of the successful crusade, Ebuka Obi, accompanied by some top officials of his ministry, paid the governor a thank-you visit, where he once more commended his efforts in the protection of life and property in Imo, emphasising that the State is safe and secure. He added that not one incident linked to insecurity was recorded during the three-day crusade. He said: “I have come to appreciate you, Your Excellency. People were eager to see you at the crusade to thank you. The white visitors were confident and happy about the security situation. Everyone felt secure and at home. I, therefore, want to tell you that Imo is safe and secure. Everybody was happy, and people re-established their confidence in the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma in the state. It is a milestone that has further positively marketed Imo State to the outside world.”
Ebuka Obi’s crusade has been adjudged as the largest single event in Imo since 2020, but there have been other remarkable events before it. To mention but a few, in 2022, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria held their second plenary meeting for the year at the Sacred Heart Pastoral/Retreat Centre in Orlu, another place judged to be one of the epicentres of insecurity in Imo, from September 8 to 16, 2022, without hitches. In October and November 2022, over 400 editors from the print, electronic and online media platforms in Nigeria, under the auspices of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), were in Imo State and stayed for days without hitches. In January 2023, the editors once more came to Owerri to hold their national biennial conference, where they elected new leaders. These events, as remarkable as they were, did not command the size of participation as Ebuka Obi’s crusade, which necessitated the movement of people from different parts of the world into Imo State. That an event of such magnitude held in Imo and no strand of hair was lost presents a toast on the governor’s successful fight against insecurity.
The governor did not lose sight of the significance of Ebuka Obi’s crowd-pulling crusade when he hosted the electrifying gospel preacher at Government House on Monday, August 26, 2024. Responding to Ebuka Obi’s heartfelt commendations, the governor noted that “the coming of the Zion Church Worldwide to Imo State comes with a lot of advantages.” Specifically, the governor said that Ebuka Obi coming to Imo State “will bring a lot of economic development and increase the dire need to make Imo a tourism hub for the South East and Nigeria in general.” He added that “the programme at Ngor Okpala has further showcased to the whole world that Imo is safe and secure.”
Remarkably, following Ebuka Obi’s crusade in Imo State, investors are falling over themselves to come to Imo State to invest. Besides the businesses that will come to Imo State as one of the beautiful outcomes of the crusade, Ebuka Obi’s ministry has paved the way for Imo State to get its share of religious tourism. With its rich culture and the commitment of the state government to develop the tourism potential of the state, there is no doubt that with the successful fight against insecurity, Imo State is back, with open arms for businesses and visitors alike.