By Ori Martins
Integrity absolutely bears sweet fruits. Essentially, its taproot is character. Courage is integrity’s most visible roots just as vision, determination, discipline and passion are fittingly its stem, branches, leaves and flowers.
In Imo, the first chief executive officer of the state, was a military personnel, Commodore (later Rear Admiral) Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu. He incredibly was armed with all the amazing characteristics stated above, and more – he was remarkably committed and hardworking.
Assuming power in 1976 when Imo State was created, Kanu, through his crystals, practically understood the enormous tasks ahead of him and effectively moved to confront them head on. His immediate concern was infrastructure, particularly, housing, as there was tremendous surge of people from the hinterlands of the old Imo State to Owerri, the capital city. Thus, Kanu, as a man of great vision swiftly designed a housing scheme aimed at accommodating the teeming influx into the then newly created state capital.
With that, Kanu brought 200 building contractors to deliver 400 housing units within two months. That way, the then magnificent Aladimma Housing Estate was built. His next move was the employment of Zurich, Switzerland-based city planners to give him a workable and desirable master plan on how Owerri should be developed.
The company’s team of engineers worked assiduously and submitted its report. The Owerri Master Plan had the establishment of a university, specialist hospital and a teaching hospital, college of education, library, five-star hotel, stadium, zoo, water board, cluster markets, etc. Sadly, Kanu never stayed to comprehensively complete his avowed dream of a developed Imo as he was transferred to Lagos just after one year.
The other military officers that supervised Imo after Kanu’s exit never accomplished much. Thus, the other exemplary and exceptional governor, a civilian, who brought meaningful contributions to the growth and development of Imo State was the late Chief Sam Mbakwe. As Kanu was a visionary administrator with ideas, Mbakwe was a revolutionary governor par excellence.
Grappling with the need for grassroots development, Mbakwe established the water works at Owerri, Okigwe, Orlu and Umuahia. He put in place the historic state electricity power plant with a sub-station at Izombe. A man who knew the great benefits of industry and commerce, he built glass industry, modern ceramics, paint and resin factory at Nguru Mbaise, aluminum extrusion industry at Inyishi, Ikeduru, paper packaging industry, Owerre Ebiri, Sacs Hercules Motorcycle plant, Naze, Clay Industries at Ezinnachi, Okigwe and another ceramics industry at Ezeoke, Mbano. There were Standard Shoe Industry Owerri, Imo Modern Poultry, Avutu, Concorde Hotels as well as Imo Hotels in Aba and Umuahia, Imo University, began the Imo Airport project and built about 10 general hospitals. Mbakwe was great.
In the real sense of it, even as evidently confirmed by an overwhelming majority of Imo people and informed analysts, the third Imo administrator who sincerely worked and sensationally elevated Imo on the path of greatness and development was The Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha whose short-lived seven-month government brought succour to the masses and instantly restored people’s confidence in politics and governance.
Ihedioha’s strident achievements and landmark innovations during his admirably tailored seven- month tenure were not symbolic but legendary, replicating the usually celebrated periods of Pathfinder Ndubuisi Kanu and Iconic Mbakwe in many respects. With Ihedioha in charge, Imo looked good again as she was declared the least corrupt state in the country.
As a matter of fact, Imo was adjudged the fastest growing economy in Nigeria and the most improved in all aspects, particularly in the area of Information Technology in service delivery. Under Ihedioha’s watch, Imo’s infrastructure was significantly developed even as workers and pensioners were paid regularly and that brought back optimism for a greater tomorrow.
During Ihedioha’s stewardship, sports development hit all time high leading to the then sports minister, an APC Federal Executive member proclaiming that “Imo is now a home of sports in Nigeria. We recommend the Federal Government to come to Imo to copy some of her programmes for national scheme”.
Again, knowing the strategic and critical roles the local governments play in the various communities as the third tier of administration, Ihedioha explored that crucial avenue and successfully made the councils the engine of his administration. To that effect, the construction of 27 stadiums were commenced., there were the buildings of new secretariats., massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, totalling 308.7 kilometres across the 26 LGAs was started. To achieve his goals on LGA reforms and administration, Ihedioha released N500 million counterpart fund to the World Bank as prerequisite for a N13. 5b grant from the bank, under its Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP).
On the side of the economy, Ihedioha set up an Ease of Doing Business Desk, re-energized the Imo State Promotion Agency, ISIPA., attracted the huge sum of N18b from AfriExim Bank to Imo State in its Quality Assurance Facility, as well as recorded an increase in the state’s IGR from N250 million in June to over N850 million monthly generation at October, 2019. Of course, Ihedioha’s introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) – an APC led Federal Government policy – on July 10, 2019, into the state revenue collection system, was a masterstroke in his avowed inclination towards a strong Imo economy and improved financial transactions. It was widely commended.
Education is to children what wings are to birds. Therefore, Ihedioha was ever poised to guide the Imo pupils and students to the Promised Land, hence, he took education seriously. He reconstructed, equipped and upgraded the four technical colleges in the state under the Technical & Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme to grow skills in critical technical areas.
Also, Ihedioha paid SUBEB counterpart funding and subsequently approved the recruitment of 4000 teachers to provide adequate and qualified teachers for the state. There were agricultural revolution, industrial growth, adequate security and quality healthcare delivery.
Indeed, Ihedioha put Imo on the glorious path of total recovery which was anchored in equity, justice and fairness – rule of law!!!
It was not by accident that Ihedioha attained the Olympic height in achievement. On his swearing -in on May 29, 2019, the erstwhile deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, declared thus: “I pledge before you today, that I will be the governor of all Nde Imo irrespective of your geopolitical zones and political affiliations. We will run an accountable, transparent and inclusive administration”. Ihedioha’s government’s appointment was based on merit, representing all zones.
And when he was controversially sacked by the Supreme Court on January 14, 2020, Ihedioha’s integrity and honour came into play. He issued a statement to wit: “I do not agree with the judgement of the Supreme Court. I think it is unfair, unjust, and does not reflect the voting that took place during the elections. It also didn’t take care of the sensibilities of the people of Imo State. But as true democrats, Engr Gerald Irona and I have no option but to respect the judgement.
“Consequently, we have put machinery in motion to hand over the reins of office to the APC candidate as the next governor of Imo State. This will be coordinated by the Secretary to the State Government. I therefore direct all members of Imo State Expanded Executive Council, and all political appointees to write their handover notes and to return all government property in their custody, forthwith.”
The point is, Ihedioha’s integrity is key to social engineering, as well as all round growth and development. It was this integrity that stands the former Imo governor out from the pack. After 12 years stay as a lawmaker in Abuja, all manner of searchlight has been beamed on Ihedioha by both anti graft agencies and privately sponsored elements yet, he has never been found wanting. He still glitters with elegance, innocence and stands immaculate. This is his hallmark.