BY OKENZE BLYDEN AMAJIRIONWU (KSM)
SPECIAL ADVISER, SPECIAL DUTIES.
15TH JANUARY 2021.
The Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, emerged as the Governor when the need for an Administrator per excellence to pilot the affairs of governance in the state became a top priority .
Itis understandable his emergence was through the Supreme Court after his victory at the polls of Mar23 2019 Imo gubernatorial election was trauncated by power drunken politicians.
The opposition and mischief makers who are not comfortable with the circumstances that surrounded Gov Uzodimma's emergence have continued to raise dust and unnecessary distractions in order to distablize the government.
While they have adopted all Arsenals of distractions, Gov Uzodimma has kept his head up keeping focus on his sole responsibilities of making Imo great again.
Below are some of his landslide Achievements in different sectors. :
1) HEALTH SECTOR:
Not too long after uzodimma's emergence came an era of a dreaded virus Covid-19.
When the pandemic was reported in Nigeria and was spreading across the country, the Imo State government immediately swung into action to prevent the disease from entering the state.
To achieve this, a 9 man Committee on Prevention of Coronavirus disease in Imo State was constituted, with an erudite scholar and Professor of Pharmacognosy, Maurice Iwu, as Chairman. In addition to this, similar committees were set up at the local government areas and ward levels with 28 state-of-the-art ambulances provided to fortify the state in readiness for any emergency.
The government also provided six well-equipped isolation centres at Okigwe General Hospital, Aboh Mbaise General Hospital, Orlu General Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Owerri, General Hospital Umuguma and the Ultra-Modern Well-being Centre, Owerri; as well as an operational Test and Treatment Centre for Corona virus in Owerri metropolis, with a molecular laboratory to test all viruses, including COVID-19 and Ebola etc.
As far as the dreaded Covid-19 is concerned, the state government did not leave any stone unturned. In its determination to ensure a Covid-19 free Imo, the government embarked on fumigation of all nooks and crannies of the state.
Governor Uzodimma knew the hardships people of the state were going through. To cushion the effects of the lockdown in the state due to the pandemic, Uzodimma's government through various local council areas, begun distribution of food items to palliate the hardship and put smiles on the faces of Imolites.
The Governor has been very proactive in improving the health facilities in the state the Mobile Clinic Initiative and the revitalization of Imsuth among others makes understandable that Uzodimma is giving flesh to our Health sector.
2) SECURITY :
Gov Uzodimma upon assumption of office as the Governor considered it wise to launch a state security outfit known as "Operation Search and Flush".the formulation of this joint security outfit has defeated some security lapses earlier confronting the state. Those who are conversant with Douglas area robbery will attest that indeed the outfit has been proactive and Douglas by Mbaise Rd has become so peacefulff without any further reports of robbery.
The Governor's proactiveness in tackling security issues round the state has placed on the map as one the states in Nigeria with zero crime. There has been no more reports of Kidnapping, banditry,and Armed robbery,.The Governor also ensured a peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers in the state.
3) TRANSPORTATION :
In Uzodimma's visionary leadership skills all sectors that needs government's attention are been properly attended to.The transportation sector as a key sector in the state the Governor has not left any stone unturned in making sure that various means of transportation in the state are enhanced.
Recovery as part of His government's mantra have recovered vehicles belonging to the Imo Transportation company that were stolen and converted to individual property. The synergy between the government and the state's branch of National union of Road transport workers has tremendously improved transportation facilities and has reduced cost of transportation in and around the state.
The Sam Mbakwe Airport is also been drastically repositioned and the Governor is making moves for the Airport to be approved by federal Airport Authority of Nigeria as an international cargo Airport and when this is achieved it will go a long way to increase the IGR of the state.
4) EDUCATION:
That Education standard in Imo was reduced to nothing by previous government in the name of free Education is understandable.
Uzodimma during his inaugural speech on 15th January 2020 assured Imolites of an improved Education and learning system in the State under his watch is a promise made and fullfiled.
Just few days ago students in the State benefited from the shared prosperity welfare package which provided them exercise Books and other Educational materials.
In Gov Uzodimma's Bid to reposition the Imo State University (IMSU) for Academic excellence on 16th of May 2020 he received a report of recommendation from the IMSU visitation panel that was led by prof Chinedu Nebo.He identified the institution’s challenges to include falsified age claim, lack of ICT-compliant personnel, digitisation of the institution and succession based on academic excellence.
Others are mismanagement of the Bursary Department, unchecked loss in Internally Generated Revenue, lack of knowledge of the students’ population and over-bloated salaries of staff.
5) CONSTRUCTION/INFRASTRUCTURE:
In the area of infrastructural projects Gov Uzodimma has achieved alot within a short period of time. There is no doubt that Uzodimma met roads round the state in their sorry/deplorable conditions.
Uzodimma is the only governor since the creation of Imo state that has continued with a project of a previous administration. He met contractors that were contracted by Emeka Ihedioha on various roads in Imo as a Governor who is committed to serve he asked them to continue.
Despite the ravaging Covid-19 and Distractions from attention seekers Uzodimma has completed many roads in Imo and while work is in progress on other roads.Those that has been completed so far are:
Douglas Rd
Portharcourt Rd
Dick Tiger Rd
Lake Nwaebere
Relief Market Rd
While work is still ongoing at
Owerri Okigwe Rd
Owerri Orlu Rd
Emmanuel College Aba Rd
Mcc Chukwuma Nwoha Rd
Naze/Nekede/Ihiagwa Obinze Rd
Imsu Market Rd
Etc.
6) ELECTRICITY:
Gov Uzodimma in this sector has met with stakeholders of Enugu Electricity Distribution center to ensure that every nook and cranny of the state enjoys an uniterupted power supply.
And his efforts are yielding positive results
Some communities in the rural areas that were disconnected over the years have all been connected through the rural electrification development initiative.
7) ECONOMY:
Gov Uzodinma upon assumption of Office disclosed his plans to establish a State Economic Development and Rehabilitation Council, SEDARC, in Imo, in order to reinvigorate the economy.
Uzodinma said among other things that SEDARC, will address the issue of abandoned roads, collapsing bridges Otammiri water scheme and others.
The government of shared prosperity has adopted all holistic approach towards generating revenue, construction of roads, water supply and sanitation, and Imo is ranking today as one of the states in Nigeria with fastest growing Economy.
7).PUBLIC UTILITIES :
As a responsive government that has the interest of the citizry at heart the Governor Uzodimma led administration had signed an MoU with United States Agency for International Development(USAID).
The memorandum between the state government and USAID will ensure accelerated/sustainable access to safe water and sanitation services in the state
The agency through its Effective water sanitation and Hygiene services (E-WASH) project have increase the number of people gaining access to clean water and live a healthy life.
The government has also launched street lights in various roads within the owerri metropolis and this has added beauty to the city of Owerri especially at night.
9) EMPOWERMENT :
This government of shared prosperity has achieved tremendously in the sector of youth,women and Artisans empowerment.
The government through the ministry of Youth Affairs, and skill acquisition and Entrepreneurship has trained and graduated over 500,000 indigenes of the state women and Youths on various skills.
Just recently the government earmarked 6BN to train and empower another set of 500,000 Youths on skill and trade. The achievement of the Gov Uzodimma in this sector are too numerous to mention.
10) AGRICULTURE :
Just like in every other sector, the government of Sen Hope Uzodimma has not left any Stone unturned in the Agricultural sector. Having known that Agriculture is the food chain of the Nation the Governor has on several occasions distributed some welfare packages such as fertilizers to farmers across the 305 wards of the State.
Recently the government launched a livestock empowerment programme through National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).All these and more were achieved within eleven months in Office.These tracks of the record makes Uzodimma to become the best performing Governor since the creation of Imo.
Publisher: Don Martyn L.O Nwosu
Ikeduru APC Media Hub
08032950897
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