The news is everywhere that Imo
State popularly known as the ‘Eastern Heartland’ alongside other six states
across the federation including Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Ogun and Ondo
had clocked 40. Imo currently comprising 27 local government areas is among the
seven states created in Nigeria forty years ago during the country’s military
regime.
The state was created specifically on Tuesday February 3, 1976 out of
the old East Central State by the then regime of Gen Murtala Mohammed. It has
Owerri as its capital and largest city. Thereafter, Abia State was carved out
of the state during the state creation exercise of 1991. Its major
districts/towns include Orlu, Okigwe, Awo-Omamma, Oguta, Mbaise, Ngor-Okpala,
Ohaji, Egbema, Ideato, Mgbidi, and Ogbaku, among others.
Imo State, which is situated in the South Eastern region of Nigeria,
covers a land mass of about 5, 530 Square Kilometres. It shares common
boundaries with Enugu and Ebonyi states to the North, Abia, Cross River and
Akwa Ibom states to the East, Rivers State to the South, as well as Anambra
State to the West. The official languages of the state’s inhabitants, whom are
predominantly Christians, are Igbo and English.
The name ‘Imo’ was derived from Imo River, which takes its course from
the Okigwe cum Awka upland. It lies within latitudes 4*45`N and 7*15`N, and
longitudes 6*50`E and 7*25`E. Other major rivers in the ancient state are
Orashi, Otamiri, Nwaorie, and Njaba. Its main lakes are Oguta and Abadaba
situated in Oguta and Obowu LGAs respectively.
The state no doubt is richly blessed with abundant natural resources
including crude oil, zinc, white clay, lead, limestone, natural gas and fine
sand in commercial quantities. Agricultural produce such as cocoa, palm
products, rubber, yam, cassava, maize and cocoyam are as well found in the
state.
Human resources are not left out in the state. Learned professionals,
seasoned artists, renowned entrepreneurs, world-class teachers, and notable
politicians abound the state. Works of art peculiar to the state remain walking
sticks of different designs, sculptures, carved doors, gongs, wooden mortars
and pestles, talking drums and flutes; metal works coupled with numerous kinds
of fabrications are also produced in Imo State.
Ancient art and cultural centres in the state are, but not limited to,
Eke Nguru in Aboh Mbaise, Mbari Cultural Centre at Owerri, and Igwekala Shrine
in Umunoha. Economic trees to include the Mahogany, Obeche, Iroko, Bamboo, Gmelina,
oil palm and rubber palm are invariably in abundance in the state. There are
various traditional festivals or dances observed in Imo State including the
Ahiajoku Festival which is observed in all the communities that practise
farming, Iwakwa festival, Iwa-Oji, the Owu cultural dance, Ekpe dance, the
Okorosha and Mmanwu masquerades, Abi-igbo dance, as well as Ikoro and Okonko
dances.
Some of the major ancient industries in the state, which are currently
moribund, are Fuason Industries at Owerri which produces galvanized iron
sheets, Afrik Pharmaceutical Company in Awo-Omamma, Card Packaged Industry in
Orlu, Resin Paints Limited in Aboh Mbaise, Aluminium Extrusion Industry in
Inyisi, Sab Spare Parts and Allied Accessories both in Okigwe – which make
motor spare parts, Nichben Pharmaceutical Company in Awo-Omamma, Magil
Industries in Atta – which manufactures paper, steel, sponge, bread and
polythene.
In the political arena, upon the creation of the state, Rear Admiral
Ndubuisi Kanu, who assumed duty in March 1976, emerged the first military
Governor of the old Imo state. Thereafter, Admiral Adekunle Lawal, Col Sunday
Adenihun, Dr Samuel Mbakwe, Chief Ike Nwachukwu, Rear Admiral Allison Maduke,
Commodore Amadi Ikwechegh, and Navy Commodore Anthony Oguguo became the
governors of the old Imo State respectively. Subsequently, Chief Evan Enwerem,
Navy Captain James Aneke and Col Tanko Zubairu respectively assumed duty as
governors of the state prior to the emergence of the fourth Republic which saw
Chief Achike Udenwa as the twelfth governor of the state; after the expiration
of his second tenure, he was succeeded by Chief Ikedi Ohakim. Presently, the
state is being governed by Chief Rochas Okorocha.
Surely, Imo has gone a long way,
and perhaps thank God we are not fool at 40. The rightful and most rational
question needed to be asked at this juncture is, where specifically are we
headed for? To which place, Imolites do we wish to arrive at? In view of the
history of the state as categorically stated above, it implies that we are
enormously endowed with both human and natural resources, thus it’s time for us
to harness those that have been sidelined, reactivate those presently moribund
as well as reengineer or overhaul those that are seemingly in use.
To this end, it’s high time we swung into action towards revamping the
tourism sector. Obviously, the state has all it takes to make the said sector
booms effectively and efficiently. We need to revive most of our cultural
resources/heritage that are socio-economically viable. Similarly, we are required
to conscientize our citizenry, particularly our teeming young ones, to go back
to their farms rather than relying or hoping on white-collar jobs that are
apparently not forthcoming. It’s time for green-collar jobs.
What about our solid minerals, which we possess in mass quantities, as
mentioned above? Now that we are bothered with diversification of sources of
our economy, since the value of the petroleum products mainly the Premium Motor
Spirit (PMS) commonly known as fuel is currently not favourable, isn’t it time
we started discussing how to harness other resources the state has in
abundance? Thus, let’s attract the attention of the federal government to this
effect.
Inter alia, we need to reawaken
most of the aforementioned state-owned industries located across the lengths and
breadths of the state especially at this time the current administration ably
led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha is determined to industrialize the state. It is
worth noting that most of these moribund industries were established by the
past governors such as Dr Sam Mbakwe whom are mostly of the blessed memory;
hence, rather than making their spirits restless by maltreating the firms in
question, let’s endeavour to make them rest in peace.
Truly, if we do the needful, Imo would be far better and greater; and
it’s worthy to acknowledge that the time to act is now. Think about it!
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