Analysis II My First Open Epistle To Hope Uzodinma

By Fred Nwaozor


The last time I checked, I needed to – in my usual way and pattern – cordially and candidly advise the current Executive Governor of Imo State in the person of Senator Hope Uzodinma, hence this epistle.
Towards fulfilling my obligation as a stakeholder in the State and one who truly means well for the growth and uplift of the Eastern Heartland, I needn’t shy away from doing this, which is targeted to ensure the presence of good governance amidst the good people of the revered State.
If I’m not mistaken, I’ve hitherto been keenly following the political trending in Imo for the past two decades now, thus in a very good and apt position to aptly counsel any sitting governor of the State in the sole interest of the people.
If any concerned fellow has from the outset been following my myriad of analyses, he or she could boldly attest to the fact that I’ve never for once been involved in any partisan cause or crusade. It suffices to assert that my involvement thus far has been strictly non-partisan. This is the reason every discerning mindset is invariably willing and ready to listen to, or read, my words as might be the case.
Your Excellency, it’s four months now since you graciously assumed office as the six democratically-elected Governor of Imo State via the wisdom displayed by the apex judicial body in Nigeria otherwise known as the Supreme Court.
It was on 15th January 2020 the wind of change conspicuously blew to Imo, thereby making the reality dawn on Imolites. The unannounced interregnum was to a great amazement to some, while to a great bitterness to a few others. It’s noteworthy that such kind of circumstance is natural among mankind.
So far, if I’m to rate you, I would unequivocally say that you have been dogget and brave, though wouldn’t hesitate to frown at your Excellency in a few areas I’ve observed lapses. Nevertheless, we all have our flaws no matter how much we claim to be perfect.
I, first and foremost, need to commend your effort thus far since the emergence of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Your strides have obviously been giant, to the best of my knowledge. We thank the Almighty that no fatality has been recorded in the State yet.
I equally want to appreciate your ebullient effort toward ensuring that workers and pensioners in the State are paid as and when due. The ongoing electronic migration to a digital platform whereby they would aptly receive their respective salaries and pensions is highly commendable.
However, your Excellency, there’s a compelling need to let you comprehend that the said migration, as informed by the Imo Government, is being lingered, thereby posing untold hardship to the supposed beneficiaries.
Considering the fact that the State, likewise all others in the country, is presently facing a lockdown as occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, you needn’t be notified that the employees of the State are seriously in need of their wages – likewise the senior citizens. Hence, anything that lingers the receipt of their respective wages ought to be tagged unacceptable.
On the other hand, posterity will never forgive me if I fail to personally applaud you for the most recent feat recorded by the New Imo Government. To have boldly and genuinely sponsored an Executive Bill aimed at repealing the law making the past governors cum speakers and their deputies to be entitled to pensions is enough indication that you apparently mean well for the State. And, acknowledging that the said bill has already been assented to by your Excellency, creates room for even your enemies, or the thomases, to pour encomiums on your person.
Notwithstanding, there’s an anomaly I’ve observed with optimum dismay. A situation whereby we – for months now – can witness countless appointees of the government who could boast of no portfolio, is really saddening and unheard of. These gentlemen and ladies have, since their various appointments were announced, been parading themselves within the Government House like ‘walking corpses’.
It’s even baffling when realized that most of them have abandoned their respective businesses for the sake of the appointment, yet till date, they can’t boast of any portfolio. We are not unaware that a ‘portfolioless’ appointee is just not unlike an individual who has been offered a job or employment but cannot boast of any Employment Letter. It’s even more pathetic to note that they have been sworn in for the past two months now.
In view of the aforementioned eyesore, your Excellency, I plead that in your extreme wisdom, the needful ought to be done henceforth, so that, your enemies won’t laugh at you. You must take into cognizance that this kind of aberration is better heard than seen.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that this set of appointees without portfolios equally deserved to be paid in arrears, because we are reliably informed that their names aren’t yet captured in the payroll. This mustn’t be shortchanged for any reason if you’re interested in earning a good name amid your teeming aides.
As regards governance, I wouldn’t want your Excellency to forget in a hurry how you emerged as the Executive Governor of the Eastern Heartland. You are, therefore, expected to invariably recall that you came as a Godsent, hence the need not to overlook the prime needs of the overall Imolites.
Imo is conspicuously in need of good and afordable education; she needs standard healthcare sector; she’s seriously yearning for massive industrialization; she’s in damn need of accountable and transparent leadership; she’s really hungry for a well refined Imo. More so, apt payment of the working class coupled with the retirees is required to be seen as paramount and non-negotiable.
Above all, I enjoin you to keep the citizenry abreast of happenings in the State. They ought to from time-to-time be intimated on whatever that has transpired or occurred in the recent past. You must, through the available channels, be always ready to put them in the know of the government’s activities, with a view to averting inconsequential speculations.
All in all, your Excellency, for the core mandate of the New Imo Administration – which is centred on Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery (3Rs) – to yield the desired fruit, you must ceaselessly be willing to listen to genuine advices and shun sycophancy at all costs.
I can see you have come to change the narrative. But please, your Excellency, let it be for good in its entirety. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, Policy/Political Analyst & Rights Activist, is the
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement
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frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: @mediambassador