As Gov Uzodinma Runs Imo State From His Back Pocket!

 By Steve Osuji

Conquered Territory, Burial Industry: It’s all quiet over there in Imo. The quiet of a conquered people. People move about sombrely, not unlike sheep. Death stalks the land quite proactively and burial ceremony is the most thriving business. The emerging economics of burials becomes avenues for one big meal and a quaff of beer in many communities. Not much more seems to go on in Imo State these days than misery, ailments, certain demise, then burials... and more burials. 

*Ihedioha and Uzodinma 

Meanwhile, our dear governor, Hope Uzodinma, seems to abide in the clouds these days. He’s grown more chubby and rosy-cheeked; his visage looking supple and lush like the tenderloins of a nubile damsel.

He's on top of his game as governor of a vassal territory. Now and then, Abuja sends him on serf errand around the southeast – an emissary to a state burial or to the more tacky task ‘managing’ difficult election. 

He's also ensconced on top of the world as the 'Governor-general' of a conquered territory. Never in the history of Nigeria has Igboland been so garrisoned (about 50 checkpoints between Owerri and Onitsha, for instance) nor has Ndigbo been so intentionally deprived by the centre (Igbo almost totally sidelined and superseded in federal appointments in the last 12 years). 

IPoB Defeated?

Icing on the cake was a press briefing yesterday by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Enugu, Maj. Gen. Hassan Dada, who gloated over the supposed conquest of IPoB and the defeat of the Monday sit-at-home order. Of course he (the military) may mean well, but they seem to have the issues mixed up. For Gen. Hassan's enlightenment, IPoB in its pure form represents the outpouring of the persisting pain and persecution of Ndigbo in the Nigerian scheme. It needs to be understood that IPoB in its true form represents 99% of Igbo so can never be defeated; never by the force of arms. Yes, miscreants have infiltrated the ranks but to defeat IPoB is to obliterate Igbo. IPoB can only be defeated by a deliberate renegotiation of our chequered nation.

So Gen. Hassan seems to confuse a swimming pool with a river; this matter runs deeper than defeating IPoB. 

Sitting On The Treasury

Back to Governor Uzodinma, he has been running Imo from his back pocket since he garnered his second term and got sworn in January. It’s 90 days already going to 120. That’s almost 60 days more than the statutory period of picking a cabinet and running a proper government.

No serious governor needs 120 days to crank a government. Governor Alex Otti of Abia State formed his government only a few days after inauguration.

Not that Uzodinma's first four years made huge developmental impact on the state but at least Commissioners and a coterie of aides can pick up some crumbs and throw some of it down the food chain. But for three months going on to four, Uzodinma sits on the Imo treasury and disburses it as if it were pocket money!

It’s not as if governors in Nigeria are agents of development – see the likes of Yahaya Bello and even Nasir el Rufai. We just want more heads in the feeding trough.

Peculiar Mess  

Imo has become a peculiar mess in the last four years. Blood drenched the land, life has become brutish and nasty and Imo is the image of a wretched dwarf. A once vibrant and upwardly mobile entity seems set for another four years in limbo. It’s not likely that Governor Uzodinma understands legacy nor does he care about history. If he does, he has four years to rejig the current template and make Imo a sunny land once again. Wisdom and good counsel which had fled the land are all he needs. But the king is ensconced right at the pinnacle of the rubbles so he’s not likely to get a good view of his empire.

Besides, there’s none left to nary whisper to the king about his nakedness. Imagine for a moment an emperor strutting the land in the majesty of his swinging manhood while his worshippers drum and dance. 

Total Capture

News broke a few days ago that Governor Uzodinma’s remaining moral opponent has capitulated. Recall that Uzodinma had in January 2020 snatched the governorship diadem from former Governor Emeka Ihedioha in the “Ben Johnson" way (to quote Uzodinma).

In what has gone down as the most bizarre Supreme Court ruling in Nigeria, Uzodinma who lost the 2019 Imo guber race fantastically magically became governor of Imo. Ihedioha who was yanked from the perch now seems poised to join Uzodinma in his party, APC. Ihedioha and the rump of the PDP in Imo have quit the party en masse en route APC of course (If they beat you, join them!).

This means that Ihedioha will join Uzodinma to build a rambling one-party state. Imo will become a closed and captured entity. This means Imo is likely in for another four years of inertia. 

An Ihedioha Restitution?

As sure as day will break tomorrow, Emeka Ihedioha will join Uzodinma in APC soon and he will hope his hijacked mandate will be returned to him. Going by Nigeria’s slimy political arena, that will be a tough call. But if Uzodinma manages to make an Ihedioha restitution, that would be mighty magnanimous of him and may yet earn him a decent place in Imo annals among Imo people. 

How Shall We Remember Hope?

Even if by way of Ben Johnson or Hussein Bolt, Hope manages to hand over to Emeka Ihedioha in 2027, it would be quite salutary but it won’t be enough legacy for him over eight years.

Every wise leader would care how he is remember after office. Hope can still salvage his legacy and place in history. It’s tough but it’s doable.

Here are a few suggestions he may want to consider:

One, he must condescend to make true peace with his people, meaning Orlu people. Genuine, quiet gestures with wise, honest and respectable elders may work.

Two, he must understand that IPoB, nay, Biafra has become Igbo and Igbo is Biafra. As already noted, very Igbo man and woman today is Biafra at heart. It just happens that IPoB is the face we see!

Gov Uzodinma must, therefore, get Nnamdi Kanu out of the unjust detention in which he is held. IPoB and Kanu can be managed if southeast governors work in concert and provide leadership for Ndigbo. Kanu and IPoB stole the show because leadership failed Igboland.

Three, yes, Uzodinma has Orlu, Okigwe and Umuahia roads to his name already (Okigwe Road still needs dualisation and Umuahia Road is not wide enough) but he must do more infrastructure.

He must make sure the first cargo plane lands in Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA) before 2027. All facilities for this are ready, the only thing left is federal government's approval. This will be his biggest and most impactful legacy if he pulls it off. Completion of the Oguta port is another. 

Final Question

Can Uzodinma become a statesman, even a Ben Johnson statesman afterall?! Yes he can.

*Osuji is a journalist and public intellectual (steve.osuji@gmail.com)