EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Governor Hope Uzodimma Is Determined To Leave A Legacy For Posterity In Imo State - Info. Comm. Declan Emelumba.

Declan Emelumba.

The Imo State Government since the coming of His Excellency, distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has had her own share of political wrangling, instabilities and turmoil especially with the security situation that had bedeviled the state since the Governor took over and has become one of the serious challenges facing the administration, which the Governor is tackling head-on and as one who during the cause of this interview, visited and stayed in town for 6days after the election of the National President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in the state capital, not once was a case of insecurity reported all through the period.

 

In order to get clarity on some of the issues, we decided to speak with the man saddled with the task of informing and enlightening the people of the state, then, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba took time out of his very busy schedule to speak with “Precious Eze’s Blog” to set some records straight and speak on some of the burning issues wanting answers to.

Excerpts of the exclusive interview are here presented for your reading pleasure.

Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Let's meet you, Sir? 

My name is Declan Emelumba. I hail from Oru West Local Government. I am the Commissioner for Information and Strategy Imo State.

As the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo State, what does your job entail sir? 

Well, my job description is clear. Statutorily, my position is to let the world, the public and particularly the people of Imo State know the activities of government in the State. My job is to inform the people by regularly keeping them abreast of government actions and activities per time. In other words, as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, my job is to represent and strategically market the government effectively before the public. 

How will you rate your performance in office since you were appointed? 

I am not in a position to access myself. You know, it is like blowing my own trumpet. It is much better if I am evaluated by others. 

Precious Eze with Declan Emelumba.

What has been the greatest achievement of Governor Hope Uzodimma since your appointment as Commissioner in the State? 

We are just returning from a meeting at the government house where some former state working committee members of the opposition party People's Democratic Party PDP resigned from their party yesterday based on reasons I cannot disclose to you. They have come in today to declare their support for the All Progressive Congress APC. They affirmed that they are joining our party APC because of the governor. They attest to the fact that Mbakwe, Hope Uzodimma has achieved what no other governor has achieved in Imo State. 

This to me is a high point to his achievements as Governor of Imo State. Going by word of mouth, especially from others, he is regarded as the best governor in Imo state in terms of achievements. 

His achievements are easy to spot. His achievements still count and have surpassed any past administration. In terms of road infrastructure which is still a work in progress, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma can lay claims to over 100 road construction and rehabilitation. 

To mention a few, MCC-Toronto road for a long time was a nightmare until the governor finally got it fixed. Chukwuma Nwoha road was constructed. Lake Nwebere route was initially overthrown by flood and it caused its residents to flee but today the road has been revived and the people of that community are now back to occupy the place again. The New market road during the previous administration was taken over by flood, erosion, and potholes and causing many property owners to abandon the place but today, the story has changed. 

The link road from Port Harcourt to World Bank road that was named after former President Muhammad Buhari by the governor also links the Federal Secretariat all the way down to Yar’dua Drive which also links all the way to Onitsha Road. All these roads were horrible roads but today they have been rehabilitated. Ihiagwa junction all the way down to Nekede was a no go area. 

Second edition of Imo skill up program.

Emmanuel College junction all the way to Ihiagwa junction. From Umezuruike Hospital back to Emmanuel junction were all terrible but today the narratives of that road have changed. There are still countless of road constructions and rehabilitation to be accredited to the governor.

Take for instance, in every local government there is a carved 5km Road. There are several others in Orlu, Okigwe, Owerri zone, and so on. The key roads worthy to be mentioned are the signature roads and projects that brought Imo State its glory today. These roads comprises Orlu-Owerri road that houses about 7 Local Government Areas. These local government roads serve to a lot businesses and is a major transportation road.

Let me also note here, Orlu-Owerri road precisely Njaba bridge, there was a great erosion that defiled every construction attempt on that bridge but under His Excellency, Hope Uzodimma and because of his sincerity of purpose and the fact that he wants to leave a legacy out of office, contracted world class company,  Craneburg Construction Company to handle the Njaba project. 

Okigwe-Owerri road where Ekemele junction is located for over 20 years was a nightmare for motorists. During festive seasons, travelers spend at least two days on that road because of a stand still. The governor was burdened with this and personally showed up for the flag off of this project in solidarity and empathy for the people. At the start of this project, there were criticisms but that is not the story today because he has delivered a job well done.

Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka and former minister of power, Professor Nebo, some weeks ago was at an event speaking, and he interjected his speech while speaking on good governance and made reference to the Okigwe-Owerri road where it took him less that 30 minutes to pass through without traffic or pot-hole. This is a good testimonial that the governor has delivered his promise to his people. 

Currently, the focus is on Owerri-Umuahia-Ogbowu road. It is a dual carriage way. Construction there has gone far and it is expected to be completed very soon. 

These 3 strategic roads connect the state. It not only connects local centers to Imo central but it also connects local regions to neighboring states like Abia, Enugu Anambra etc. In terms of road infrastructure, His Excellency Uzodimma is unbeatable. As much as his time and energy is gone into road infrastructure, he is not lagging behind in terms of Skill empowerment project.

Covering of an opening at Ikenegbu Girls junction.

INTERJECTION: Commissioner sir, are you in any way indicating that in just less than 4 years, His Excellency, Hope Uzodimma did all these road constructions and rehabilitation, meaning an indictment on the immediate past administration, accusing it of not accomplishing nothing for 8yrs?

It is not up to 4 years that the governor came into office and I am not in any way indicting the past government. The road works are speaking for itself and the people who are beneficiaries of the good work are the ones giving him all the accolades. There is something you cannot take away from his person and that is the fact that he has come to work. He has shown the determination and the results are glaring to the eyes. 

Some of the defected PDP fellows attested to this as a fact today (when the interview was conducted), that they are joining Uzodimma’s government because they want to a part of the good work he is doing.

On a lighter note, when he assumed office, the people threw tantrums, mocking the condition of Imo state. It was as though he was the one who did not perform by putting the state in order, but through patience and handwork, he proved himself to the people and that is why they are singing his praises today.

MCC/Uratta road under construction.

Tell us more about the skill empowerment in Imo State? 

This administration has empowered more than 20,000 youths through different skill acquisition programs spread across the state in areas such as carpentry, hairdressing, sewing, soap making and small scale industry based skills etc. They were all trained, equipped and a number of them are now self employed and self sufficient.

In addition to the youth empowerment program, there is the Skill Up Imo Project which is a novelty introduced by the governor. I am proud to announce that Imo State is the first and only state in the entire country to embrace the digital age. Imo state is the only state to have established the ministry of Digital Economy and E-Governance.

Under this program, the target is 100,000 youths yearly and they will be equipped with all the necessary digital skills and tools to enable them become internet savvy to stand as individuals or work in a tech organization.

5,000 youth have been trained, graduated and established with necessary start up kits. Some have gotten jobs in high profile tech companies and are doing well.

In few weeks, 15,000 youth will graduate having gained modern day digital skills and it makes the program resourceful where upon graduation, they can also become employers of labour. 

In the health and education sector, the governor has revived the state. There is the recovery of K.O Mbadiwe University formerly Imo European University which was built with Imo state resources but claimed by an individual but it has been recovered by the state and it is fully functioning under Imo State government watch.

There is the establishment of University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in Umuagwo which used to be Imo State polytechnic but under this administration, the University took off and a new construction was put in place for the Imo State Polytechnic which is now located at Omuma with brand new facility.

In every 305 wards, primary schools have been rehabilitated and equipped. Primary health care centers are getting attention as well.

Mgbidi-Orlu road undergoing construction.

There are some supposedly abandoned General hospitals by the last administration, what is this current administration doing about them?

In each local government, there are about 27 abandoned structures including buildings and hospitals. The government is still figuring out what to do with these structures. Due to the insincerity of the last government, some of these buildings were given to the navy and other random occupants.

The government of Hope Uzodimma has a clear health policy. It plans to rehabilitate the existing General hospitals and to build standard General hospitals in every local government and the program is on.

So far, a General hospital with international standards has been constructed in Oru East, Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area and this construction will go around all local government areas in the state.

Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa road.

For emphasis, is the current government making use of those abandoned structures by the last administration? 

No we are not. We built 3 new International standard hospitals.

The last administration did a mass construction and it didn't meet the standard. Every local government must not have the same structure. Every hospital facility has different needs and our administration is meeting individual needs of the people in order to construct what suits them. 

Nekede-Ihiagwa road.

In terms of women empowerment and development, what is the state government doing to empower women especially when there is no single female member in the House of Assembly in Imo state.

House of Assembly is an elective position. The government is not in a position to determine who goes in the House of Assembly; it is the people who decide. And that is a different arm of government from my office as Commissioner for Information and Strategy which is in the executive arm and my job is to promote the government and show it in a good light to the people.

Imo state has more women in the cabinet than any other states. It is commendable to note that there are about 7 women commissioners in the state and they occupy several positions across the state. This government is not lagging in the area of recognizing women and according to them roles to play.

Okigwe roundabout.

How does the state source for funds to embark on some of these laudable projects? 

The state has a complete rebranded IGR system that is designed for automated revenue generation. When we came into power, the IGR was about Six Hundred Million naira every monthly, but today it has crossed to 2 Billion naira; the reason being that the system was fully automated to block leakages. 

For instance, when the payroll system was intercepted and leakages were blocked, about 2 million naira was saved. Through the automation system the revenue profile has increased and continued to increase. There are Federal grants as well but most importantly, is the prudent management of resources.

Project allocation allowances are accurate and spent judiciously.

What is the security status of Imo State? 

The security situation has been impressive. For 3 days we hosted over 300 editors who converged for the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE elections and there was no record of insecurity or violence. We have hosted different national events and it has been peaceful. We have hosted editors, accountants, the army, the Police, Nollywood Actors, etc. They all have been peaceful days for the visitors as they went around town, enjoyed themselves and had serious fun in and around the metropolis.

The governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma is running for a second term, what should be the expectations of Imo people for the next 4 years? 

If Imo people are impressed with his first 4 years in office, they should expect double of work done. He is determined to leave a legacy for posterity, for history and for Imo people. He is keen on Imo State taking off as an industrialized base.

Imo state will move from a relative agro economy into an industrialized economy. That is why he initiated the dredging Urashi river, Egbema rivers all the way to the Atlantic ocean because it will open up a lot of opportunities for Imo people and the entire South East. There is a prospect of a River port and the Federal government has graciously granted a free trade zone to enable investors to come into the state.

Work has commenced and by the time things are completed, Imo state would have fully become an industrialized state. These are some legacies I expect him to have accomplished and leave behind when he is re-elected.

So, can you say that APC has come to stay in Imo state?

Definitely, yes, APC has come to stay in Imo state.