Tricia Iwuoha & Uche Anayo
Hope Odidika Uzodimma was born on December 12, 1958, into a royal clan of Omuma and Catholic family. He had his secondary education at Mgbidi Secondary School in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State and his tertiary education at Federal University of Technology Owerri and University of Washington, USA. He had the ceremonial title of Onwa-Netiri Oha of Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State. He is a kinsman of the Okoro family of Etiti-Omuma, and is married to Chioma Uzodinma with nine children.
Prior to his entry into politics, Uzodimma was a businessman with vast business interests. For a man whose creed is hard work, he has always dominated his environment through sheer industry and fidelity.
His experience in the private sector demanded of him creative energy, zeal and passion for result delivery. The private sector also enshrined in him the eyes for details, the ability to differentiate between genuine proposals and dubious ones.
He also developed the innate resourcefulness of an ardent negotiator and prudent manager, which prepared him for a new career in public service in 2011 when he was elected a Senator of the Federal Republic.
Describing Hope Uzodimma as a tough politician is to state the obvious because he is a hard nut to crack. His largely underrated disposition props him ahead of his opponents and leaves them dazed.
His Political Odyssey
Hope Uzodimma began his political career during the second republic, in 1983, when he joined the then ruling Party, National Party of Nigeria (NPN), and became the Youth Leader, Imo State
Following the collapse of the second republic, he had joined the United Nigeria Congress (UNC) in the 1990s, but again the transition to the third republic was dashed.
As an active political juggernaut, when civil rule returned in 1999, Chief Hope Uzodimma joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he served as a member of the party’s National Caucus, National Executive Committee and member of the Board of Trustees between 1999 and 2017.
His burning desire to provide better governance for Imo People was responsible for his joining the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2002 ahead of the April 2003 elections, becoming the AD’s gubernatorial candidate.
He lost to the incumbent Chief Achike Udenwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and in February 2004 rejoined the then ruling Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Chief Uzodimma later contested the PDP governorship primaries in December 2006, where he came second place to Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.
In January 2011, Uzodimma won the PDP senatorial primary for Imo West, gaining 2,147 votes, while the incumbent Senator Osita Izunaso came second with 891 votes. Incidentally, Uzodimma was later disqualified by a Federal High Court judgment as he had not been cleared by the PDP electoral panel led by Nwafor-Orizu.
However, in March 2011, he obtained a stay of execution from the Court of Appeal, while the case was being decided, and was free to carry on with his political campaign.
Even when, on April 5, 2011, the Court of Appeal upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court, he was not dampened by the ruling, rather remained a believer that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. He contested the decision of Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court, which subsequently upturned the Court of Appeals judgment, thus, leaving the coast clear for Chief Uzodimma to contest the Orlu zone senatorial polls.
In the April 2011 senatorial elections, Uzodimma received 85,042 votes, to defeat the former Governor Achike Udenwa of the then Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) who came second with 64,228 votes and Rajis Okpalan Benedicta of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) with 57,110 votes respectively.
Ahead of the 2019 polls, Uzodimma still a serving two time Senator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following the leadership crisis that had engulfed the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
As a shrewd politician and a patriot, he answered the clarion call by the elders of Imo from the three senatorial zones of the state to contest for the governorship seat rather than returning to the Senate as that was his plans.
After taken a cursory look at the political atmosphere prevailing in the state and the grand plan of the outgoing governor, Owelle Ethelbert Anayo Okorocha, to make his son- in-law, Mr. Uche Nwosu, successor, Chief Uzodimma had agreed with the elders that something urgent needed to be done to free the people and indeed the state from political enslavement by one man, Owelle Ethelbert Anayo Okorocha.
Against all odds, Uzodimma had won the gubernatorial ticket of the Imo APC to the surprise of many who never thought it possible. As the flag bearer of the APC in the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state, the then governor Okorocha had done everything within his reach to drown him, but all to no avail.
In the election proper; even when the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party , Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha had been declared winner of the governorship poll, while he was placed a distant fourth behind Senator Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressives Grand Alliance with Okorocha’ s son- in- law, Uche Nwosu coming second; Chief Uzodimma’s spirit never wavered, rather he headed to the governorship election tribunal, and when he failed to get justice , proceeded to the Court of Appeal in contest against the electoral heist that resulted in an inexplicable exclusion of his votes in 388 polling units by the Independent National Electoral Commission .
Finally, on January 14, 2020, the panel of seven Justices of the Supreme Court in their landmark judgment, admitted the excluded 388 polling units whereby he had scored majority of votes and declared him winner of the 2019 governorship poll in Imo State, thereby nullifying the election of incumbent Emeka Ihedioha, and on January 15, 2020, he took the oath of office.
The Office
The ascension of Hope Uzodinma as governor is seen as timely and divine, following infrastructural decadence, underdevelopment and gross bastardisation of the civil service by Rochas Okorocha’s eight-year administration in the state.
In line with the manifesto of the APC, Uzodimma fashioned out his prosperity agenda anchored on the 3Rs of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery.
The broad objectives of the policies included a firm resolve to revive Imo State and recover for the people the years that had been lost to the locusts and canker worm.
Upon resumption, Governor Hope Uzodimma in fulfillment of the dreams of a greater Imo under his administration’s 3Rs mantra of Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction was prepared from the outset for this herculean task having had a precise knowledge of the challenges facing the state and how to tackle them.
Unmoved by the challenging nature of the assignment, Uzodinma rolled up his sleeves and went to work hitting the ground hard and with giant strides, he scored excellently well, with numerous outstanding projects speaking volume of his handiwork.
Governor Hope Uzodinma represents different things to different people. He symbolises trust and loyalty to friends and associates, and hope and succour to the downtrodden.
His Landmark Accomplishments
Since Hope Uzodinma came into public office in the past 10 years, he has remained an epitome of excellence, hard work and patriotism. At work, he is an embodiment of capacity and efficiency to his staff.
Those who witnessed the state of roads in Imo generally especially at the Owerri capital territory would attest that most of these roads were death traps over the years before the Uzodinma’s administration waded in to revamp them, which now serve as a great stimulant to the economy of the state.
On entering Imo today, one would be proud of what he has done so far from the reconstruction of Douglas Road to Naze junction, Links Hotel Road, Hospital Junction, Umuguma to High Court Road, Bank Road/Assumpta Avenue, Emmanuel College to Pastoral Centre, Imo Police Headquarters Road, Nekede Old Road Bridge, Amakohia Flyover Road, Bishops Court Roundabout, Ebere Links/ Worldbank Road, Amakohia – Onitsha (DSS Road), Works Road by Bala Suya, Cherubim Junction to Owerri Club Road, Gozie Nwachukwu Road, Assumpta-Owerri/Port Harcourt Road/Ibari Ogwa (dual carriage way, completed), Umezuruike -Warehouse Road, the signature projects; the Owerri – Orlu Road that is about 34 kilometres and the Owerri – Okigwe Road that is about 54 kilometres (dual carriage ways, completed), Mbaise to Umuahia dual carriage way,MCC/Urratta Road, Dick Tiger Road, Relief Market Road, Chukwuma Nwoha Road, which was recovered from floods to the delight of residents among others. While some have been completed and commissioned, others are at various stages of completion.
Being a man of good taste, Uzodimma gave the Government House a face-lift, thereby bringing it to standard. He also constructed a new executive chamber, banquet hall and governor’s lodge, in addition to the Imo assembly complex which he refurbished and re-equipped with state of the art equipment, gadgets and furniture that have boost its outlook to world class standard and in fact, the best in Nigeria today.
Governor Uzodimma administration, in its bid to restore hope to Imolites, following the cry of Owerri people due to the destruction of their ancestral Eku Ukwu market by the then administration of Okorocha, decided to build a modern market at Eku Ukwu, which would house over 3,500 shops, parking lots and other facilities obtainable in any other modern market around the world. This ongoing project is being executed by the Amanda Group.
On healthcare, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Umunna appears to be on the part of making history for the first time since its establishment in 2004, following the speedy attention given to it by the government of Imo State. Mapping out the survival strategies, Uzodimma saw to the fixing of access roads to the teaching hospital and asphalting of its premises. He also embarked on revamping of the facilities.
Governor Uzodimma didn’t stop there as he has upgraded the facility with modern medical equipment to enhance its capacity such as new X-ray digital machines, mammogram machine, ambulances, dialysis machines, Molecular Biology and Chemical Pathology Laboratory equipment to test for COVID-19 and other viral disease tests and Anesthetic machines. Also he donated 100 new beds to the Pediatric Unit of the hospital. Having all these machines working perfectly well, other hospitals across Imo State now refer their patients to the teaching hospital. His investments in the medical sector has continued to yield positive outcome with IMSUTH, holding an outstanding record of graduating three batch of Medical Doctors within two years.
Interestingly, he has beefed up facilities at the health centers across the state. This, among others, is the revival of the Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma where complicated neurological surgeries are now performed.
Uzodimma has done tremendously well in the area of education. He built a new polytechnic at Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State. He also remodelled and rebranded the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, to make it a cutting-edge institution. His administration has repackaged the infamous Imo State University (IMSU), providing state -of -the-art equipments and has since recovered the Eastern Palm University now Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, from Okorocha who converted it to his personal property.
During the protracted ASUU strike, Uzodimma was the only governor who paid salaries to lecturers, an action which confirms his selfless and untiring support towards the welfare of Imo state workers. Accessing the shortfall in the number of teachers required by the Imo State Education Management Board (SEMB), he has promised to make it a thing of the past, and has concluded plans to engage more teachers.
Apart from reforming the Civil Service, Uzodimma embarked on the rehabilitation of the dilapidated structures in the State Secretariat, and currently provides free transport for both management and other workers in the civil service.
His automation of the civil service, especially personnel and emoluments, has made the coffers of the state impenetrable to scammers and fraudsters who previously feasted on the resources of the state unhindered. This singular action saves the state an estimated N2billion on monthly basis.
In addition, Uzodinma ensures that workers and retirees receive their salaries and pensions regularly. He went a step further to pay the workers a 13th month salary last year, a remarkable gesture, coming at the time some other states were in arrears of salaries.
In his bid to ensure civil servants in the state remained healthy and well positioned to carry out their duties, Governor Uzodimma has approved free medical care for workers at both state and local government levels as part of the Social Health Insurance Scheme. The scheme will avail workers to receive medical care from government-owned hospitals and designated private hospitals. To cap it all, he reassured workers who were due for promotion, that all would be promoted to boost their morale.
In the area of industry, all ailing industries built by the late Sam Mbakwe, such as the Shoe industry, Clay industry and the Avutu poultry are all gaining attention from the Uzodimma administration. The shoe factory which was thrown into a sinkhole due to a N1.3 billion debt to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), has been redeemed and will soon commence operations. The government has also entered into a strategic partnership with a foreign company on the management of the hitherto moribund Adapalm Nigeria Ltd, which will create employment and boost the economy of the state. The Otamiri Water Works has also been revived and for the first time in 15 years, supply of pipe borne water has been restored to Owerri metropolis and would soon extended to other parts of the state.
In terms of youth empowerment, Governor Uzodimma has trained and empowered over 18,000 youths in collaboration with federal agencies, to become the owners of businesses and employers of labour. Last year, 15,000 youths were empowered at a go, who were trained and each of them given N250, 000 as starter packs. In celebration of this year’s St. Valentine’s Day, 2,700 smart phones and two cars were distributed to Imo youths which he revealed will be a norm.
In the area of appointments, Uzodinma is detribalised and works with all tribes. It is on record that the state executive council includes appointees from other states of the federation who are currently serving in the cabinet in the state. His principled stance and insistence on accountability and probity in governance has cost him some of his friends and associates who naively thought it was going to be business as usual.
Also Governor Hope has done well in terms of women inclusion in his administration. In all his appointments he saw to it that women are carried along, due to his love and respect for women. This necessitated his assenting to the controversial VAAP bill, a priceless gift to Imo state, which most state governors have refused to give assent.
In the area of security, Uzodimma has introduced Ebubeagu security outfit to combat insecurity and protect residents of Imo State from unknown gunmen who have been carrying out deadly attacks, threats and kidnap of the people. He also donated crime fighting vehicles to security operatives to aid them in fishing out criminal elements. With this development, the security situation in the state has really improved and that is because of the determined efforts of the governor to restore peace and calm to the state.
The traditional institution isn’t left out too; under Uzodimma’s watch the traditional rulers are now accorded all the respect and privileges due to them unlike what it used to be during Okorocha’s era. Traditional rulers are no longer treated shabbily but properly recognised as heads of the institution that uphold and nurture our traditions and cultural heritage as a people. Governor Uzodimma who is not only a royalty but a well bred one at that, made history by being the first governor of the state to gift the traditional rulers with 31 jeeps.
In spite of the distractions from the opposition and criminal elements, Uzodimma’s administration has recorded giant strides in all the sectors of development in the state, which in arguably stands him out of the lot. And you could see a man who is desirous to make impacts and change history.
The administration has rejuvenated public sector workforce with investment in human and material resources. Through his recovery programme, he is ensuring that all looted assets of the state by previous administrations are recovered. He has also recovered lands that past state governors forcefully took from hapless citizens and given them back to the original owners, a mark of justice which is highly commendable.
With all these accomplishments within a span of three years of Uzodimma’s administration, the astute governor has earned lots of awards and accolades to the amazement of all and sundry.
Indeed, “Uzodimma has written his own history” as quoted by President Muhammadu Buhari and surely posterity will be kind to him.
To the nonpartisan observers, Governor Hope Uzodimma has not disappointed the people of the state, as he has, and still is executing both state and national task with a keen sense of patriotism.
All Hail! The Indefatigable Silent Achiever, thank you for making us proud.
