By Nwamkpa Modestus (KSM)
This piece, no doubt is capable of making the stomach of the opposition elements to purge including few negatively brainwashed others who probably live outside the state but know little to nothing about the real situation down here in Imo state. Unfortunately, we live in a society where the only thing that matters is just partisan sentiment. In order words, whatever one does in government does not mean anything to the opposition so long as he is not from the same political party with you. If you like, use gold to construct the road leading to their houses, they will still abuse you. This is the bane of our political and democratic situation. It is a quagmire of sort.
Otherwise, anybody who is sincere in his or her heart and who can take a retrospect of where we were as a people in Imo state before Sen Uzodimma came in will attest to the fact that, though not yet uhuru but certainly Imo state is on a speed lane developmentally. There are alot of positive changes and the future of Imo Is looking up progressively under the present government of Hope Uzodimma. This is the simple fact. It does not matter if you are offended in your hateful heart by this fact or not. There are pointers to this fact.
It is interesting that today, you could see many people complaining and reporting one bad road in Imo or the other which they keep urging and wanting the government to fix urgently. This is expected when people see a government that is working. This is clearly because they have seen a government that is anxiously fixing many other hitherto bad roads and that is why you could see the impatience as everybody wants every road fixed at the same time.
Afterall, those roads had been there under the previous governments but the people were not bordered because there was no serious and sincere attempt to get them done like the present government is doing. Regrettably, that cannot be possible to get all the roads in Imo constructed within a short period of two, three or four years because resources are not limitless.. Some will be done next tenure.
In Imo state today, sanity has returned. The mad rush for acquisituon of state assets using state fiat by those in government has seized. There is now a seamless payment of salaries and pension as there is no more delay because of corruption induced over bloated payroll system in the state. We no longer see Treasurers of LGA carrying money in Ghana- Must- Go bags every money to pay Workers manually through which the siphon huge sums of money and buy properties all over the places. Workers and Pensioners do not sleep at the floor of banking halls waiting for their pay every month. There is no more staggered payment where one ministry receive 70% and other receive 80% etc. All that are now stories of yester years.
In Imo under Uzodimma, there is a low level of corruption in governance. There is no more cases of Governor’s siblings and Governor’s Wife becoming clearing Houses for getting one favour from government or the other. Unlike before, when Governor’s siblings are hotly sought after as people beseech their hotel rooms and private residence to pay obedience in solicitation and expectation of one favour or the other. Such situation has given way for meritocracy and discipline.
Truly, any state who wants to witness real governance that is tinted with discipline and decency will pray to have the likes of Uzodimma as Governor. There is no more belligerency between the Imo state government and the federal government; between Imo state government and some Churches like Catholic and Anglican. The dichotomy between different faith based organizations in the state is no more in existence under the governorship of Hope Uzodimma.
There is no more profligacy in the running of government. Justifications are sought for and proof are provided before public funds are released. The use of holligans or thugs by those in government in dealing with situation or executing government policies and programs as a show of power is now a thing of the past. All these are facts that cannot be disputed.
Imo state is today experiencing governance in a somewhat civilized and decent form and shape under Uzodimma.
Although, as I earlier said, it is not yet uhuru as Imo state has not moved to its permanent site yet but no doubt, there is a silver lining in the cloud under the present regime.