Bad governance, insecurity in Imo and Governor Uzodinma’s book launch: A public dance of shame and pretentious love for Igbo
By Rt. Hon. Michael Anyanwu
The governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodimma has officially launched his book titled “REFLECTIONS ON THE IGBO QUESTION” which has triggered various but mostly unpleasant reactions with many still doubting his capacity to write a book.
Ordinarily, for a book supposedly written by an incumbent governor, which presentation held at the prestigious Eze Imo Palace in Owerri built by his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, it was expected to have received state-wide ovation and not the melancholic atmosphere that engulfed the state. Also, the event which should have been attended by sundry was almost deserted with the empty seats more than four-fifth of the number of attendees.
The avoidance of the book launch by Igbos and Nigerians of eminence and the sadness that enveloped the state over the event silently speak volume about the personality of the author as well as his performance as governor of Imo state.
In the final chapter of the said book, chapter 10 to be specific, it was claimed that he made strong point to prove that ndigbo have been marginalized citing the 20 pounds given to the Igbos after the war.
While it is true that Ndigbo are serious victims of marginalisation in the country and the involvement of external political actors in the predicament of ndigbo is well acknowledged, I wonder if Governor Uzodimma understands that Imo state is Alaigbo and the way he is failing in his duties and responsibilities to Ndimo since the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled for him to be installed as governor makes him part of the conspirative consortium and a culprit in the marginalisation of his own people.
Just like Shakespeare postulated through Cassius that “the fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in ourselves,” Governor Uzodimma should have known better that dissecting the forces responsible for the marginalisation and underdevelopment of alaigbo would be incomplete without the mention of internal political actors like himself.
It would be very pretentious of him to masquerade himself in a mere book as a lover of Ndigbo and heaping all the blames of marginalisation on the external political actors alone, when as an incumbent governor, he has done nothing to improve the living standard and condition of Ndimo. Apart from the tremendous infrastructural and economic development witnessed in the time of the Rescue Mission government of Senator Rochas Okorocha which Governor Uzodimma is hellbent on destroying without replacement or building his own, Imo state that is part of alaigbo is yet to experience any improvement in her socio-economic and infrastructural landscape under the current administration.
How he finds it perfectly okay to indulge in this public dance of shame and just pay lip service to the issue of Igbo marginalisation is still baffling considering the fact that Ndimo who are also Igbo people have apparently continued to suffer his ill-fated administration with reckless abandon.
It is true that the Southeast is not getting so much from the Nigeria contraception but what about the little we get. What exactly has Governor Uzodimma done with the external and internal revenues the state receives monthly and daily to better the lives of Ndigbo in Imo and engender development in the state?
In Imo today, there is serious bad governance prevalence and insecurity concerns ravaging the state which has made Imolites query how he was even able to have such luxury of time and peace of mind to write a book. The Uzodimma-led government seems to have abandoned its primary responsibilities. Needless to state that broad daylight killings, kidnapping and banditry are now the order of the day. Unfortunately, the military have been fingered to be involved in some of these killings and burning of harmless civilian houses with Governor Uzodimma bragging that their invasion of the state was on his orders.
Could it be that he derives pleasure in watching his already marginalised people suffer, maimed and killed? If so, how then does he think that external political actors would not continue to treat Ndigbo with deep contempt and disdain since he has no regards for his people as a serving governor of one of the Igbo states?
How can one help Governor Uzodimma understand the popular perception that his book is a misplaced priority considering the Igbo adage that “ana esi n’ulo mara nma puo n’ama” (charity begins at home).
A governor who has failed completely to provide security and social services among other core duties and responsibilities of government and made his state in alaigbo a living-hell for Ndimo cannot be trusted to be an Igbo patriot. His book is just a grand illusionary and deceptive design geared towards packaging and selling him to the unsuspecting Igbo people or only the gullible minds.
If he means well for Ndigbo, he must first start by fixing Imo state where he is governor and not unveiling a book just for the fun of chasing the clout he thinks would help him win election in 2023.
Rt. Hon. Michael Anyanwu
Concerned Imo Citizen
