BEN AHANONU
As Governor Uzodimma marks his sixth year in office, one indisputable fact is that he has raised the bar for good governance with his outstanding accomplishments and to the extent that today, many are asking curiously – where is he getting all the money used to execute projects?
Even so, Gov. Uzodimma himself remains grounded, focusing on the broader objectives regarding the development of Imo State rather than personal recognition and honour.
As an outstanding governor, Uzodimma offers strong leadership/governance, characterized by integrity, empathy, and vision, together with excellent communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills to drive development, foster inclusivity, and manage Imo finances effectively for the well-being and progress of the state, while focusing on education, healthcare, economic growth and accountability – leading by example.
Interestingly, it is neither magic nor mystical signs and wonders – rather, it is more about what I describe as intentional prudent financial management, anchored on prioritization of transparency and optimal goal setting.
The first civilian governor of old Imo State, Dee Sam Mbakwe PhD of blessed memory, followed a similar path and was able to accomplish in one term, enduring developmental strides that no subsequent governor until Uzodimma could ever dream of.
While success stories are varied and nuanced; one indisputable truism is that: success is born from preparation, planning and determination – nourished by a success mindset.
In addition, every big success is a totality of many small successes. In essence, true success requires consistency, not just luck and ultimately, success is a personal journey.
According to Benjamin Franklin – one of the founding fathers of the United States of America: “Success is a journey of becoming, built on practical wisdom, hard work, and a commitment to betterment, finding opportunity in discipline and continuous self-mastery” – the foregoing no doubt encapsulates and forms the bedrock of Uzodimma’s Success Story.
Uzodimma, might not be perfect just like every other mortal but he has proven that with determination and passion for the best – good and productive governance is possible.
With productive and strong governance, Uzodimma ensures that projects align with strategy and viability.
Productive governance per se is all about doing things right through transparent, participatory, and strategic management of resources – focusing on impact and continuous improvement.
Productive governance ensures that public institutions effectively produce desired societal results (like economic growth, better services, etc) by using resources efficiently, fostering collaboration, ensuring accountability, and adapting to change, ultimately delivering tangible outcomes beyond just processes.
Why Uzodimma is a successful Governor
Right from the outset, he was prepared. He set his vision and goals boldly by creating a road map with clear and actionable steps in Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction – the popular 3Rs as captured by the key elements of Productive Governance, which include:
1. Results-Oriented Approach to Governance:
Uzodimma understands that processes and institutions are designed to achieve tangible outcomes that meet public needs – forming the core of public administration and good governance, ensuring that services, resource allocation, and development happen effectively with innovation and accountability.
Therefore he articulated and activated the 3R-agenda to harmonize processes and institutions for greater efficiency.
The goal is to produce real-world results like better healthcare, education, world-class infrastructure, poverty reduction, and massive employment opportunities, security among others.
2. Efficient Resource Management
Governor Uzodimma, has demonstrated wizardry with his optimal use of resources (financial, natural, human) to maximize benefits for the state and avoid wastages – another reason he is a successful Governor.
He has been able to plug all financial loopholes and deliberately refused to embark on any white elephant project like his predecessors – a good example is the ruse of free education and useless concrete pillars, gates and the demonic hand statue – Akachi, by former Gov Rochas Okorocha through which Imo resources got wasted
3. Accountability and Transparency:
Uzodimma disrupted the traditional and unproductive sequence of bad governance in Imo State by effectively deploying accountability and transparency, which are vital pillars of good governance that foster public trust, prevent corruption, and ensure efficient, effective use of public resources by making government actions open and officials answerable for their decisions, thereby strengthening democracy and promoting social well-being in Imo State.
It is interesting to note that openness engenders answerability, and answerability gives rise to openness, thereby instituting a virtuous cycle for good governance.
Equally, Uzodimma seems to be an expert in energy management as he maintains physical, mental, and emotional energy, which are essential to success while avoiding negative energy and vibes that lead to strife and destruction – he applied this principle boldly in the fight against politically-motivated insecurity that was foisted upon Imo State by the same people – Imo political principalities and powers, witches and wizards.
According to the Bible in the book of Proverbs: “The prudent man knows how to ignore an insult, but the fool is easily vexed (12:16). The wise man knows how to have a profitable argument, but the fool only rages and laughs (29:9). The unwise ruler has not learned to exercise control over his natural impulses and emotions. “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back” (29:11) – without doubt, Gov. Uzodimma is a wise ruler with self-control and excellent energy management prowess.
In a nutshell, Uzodimma is a success as Governor because he defeated Imo political Principalities and Powers, witches and wizards, who for so long, held Imo down. He defeated them with his clarity of vision, proactive attitude, productive and strong governance, transparency and determination.
Imo political Principalities and Powers, witches and wizards – some dead, some alive – include those greedy elements in the society with access to the corridors of power but enslaved by selfishness and quenchless appetite for inducement, corruption, gratifications and self-aggrandizement.
They are like undertakers and liquidators. They are the brains behind every failed government in Imo State. They cajoled former Governor Achike Udenwa into settling them handsomely – reason he could not achieve much in eight years with the State Secretariat complex along Port Harcourt Road and perhaps relocation of Imo State University Teaching Hospital to Orlu as his legacy projects.
They deceived Ohakim by making him believe that as long as he had settled them, his second term was guaranteed but at the point of need, they failed Ohakim like the melancholic Devil.
Rochas Okorocha was clever and outsmarted the political buccaneers, principalities and powers in their game by using them to solidify his grip on power and dumping them mercilessly like curbside garbage later on.
Uzodimma is a success because he refused to ‘share the money” – could you remember that irritating cliche of old? When the now defunct and barely existent People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was Lord of the Manor in Imo politics.
That was the same period the Local Government Areas were receiving direct allocation from the Federal Government and instead of utilizing it to develop their localities, they were busy sharing the money, enriching themselves – President Tinubu should remember.
Uzodimma is not sharing the money but using it to develop Imo State and some Imo Political Principalities and Powers, witches and wizards are not happy because their sense of entitlement is not being serviced.
Uzodimma is a success story as Governor because he actually wanted to succeed like late Sam Mbakwe, otherwise he would have been sharing the money – enriching himself and his family. Today, they are asking: where is he getting the money for the projects? But they know – I mean the Imo Political Witches and Wizards, Principalities and Powers know that Uzodimma is working with the money – neither stealing nor sharing it.
Congratulations to Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and may GOD ALMIGHTY bless Imo State with another governor like Uzodimma – let those in support say aye – and the ayes have it!
– Prince Ben AHANONU, is a public policy analyst, motivational speaker, publisher and columnist.