Uzodinma And Buhari’s Recent Visit To Imo State, Nigeria

It’s not anymore news that President Muhammadu Buhari was in Imo State penultimate year, precisely 9th September 2021, on a ‘working visit’ in response to an invitation by Governor Hope Uzodinma.

Amidst the scare, uncertainty and skepticism emanating from various quarters that greeted the preparations towards the D-day, the President alongside his allies graciously arrived in the Eastern Heartland contrary to earlier speculation or notion that he wouldn’t come in person.

Prior to his arrival, several Imolites were apparently of the view that the President was going to send a representative to the State. It suffices to assert that the visit of the country’s number-one citizen to Imo was unarguably a great surprise and shock to most citizens of the State.

It was like the Governor used a certain charm on him, because a few reasons or factors would have made the President to either suspend the proposed visitation, or send a representative as opined by countless individuals.

First, there was a myriad of security threats from different corners of Imo and beyond. This incident made the State seem unsafe for human existence. The threat in question obviously made many Imolites to sit at their respective homes on the D-day.

Secondly, in contemporary Nigerian society, Buhari as a leader does not ostensibly have or maintain a good name, not just in Imo but in most parts of the country. This, perhaps occasioned by fathomless insecurity happenings across the country, has made Mr. President to drastically lose most of his fans, if not allies.

This is to say that the coming of President Buhari to Imo, contrary to misinformed insinuations, signifies that Governor Uzodinma undoubtedly maintains a cordial and unflinching relationship with the President at the moment. The governor is indeed an enigma.

Lest I digress; this topic is majorly interested in the reason President Buhari was invited for a ‘working visit’ to the State. What was really on ground that needed the revered presence of the president?

If the President had come for a political reason, or activity, it wouldn’t have generated unnecessary dust as being observed. But we were told he came for a working visit.

It’s noteworthy that the President reportedly came to commission “some completed key projects” in the State. Then, one may wish to ask; what projects actually called for the visit?

We were told that the ‘key projects’ included: first phase of the Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa road, Egbeada by-pass road, and the renovated EXCO Chambers at the Government House, among others.

First phase of Naze-Ihiagwa road..? I don’t understand this a bit. If you do, please interpret for me. Truth be told, this is very far from my understanding. I heard for the first time that a particular phase of an ongoing project could be commissioned. Come to think of it, is the road construction actually in progress? There’s absolutely nothing our politicians won’t teach us.

But let’s be serious about this. How could a certain segment of a project be commissioned? Worse still, the road in question remains impassable. Such a gesture was really uncalled for, to assert the least.

As if that wasn’t enough, we equally learnt a renovated building at the Government House was commissioned by Presdent Buhari. The commissioning of the EXCO Chambers, now rebranded as ‘New EXCO Chambers’, was another laughable move by the amiable Governor.

One might wonder what exactly was going through the mind of the President when he was carrying out the ‘official assignment’. Meanwhile, the president had been there before, so he ought to have noticed that those structures had been there prior to the emergence of the present administration in the State. But, can a renovated structure be commissioned? I’m still awaiting a candid answer to this sincere enquiry.

However, I don’t want to discuss what resulted in the renovation of any building in the Government House a few years after its construction, because I’m not unaware that virtually all projects executed under the reign of Senator Rochas Okorocha and Imo Governor were obviously substandard and a slap to the State.

Then, talking about the by-pass road at Egbeada, how many kilometers is the road? I have been resident in Owerri for almost two decades now, hence conversant with every part of the capital city including undergrounds. I was reliably informed that the ‘by-pass’ was named in honour of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu. The rest is history.

It would be pertinent to acknowledge that I’m not here to tender criticisms or what have you, but to set the records straight. In my usual way and style, I’ve never been party to unnecessary criticisms; rather, my submissions have hitherto been objective and constructive, and nothing more. Therefore, I’m not writing or analyzing for any politician to eulogize my pen.

I love, cherish and adore this State so much, hence truly want people piloting her affairs to succeed. If they succeeded, the success would surely be for all well-meaning Imolites both home and abroad. In other words, my interest remains Imo, her belongings and wellbeing. So, don’t get it twisted.

We have been deceived so much by our politicians. It’s, therefore, high time they desisted from indulging in activities just to score cheap political goals. Time has really come for us, as a people, to get it right.

Overtime, we are told the same story, from one leader to leader. Isn’t it time we heard something quite different and enticing? In view of this, I urge the governor to concentrate on making Imolites proud of his leadership. I sincerely want him to excel, and cannot wait to celebrate his person, thus he must choose priorities over frivolities.

Lest I forget; the highpoint of the ‘one-day working visit’ was the President’s meeting with ‘South-East Leaders’. Maybe this was really the essence of the visit, rather than commissioning of ‘completed projects’.

Though from what I gathered, Mr. President was not informed about the intended purported town-hall meeting. Probably, he was taken unawares. Perhaps, that was the reason the President told the Governor that he would be very careful with his future invitations.

However, let’s assume the meeting was for our collective good and wellbeing. But why were some key personalities side-lined in the gathering? Several notable individuals or stakeholders from the Igbo extraction were conspicuously missing at such an important roundtable discussion reportedly targeted to the common good of the Igbo race.

Nevertheless, I want to believe those who ‘represented’ the entire Igbo race spoke their mind. I want to believe they didn’t participate merely to have a handshake, or pop champagne, with the President, but to present to his person the exact burden that had long befallen us as a people.

On the other hand, I want to use this medium to tell my people that ‘Sit-at-Home’ might not be the best way or option to register our displeasure or grievance. There may be better ways if we think deeply about it. Sometimes when we resort to such behaviour, it may be to the advantage of our presumed enemies.

All in all, as I enjoin the political leaders to become more thoughtful of their actions at all times to avert hurtful outcomes, I equally urge their teeming subjects to be sober before reacting towards avoiding self-inflicted injuries.

At this point, Imo truly needs to be re-examined, because ‘an unexamined life isn’t worth living’.