Date Published: 01/15/10

Imo and the New Face of Ohakim? By Okenna Anyadiegwu

As an indigene of Imo State who frequently visits home, I feel pained by the sorry state of its infrastructures.  In fact, one must confess that The Guardian newspaper’s investigative report of January 5, 2010 entitled "Imo: Story of decay despite Ohakim's promise of a new face" by one Kodilinye Obiagwu was right on the money.  It was really a clear-headed audit on behalf of the good people of Imo State, more so since we have had the fortune of experiencing good governance before under our erstwhile governor and father-figure, Dee Sam Mbakwe. The latter would really have been ashamed of what passes as governance in his home state today if he was around.  

One had thought that Governor Ohakim planned on changing Imo for the better. It really takes commitment and courage to effect change and HE Ohakim came in with a lot of talk promising to make Imo a haven of economic activities. Why the volte-face from the New Face of Imo to the New Face of Ohakim (NFO)?  Now, The Guardian comes up with a good report reflective of reality and the government and its agents wakes up from their slumber to call virtually everyone names. Why, Governor Ohakim, why?

The public must ignore these attempts by agents and officials of Imo State government to cast aspersions on The Guardian newspaper for the public service job it has done in exposing the ugly situation. The columnist, Obi Nwakanma of Vanguard newspaper, who is resident in the U.S.A, had once called attention to this same sorry state of life in Imo after a home visit. And now we find out that the dreaded decay has really pitched tent in several aspects of governance in Imo as The Guardian report attests.  

The agents of Imo State government can continue with their ill-advised waste of scare resources in newspaper advertorials, TV/radio jingles, and talkshows, but the truth remains that we need to arrest the situation. Every right thinking person knows that next to nothing is going on in Imo regarding infrastructure improvement. Unfortunately, the same story goes on in several states, and we pray that more newspapers will be concerned enough to join in investigating the state of things everywhere.

Finally, one must place it on record an appreciation of the high degree of excellence and character displaced by The Guardian in that report. The Flagship must take the lead and extend similar public service, being part of the watchdog of the society, to the federal level, other states and geo-political zones.

Thank you.

Okenna Anyadiegwu

Belleville, Ontario