Hope Makes All The Difference

By Collins Ughalaa KSC

On Thursday, December 8, 2022, history was made in Imo State. Governor Hope Uzodimma feted our revered monarchs and gifted them jeeps. This is epochal, being the first in history. The scenario we were used to was that a certain former Governor found pleasure in denigrating our monarchs. If he was not asking them to bring palmwine he would order them to file out for a march-pass and give him salute, he would invite them to meetings by 10am and show up by 10pm, insult them and send them home thoroughly humiliated.

The bastardization of the traditional institution under Okorocha is something we should pray not to happen again. Under that ignoble reign, tradional rulers were striped of their self-worth. Many of them were dethroned, suspended and even banished from the State on flimsy grounds. Even in-laws of the then Governor delighted in humimiting and _suspending_ monarchs. Traditional rulers were imposed on communities by the Governor. It was so bad that some communities got their traditional rulers through casting and picking lot, whereas some spectators were suddenly picked and crowned as Eze by the Governor. The outcome of this rascality was that anarchy enveloped the communities.

Today, under the watch of Governor Hope Uzodimma, Imo is rapidly making a clean break from the ugly past. Monarchs now hold their shoulders high and are now treated as traditional rulers and accorded all the respects and privileges due to them. They are no longer treated shabily but properly recognised "as heads of the institution that uphold and nurture our traditions as a people". Our well bred Governor Uzodinma pours encomiums on our monarchs, saying that "the Traditional Rulers have continued to play this important role [of upholding and nurturing our tradition] in partnership with the Government for the development of our communities and sustenance of peace and tranquility". Not done yet, the Governor described the monarchs as "citadel of Justice at the community level."

Traditional rulers in Imo no longer bring palmwine to the Government House and salute the Governor. They now come to the Government House and take jeeps home. That is the wonder that Hope works; the difference Hope makes. One can now better appreciate the excitement on the face of the traditional rulers who for the first time in history were gifted 31 jeeps by the Governor. And you could see a man who is desirous to make impacts and change history. Those who benefitted from the car gifts are the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers Council, three Zonal Chairmen and monarchs who are Chairmen in the 27 Local Government Areas of the State.

"The traditional institution is a very critical and very important institution. They are the holders and managers of our heritage. They represent our culture and they interpret our traditions. Therefore in terms of the identity of an average Imo person, they can be called the citadel of justice.

"We met a lot of challenges. In the course of addressing the challenge of insecurity, some of them paid with their lives as the supreme prize. May I therefore urge all of us to stand for a minute silence, for the traditional rulers that lost their lives during this period. May the souls of those traditional rulers who lost their lives in defence of the security of Imo State, rest in peace. Amen.

"I want to thank our traditional rulers.
I want to encourage them not to relent. The reason is very simple - we have no other place to go - this is our state - and this is the only state we can call our own. In good times, it is our state, in bad times, it is our state. When the times are challenging, it is our state. I think on the aggregate, we have seen that in Imo State, we have hope. We have hope because two years ago or few months back, many did not believe, that even when we are able to procure vehicles to give to traditional rulers, that we will come here, with shoulders high, to celebrate and present the vehicles".

All can now see that times have changed. Governor Hope Uzodimma has recovered public assets hitherto in private hands, including a university, estates, lands, etcetera. He has reformed the civil service and enhanced the welfare of civil servants. Perennial problem of corrupt payment of salaries and pensions inherited by the Shared Prosperity Government has been resolved and pensioners and civil servants now smile to the bank. Water now runs in taps in Owerri. The Governor’s infrastrure revolution is second to none. Good roads now smile at Imo people and our visitors at every corner you turn. Above all, Governor Uzodimma has recovered our state from hoodlums and their collaborators who wanted to steal and destroy our land. Today, the traditional institution in Imo has witnessed yet another touch from our Governor.

There is hope for our traditional institution and our traditional rulers. Apart from the Governor's promise that "from time to time a strong welfare package will be made available to the Royal Fathers of the State as a way of cushioning the effect of their non-participation in some activities that would have made them more comfortable", the Governor assured our monarchs that they will be given constitutional roles soon. He said: "As the Constitutional Amendment is concluded the Royal Fathers in the country, Imo State inclusive, will be assigned constitutional responsibilities."

Imo people cannot thank the Governor enough for the numerous good he has been doing since 2020. We have seen wisdom. We have seen tact. We have seen empathy. We have seen resolve. We have seen a leader. We have seen an enigma. When insecurity reared its ugly head, not many people gave him a chance, but today all can see that those who wanted to destroy our state are now being decimated. Those who thought they could play politics with insecurity can now testify that they were meddling with forces they did not comprehend.

Thank you, Governor Hope Uzodimma. Thanks to God you are our Governor.