By Sir Collins Ughalaa
In an article that circulated on social media, Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, former Cmmissioner for Foreign and International Affairs in the Uzodimma administration, falsely accused Governor Hope Uzodimma of not treating his friends well; that the governor was using and dumping his friends, that the governor was not forgiving the “sins” of his friends and he is not giving his appointees money.
By not forgiving the sins of his friends, Ihekweme meant that the governor is intolerant of corrupt and incompetent appointees, whether they are friends or not. I think that this matter is better left for the people of Imo State and Nigerians in general to judge whether the governor should tolerate and celebrate corrupt and incompetent appointees because they are his friends.
As one who was relieved of his duties as Commissioner a few years ago, Ihekweme may qualify as one of the friends not taken care of by the governor or whose “sins” the governor has not forgiven. He may be among those who have been allegedly used and dumped by the governor – those telling their stories but not telling the truth. Imo people can understand why Ihekweme is now heaping these heavy allegations on his “friend.”
Though the governor exercises the prerogative of mercy by forgiving offenders who are already doing time, the government is not a sin-forgiving entity. If you want your sins forgiven, you should go to church and confess them to the priest.
Sadly, Ihekweme’s falsehoods have exposed an ugly fact, which is that some friends of the governor misunderstood the privilege of serving in the government. They also misunderstood the meaning of shared prosperity, thinking that it is all about sharing money. They were not listening to their friend, the governor, and neither were they following his foosteps. This unnecessary misunderstanding shows that some friends were not interested in serving and helping the governor to fulfil his mandate. An invitation by the governor to anyone to join the government is not an opportunity to “come and chop” but an opportunity to serve Imo people and make Imo State better.
Meanwhile, real friends of the governor who clearly understand his vision and are working very hard to help him succeed are still around. For example, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nanah Opiah, Sir Ebere McDonald PhD, Barr. Raph Nwosu, Hon Declan Emelumba. Mrs Nkechi Ugwu. Chief Cosmos Iwu, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, Barr Sydney Agbo. Barr COC Akaolisa, the Ekejis. Barr. Ogechi Njoku. Mrs Obiageli Ajoku. Barr Enyinna Onuegbu, Mr. Terrence Onyejiaku, etcetera, are doing their best to help the governor to fulfil his mandate.
Ihkweme should know that the government does not harbour sinners. The government would rather take action against anyone who sins, not condone sinning. That is how to fight corruption. The government should not keep incompetent people, whether they are friends or not. That is how to fight incompetence.
Governor Hope Uzodimma, upon assumption of office in 2020, made it very clear that he was not going to run a government made up of his family members and friends. He said that he was not going to turn the government into a clique of friends and would not divide Imo State by running a government of friends versus enemies, where friends of the governor would be in office and enemies of the governor would be outside the government. The governor said he was going to run a government of shared prosperity anchored on 3R of Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction for the benefit of all Imo people. Those who expect to be rich because they are appointed to serve in government are those who sin and are shown the way out. Having been shown the way out, they now become vocal and turn to social media to spread mischief against the governor. Imo people should note such people and not believe them.
Governor Hope Uzodimma promised positive change and progress for the people. The effectiveness of the government in serving the interests of the populace lies not only in the hands of the governor himself but also in the commitment and actions of his appointees. Each of those appointed to key positions has a critical role to play in advancing the welfare of Imo people and contributing to the state’s development and not seeking their own selfish interests.
Appointees of the governor should prioritize the needs and concerns of the people above personal interests. It is imperative that those in positions of authority understand that their roles are not merely for personal gain but to serve the greater good of the people. They must demonstrate a high level of integrity, transparency, and accountability in their decision-making processes.
Rather than seeking how to make quick wealth and thereby sin, appointees should align themselves with the overall vision and agenda of the Shared Prosperity government. When appointees work cohesively towards a common goal, they can maximize their impact and effectiveness in implementing policies and programmes that benefit the people of Imo State.
Instead of talking about friendship with the governor or other forms of affiliations, can we talk about efficiency? Appointees of the governor should prioritize efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation in their respective roles. They must continuously strive to improve service delivery, streamline processes, and explore new approaches to address the challenges facing Imo State. When appointees work cohesively, they have no room to advance selfish interest or even tolerate sinners in their midst.
Appointees of a governor play a crucial role in advancing the welfare and interests of the people. They prioritize public service over personal interests. They align themselves with the governor’s vision, engage with the public, and promote efficiency and innovation. They don’t speak for sinners but make a meaningful impact on governance and contribute to the overall progress of the state.
Sir Collins Ughalaa
Special Adviser on Public Orientation.
