Bu Charles Okogene
Deputy Editor
Ekwueme(talk and do) is the Igbo word for a promise keeper. A man who does what he says he will do, who keeps his words. A man whose word is his bound; and that is what Sen. Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State is gradually becoming. That is his second name now and if in doubt, read on.
He first told the people of the state especially Owerri/Mbaise extraction that he will fix the road that links to Umuahia in the neighbouring Abia State, many had thought he was ‘high’ on something; today he has started it. To them then, how can he contemplate what others could not attempt. However, God willing before December, the indigenes of the two states will drive on a smooth road.
Again, recently he vowed that he will dredge the popular Oguta Lake. On Thursday May 10, 2023, he brought the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, to flag-off the dredging to the delight of Imolites.
The dredging was witnessed by top military brass, the head of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, among others. And in flagging off the dredging, the vice president said it is a game changer that will open the economic development of the state noting “the President has approved a Free Trade Zone that will leverage on the large gas carbon deposit in the area.”
Osinbajo: Oguta/Orashi dredging, a game changer for Uzodimma, Imo
On his part the governor said that project is for trade and investment, economic transformation and fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism noting that it will be achieved not with magic but by the miracle of Public Private Partnership (PPP).
His words: “The dredging and opening of the two rivers to the Atlantic will remove Imo State from being land-locked as it is encapsulated in security and economic development.”
He pointed out that the hydro-graphic survey and dredging is to determine the mapping and debt of the entire distance from Oguta Lake to the Atlantic.
“The success of the project will bring unquantifiable employment for Imo State, the South East and Nigeria at large, this will be followed by the establishment of an industrial cluster leveraging on the gas deposits and other natural resources in the area.
“In addition, the project will bring about cultural ties between the South East and the South South when the security is strengthened and movement becomes seamless,” to Degema in Rivers State into the Atlantic.
Oguta is the largest lake in Imo State.
It is a lean ‘finger lake’ formed by the damming of the lower Njaba River with alluvium. it is the largest natural lake in Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria; within the equatorial rainforest region of Niger Delta. Covers an area of 215 ha with a length of 8.05 km and surface elevation of 50 m.
The maximum depth is 8 m (26 ft) and
Uzodimma has started the much awaited opening of the region’s economic development and if the governors of neighbouring states like Anambra and Rivers states, and other South South region do likewise with the ports in their respective states and region, the drift from the states to places like Lagos, Abuja by Ndi Igbo will become a thing of the past.
For this laudable project, the people of Imo can only tell Uzodimma ‘ndewo’ by re-electing him in November so that he can complete the good work he has started.
