By Collins Ughalaa
On Wednesday, February 5, 2020, Governor Hope Uzodinma had his first ever stakeholders meeting as the Governor of Imo State with the leaders of the two oil producing local government areas of the state – Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta – at the Government House, Owerri. Top on the agenda of the meeting was the development and security of the oil producing communities in the state.
Critical stakeholders like Rt. Hon Goodluck Nana Opiah, a former member and Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Charles Orie, Dr. Gideon Nwaeze, Prof Okey Okoro, Chief Eugene Dibiagwu, Hon. Kyrian Uchegbu, Brig. Gen. Kalu Austin Egwuagu (rtd.), Chairman, Adapalm Board, the House of Assembly members representing Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency, Hon Hercules Okoro, and Oguta State Constituency, Hon Frank Ugboma, etc, were in attendance at the meeting.
Speaking at the stakeholders meeting, the leader of the delegation, Rt. Hon Goodluck Nana Opiah, described the interface as timely and thanked the Governor for the opportunity, saying: “when we got the invitation for this meeting, we were quite happy and prepared to listen to His Excellency to tell us what he had in store for us”.
This is even as Governor Hope Uzodinma has reassured the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas that the era of marginalization is over and a new dawn with huge prospects awaits them in his government, saying that he would fulfil their genuine expectations.
Noting that the people of the oil producing communities occupy a special position in the heart of the Governor, Opiah described the oil producing local governments as the golden hen that lays the golden egg. He said that the people of the oil producing communities have high expectations of the government, adding: “Our expectations are so high, that your government, with your personal magnanimity would take steps to make a difference from what we have seen from the past administrations”.
He recalled that since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy, despite being oil producing areas, the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs have suffered untold hardship at the hands of government and the oil producing companies. He noted that it was because of the two local government areas that Imo State is a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He observed that “even from the NDDC, we are yet to have the full benefits of membership of that Commission”. He added: “It is very saddening that if you go round the two LGAs (Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta) you may not find major projects built by the NDDC. You could instead find abandoned projects such as primary school buildings and things like that. But when you visit other local governments in the state you would find major projects of the NDDC littered in those places”.
Opiah expressed optimism that with Governor Hope Uzodinma on the saddle, the oil producing communities of the state would witness changes. He said: “We believe that your arrival as the Governor of Imo State would surely change the trend and ensure that we get the full benefits from the Imo State Government as the oil producing communities. It is very provocative and embarrassing that when you go round all the oil producing companies you can hardly find one indigene of Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Area working with the oil producing companies at any level. This has given rise to what people call youth restiveness in the oil producing communities. We know that you are a focused, determined and peace loving person. We are also determined as a people to ensure that peace is maintained in the two local government areas in order to give your government the chance to give the people the benefits expected of your administration”.
The erudite lawmaker noted that “one of the problems bothering our people is the issue of the 13% Oil Derivation Fund”. Going down memory lane, he said: “At inception of democracy in 1999, when the 1999 constitution became operational, the 13% Oil Derivation Fund was being shared to the oil producing states. Between 1999 and 2007, Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta local governments did not get even a dime in terms of projects or in any other form from the 13% Oil Derivation Fund. We protested and agitated. Then the administration of Achike Udenwa set up an adhoc committee on the 13% Oil Derivation Fund. I was a member of the committee, but even the adhoc committee could not make any difference.
“I was a member of the state House of Assembly at the time. I took the initiative, and with the support of my colleagues in the House we enacted a law through a private member bill, which gave rise to what we have today as the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC). Udenwa signed the bill into law a day before his handover to Dr. Ikedi Ohakim”.
Noting that the Commission was able to make tremendous impact between 2007 and 2011, Opiah urged the Governor to appoint credible and knowledgeable men and women of track record that can drive the Commission to success”.
Addressing the stakeholders, Governor Uzodinma expressed displeasure over the deplorable state of the oil producing communities. He assured that the era when few people sat in their homes and shared the money meant for development of the communities was over.
The Governor also assured that his administration would set up a monitoring and evaluation committee to ensure that projects are executed in the oil producing communities in line with contract specifications. He challenged the stakeholders to get it right now that a brother and friend is the Governor. “We must agree that we want the best for ourselves. We must begin to have change of attitude. Thuggery and militancy must be resisted, and the time to harness our potential is now.”
