Imo State has remained, despite all the politically motivated orchestrations of crises and now even more than ever before, the cynosure of all eyes.

On Thursday, 9th September, 2021, the President and Commander-In-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces pays an official/working visit to Imo State.

Considering the enormous political cum economic benefits acruable to the State as a result of the Thursday working visit of Mr President, His Excellency Mohammadu Buhari, this is perhaps the best time for Imo State and Imolites to forge the greatest unity of purpose ever. This, too, is the best time the sincerity of the political and traditional institutions in Imo State shall be assessed and evaluated vis-a-vis their readiness to unanimously open our doors for the inflow of political cum economic benefits that have eluded this State in particular and the Southeast Region as a whole for a long time. The die is finally cast. An uncommon Governor holds sway in Imo State. This is therefore the time for uncommon achievements.

For the records, this historic Presidential working visit of Mr President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces is his first ever since his assumption of office in 2015. This visit is also the first official visit being hosted by Imo State since 2009. This is, by no means therefore, a small achievement for Imo State!

If what we all desire is the well-being, welfare and prosperity of all Imolites , Imo State, all of Southeast and Igbos in general, this historic Presidential working visit presents us with an opportunity to achieve the hitherto elusive reconnection and stop the hue and cry of marginalization, at least for once.

Thursday’s official Presidential visit to Imo State presents an unprecedented opportunity for strategic rebirth of the Igboman in the national politics of Nigeria. This, we must all work together to explore its limitless reaches and abundant advantages in our lives as citizens of Nigeria.

This is not yet a time to thank our God-given and workaholic Governor, His Excellency Dist Senator Hope Uzodinma. Yes, this is yet a time we all expect strategic synergies and spotless political and cultural unity both in purpose and in strategy to attract to Imo State all what the State had never had the opportunity to achieve throughout our democratic sojourn from 1999. Imolites should be taking note of those who shall now synergize with our Governor at this very important stage of our true socio-political and economic emancipation.

The official Presidential visit of Mr President will achieve a lot for Imo State and for the Igboman. Let us, therefore, come out enmasse to welcome Mr President and demonstrate our collective resolve, readiness and willingness to play our own parts in the productive use of the limitless opportunities of trust being presented by this Mr President’s visit.

The Government of Imo State has been working hard on all fronts to RECONSTRUCT, REHABILITATE AND RECOVER Imo State for all of us. The coming of Mr President on Thursday shall afford us the opportunity to outline the needs and aspirations of Imo State and the Igbo nation within the legitimacy of the Nigerian State. There are so much that the President can cause to happen by his personal political privileges and his Presidential discretions. This is our time to play good politics and have our State particularly better for it.

Let us now see more reasons why we must achieve together what we have always missed as a State and as a people.

Let us now make Welcome to our President and Commander-In-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, His Excellency, Mohammadu Buhari to Imo State.

While Mr President is here on his working visit, he is expected to provide a platform for our religious, political and social leadership to discuss with him in a very productive way. Our leaders shall have the ears of Mr President to ventilate their minds and Mr President shall address all issues raised in the parley. No doubt too, the platform shall avail us the opportunity to see clearly the unprecedented giant strides of Mr President in the Southeastern region. Possibly, new projects can be started as a result of the visit.

Also billed for the one-day working visit of Mr President will be the commissioning of some landmark projects of the Shared Prosperity Government, under the selfless leadership of His Excellency Dist Senator Hope Uzodinma. Notable among the signature projects are the following:
◼️The Balloon Technology drainage
◼️The Naze- Nekede-Iheagwa-Obinze Road
◼️The Egbeada By-pass Rd and
◼️ The Government House New Exco Chambers/ Exco Lounge

We owe ourselves the patriotic reasons to identify with Imo, our State, now that the coast is clear for Imo State to achieve unprecedented benefits from our Nigerianness.

Let us set aside all mini and micro political divides. This is Imo State. This is our State. Let us therefore come together to develop this State and ensure that we are reconnected to the national grid of Nigerian politics.

May God bless us as we cooperate.

Once more, welcome Mr President!

_Stanford Arinze Nwokedi._
_SSA (Gov) Public Enlightenment_