FRESH AIR IN OGUTA

Governor Ihedioha’s administration is expected to bring development to the long-neglected community in Imo State, writes Dodoiyi William-West

During the second year of Rochas Okorocha’s first tenure as Governor of Imo State, this writer visited Oguta, Imo State, and was shocked to find the town as a poor shadow of its once shining past. In fact, the level of deterioration and neglect, at the period in view, raised questions if what was happening to Oguta was not a deliberate plot in government circles ‘to deal with Oguta’. Indeed, the way infrastructure, tourism and natural resources were neglected was shocking; the effect on investment and entrepreneurship would not be forgotten for years!

As repeated visits to the town showed worsening neglect, this writer began to engage indigenes of the town in discussions and debates. Satisfied that the worrisome trend needed to be addressed, this writer opened a Facebook page titled: “Imo State Governor, Oguta Deserves Better” to add my voice to strident calls for revisiting the case of Oguta, a leading community with robust historical, economic, cultural and social values in the heartland of Nigeria. The focus was to engage public discourse ‘until something happens’. In setting up that social media community, one drew from the reasonable impact recorded with “Kalabari for Rivers Governor 2015” between 2013 and 2015. Though being a non-native may have affected the platform’s fortunes, one’s commitment to helping to change the tide did not abate.

Things went further southward in Oguta! The town was ridiculed with failed road projects (including Ogbuide Road (the main road linking Oguta to the rest of Nigeria), vandalised electric power transformers, total collapse of public power supply for about seven years, complete neglect of Oguta’s tourism potential and lack of political will to approve and deliver the power turbine that should have been established at the confluence of

Orashi River and Ohamiri Lake (Ogbuide Lake). Consequently, this writer, in December 2018, wrote a piece titled: “Oguta Deserves Better: Who’ll Take Responsibility?” That document was sent to some leaders of thought in Oguta with the primary intention of joining swirling talks for Oguta indigenes to do all that is politically and socially expedient to stem the tide of neglect of the town. Though the document did not specifically mention the 2019 governorship election, it was clear to its audience that that election presented Oguta a great opportunity to ‘make something happen’.

That election has come and gone. There is a change of the party in power at the helm of affairs in Owerri with ebullient support of Oguta! A distinguished former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and friend of Oguta, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha emerged governor of the state. More. A distinguished son of Oguta with an enviable resume, Engr. Alphonsus Irona, is the incumbent deputy governor.

The initial steps the incumbent governor of the state took – following his inauguration - show clearly that Oguta indigenes and friends of Oguta are right to believe that ‘finally, fresh air is blowing over Oguta’. The governor and his deputy led members of the current Imo State House of Assembly to Oguta for a three-day retreat. During that retreat and afterwards, meaningful steps have been taken to show that infrastructural restoration and development in Oguta and neighbouring communities will be a priority of this administration. Fortunately, from what one has gathered thus far, as it is happening in Oguta, it also happening in other parts of the state.

What are those specific areas that were left to deteriorate in Oguta before Rt. Hon. Ihedioha became governor of Imo State?

Hottest on the tray of expectations in Oguta is the restoration of public power supply. After seven years of black-out, you can imagine the impact this will have. Regrettably, there are perhaps a million stories for this state of affairs in Oguta. The new government under Ihedioha is said to be working hard to solve this problem as soon as practicable as this was a major request to every governorship candidate that went to campaign in Oguta during the 2019 electioneering period.

There is also the need to reactivate the abandoned proposed electricity turbine at the confluence of Ohamiri Lake and Orashi River (that would have replicated one of such in Japan). Truth is, that project, if it comes on stream, will benefit Oguta and many surrounding communities; including boosting entrepreneurship and employment. Add this to the exploitation of the huge tourism potential of Oguta Lake. Again, the community is counting on the governor to fulfil his campaign promise in this regard.

The neglect in setting up a proposed Oguta petrochemicals plant several years after the idea was muted also deserves a review. With the unquantifiable benefits of the proposed plant for Imo State and Nigeria, it is a surprise that such a project can be thrashed! Governor Ihedioha must adopt political sagacity to reach out to the federal government to ensure that the proposal takes a huge leap away from the drawing board as it will bring about a horde of positive ripple effects.

The new governor should equally tap into the abundant natural resources other than petrochemical in the state. According to ‘Wikipedia’, Imo State “has several natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead, calcium carbonate and zinc… Profitable flora including iroko, mahogany, obeche, bamboo, rubber tree and oil palm” abound in the state. “Additionally, white clay, fine sand and limestone are found in the state.” For the state’s agriculture, ‘Wikipedia’ states: “The chief occupation of the local people is farming, but due to overfarming and high population density, the soil has greatly degraded. The cash crops include oil palm, raffia palm, rice, groundnut, melon, cotton, cocoa, rubber, and maize. Consumable crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam and maize are also produced in large quantities.”

In almost all of these, Oguta is a key player. What is required is a state-wide approach that will lift these resources from analogue and subsistence operations in a manner that will result in Nigeria-wide benefits, including export. Governor Ihedioha’s approach of hitting the ground running with his 15-point ‘Contract With Imo State’ gives Oguta and the rest of Imo State confidence that the fresh air already blowing in the state will bring about huge developmental changes for posterity.

This writer believes that Oguta deserves an ultra-modern market where the current market is situated. Such a market, with 20-24 hours daily electricity supply will boost entrepreneurial activities in the town and add value to Oguta’s tourism capacity, boost internally generated revenue and attract more social activities. Care must be taken, though, to ensure that the ultra-modern market does not end up being the ‘proud possession’ of the rich and mighty in Oguta.

To call on Oguta indigenes to support the Ihedioha administration would be trite. From my observation, support for the governor could be likened to the thickness of a solid pillar. Oguta indigenes are also aware that they have key roles to play in helping the Ihedioha administration to succeed, particularly in protecting government and private sector investments in the town. Concern, therefore, is if the Ihedioha administration will deliver its many campaign promises to Oguta and the rest of Imo State. William-West is a leadership development and human capacity building consultant and Lead Partner/CEO of Nub Consulting