By Henry Ekpe
Let me begin by thanking God that we made it to 2023. The past year was hectic, dangerous and fatal. Although the year 2022 may have benefited some people but I can swear that a majority would wish that they never witness a year like 2022 in Nigerian history again.
What many people are praying for now is that the remaining few weeks before a new Government arrives in May 29, 2023 should not over-stretch the masses in their present wicked condition.
May the year 2022 never be rekindled in our lives again! Both Economically and otherwise, most Imo people saw hell, and only managed to hang on till the Christmas showed up and then end of year.
The Christmas was not even boisterous in the State, as many people lacked what to celebrate it with. Those who came home from outside the State, (even though there was a relative improvement in the scary security situation in the State) were so afraid to move around to visit missed relations and friends.
To me personally, I was not in a happy mood. I lost three good friends; Chris Akpulonu, a vibrant and erudite Public Affairs Commentator, from Nkwerre LGA, who died suddenly in Owerri.
What of Chinonye Irunno? A socialite to the tilt, whose presence at any place has no dull moment. His death shook many of those who knew him closely, not only because it came suddenly, but because Irunno was a fellow thought not to die now. He was agile, lively and working, just hours before his death.
Another death that threw me into bad mood throughout the Christmas period was the sudden death too, of a close friend of mine, Joe Nwankwo, a former Director in Authority Newspaper.
Known by friends as Joe Amani, or Ofu mkpuru, was a Journalist’s Journalist, before he rose to the pinnacle of his cherished profession as a Director. He was a former Chairman of Judiciary Correspondents, Abuja, the Nation’s capital.
One disturbing aspect of these deaths was that they all died suddenly. Unannounced, within a short time, not less than a few hours.
However, the poor mood continued as one stepped into Owerri to resume work again in 2023.
Nearly three weeks in January, things don’t look rosy, as businesses pick up slowly.
In the neighbourhood where one lives, the residents have refused to return in a deluge as used to be the practice.
I had to call my closest neighbour to know the reason he is yet to show up after New Year.
His first question was “How much do you buy fuel in Imo State?” He went on to charge me as a Journalist to investigate and get back to him how much fuel is selling in other States compared to Imo.
After my sincere and neutral investigation, it downed on me that it is in Imo that fuel is sold highest in the entire Southeast.
Why? I don’t know. This scenario has actually affected all the sectors in the State, as even Traders cannot make sales due to the dry pocket of prospective buyers.
The chain reaction in the high cost of fuel in Imo State is devastating.
What is Imo Government doing in the area of the price of petrol in the State?
Investigation has unveiled that although the fuel scarcity, or artificial scarcity of the product may be a national issue, but why is that of Imo State different?
When this same thing happened about a year ago, what forced the Marketers to see reason was when Government even told Imo citizens to move to neighbouring States where the product sold cheaper and buy. And truly, the method, even though embarrassing, worked.
Therefore, may Imo State Government, please, make a statement on the fuel matter. May the Governor urge Imo people again to proceed to neighbouring States where the product is available and cheaper and buy.
The pain on the poor masses is excruciating and reducing the masses to moving corpses.
In this same New Year, Imo people woke up to hear that those they claim to have voted to represent them in the House of Assembly have resolved that the Local Government Areas, Judiciary and even themselves, should remain in the ampit of the Executive Governor.
The National Assembly had proposed that State Assemblies should help in expediting action on Constitution Amendment, by passing Motions that will make Judiciary, Legislature and Local Government Areas independent of the meddlesomeness of State Governors in the affairs of these other arms of Government, especially in fiddling with the finances, mostly of the Local Government Areas.
But in the Wisdom of the present Imo State House of Assembly, the State Government should continue to Lord it over these organs, at a time entire Nigeria is crying for devolution of power, to make Government presence reach the grassroots.
What the crop of Imo Legislators forgot is that you don’t make Laws with sentiment, because it may come back to haunt you later.
This present House will vacate their seats some day, including the Governor (Executive) and by then the Law they failed to promulgate for the benefit of the Majority may deal with them and their families later in their lives.
It is quite unfortunate that the present Imo House of Assembly, which has changed Leadership Four times in three years, is doomed. The House is a sham and shame to a majority of Imo citizens.
As the House changes Speakers as Kindergartens change “Monitors”, their misrepresentation of their constituents continue at a devilish level. It therefore means that Imo Assembly’s problem is not in their Speakers, which they change every two months but in their Heads, which have gone selfish, than people-oriented. Do they realize they are representing a people and not their pockets and families?
On the political side, Imo State is quiet as the passive and poor masses, are still wondering how they managed to survive 2022. Even though the campaigns are on, it has moved from the “Public Address System” model and playing of music on the streets with party members parading the Streets in a carnival form, to a quiet, furtive and careful situation.
The mood in the State does not warrant robust and boisterous display of fortune and funfare by political parties, when a majority of the people are starving and can hardly afford a loaf bread. Infact, bread has become a “Big Man” food.
Apart from attacking every move made by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, all that the Government of APC in the State has done is to reduce the situation to eerie air now.
Imo Government has also through its Media Division presented Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, a former Governor of Imo State, and his PDP as the only issue in Imo politics, throughout the year, 2022.
Political observers in the State are still waiting which direction the Governor Hope Uzodinma politics will move in 2023, or if it will continue to distract the masses with the Ihedioha and PDP lingo.
Meanwhile, the Civil Servants in the State are still raging over none implementation of a pronouncement made by the Governor, months ago, that Civil Servants in the State would be promoted.
Till date, that Statement has remained a “Political Statement” as none of the workers have been promoted after the same Government celebrated the Governor’s “Promotion Statement”.
However, as January moves to February, Imo people are warming up for February 25, when they will troop out to vote who will be the next President, Senators, and House of Representatives.
Should the past year 2022 be a yardstick for Imo voters to take their decision, many people will be shocked.
And for now, the Imo State Legislature has finally disappointed Imo Majority, as the opportunity the House frittered away may never come Imo’s way again this easily.
