THE MAN JUDE EJIOGU (Pt: 1)
The popular Igbo saying that "a good market sells itself" holds water with the Chief of Staff -led by Jude Ejiogu at Imo State government.
Like I always say, I am not a professional writer and this may be why I am not a regular presenter of articles on this medium.
And I do not write because I just want to write. I only write because, when I consider how non-directional leadership has dealt blows to the masses of Imo, I am compelled to join fellow concerned Imolites in trying to see how we can kick the virus out of our system.
But although I am a critique against bad governance, I think that when there happens to be evolving a leader in our society who really feels the sufferings of his people, and understands the need to create positive changes for them, there is equally the need for us to give him great words of praise.
I will not be applauding Chief Jude Ejiogu Imo state Chief Of Staff and his crew in expectation of what he can do for me. Rather, I will only doing this because I wish to encourage the push for a more organized Imo - being my place of origin - and a well governed Nigeria in general.
I appreciate a leader who struggles to create better well-being for the entire society than one who only fights to help just a handful of individuals and the man Chief Jude Ejiogu is a typical example on this.
So far, efforts being made by Jude Ejiogu led Chief of Staff at the government house to bring life back to Imo state is palpable. And when one considers the fact that the Chief Of Staff cum commissioner for Special Duties and his subordinates have done all these within a very short period of time of taking over the governance of the state (May 2011 - May 2014), we need to give them lots of kudos.
Within a short one year period, the people of Imo state have witnessed the government's rapid promotion of universal basic education for our children by declaring free education for pupils in public schools in the state, and later to secondary schools and even tertiary education levels.
Tracing the state's history correctly, I think this is the first time free education has ever been given to the pupils and students of Imo state. We have witnessed the immediate and prioritized rehabilitation of old and dilapidated roads across the state. We have seen the construction of new roads. We have seen publicized invitations to tender for various construction projects of great importance.
We have witnessed increases in the State's public workers' minimum wages and the prompt payment of workers' salaries in each of the passing months, knowing the duty and work of a Chief of staff one can say vividly that Jude Ejiogu has done a lot in making all this a reality.
In the case of the Imo leadership and the past holders of that Office, where for ages we have not seen a political office holder who really wants to affect the lives of Imo citizens and his community positively, I think it is very good for us to welcome the efforts of the few who are struggling to redirect the leadership of this state towards the right channel.
Chief Jude Ejiogu is one of such people. I think the good work this man is doing is manifesting at a rapid pace.
Evidence shows us that Edo state and Lagos state Chief of Staffs are also following this good line. I give credit to these kind-hearted individuals, while I am not going to mention the good-for-nothing in this same Government who has nothing to show for the office we entrusted on them, the bad eggs simply know themselves.
However, no human being is perfect. And while our good governor, Okorocha, is on the right track of leadership, while we support and congratulate him on areas where he is doing well, I believe that there are a few areas where his decisions may not really be in proper order.
I believe that it is proper for us (Imo citizens) to try
and correct him on the areas we think he is not following the right direction and as well applaud him on the many ways he has done well.
- Prince Ikem Obioma writes from Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria