Felix Ebiliekwe is the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Imo State. In this interview with Johnkennedy Uzoma in Owerri, he spoke on a number of bordering, bordering on the activities of the government of Governor Emeka Ihedioha since its assumption of office on May 29, 2019.
How would you describe the emergence of Governor Emeka Ihedioha?
Actually, the emergence of Governor Emeka Ihedioha to me is a blessing and I must tell you Imo people are solidly behind him. Administration of the state in the past eight years was, in fact, a mess in the sense that the whole sector of government was abandoned, overlooked. Infrastructures were allowed to dilapidate without maintenance. Market, roads, educational establishment, everything were left in ruins. But thank God people have now started seeing God’s handwork in the state. For example, the governor has started flagging off rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads in the state, which would soon kick off when the rains stop. Then Imo people would start enjoying quality roads, not the usual China roads, as the people used to experience during the previous administration.
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On market, a lot of markets were demolished by the previous administration and the people were scattered everywhere, and the traders chased away, and Owerri was flooded with traders, making the place untidy. The governor has now set up committee to look into the market demolition with a view to finding ways to get the solution to assist the traders. I was a member of the committee on markets before my appointment as Commissioner for Information and Orientation. We toured the whole of Imo State before coming up with a report and based on our report submitted to the government of the day, the governor has enacted a law on market development to redress all problems, affecting market traders
How do you see the policies the present administration has come up with to move the state forward?
Our governor is a seasoned technocrat, parliamentarian, one who has taken his time to look at issues affecting the state and people of the state. As a due process man, he started well by enacting eight laws, bordering on Market Development, Sports Commission, IMSUBEB, Facility Management. And all the process of governance is enshrined in all the laws. The purpose is to make sure that whatever they are doing would come under the law and would have legal capacity for the betterment of the state. Apart from that, he has done a lot of things. For example, the flood that used to gather at the government roundabout along Douglas round about has disappeared. He has been doing a lot within these three months. He has shown how prepared he is to work for the people of the state.
What is your reaction to the moves by the state government to probe the former government?
The governor is doing whatever that is right to ensure that the past glories of Imo are brought back and nobody can hold Imo State to ransom. As a seasoned administrator, probing the previous government should not be seen as bad step at all. The former governor, having finished his tenure for another governor should not be afraid of probe.
How do you react to some of the statements credited to the former governor against your government?
The people of Imo State know the former governor very well and are aware that all he has said on his arrival to the state against the governor are not true. From his first and the last statement is not true. He was only trying to cover up his inabilities portrayed during his tenure when he was in office for people to still see him as a acceptable figure. For now, Imo people are not happy with him because of the way he ran the state and upon that he had the guts to come to Imo State to make trouble. Already the incumbent governor is not interested in fighting against anybody, but he is doing his job. He has already set up various commissions and committees in accordance with the law, which would soon submit their reports whenever they conclude their inquires. The report would assist the governor to achieve his utmost purpose, which is to move the state forward. The governor is a gentleman, who has come into power to work for the people of the state.
The people of the state turned out in great numbers for another monthly clean up exercise held recently, what can you say about this?
The monthly cleanup exercise has been in place for too long until people stopped obeying the law. In Imo State, the previous governments were not serious with clean up exercise and that led to the blockages and flooding of the state. But with the ‘Go Green and Stay Clean’ policy of this administration that has not even lasted for six months, you can see the impact already. So, it is a welcome development and by the time they continued for one year, Imo State would be one of the cleanest states in the country.
As the mouthpiece of the state government, what idea do you intend to inject into the ministry that would bring changes?
This ministry, being the most important one, has suffered neglect and poor management in the past. In the last eight years, things were not done properly. I have a lot of job to do which I have started. Already I have been gathering the media for partnership so that activities of the government could be projected in limelight. I am also extending the same hands of fellowship to the information officers scattered in all the ministries, the 27 local government areas and even, the agencies. The essence of it is to see way by which information could be gathered and be disseminated to the remotest part of the state. This would help people to listen to radio and know the programmes of the state government.
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The 100 days have come and gone, what have the achievements been like?
We celebrated 100 days of visionary governance in the state. Because if you look backwards to the eight years of the past administration, and the 100 days in office of the present regime in the state for what has already been done, you would agree with me that if the government in power stays for eight years, Imo shall be turned to Dubai of Nigeria. So, we are celebrating the achievements of Governor Emeka Ihedioha, who, since assumption of office, has shown seriousness so far. He has done enough to be celebrated. A lot are not yet visible but he has set up machinery to take off and soon Imo people would smile.
What is your advice to Imo people?
My advice to the people of the state is to be patient with the governor and law abiding.