(OPINION) Between Achonu’s industrialisation plan and Uzodinma’s phantom promise to build $1bn 150 industries in Imo
By Chibuikem Diala
“We Are Attracting 1 Billion Dollar Investment From Qatar To Facilitate Building of 150 Industries”- Gov Uzodimma
These were the words of the governor during his campaign in Owerri/Mbaike Federal Constituency recently where he was said to have informed those present “that the state government under his watch has concluded a partnership arrangement that will commence before the end of November of this year to attract a $1billion Investment from Qatar.”
Quoting the governor, one of his aides wrote, “With a gas industry consolidated company of Qatar, a funding agreement of 1 billion dollars Investment from Qatar that will create 150 Industries using gas as raw materials has been reached.”
While this sounds good since it’s an investment plan for the state, but then given the many end-of-the-rainbow promises of Governor Uzodimma, could this be another ploy to hoodwink Imo voters? Especially, since we are yet to overcome his castle in the air commitment to send 4000 youths to Europe by November 2023.
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His Excellency, Governor Uzodimma was inaugurated in 2020 as the governor of Imo State, and by that assumed the full security, economic, and leadership of the state.
However, since 2021, no single Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), has found its way to Imo, and no industry (not even pure water or toothpick industry in the government’s name) built or completed in Imo since the inception of this administration.
How come Governor Uzodimma can now attract $1 billion to build 150 factories in the state? And from Qatar of all places? What has changed in the management of Imo that has made his Qatar investors route their market to Governor Gov. Uzodimma? He saved the best for the last.
He should please stop deceiving Ndi Imo by making vague promises he cannot keep. Imolites are not dumb.
We challenge Governor Uzodimma to mention the 150 industries “that use gas as raw materials” he wants to establish in Imo State. In which sector, local government area, or community does he plan to set up his $1 billion 150 gas-utilising industries starting this November?
How much is he investing in these industries and what supportive framework/infrastructure, including security, public power, rural roads, transportation, ease of doing business, public trust, etc, has he put in place to accommodate this ‘loud’ vision?
How does the governor intend to design, develop, and manage such several industries? Or, are these another set of white elephant ideas akin to APC Okorocha’s ill-fated “factory factory” re-election promise that never saw the light of the day? The few infrastructural projects Owelle left in the state are now abandoned by the same APC government led by Governor Uzodimma. The same party, same zone, same heritage.
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The truth is, Governor Uzodimma does not have any plan to build any industry in Imo State. Yes, because he does not believe in industrial development. He still thinks industrial development is pre-colonial and should not be sustained.
No doubt, it is difficult to change certain traits after age 50, hence Governor Uzodimma, who has never invested in any known verifiable business, not even a ‘hire purchase’ all his life, wakes up 2 weeks after the 2023 election to tell Ndi Imo that he wants to build 150 gas-utilizing g industries. This is outlandish and mendacious propaganda too many. Ndi Imo must know that this is nothing but their usual plan to ‘Ben Johnson’ our common heritage, deepen the indebtedness of government and finally bury the state in the abyss of poverty.
What then is the truth? It is not in doubt that the governor is afraid that the Achonu Plan ( a copy in his possession) – a thoughtfully articulated manifesto put together by the Labour Party candidate, Senator Athan Nnejilenanim Achonu, who is an industrialist and investor and gaining maximum acceptance among the populace. This alone has frightened him into making promises that are impossible to achieve even given more time in government.
Senator Achonu has made deep-seated, genuine commitments to the industrial development of Imo through the following: Aku Ruo Ulo Initiative, a personal commitment and investment to the industrial development of South East, especially in the light of neglect and trade attacks on the Igbo. His Numo Farms with the capacity to employ 2000 persons in full capacity is a testament to the fact that Aku Ruo Ulo is that path to wealth in Imo State. Secondly, rebuilding the people’s trust, which is very important in any form of growth plan; he has also made assurances to ensure ease of doing business.
Equally, Achonu has made commitments to develop dedicated infrastructure that will support any form of industrialization, including gas-powered electricity through PPP; and the building of two industrial parks in each of the senatorial zones (this in itself will support small-scale industries to emerge and thrive on their own). The industrial parks include a pharmaceutical park around the Ideato/Orlu Axis) and oil/gas processing zone in Ohaji Egbema axis; agro products park around Okigwe and Ngor Okpala axis in addition to a ceramics industries park also in Okigwe zone, which is as a result of huge deposits of raw materials for ceramic wares, tiles, etc, in the area.
Most importantly, Senator Athan Nnejilenanim Achonu believes that the absence of constitutionally elected governance and the dearth of the economy at the grassroots is the biggest enabler of insecurity, unemployment, hunger, and underdevelopment. Hence, he has vowed to conduct local government elections within six months of his inauguration. This election will be free and fair. Indeed the freest in the history of Africa.
Also in his recent campaign in Ehime Mbano and Obowo LGAs, Senator Athan Achonu during his speech honored the late Dee Sam Mbakwe, the founding governor of Imo State. He also pledged to sustain and surpass Mbakwe’s industrialization plan. You will recall that Dee Sam Mbakwe as governor created all the existing industries, including Imo Concord Hotel, Imo International Cargo Airport, Resin Paint Industry, Aboh Mbaise; Avutu Poultry, Obowo, Paper Packaging Industry, Owere Ebiri Orlu, Imo State University (Now Abia State University), IBC TV/Radio, Progress Bank, and Ada Palm, among others.
The question then is, can an outgoing governor who could not put up an implementable business case, nor revive Adapalm, Avutu Poultry, Standard Shoe, and even the Concord Hotel (currently in total blackout) be able to attract any Direct Foreign Investment to the state in such a short time? This is the question for every Imo indigene.
Achonu’s plan for Imo is a masterfully researched genuine idea of a leader, who is prepared to lead the people out of pain, poverty, and penury through a comprehensive plan that prioritizes and strategically focuses on industrialization and agricultural revolution as well as technology, tourism, investment in education, and very importantly justice reforms that ensures justicial autonomy, which in itself will help to build the confidence of investors, especially Diasporans desirous of an Athan Achonu-led government.
Achonu’s Plan is where the wealth of nations lies and Imo State’s future truly depends on it. Our people and the people from different localities can identify and connect with his proposed industrialization plans, not this castle-in-the-air “150 gas-utilizing industries”.
Chibuikem Diala, arpa, is the Director of Media and Publicity of the Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation
