Anthony Iwuoma
One of the major promises Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, made on coming to power was to unravel the untapped agricultural potentials of the state.
This became more urgent as a result of the ravaging effect of the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought many economies to a halt. Therefore, Uzodinma has seen the necessity to restructure the tottering economy through restructuring and rave up the state’s internally generated revenue, IGR.
One chief tool to accomplish this, the governor decided, was overhauling the agricultural capacities of the state. First, the governor had to reposition the Adapalm company, which the previous administration had run aground. The aim was to make the company to produce enough oil and associated products, such as palm kernel oil, margarine and shea butter, among others.
Another main drive is now being launched from Imo North with the active collaboration of the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and the All Progressives Congress senatorial aspirant for the zone, Sir Frank Ibezim.
This time, it is through the instrumentality of the Uboma Rice Settlement, a project covering over 127 hectares, which is designed to empower rice farmers in nine communities in the Ihitte Uboma axis of the zone.
Unitl now, Nigeria has about 12.2 million rice farmers, who are expected to make remarkable contributions towards meeting its seven million metric tonnes of rice demand.
Thus the Federal Government has launched some strategic interventions, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which have lowered rice importation by several metric tonnes, thereby saving much needed foreign exchange as well as empowering local rice farmers.
Ebonyi State is unarguably the leading rice producer in the South-east region, followed by Anambra State. Both states have cultivated several hectares of land and produced millions of tonnes of this all-important staple food in Nigeria.
Now Imo State is poised to join the pack on a grandiose scale and is determined to overtake both Ebonyi and Anambra states in rice production if reports of activities going on in the state, especially at the Uboma Rice Settlement, are anything to go by.
This may not be a tall ambition, considering that Sir Ibezim was a one-time commissioner for agriculture in the state and knows his onions very well. Moreover, the good thing about thi ccs is that Governor Uzodinma, who is ever conscious of his plans for the state as well as those who would be useful in realising this, is backing Ibezim’s aspiration.
Apart from the governor, Hon. Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education is also a strong supporter of Sir Ibezim. No doubt, with the active support of these principal characters, Ibezim could be said to have nicked the APC ticket already.
However, he is also not resting on his oars, as could be seen in his visit to the rice project site as well as interfacing with different community leaders and groups across the zone.
With the support of the Governor Uzodinma and Nwajiuba as well as his convivial ability to network, Ibezim, an untainted politician with no baggage, has all it takes to attract projects to the zone when he berths at the senate as e hopefully will.
So, recent reports from Imo State, indicating its resolve to overtake its sister-states of Ebonyi and Anambra in rice production is not a fluke. The only thing that stands between Imo and the rice revolution is the senatorial bye election, which Ibezim is well positioned to win and has already set the ball rolling for the novel agricultural revolution never before seen in the state.
Ibezim visited the project site recently and urged the project coordinators to extend it throughout Imo North, including Onuimo and Arondizuogu farming areas. He stated that the project was designed to turn Okigwe Zone into a food basket of the nation where prosperity abounds.
According to him: “Our goal here is to ensure the utilisation of our vast untapped land resources for unparalleled agrarian and industrial revolution. My mission is to spur in a greater dimension the development of the Okigwe zone through quality representation and partnering with His Excellency, Gov. Hope Uzodimma, and our illustrious son, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.”
It is obvious that Ibezim already has good plans for the zone and has even rolled up his sleeves for the onerous task of representing his people. The governor needs such partnership or collaboration with Imo sons and daughters in government and the National Assembly to succeed in delivering democratic dividends to the people. He cannot afford to have politicians that would distract him from the task of governance.
Therefore, one could deduce that the governor has made a good choice in throwing his weight behind Ibezim, a humble, forthright man of proven integrity. It is the expectation of discerning Imolites, especially those in Okigwe Zone that all men of conscience in the APC should rally round Ibezim not only to pick the party’s ticket whenever the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) announces the time table but also vote him into the Red Chamber for the common good of the zone.
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