By Obinna Ndukwe
Every once in a while, a state reaches a crossroads, a moment to pause, look back at the road already traveled, and ask the harder question: who is best prepared to take us further? In Imo State, that moment is around the corner. The question facing us is this: Who can build on the progress made by Governor Hope Uzodimma and move the state forward, without losing ground?
For greater percentage of Imo State citizens, the answer is clear: Dr. Ikedi Godson Ohakim.
Not out of nostalgia. But because it simply makes sense.
The Rescue Must Not Be Reversed
Let’s speak plainly. Back in 2020 when Governor Hope Uzodimma took office, Imo State was in rough shape. Years of mismanagement had left behind more than just failed infrastructure. Systems were broken. Institutions were weakened. Trust in government had all but collapsed.
Uzodimma set to work with focus and purpose. From major road networks like the Owerri–Orlu and Owerri–Okigwe dual carriageways to the innovative balloon-driven drainage system, his administration has tackled long-standing challenges with the seriousness they deserve. Beyond roads, he brought back discipline to governance that was eroded by the past administration.
Now, as his tenure begins to wind down, conversations has started. But it’s not just about what he’s done. It’s about who can manage what has been achieved and carry it forward.
Why Ohakim, and Why Now?
Because Ohakim understands what real continuity means.
When he governed between 2007 and 2011, he focused on building systems, not just scoring points. His Clean and Green Initiative didn’t just beautify Imo, it gave the state a new standard. His emphasis on due process and institutional integrity laid a strong, sensible foundation.
His work wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. It wasn’t about headlines, it was about results.
Unfortunately, a change in government in 2011 swept all that aside. What followed was a chaotic eight-year stretch dominated by showmanship, shallow projects, and personal politics. The state lost time. The groundwork Ohakim laid was discarded.
In many ways, Uzodimma has spent the last few years cleaning up that mess.
So, the real question now is: Are we going to repeat the mistake of 2011 or are we going to choose someone who understands the value of what’s been built and knows how to protect it?
That’s why Ohakim 2.0 isn’t a comeback. It’s a continuation.
More Than Politics, A Role for Stability
What Imo needs next is not a gamble, not another political experiment. We need someone grounded. Someone who knows and understands the terrain. Someone who won’t waste time learning on the job or tearing down what has been carefully rebuilt.
Ohakim is not a man chasing power. He’s not looking to prove a point. He’s answering a call, one that echoes from citizens who remember what was done before, and who are afraid of losing it all again.
He remains one of the few former governors without a stain of scandal or a cloud of controversy. No EFCC files. No history of violence. His record stands, and his reputation remains intact.
Not a Sentimental Return, but a Strategic Reset
Backing Ohakim isn’t about returning to the past, it’s about defending progress. It’s about making sure Uzodimma’s legacy doesn’t suffer the same fate Ohakim’s once did. It’s about stability. It’s about structure. It’s about refusing to start from scratch all over again.
This isn’t politics as usual. It’s a choice to stay the course.
So when people talk about Ohakim 2.0, they’re not rejecting the present. They’re safeguarding the future. A future where what has been rescued is not lost again. A future that builds, not breaks.
Imo has seen what happens when we throw away steady leadership. This time, we must get it right, not just for today, but for the long road ahead.
