Imo State at 50 : not a failure, but unfinished business —Obi

By EDISON Okereke

As the creation of Imo State hit fifty years on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the people of the state have been speaking to the issue of its achievements, the grey areas, and the way forward.

Appraising the Golden Jubilee anniversary, a United States based philanthropist and media Practitioner, High Chief Joseph Chinenyengozi Obi, a Knight of the Church, has described the state as unfinished project.

He said, “Imo State at 50 is not a failure, but unfinished business.”

The Ezinihitte Mbaise-born socialite expressed the hope that even though a lot had been done, more work was still required in the areas of security, job creation and quality of governance, in order to achieve the objective of the creation.

Reacting on his WhatsApp platform to the anniversary, Obi who is the Founder and Chief Executive of Perpetual Help Global Outreach Inc., USA, chronicles the progress the state had made through the political engineering of the fifteen governors since 1976, when the state was caved out of the defunct East Central State.

He gave an insightful analysis of the peregrinations and urged any Imolite entrusted with the affairs of the state to strategize.

Obi stated, “As journalists, our duty is not applause but analysis. This feature reviews the record of governance in Imo State from 1976 to 2026, compares administrations across key sectors, and outlines what must change if the next fifty years are to be different.”

He noted that between 1976 and 1979, a period of three years, was foundational. As he put it, “Building a state from the scratch!”

The governors under review were military administrators : Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu; Col. Adekunle Lawal; and Col. Sunday Adenihun whose focus, though at different times, were primarily institutional survival : establishment of the capital, creation of the ministries almost from nothing.

As he put it, “These years produced few signature projects, but they achieved stability. In historical terms, this was governance by scaffolding rather than architecture.”

He noted that when the administration of the late Sam Mbakwe came on board, it embarked on massive construction of road network and so between 500 and 800 kilometre access roads statewide were built.

Imolites witnessed the establishment of the Imo State University, IMSU, at Ihitte-Uboma (later moved to Okigwe), Avutu Modern Poultry, Raising Paint industry at Aboh Mbaise, Onyishi Aluminium Extrusion industry, rural electrification (which is being neglected today by successive governments) gave ruralites hope.
Education also was accorded priority.

Summing up on the Mbakwe administration, High Chief Obi said, “The administration of Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe remains the benchmark against which all others are measured, because in just four years, Mbakwe pursued aggressive state-led development.

“Mbakwe governed with the conviction that government must build, even if it borrows. While critics question the sustainability of Mbakwe’s model, few dispute its impact, Obi added that no other administration has matched Mbakwe’s breadth of development ambition till date.

He said between 1984 and 1999, a period of fifteen years, witnessed limited expansion.

From the administration of Ike Nwachukwu through Tanko Zubairu, Imo endured fifteen years of military rule characterized by decision-making and limited innovation. Economic austerity, especially under the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) constrained public investment.

Obi said, “Road maintenance replaced expansion. Social services stagnated. Governance focused on order rather than opportunity,” saying that these years preserved the state, but did not grow it.”

He noted that 1999 and 2011 saw the return of democracy. “With the advent of the Fourth Republic, expectations became high. Chief Achike Udenwa’s administration, which did eight years, strengthened local government administration and maintained relative stability.

Chief Obi pointed out that this coincided with Nigeria’s oil boom in which he noted the argument of many that “Imo failed to leverage on this national prosperity into transformative infrastructure, industrialization or human capital expansion, pointing out that the era strengthened local government.

The grey area of the administration was its inability to leverage on the oil-boom.

Chief Ikedi Ohakim’s administration (2007—2011) was eventful and recorded successes on roads, using the Imo State Rural Road Maintenance Agency (IRROMA) concept which engaged over 30,000 Imolites, and the 10 jobs for Imo youths which Okorocha’s administration sacked.

He noted that the Rochas administration gave the state education as it expanded enrollment on education, and was rather dramatic.

According to Obi, “Rochas Okorocha’s tenure was visually dramatic and politically polarizing. Roads, flyovers, and urban renewal projects reshaped parts of Owerri, the state capital.

He noted that Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s seven- month tenure was too brief for measurable outcomes, yet long enough to reveal a governing philosophy.

“Ihedioha’s administration prioritised due process and procurement reform, civil service discipline, budget discipline and realism.”

Rhetorically, Obi wondered aloud, “Would Ihedioha have performed better if allowed a full term? He stated that, “The evidence suggests he may have strengthened institutions, though development outcomes remain speculative,” Obi said.

Then entered Hope Uzodimma’s administration (2020 to date).

High Chief Obi noted at least between 300 and 500 kilometre of roads across the three zones in the state.

Obi posited that Uzodimma’s administration has improved the federal-state alignment, adding “Since 2020, Hope Uzodimma has pursued aggressive road construction across the state and rebuilt federal relationships. Hundreds of kilometres of roads have been awarded or completed.

He noted that insecurity, economic fragility, and public trust remain significant challenges. Infrastructure alone cannot substitute for inclusive growth.

While scoring Mbakwe, Rochas, and Uzodimma high in his rating, Obi noted that others scored low points.

He, therefore, posited that at fifty, Imo State is politically viable but economically vulnerable.
Federal allocation remains its economic lifeline. Internally-generated revenue is modest. Industrial capacity is limited. The promise of 1976 remains only partially fulfilled.

He, therefore, maintained that Imo’s comparative advantages include education, strong entrepreneurial culture, strategic location within the South East, cultural cohesion and diaspora strength.

Obi, however, gave the prognostication that the next decade could be different with the prioritisation of security and the rule of law, establishment of industrial clusters, and agro-processing, youth employment linked to skills, policy continuity beyond electoral circles, a collective prayer for Imo State.

“As journalists and citizens, our prayer is simple: that Imo State will move from promise to performance, that leaders will build institutions, not just projects; and that the next fifty years will finally align governance with the potential of the Imo people. Imo at 50 is not a failure, but it is unfinished business,” he said.

In retrospect, High Chief Obi has empowered ninety-five Eziudo sons and daughters from the sixteen villages, sixty petty traders, and thirty youths; sponsored twelve individuals for further studies overseas; sponsored three students through scholarship programmes from the primary school to the university level (local and abroad).

He rebuilt Umuore market at Oriegbu single-handed. Built from ground up Palm Oil Mill Factory at Oriegbu, Eziudo, fixed Umuore water borehole at the same place, installed a solar powered water borehole at Umuzu, Eziudo.

He has also purchased one hundred and fifty plastic chairs for his Umuzu community, donated uniforms for women in the area; donated chairs, tables, and canopies for Umuore Development Union, Owerri Branch; sponsored Ezinihitte Cultural Festival in 2024.

Obi provided single-handed musical instruments and uniforms for the Abigbo dancing group in Eziudo.

He was chairman, Fund Mobilization Committee, Oji Eziudo Ezinihitte Festival in January 2026.

Obi has served in several leadership positions. He was chairman, secretary and treasurer emeritus respectively, at different times, of Mbaise Cultural Association of Michigan, USA.

A Knight of St. Peter Claver, 4th Degree, Michigan, USA; Obi is married and has four children —all males and graduates.