VISION, POWER AND THE STRUGGLE TO TRANSFORM
IMO STATE, NIGERIA

A COLLECTION OF SPEECHES
BY

IKEDI OHAKIM
GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE OF NIGERIA

© Ikedi Ohakim 2008
All rights reserved

All rights reserved under International Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

ISBN: 978-978-085-610-6
Cover concept: Ikedi Ohakim

Cover design: DDB Lagos
Cover photographs: TY Bello

Editing: Pini Jason Onyegbadue
Typesetting: Ogbenyi Egbe/Taijo Wonukabe Ltd.

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Printed by the MPG Book Group, United Kingdom

PART I: A NEW BEGINNING
Chapter 1- Propelled To True Peace……………………………………………………………..................2
Chapter 2 – Imo Will Be Great Again ……………………….................................................4
Chapter 3 – A Blueprint For The New Face Of Imo .....................................................8
Chapter 4 – A Mandate For Change..........................................................................14
Chapter 5 – Agenda For Greater Imo........................................................................24

PART II: TAKING CHARGE

Chapter 6- A Motivator As A Pilot ............................................................................38
Chapter 7 –Teamwork And Accountability...............................................................41
Chapter 8 – Freeing The Masses From Exploitation……………………………………………………..45
Chapter 9 – Removing All The Barriers To Peace………………………………………………………..49
Chapter 10- Surmounting The Obstacles To Development..........................................63
Chapter 11 – Tomorrow Beckons On Us....................................................................72
Chapter 12 – No More “Business As Usual”...............................................................84
Chapter13 – Consolidating The Judiciary................................................................92
Chapter 14 –Let Justice Be Done.............................................................................95

PART III BONDING WITH THE PEOPLE
Chapter 15- Our Collective Challenge......................................................................100
Chapter16 – Quality Education For Transformation.................................................106
Chapter 17- A Call For Vigilance And Prayers..........................................................110
Chapter 18- Desperadoes At Work ...........................................................................114
Chapter 19- Victory With Responsibility..................................................................123
Chapter 29- Remembering Our Past Heroes.............................................................126
Chapter 21- Tribute To A Political Titan..................................................................129
Chapter 22- A war Against Sabotage………………………………………….……………………………..133
Chapter23- Faith In Prosperous 2008……………………………………………………..………………..141
Chapter24 –Labour: The Bedrock Of Development …………………………………………..……...148
Chapter 25- One Year Of Business Unusual ……………………………………………………………….151
Chapter 26- The Past And Present Meet …………………………………………………………….……..156
Chapter 27- A Review of The Past Year With The Media …………………………………...………162

PART IV: GOVERNANCE AT THE GRASSROOTS
Chapter 28- The Local Government Electoral Law Reform Panel……………....……………...166
Chapter 29- Called To Serve……………………………………………………………………………………….171
Chapter30- Agriculture: Our Common Heritage……………………………………........………....176

 PART V: EXTENDING THE IMO FRONTIERS

Chapter 31- The Land Of Possibilities………………………………………..…………………….………....182
Chapter 32- Working Group Of Nepad…………………………………….…………………………………..189
Chapter 33- Nigeria’s Country Self-Assessment Report…………………………………….……...…192
Chapter 34 – Investment Prospects In Imo State……………………………………………………......198
Chapter 35 – Investing In Industrial Parks:
A Nigeria Industrial Development Strategy…………………………………………………............…203
Chapter 36- Imo- UNICEF Partnership ……………………………………………………………..………..214
Chapter 37- The Writer As A Witness…………………………………………………………………...…….218
Chapter 38- Owerri Bankers’ Forum........................................................................223
Chapter 39 – Imo: The Evolving Brand………………………………………………….…………………..226
Chapter 40 –A Voice For Nigeria Movies …………………………………………………….……………..233
Chapter 41- The Capital Market As Catalyst For Development …………………...……………..236
Chapter 42- Nigeria’s Entertainment Capital ………………………………………….……………...…241
PART VI: CLEAN AND GREEN INITIATIVE
Chapter 43 – The Imperative Of Cleanliness…………………………………………….…………………248
Chapter 44- A Return To The Garden State……………………………………………….………………..251
Chapter 45- The New Entraco Committee………………………………………………….……………….257
Chapter 46- Clean & Green in Okigwe Zone ………………………………………………..………………263
Chapter 47- Clean & Green in Orlu Zone ………………………………………………….……………..…268
Chapter 48- Clean & Green in Owerri Zone ………………………………………………….…………….273

PART VII: DEFINING A STRATEGIC PATHWAY FOR NDIGBO
Chapter 49- Ahiajoku: A Cultural Self: Rediscovery…………………………………..………………280
Chapter 50– Ima Onwe: The Way To The Future ……………………………………….……………..286
Chapter 51- Ndigbo: Re-Branding For A Changing World……………………………….……….…308
Chapter 52- Living Abroad, Thinking Home:
Optimizing The Diaspora Experience……………………………………….………………….…………...337

PART VIII: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
Chapter 53- Giant Strides To A Great Future ………………………………………………..…….......352
Chapter 54- The Year Of Great Opportunities ……………………………………………….……………361
Chapter 55- Budget Of Great Opportunities ……………………………………………………..………..381
Index……………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………..413

In his first one year in Office as the Governor of Imo State of Nigeria, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has shown an incredible capacity for leadership that has left his admirers astonished and his opponents gasping for breath.
Writing in Nigeria’s’ Sunday Vanguard of 4th Many 2008, the famed columnist, Dele Sobowale described Ohakim as the Napoleon of Imo. This is not surprising. Of all the contestants in 2007 for the Governorship of Imo State, Governor Ohakim was the only one who had a concisely and lucidly articulated manifesto...

My appreciation goes first and foremost to God the Almighty, who mandated me, through the good people of Imo State, to offer my services to Imo State and Nigeria.

My gratitude and love to my wife, children and entire Ohakim family who had stood by me through the most challenging times. I cannot thank the people of Imo State enough for their forbearance and fortitude as we work tirelessly on the vision of the New Face of Imo. I own immense gratitude to member of the 164-man New Face of Imo Transition Committee who diligently carved a pathway for this government. My gratitude also goes to all the members of the Expanded Executive Council of Imo State for their bravery in the face of daunting challenges. To everybody who has contributed to the success of this administration, I say God bless you all.

 IKEDI OHAKIM
OWERRI, May 2008.

Leadership is an all-encompassing attribute which manifests in creative and productive service to the people. A critical function of effective leadership is the ability to communicate one’s vision, ideas, policies and programmes to the populace.

Chief Ikedi Ohakim, the Governor of Imo State of Nigeria, has proven himself not only a committed leader but also a consummate communicator.

In his collection of his speeches, aptly titled Challenging New Frontiers Governor Ohakim has eloquently articulate the strategic pathways and the philosophy that have  guided the essence of his leadership and stewardship in the past twelve months,  and his vision for the future as Governor of Imo State.

Challenging New Frontiers is indeed a rich addition to the chronicles of our political development process and I commend it to all who are interested in further insight into the intricate tapestry that is Nigerian politics.

UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria