“I see Governor Ikedi Ohakim as a Nigerian leader of Igbo extraction and I hope and wish that his political progress will be based on that…His Clean and Green Programme is something close to my heart. What he has pioneered here in Owerri is a project I will be telling my colleagues in Switzerland, Headquarters of the WWF, that something very good is happening in this part of the world”
– Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
“48 years after independence, just barely two years to 50 years of our attainment of independence … we are still discussing on how to provide water, electricity, building roads, building hospitals … Our 48 years of independence appear to me as wasted years. Fortunately for you in Imo state, I am sure that in four years your present governor will make you forget the 48 years of stagnation … I believe Ohakim has a goal, he has a vision and objective and that he can attain those goals if he is not distracted”
- Senate President, David Mark, at a Lecture marking Governor Ohakim’s 1st year in office, May 16, 2008.
“This is a peaceful state and, of course, where there is peace there is development especially when you have somebody who is out to work for his people”
- His Eminence, Alhaji (Dr) Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto, during a courtesy visit to Governor Ikedi Ohakim.
“… Ohakim took a state that was hitherto not highly visible or reckoned with as a possible investor or tourist destination and deliberately re–branded it. Today, Imo state has captured and held national attention as a place of unimaginable possibilities…”
- Professor George Obiozor in a lecture titled, “The New Face of Imo as a Metaphor for Leadership and Accelerated Development”.
“Whenever you see a fellow with robust exposure in the corporate world going into government, there is always a big difference. Ohakim is the gift from Nigeria’s business establishment to the good people of Imo state. I am always proud of my governors but I am particularly proud of Ohakim”
- Chief Leo–Stan Ekeh (Chairman, Zinox Technologies); The Guardian, Sunday February 7, 2009
“Today, the Ikedi Ohakim phenomenon in Imo state now looks like a political inevitability that was bound to happen … the state is top heavy with political god fathers … the cabal has a history of rigging non – anointed candidates out of their victory because of refusal to sign … accepted conditions that compromised common good, development and decency. But Ohakim smashed that myth and to me that was an excellent beginning of the defeat of the powerful clique that held my beautiful state prisoner for decades”
- Kanayo Esinulo, National Life Newspaper April 4, 2009
“In Lagos, it is something like a developmental hurricane sweeping across the land … Governor Ohakim is even more enigmatic. Whereas Governor Babatunde Fashola may have inherited a solid foundation on the development of Eko from a previous administration in which he served as Chief of Staff to the Governor, Governor Ikedi Ohakim is building a new Imo from the scratch; thus his “New face of Imo” slogan …”
- Godson Offoaro, Daily Sun, Wed., December 31, 2008.
“Ohakim was, before his election as governor, a very successful youngman. … Ikedi Ohakim as a governorship aspirant or candidate did not mesmerize or intimidate the people with long convoys of exotic cars or wands of Naira notes not for want of the means to do so. For a fellow who had become a millionaire before the age of 30 and who had subsequently found himself in the boardrooms of blue chip companies and some of the most highly regarded public corporations in the country, lining up pretty and gorgeously dressed women to sing his praises at every occasion would have been the least of his problems. But he chose to do something different and new”
– Okenwa E. Okere, OHAKIM, A LIVING, BREATHING PROOF … Page 19.
“I am proud what you have done for Imo state. We are all proud of you”
- Senator Chris Anyanwu
“Ohakim has transformed Imo into the cleanest and one of the most tourist friendly state in the country” - Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Announcer Express, January 22, 2009
“So far so good … I think the administration of His Excellency, Governor Ikedi Ohakim, has been wonderful. I really thank God for giving us this kind of leadership. I have no doubt in my mind that it was raised by God in heaven”
– Goodluck Opia, Speaker, Imo House of Assembly
“I can now visit Imo every month, thanks to Governor Ohakim”
– Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, D.G. Nigerian Stock Exchange
“Amidst all these distractions, Ohakim has shown that he can change the face of Imo from the hitherto seemingly grave yard to a bustling economy full of activities. His programmes have received series of national accolades …”
– Greg Okey Nwadike, The Democratic Mandate, January 22, 2009
“In a number of state capitals, environmental beautification programmes are going on with near frenzy … The result, undeniably, has been quite aesthetic…The same is true of Owerri, the picturque capital of Imo state, where Governor Ikedi Ohakim has done much in the past two years to restore beauty through massive greening of the environment”
- THISDAY newspaper Editorial, Wednesday June10, 2009
Ohakim, if he doesn’t mind, I have branded the Napoleon of Imo for several simple reasons …. none of the Governors preceding Ohakim, not even the great Chief Mbakwe, had achieved the sort of transformation the state had experienced since May 29, 2007.
- Dr. Dele Sobowale (Sunday Vanguard 4 May 2008)
"Ohakim’s administration is simply notable for the incubation of ideas and exploration of opportunities beyond the state of Imo."
- ThisDay the Sunday Newspaper 24 February 2008
"Ohakim is both a strategic and a tactical governor."
Kelechukwu Sebastian (ThisDay 5 February 2008)
“We need people like the Governor of Imo State in Nigeria.”
- Hon. Bayero Usman Nafada, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives
“The people of Imo State are very very lucky in having him as their governor.”
- Oba Otudeko, President, Nigeria Stock Exchange