His Excellency Hon. Chief Dr. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, Ph.D. (Dee Sam), who served as the Governor of Imo State from 1st October 1979 to 31st December 1983, was a visionary and transformative leader. His tenure marked significant and enduring contributions across Imo, Abia, and parts of Ebonyi States, which then comprised the old Imo State. He was instrumental in establishing numerous industrial and commercial enterprises, providing gainful employment for many, constructing miles of durable roads, and founding world-class educational and medical facilities, including Imo State University with its satellite campuses.
Dee Sam’s foresight included a multi-campus system for Imo State University and the College of Education to foster job creation, infrastructural development, and increased academic admissions. Today, however, the single campus of Imo State University still sits on its supposed temporary site at Lake Nwaebere, suffering from poor infrastructure.
Among his notable achievements were the construction of housing estates and the innovative funding of an airport through community contributions rather than government funds. His tenure also saw the establishment of the Amaraku Power Station, marking the first state-owned and independent electricity generating station in Nigeria, perhaps even in Africa. Yet, subsequent administrations dismantled and sold these assets.
The decline in infrastructure and loss of industries such as the Resin and Paint manufacturing industry in Aboh Mbaise, the Aluminum Extrusion plant in old Mbaitolu/Ikeduru LGA, and the multi-million naira Adapalm farm in Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta, highlight the challenges faced in sustaining Mbakwe’s legacies. The once vibrant Avutu Poultry Farm, with the capacity to significantly impact local employment and economy, has been neglected by successive governments.
Mbakwe’s initiatives extended to essential services, including public water access and the electrification of nearly every community, alongside creating Nigeria’s most advanced urban drainage system. However, the innovative waste management systems he introduced have been undermined by subsequent neglect and corruption.
Despite not being part of the ruling party and facing financial challenges from the federal government, which led to him being dubbed “the crying governor,” Dee Sam achieved remarkable feats, including establishing the first shoe and paint industries in the South and Southeast, respectively.
Following the discovery of commercial quantities of kaolin, clay, limestone, and alumina in Okigwe and Mbano, Dee Sam established the Imo Tiles Industry at Nsu in Mbano, projected to generate over five billion naira in income per annum. Yet, this and other industries have been left to deteriorate.
The comparison of Dee Sam to recent administrations highlights a significant vision gap. The lack of new industries and employment opportunities underlines a trend towards mediocrity. Dee Sam’s comprehensive development master plan for Owerri and other geopolitical districts set a benchmark for development that remains unfulfilled, despite greater resources and technological advancements available today.
The New Owerri Capital City, a part of Dee Sam’s master plan, has seen piecemeal development and repeated demolitions under successive governments, further deviating from his vision for a modernized and functional state capital.
As individuals and collectively across various sectors, there is a shared responsibility for the state’s decline. The cycle of malfeasance threatens the very essence of Imo State, highlighting an urgent need for reflection and a return to principled, visionary leadership.
May the soul of Chief Dr. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe continue to rest in eternal peace. Amen.
Chima Nnadi-Oforgu
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
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