Politics in Nigeria is a battlefield of perception, where reputation, influence, and propaganda intertwine. Within this often turbulent arena, Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, has risen as a complex, consequential figure whose political evolution mirrors the transformation underway in Imo itself.
Yet beyond the politics, beyond the battles and rivalries, something profound happened today, something that reminded us of who we are and what truly matters: Imo State is all we have.
And for the first time in a long while, many of us felt an unmistakable sense of pride in being Imolite.
A Turning Point: Imo Economic Summit, First in 50 Years
Between today the 4th and tomorrow the 5th December 2025, Imo State is hosting an event of historical magnitude: the first economic summit in half a century, a moment that has declared boldly to Nigeria and the world:
Imo is open for business.
Owerri today welcomed global statesmen and investors:
Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General
Boris Johnson, former UK Prime Minister, who publicly affirmed he “felt perfectly safe in Owerri,” shattering negative international narratives
President Joseph Boakai of Liberia
Key Nigerian political leaders, federal ministers, captains of industry, diplomats, development partners
It was a gathering that even some nations would envy, and it happened in Imo.
With the unveiling of a $1-trillion Imo economy vision, backed by energy development, industrialisation, smart agriculture, digital transformation, and world-class Special Economic Zones, Imo showed that it is ready to compete globally.
This summit did not appear from thin air.
It is the result of political evolution, strategic governance, and a shift in direction at the highest level.
From Senator to Strategist
Before becoming governor, Hope Uzodinma spent years building influence in Abuja. His time in the Senate was more than legislative duty, it was an apprenticeship in national power dynamics.
Through alliances, committee leaderships, and high-level negotiations, he carved a place within the APC power structure. This foundation later propelled him into the governorship and set the stage for his national relevance today.
Building Blocks of Governance, Laying the Foundation for Today’s Global Attention
Since assuming office in 2020, Governor Uzodinma has pursued governance with a mixture of technocratic focus and political calculation. What many now describe as a silent infrastructural revolution has taken shape:
Dozens of urban and rural roads rebuilt
Federal highways revived through collaborations
New links across communities, boosting mobility and commerce
These infrastructural gains are not cosmetic, they are the backbone of the economic vision showcased at the summit. No investor listens to a state without roads, order, or structure. This government understood that.
Fiscal Discipline and Economic Realignment
Internally generated revenue has improved; financial leakages have reduced; governance processes are increasingly digitalized. The “Prudent Imo Model”, cost control, transparency, and proactive investment partnerships, has reshaped the state’s economic outlook.
This fiscal realignment is what gave credibility to the Imo Economic Summit. Investors respond not to slogans but to systems. Imo is beginning to show systems.
Security and Silent Battles
Despite serious insecurity challenges, criminality, banditry, pastoralist clashes, some politically motivated violence, and destabilization attempts, the administration’s combination of strengthened community policing, support for security agencies, intelligence operations, use of mercenaries and diplomatic channels has gradually reduced tensions.
This more stable environment was critical in hosting global leaders in Owerri.
Boris Johnson’s calming declaration of safety was not accidental, it reflected visible changes on the ground.
A Call for Unity, Because Imo Is All We Have
Beyond politics and achievements, something deeper must now guide us.
Imo State is our home. Our heritage. Our only collective possession. We cannot continue tearing it apart and running it down with bitterness and rivalry. Tough political battles have been fought; scars exist on all sides. That is Nigerian politics, brutal, unforgiving, relentless.
But we have reached a point where wisdom must rise above resentment.
Whether everyone sees it or not, the governor has changed gear. There is a clearer vision, a more deliberate direction, and a renewed urgency to unlock our state’s potential. Today’s summit proved that Imo can attract the world, if only we allow Imo to succeed.
It is time for rivals to drop the hatchet.
Time to relieve the pressure on the driver so he can take us to the destination.
Time to support the state we all claim to love.
Today, I felt proud to be Imolite. Truly proud.
I hope more of us felt the same.
Looking Ahead, Continuity Through Merit
As this administration executes its mandate, one thing is now crucial: the next governor of Imo must be chosen purely on merit, competence, and capacity so as to maintain course.
Imo must move forward in one direction, not in cycles of derailment and revenge.
Growth requires continuity.
Progress requires stability.
Vision requires leadership beyond politics.
Legacy in Motion
Notably, Governor Hope Uzodinma’s political journey, from senator to strategist to power broker, is still unfolding. His governance has produced tangible outcomes. His national influence continues to expand. His role in hosting a global economic summit has elevated Imo’s visibility more than at any time in the past 50 years.
Whether history crowns him a visionary, a strategist, or a power player, one fact is undeniable:
Uzodinma has positioned Imo at the heart of national and global conversation.
And for that, the least we can do is ensure that Imo does not slide backwards.
Imo is rising.
Imo is ready.
Imo is ours.
Let us build it together.
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
Hon. Chima “Oblong” Nnadi-Oforgu
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
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