What a Second Term Would Have Delivered and Sustained
By Capt Bishop C. Johnson (SW/AW) US Army (rtd), DG BBO 2027
1. The Power of a Big Picture
Martin Luther King Jr.’s legendary speech, “I Have a Dream”, vividly captures the eternal import and essence of a big picture.
The big picture metaphorically underscores the mental imagery that signals the realization of a dream. It represents the destination of a vision—the essence, the substance, and the material foundation of a venture. The allure of that picture fires the zeal, the passion, and the drive to reach for it, feel it, and touch it.
Big dreamers carry mental pictures in their heads. These pictures reside in the “ought to be” domain and provide the spark that drives ambition toward the ultimate goal.
Leaders—true leaders, those worthy of the name—always envision a destination to which they must lead their people.
For Martin Luther King Jr., the big picture was a time when his children would be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. That was the ultimate vision of a man waging a revolutionary struggle against racial segregation.
2. The Problems Identified in Imo State
In Imo State, Governor Ikedi Ohakim confronted a number of challenges:
The provincial status of the state.
Widespread poverty—mental, psychological, and material.
A parlous economy.
Vast resources lying waste instead of being harnessed for the greater good.
A leadership process manipulated by political godfathers.
Added to these was the large army of unemployed youths and idle hands, easily exploited as pawns by power seekers and hate merchants. The despondency, despair, and poor public perception of government and its role created urgent challenges demanding solutions.
3. The Vision and the Social Contract
A critical review of Ohakim’s campaign manifesto revealed the inner workings of his mind—the problems he identified and his strategies to overcome them. That manifesto, which formed a social contract with the people, presented an economic transformation blueprint that reflected the essence of the big picture.
The big picture was to transform Imo State into a modern model state. Governor Ohakim ignited the people’s imagination by offering them a glimpse of what such a state would look like:
A strong, diversified, manufacturing-based economy.
Anchored on emerging skills nurtured by science and technology.
Guaranteed employment opportunities for the people.
The completeness of this vision may explain the overwhelming endorsement the manifesto received from the 167-member Transition Committee set up upon his assumption of office. Their task was to review his blueprint, ensure consistency with the people’s aspirations, and provide a definitive action plan for transformation.
4. The Pathway to Transformation
The primary steps were carefully taken, subjected to stress evaluation, and aligned with the overarching transformation goals. Raising the bar by setting ambitious targets required the government to test its own capacity through a concerted effort, ensuring that all components of efficient and effective service delivery were positioned to inspire performance confidence.
Fundamental questions guided the process:
What strategic pathways must be adopted?
How can the thorny path be navigated?
What level of support and sacrifice can be mobilized?
How long would the journey take, and would people be patient enough to endure it?
Do we have enough “fuel” to reach the destination?
What hiccups might arise along the way?
These assurance indicators were necessary to bring the big picture within reach of the people.
5. Building the Productive Sector
For Imo State’s closed economy to open up, the productive sector—both goods and services—had to become vibrant, competitive, and responsive to 21st-century demands.
This productive base would be powered by investments from within and outside the state. But for such investments to flow, the environment needed to be made attractive through:
Provision of basic infrastructure.
Environmental sanitation.
Security of lives and property.
Policies and institutional frameworks that reduce the stress of doing business.
A skilled, knowledgeable, and employable workforce.
6. The Human Dimension
The big picture signposted a quantum leap—a giant stride from where we were to where we ought to be. It envisioned a system that promotes self-reliance, stakeholdership, a level playing field for all, and access to quality education, healthcare, and other basic necessities of life.
There are fundamental needs which, when met by a responsible government, reinforce our shared humanity and rescue people from the Hobbesian state of nature. These include:
Psychological security.
Safety.
Social belonging.
Esteem.
Self-actualization.
The desire to know and understand.
Aesthetic fulfillment and expressive behavior.
These human needs were embedded in the big picture of the New Face of Imo Agenda. Visionary leadership recognizes that genuine effort yields results which satisfy the people’s needs while fulfilling the leader’s goals.
7. From a Provincial Player to a Model State
The big picture, as encapsulated in the New Face of Imo vision, clearly defined the accomplishments that would transform the state from a marginal provincial player into a modern model, capable of competing creditably in the comity of advanced states.
The clarity or opacity of a big picture is always a reflection of a leader’s vision and drive. A long-distance runner, a big dreamer, and one with foresight will always set standards higher than one who aims low with a myopic vision, seeing only today and caring little about tomorrow.
8. The Spirit of “We Can Do”
In the New Face of Imo Agenda of Ohakim’s government, the “we can do” spirit was unmistakable. It left no one in doubt that the administration possessed the expertise, knowledge, and deep understanding of the environment required to drive a genuine turnaround—and that they were determined to put all of it at the disposal of the state to make Imo work.
Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, the chief driver motivated the team to excel, leading to making reaching targets more likely. There was no doubt that the team was on course in breaking frontiers to make a difference.
If we must change the vista of the state, all energies and efforts should be deployed towards a big picture in our development initiative that can guarantee the state a quantum leap to greatness.
The big picture of the Ohakim’s government would have fully eliminated godfatherism, sanitized the polity, and opened the political space to accommodate the best and brightest no matter the local government of origin.
Monetization of the politics of the state with the attendance intolerance, violence and intrigues would have reduced drastically.
The youths of the state would have been gainfully engaged with the expected opening of the economy, the middle class would have re-emerged.
Big and small businesses would have had a conducive environment to operate unencumbered by poor infrastructure and absence of skilled man power.
Safety of lives and property would have been assured and Imo State would have started working, turning into the investment and tourism destination of choice. The hospitality industry would have sustained a positive boom because of increased patronage from visitors coming to do genuine business in the state. It was surprise that room occupancy that stood at 10% when Ohakim came to office increased to between 85% to 90%.
The state internally generated revenue (IGR) would have increased because of the increased economic activities in the state with multiplier effect of improved capacity of the people and business to pay tax.
Most conference, seminars and workshops that are hosted in South-South would have had Imo state as first choice because of the comparative advantage enjoyed in the state. The big picture would have put Imo State in a distinguished position on the map of Nigeria.
The Unfinished Business of the New Face of Imo Vision
1. The Big Picture on Hold
In the mind’s eye, one can still picture the big vision that was put in abeyance— a projection suspended, yet one that retains the power to recreate Imo State.
2. Infrastructure and Urban Development
Picture Owerri if the flyovers and bridge projects initiated had been completed.
Picture Imo State if the Imo Freeway Project with complementary arterial roads had been delivered—unlocking economic benefits, easing transportation, beautifying the state, and achieving the one-city state dream.
The network of roads, flyovers, and bridges started would have been completed by 2013.
3. Environmental Transformation
The Clean and Green programme, if sustained, would have entrenched environmental pride and progress.
The Waste-to-Wealth initiative would have generated jobs, improved sanitation, and boosted revenue.
4. Industrialization and Economic Growth
Project 27, with its plan for one industry per LGA, would have been at an advanced stage, creating jobs and stimulating local economies.
The Imo Free Trade Zone, with its license already secured, would have attracted importers and exporters from Aba and Onitsha, becoming a hub of commerce.
ISIPA and ENTRACO would have drawn strong investor confidence, boosting IGR and creating alternative jobs outside the civil service.
5. Energy, Oil, and Natural Resources
The Imo Refinery, Oguta Wonderlake Project, and Conference Centre would have been operational, generating huge IGR, thousands of jobs, and strengthening the economic value chain.
The first phase of Wonderlake alone would have employed over 2,000 youths directly and indirectly.
6. Water Supply and Rural Development
The ₦6 billion Federal-assisted Owerri Water Resuscitation Project would have been actualized.
A sustainable water scheme would have provided rural communities with reliable potable water.
7. Agriculture and Food Security
The Farmers Loan Scheme would have continued, empowering thousands of farmers.
Large grain silos in Okigwe would be in use.
Through AGRONOVA (a state–foreign investor joint venture), mechanized agriculture would have attracted youths into farming.
The state would have captured a large share of the oil palm seedling market.
8. Sports and Youth Development
The ₦13.25 billion Okigwe Stadium, a Federal Government–NDDC project, would have been near completion, positioning Imo to host national and international competitions.
9. Empowerment and Human Capital
The Petty Traders Financial Support Scheme and the Imo Youth Empowerment Programme (IYEP) would have empowered over 50,000 youths and women to run small businesses.
By retaining the 10,000 youths earlier employed in the public service, Imo would today have an experienced civil service corps.
By 2014, an additional 10,000 would have been employed, building human capital for sustained governance.
10. Education and Health Care
The Faculty of Engineering and Agriculture at Okigwe (extensions of Imo State University) would have taken off.
27 rehabilitated health centres would have been upgraded to referral primary health centres.
Additional centres would have been equipped to expand rural healthcare access.
The Free Ambulance Services across LGAs would have saved countless lives by providing timely medical response.
11. Security and Social Stability
With over 40,000 youths gainfully engaged through these initiatives, crime would have drastically reduced.
Security agencies would have faced less pressure, as idle youths would be too busy to resort to crime.
12. Good Governance and Integrity
The structures put in place under the 2011 Development Plan—financing, legal frameworks, and special purpose vehicles—would have ensured sustainability.
Imo State would not have fallen prey to dubious contractors and corporate fraudsters who later fleeced the state of billions.
Instead, the state would have remained on the path of sustainable growth, inclusive development, and visionary governance under the New Face of Imo Agenda.
