Random Thoughts On Governor Okezie Ikpeazu

I got into a heated argument with some friends recently when I innocently but emphatically stated that Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu was for me the most visionary state chief executive in the current dispensation. My listeners asked me to justify such high valuation of the Abia governor, and it took me no time to do so.

Expectedly, majority disagreed with me and instead listed a handful of governors who merited the accolade in their own estimation. But I was, to say the least, disappointed when they explained their choices by listing all the physical projects executed under those governors, especially roads.

The debate logically led to the discussion on what constitutes true visionary leadership. Who are the governors that have shown leadership and vision beyond building roads and awarding contracts for physical development of their states? Not that it’s a bad idea to build roads and other infrastructure for your people. Infact, infrastructure is the bedrock of development and ought to be a priority for any responsible state chief executive.

But the argument was on who can be described as a visionary and purposeful leader? Does a voracious appetite for awarding roads and other contracts make a great leader? I remember a governor friend in one of the North West states when I counseled him against unnecessary physical projects and advised him to focus on making tangible, measurable impact on lives of his people.

His response was to shut me up, saying I was dabbling into an area I didn’t know. He went on to construct an N11 billion cargo airport about seven years ago. In a rural state where there are no viable businesses and agriculture still operated at subsistence level, what would happen to such project? Of course, the airport project was a waste of the state resources that could have gone into modernizing agriculture and turning the state to a food basket of the nation.

Since he left power over six years ago, the airport has become a monument where school kids go to take pictures, rather than a commercial transport hub. Money gone down the drain.

The debate was not intended to be an academic one even though some of those who joined the argument qualified to be called intellectuals. But the discussion was focused on analyzing the content of executive speeches and actions since the governors were sworn-in in May last year.

And on Governor Ikpeazu I had no trouble defending my submission that he must rank amongst the most visionary state governors of the current dispensation in view of what he has promised and the actions that had been taking by his administration.

Ikpeazu was one of the few governors who came to office with a clear idea of what he wants to achieve and has since set to work. He came with the mission to bring prosperity to Abia and turn it into an industrial hub. Everything he’s done since his first day in office has been tailored towards that objective.

In his first term in office, he strongly promoted Made-in-Aba products and led by personal examples, wearing locally made shoes and ensuring Made-in-Aba became the official apparel of political appointees in the state. He made himself an ambassador of his vision and anywhere he went he was seen as ‘Aba Made.’ It takes commitment to a vision to achieve such level of branding

Then he set to build infrastructure that supports local industry in Aba and other cities in the state. He built roads, bridges, boosted electricity supply and improved ease of doing business- all focused on achieving the singular objective of leap-frogging the economy of the state.

That is where Ikpeazu is different. Unlike many others who just love to award contracts without giving a thought about impact, the Ikpeazu administration puts all capital projects execution to the service of his vision.

When you now bring in the ambitious Enyimba Economic City into the mix, a clearer picture of Ikpeazu’s expansive vision emerges. This is a man who looks at things holistically and responds to challenges in like manner. The Abia State Governor recently secured a $430 million investment deal to fast-track the development of EEC. The deal was brokered by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and a consortium of private investors and multilateral financial institutions. When completed the project will bring over 700, 000 jobs to Abia State.

Towards the end of his first term in office, Ikpeazu recruited dozens of science teachers for secondary schools in the state to boost science education. The logic is simple: If you want to industrialize and be part of it, you need to boost science and get your youths ready. During an interactive session with students in the state at the Micheal Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, the state capital in 2018 he declared: “the issue of dearth of science teachers in secondary schools has been of great concern and the state government has approved a waiver to facilitate the employment of 90 science teachers.

“We are also going to set up three mobile laboratories and will assign one laboratory to each federal constituency in the state. This is a measure to encourage science-based students.

“Education is nothing if it cannot illuminate your mind, thoughts and thinking process, and the state government is poised to encourage productivity in the education sector.”

Just last week, Ikpeazu set up a seven-member exploration committee on the establishment of Abia State University of Science and Technology. The committee comprises Anya O. Anya as the chairman, Isaac Nnadi, Uwaoma Olewengwa, Benjamin Ozurumba, Ikechi Mgbeoji, John Ogunji and Nduka Ekere.

While inaugurating the committee, Ikpeazu pledged the commitment of the state government to boost human capital development to enhance productivity and economic growth in the state. The governor said the government was desirous to establish a university of science and technology to tackle unemployment, promote manufacturing of spare parts, and implementation of innovative developmental ideas in Abia.

The terms of reference Ikpeazu gave the committee also demonstrate how a singular vision for prosperity drives the Ikpeazu administration. It states, among others: “exploring the viability of the university in Aba, generate options of funding, leverage the SME/commercial activities in Aba,

“Take note of the rich human capital available in Aba and explore the possibility of collaboration with development partner.’’

The Abia governor has also engaged the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in a partnership that supports science and technology education in the state.

By the time I concluded my analysis of what Ikpeazu is doing in Abia State, I succeeded in convincing my friends that leadership goes beyond awarding contracts for physical structures., as many, unfortunately think. True leadership sets agenda and remains committed to its execution.

GEORGE AkPO is Master’s Degree Student at the Abia State University, Uturu-Okigwe.

Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler.