ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – A professor of public administration at the University of Abuja, Prof. Isaac N. Obasi has called on the Governor of Imo State, Sir Emeka Ihedioha, to remain focused and build on the foundation he has layed since coming on office on May 29.
In a statement sent to Sundiata Post on Monday, Obasi described as commendable the developmental policy initiatives of the Ihedioha administration.
Prof. Obasi, in his assessment of the governor’s 100 days in office, commended Ihedioha for “signing the Executive Order on the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy; the launching of the Central Billing System of the Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IIRS), which is unprecedented in the governance history of the state; the environmental sanitation policy initiatives under the Go Green, Stay Green Environmental Policy); the reduction of ministries from 31 to 18 (a move that sent to its rightful grave the ridiculous ‘Ministry for Happiness…’); the establishment of the Financial Advisory Committee for the State Government (a commendable move in the right direction), and lastly the signing of the contracts for the rehabilitation of 13 important but deplorable roads across the state.”
According to Prof. Obasi, who is an expert in public policy, these policy initiatives indicate “that the state government for now takes the twin issues of transparency and accountability very seriously and also gives primacy to inclusiveness in governance. For example, the spreading of appointments as well as development projects (i.e. roads rehabilitation that cuts across the entire gamut of the state), are highly promotive of the much-needed unity, fairness and stability in the state.”
He urged the state government to remain focused and never allow ever-present distractors in and outside the state to have any foothold in the governance structure of Imo State.
He reminded the Ihedioha administration that “it is common to see a new government operating an Open Door policy only to quickly move to a closed door policy before reaching its mid-term in office.”
He advised Ihedioha to be very mindful of, and be focused on, his Rebuild Imo mission to enable him remain consistently on track.
“Again, Governor Ihedioha should remember that many governors in the past in Nigeria started well but only to show their true deceptive and hypocritical colours later”, Obasi said.