As if emulating former President Muhammadu Buhari who made himself the Minister of Petroleum during his tenure, the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, while inaugurating the newly appointed commissioners at the exco chamber of the Government House on Tuesday, appointed himself as the Commissioner for Lands. This development which many see as an aberration, has elicited mixed reactions from different quarters.
Some of those who are not comfortable with the development are wondering if the Governor does not find any of his aides and associates worth of holding the office. Others are also wondering if the Omuma, Oru East L.G.A, born Governor has belatedly realized that the ministry of Lands is a money spinner, hence he.
Dr Sam Amadi, a lawyer and former Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC, who was the first person to comment in the development, subtly mocked Governor Uzodinma for towing the path of infamy.
Amadi, in a post on his social media platform said, “Your Excellency, congratulations on your appointment as the Commissioner for Lands. We thank the Governor for finding you worthy of occupying the office”.
A political analyst, Chief Edwin Emejuo said, “the Governor has broken records. He is the first Governor in the country to appoint himself a commissioner. He is also the first Governor to appoint five commissioners from his area, Oru West and Oru East which constituted one local government area before they were split, while some Local Government Areas don’t even have one commissioner. Yes, I am from Orlu, but equity, justice and fairness must prevail. Does Uzodinma think that he was elected by Oru East and Oru West? He is setting a very bad precedence because any person that takes over him will follow suit. He may even decide to make his brother the Deputy Governor.
Though former Govenror Ikedi Ohakim initiated it by making his brother Sir Emma Ohakim, the Chief of Staff, Government House Owerri, he did not go this far”.
He further noted that, “aside the five commissioners that come from Oru West and Oru East, the Governor himself comes from there, while his brother, Ferdinand Uzodinma was also recently appointed as the Chief of Staff, (Special Duties)”.
Recall, that former President Muhammadu Buhari, at a point during his administration appointed himself as the Minister of Petroleum and his tenure was and is still seen as the worst era in the history of the NNPC and other affiliated establishments in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy”.
