It began like a gentle nudge. A close confidant of Governor Hope Uzodimma had made yet another attempt — the fourth in a single day — to persuade him to accept Vanguard Newspaper’s invitation to attend their annual Personality of the Year Awards, where he had been named the 2024 Infrastructure Governor of the Year. The governor, as usual, was reluctant.
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Governor Uzodimma is known for a certain philosophical distance from accolades in the corridors of power. To him, the true measure of leadership is not in the plaques on shelves or the thunderous ovations at formal banquets, but in the silent gratitude of the everyday Imolite — the trader whose goods now arrive in record time, the student whose journey to school is smoother, the farmer whose harvest gets to the market without sinking into potholes. “Let the work speak,” he often says.
But on this occasion, it wasn’t just the work that spoke. The people did — loudly and in numbers that shook the award venue.
After much persuasion, he finally agreed to attend. Even then, no one could have predicted what would unfold. The moment the organizers called on Governor Uzodimma to step forward and receive his award, a wave of humanity surged. Imolites — hundreds of them — who had journeyed of their own volition to Lagos to witness this historic recognition, rose in unison. In a matter of seconds, the stage was overtaken. Security struggled. The presenters froze. Cameras panned in disbelief. There was simply no space left. The crowd was not there for spectacle — they were there for solidarity.
It was the kind of overwhelming public endorsement that no press release could manufacture. From the Okigwe axis to the heart of Owerri, from Orlu to Mbaise — the people came to say: “We see you, Governor. We see the roads. We see the flyovers. We see the work. And we stand with you.”
The Vanguard Newspaper, in its citation, praised Governor Uzodimma’s aggressive infrastructure revolution — roads that now cut travel time by hours, modern urban projects that have lifted the aesthetics and economy of Imo State, and initiatives that have opened up rural communities long forgotten by previous administrations.
From the dualized Owerri-Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe highways to the revived inner-city roads of Portharcourt road Owerri, MCC-Uratta, Chukwuma Nwoha, Ballon technology drainage system and beyond — the governor has earned himself the moniker “The Road Master.” But even more significant than bulldozers and bitumen, is the fact that Imo people themselves have become the voice of commendation.
In an era where many public figures chase the spotlight, Uzodimma’s quiet reluctance to accept honors has only made this one more authentic. He did not lobby for it. He did not crave it. But the people — and now the nation — have spoken.
As the award ceremony slowly settled, with the Governor finally handed his plaque amidst roaring applause, one thing was clear: this was more than just an award presentation. It was a festival of gratitude. A tribute from the governed to the one who governs — not as a ruler, but as a servant of the people.
The #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma may shy away from public validation, but when the people speak in one voice, even the humblest leader must listen.
And on that night, they did not just speak. They roared.
- Ambrose Nwaogwugwu is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic and Creative Media, he wrote from Eko Hotel, Lagos State.
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