By Ogu Bundu Nwadike, MA
HRM, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, delivered a brief but pungent speech at the Grand Finale of the Imo @50 celebrations.
In his speech, the Ooni, inter alia, specifically stated thus:
“I praise Governor Uzodimma for his unifying leadership, as Imo State marks its 50th anniversary.
“Governor Uzodimma is a brother and a bridge-builder who has brought together past and present leaders, traditional rulers, and Governors from across Nigeria, setting aside political differences for the State’s good.
“I laud Uzodimma’s ability to foster cohesion and national unity, and I pray for continued progress in Imo State and Nigeria, and may God bless the Governor with strength and wisdom to sustain his efforts.”
In summary, one of the main points in the speech was that Governor Uzodimma has earned positive reputation of capacity, ability and capability of brings leaders together in the various sociopolitical and sociocultural realms across Nigeria.
During the Grand Finale ceremony for the Imo @50 celebration on Saturday, February 7, 2026, the various classes and categories of Nigerian leaders were very adequately represented in their impressive numbers.
In the recent past, Governor Uzodimma has on a number of times played host to leaders and members of the National Traditional Council, and in a particular meeting, the royal fathers announced their adoption of the Imo governor as their Patron.
Before engaging the National Council of Traditional Rulers, Governor Uzodimma had successfully recovered and restored the deeply fractured Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers that he inherited in January 2020.
Charity begins from home!
Governor Uzodimma met an Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers that existed only in name and on paper!
There had been a traumatizing psychological war of attrition that was fought between the governor of the time and the royal fathers that he choose to brazenly dehumanize and unethically debase.
There were even lawsuits and court cases instituted by Imo traditional rulers against the then Imo governor for acts of disregard and disrespect.
But, fast-forward to 2026!
Governor Uzodimma has extensively recovered, sanitized, redefined and restored the Imo traditional council, according the kings the recognition, regard and respect due to them.
Apparently, having successfully stabilized the Imo Traditional Council, Governor Uzodimma took the bold steps to create a cordial relationship with the National Traditional Council.
Any society that undermines its elders and traditional leaders and leadership will always have social crisis and conflicts to contend with.
Governor Uzodimma knows this and has put it to work to get the traditional institution in Imo State, Southeast zone, and the wider Nigerian society to be civil, tolerant, accommodating and progressive in their thoughts, thinking, horizons and actions.
It’s good that it was a nationally notable traditional ruler like the Ooni of Ife who publicly acknowledged and commended Governor Uzodimma for his good work of relating very well with the traditional rulers.
It’s also remarkable that other traditional rulers like the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Achebe, were present when the Ooni, delivered his speech.
Expectedly, Governor Uzodimma has been receiving accolades for all the testimonies from high-profile Nigerian leaders about his efforts at positively impacting on national ways of life and living.
One would only join in concurring with Ooni’s prayer that God Almighty should bless Governor Uzodimma with strength and wisdom to sustain his efforts.
