Over 3,000 people gathered on the fields of Lorji Community Primary School in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, to receive and honour the State Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs, Dr. Ugorji O. Ugorji. The occasion was a community civic reception for one of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s most impressive aides, an American educated and Africa-centered technocrat who has been given the daunting task of heading the government’s new ministry during a very difficult time for the state.

The event was the first of its kind in the current tenure of Governor Hope Uzodinma – for a community to raise funds, organise to celebrate and thank the governor for the historic act of appointing one of their own a commissioner.

The event drew youth advocates from all 12 political wards in Aboh Mbaise who took buses on their own and moved an impressive crowd to the event in support of a man they saw as having come to serve and to change the leadership narrative in the area.

Also remarkable was the fact that the event was put together by design, without the instrumentalities of the state and local governments, and without the resources of the APC party in the local government area, according to Barrister Roland Uwakwe, the secretary of the organising committee. The committee and the event were generally non-partisan in nature, but there was no mistaking the fact that the event marketed the APC and the government of the day, with the APC Woman Leader in Aboh Mbaise, Mrs. Bernadine Mgbahurike, present.

All three Chairmen of the Council of Traditional Rulers in Aboh Mbaise (HRH Eze MJD Nwaturocha), Ahiazu Mbaise (HRH Eze S. Nwaneche) and in Ezinihitte (HRH Eze O.B. Nwokocha) were present early and stayed throughout the event. HRH Eze Fred Nwachukwu, the Chairman of Council of Traditional Rulers in Ngor Okpala, also joined his colleagues in Mbaise to receive Ugorji. The member representing Aboh Mbaise in the Imo House of Assembly, Chief Edward Obinna, was in attendance. The three IMC Local Government Chairmen were also present (Barrister Emma Njoku of Aboh Mbaise, Chief Onyeberechi of Ezinihitte, and Chief Larry Chikwe of Ahiazu).

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All four chairmen of the Traditional Councils took turns to eulogise the commissioner, who they said was not like any other commissioner they had seen since 1999. Just as importantly, they praised Governor Uzodinma for the impacts of his shared prosperity government in Mbaise and elsewhere. It was the first time since Uzodinma wrested the governorship seat from Aboh Mbaise’s Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP, that the governor had come to a political gathering in Mbaise, albeit represented by the Deputy Governor.

Most prominent among those who gathered was the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, who was present in a dual capacity – first in his personal capacity as a special guest, and also as the official representative of the state governor. He came with other Mbaisenites, including the Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) for the governor, Chief Pat Ekeji, and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Oguwuike Nwachukwu.

“Ugorji invited me personally, and His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma, as the invited special guest of honour, felt that the 3R Government should show solidarity with the commissioner at this event,” Njoku said.

Praising the commissioner for bringing innovations to peace and security in the state, Prof. Njoku spoke about Ugorji’s commitment to the protection of human rights and civil rights of Imo citizens in security operations.

The historic event was chaired by two prominent sons of the Oke Clan in Aboh Mbaise LGA – Chief Barrister Obioma Success Akagburuonye, and Chief Barrister Iheukwumere Alaribe. If there was any doubt or debate about who the leading representative of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s 3R government is in Mbaise, the issue may have been settled on Saturday, May 14th, at Lorji. The Commissioner’s brethren of Lorji Nwekeukwu Autonomous Community claimed and asserted that the mantle, and the Imo State’s government’s high-level representation appear to have certified it.