The future of Imo: From Hope to Success

Imo State has always been a crucible of political drama, a place where the interplay of personalities, zones and parties produces a theatre of shifting allegiances and contested visions. Yet in the past six years, under the stewardship of Governor Hope Uzodimma, the state has experienced a recalibration of its political and developmental trajectory. His Renewed Hope Agenda, built on the pillars of reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery, has sought to restore confidence in governance, rebuild infrastructure, and re‑establish Imo as a state capable of delivering prosperity to its people. 

 As the calendar moves inexorably towards 2027, the question of succession looms large. It is here that Chief Barrister Obioma Success Akagburuonye enters the frame, not as a disrupter but as a logical continuum, a man whose private sector achievements and humanitarian disposition can translate Uzodimma’s hope into success. The narrative, compelling in its symmetry, is aptly captured in the phrase: From Hope to Success: Imo Agenda Faces Fulfilment.

Governor Uzodimma’s tenure has been marked by a determination to confront decay and restore dignity. Roads long abandoned have been reconstructed, connecting communities and stimulating commerce. His administration has completed over a hundred major roads, including strategic arteries linking Owerri to Orlu and Okigwe, thereby easing mobility and trade. 

Healthcare has been advanced through initiatives such as the establishment of Nigeria’s first Robotic Surgical Centre in Imo, a bold step towards technology‑driven medicine. Security challenges, which threatened to destabilise the state, have been met with compassion and resolve, exemplified by his donation of six hundred million naira to families of fallen heroes and victims of insecurity. Fiscal management has been stabilised, investment attracted, and confidence in governance restored. These milestones, recognised nationally with awards for good governance, embody the essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda: that governance can be both compassionate and competent, visionary and practical. 

Uzodimma’s achievements are not merely projects; they are groundwork. They are foundations upon which his successor must build. And it is here that Chief Success Akagburuonye’s profile dovetails naturally.

 Success’ life story is itself a testament to resilience. Born into modest circumstances in Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise, he rose through determination and enterprise to become a lawyer, engineer, businessman and philanthropist. His wealth has been deployed not in ostentation but in service: churches erected, homes built for widows, scholarships endowed for youth, security outfits established to protect communities. 

The Noah’s Ark Church, which he single‑handedly constructed and which was dedicated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, stands as a monument to faith and philanthropy. The Lion of Judea security outfit illustrates his responsiveness to the anxieties of ordinary citizens. These are not abstractions; they are bricks, mortar and lives touched. In the calculus of political credibility, they weigh heavily. 

His humanitarian disposition has not gone unnoticed. In 2025, The Sun Newspaper honoured him with the Humanitarian Icon Award, recognising his sustained commitment to community development and human capital investment. It was not a token accolade but a national acknowledgement that philanthropy, when consistent and impactful, becomes a form of governance. 

Imo politics is entering a new phase. The Charter of Equity has crystallised into a demand that cannot be ignored. Since 1999, Orlu Zone has dominated the governorship, with Okigwe enjoying a brief four‑year tenure, while Owerri has been relegated to a mere seven months in office. By 2027, Orlu will have held power for 24 years, Okigwe for four, and Owerri for less than one. This imbalance has hardened into a demand that 2027 must be Owerri’s turn. 

Success, as a son of Owerri Zone, embodies that principle. But beyond zoning, leadership must be about capacity, compassion, and credibility. His record of philanthropy and resilience positions him not merely as a candidate of equity but as a candidate of fulfilment.

The symbolism of succession is compelling. Governor Uzodimma’s tenure has been defined by hope. Success’s candidacy offers fulfilment. Hope rebuilt Imo; Success can consolidate. Hope restored confidence; Success can deliver prosperity. Hope reconstructed; Success can humanise.

For Uzodimma, contemplating succession, the imperative is not rupture but reinforcement. Success offers precisely that: alignment with the APC, grassroots credibility, equity fulfilment, and symbolic continuity. His NGO, Hope Rising for Imolites, already positions him as a bridge between Uzodimma’s Renewed Hope and the fulfilment of that agenda in lived experience. 

As he turns 60, Success is not merely celebrating; he is acting. On 22 February, alongside thanksgiving and the launch of his biography’ Me and My God,’ he will flag off the Owerri Airport Road project. The symbolism is profound: infrastructure as a gift to the people, philanthropy as a form of governance, and birthday as a platform for service.

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The event is expected to be flagged by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, underscoring the international dimension of his vision. It is not just a local project but a statement that Imo’s development must be connected to broader networks of solidarity and recognition. 

The permutations of 2027 place Success ahead of other contenders. Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, though experienced, is associated with an unfinished tenure. Dr Stanley Amuchie, the banker, is technocratic but lacks grassroots resonance. Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, though savvy, has faced questions of loyalty through party switches. Dr Ejike Chukwu and Dr Chima Amadi, though accomplished, lack the breadth of philanthropy and political maturity. 

Success, by contrast, combines equity mandate, humanitarian record, resilience narrative, and party alignment. His recognition by The Sun Newspaper as a Humanitarian Icon is not merely an award but a validation that his service is visible, credible, and impactful.

Imo politics is at an inflexion point. The Charter of Equity demands justice. The electorate demands service. The party demands continuity. In this shifting landscape, Chief Success Akagburuonye has emerged as a major force, not by accident but by the convergence of history, service and strategy. 

Uzodimma’s tenure has been transformative, embodying the Renewed Hope Agenda. As Imo faces 2027, Success’s candidacy offers logical succession: his private sector successes and humanitarian disposition can translate hope into success. The narrative is compelling: Hope rebuilt Imo; Success will fulfil Imo.

As he marks his 60th birthday, flags off the Owerri Airport Road project, and launches his biography, Chief Success stands at a crossroads. He can continue as a philanthropist and private sector leader, or he can yield to the push and translate his vision into public office. Either way, his life remains a beacon of divine grace and resilience, a story worthy of emulation. Yet the clamour grows, the equity mandate beckons, and the people whisper: will Success answer the call? 

•Dr Iwuamadi writes from UNN