By Abimbola Tooki
Owerri did not merely host a celebration; it staged history.
Imo State at 50 did not whisper its arrival into golden age, it announced it with a confident roar that echoed beyond its borders, across Nigeria and into the collective memory of a people proud of where they come from and certain of where they are going.
From the very first moment, the celebration carried the aura of destiny fulfilled. Glamour dripped from every corner of the venue. Elegance walked the aisles. Power, culture, history and hope converged in one unforgettable spectacle. It was not just an event; it was a statement.
Then came the moment that changed the temperature of the air.
The grand entry of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, electrified the atmosphere. His presence did not merely add colour, it infused life.
Applause rose instinctively, cameras flashed endlessly, and the hall stood still in reverence. Nigeria had come to celebrate Imo.
By his side was the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the quiet force behind a resurgent party, a bridge builder in a season that demands unity, a reformer whose ideas travel faster than his footsteps. The APC, Africa’s largest political party by membership, larger than over ninety countries of the world, walked into the arena not as a political structure, but as a living, breathing institution anchored by leadership.
Professor Yilwatda’s presence enlivened the gathering. Calm yet commanding, cerebral yet accessible, he embodies a new grammar of leadership, one that listens, reconciles, innovates and delivers.
In an astonishingly short time, he has become the stabilising pillar of the party, knitting together divergent tendencies, restoring confidence, and driving strategic cohesion across regions.
His leadership has been less about noise and more about results, unity where there was division, structure where there was drift, and hope where there was fatigue. Little wonder the crowd received him not merely as a party chairman, but as a trusted friend of Imo State.
The visit coincided with the climax of the Imo @ 50 Golden Jubilee, a week-long celebration that traced the state’s journey from birth to brilliance, its struggles, triumphs, and indelible contributions to Nigeria’s national story.
Throughout the week, Owerri had played host to a parade of high-profile events, each one a chapter in a larger narrative of resilience and progress.
As the celebration peaked, the symbolism deepened.
The Government House Choir rendered the National Anthem with such tenderness and depth that many felt they were hearing it for the very first time. It was soul-stirring, almost sacred, a rendition befitting a historic gathering. In that moment, patriotism was not an idea; it was a feeling.
This was not a ceremony to mark the passage of time. It was a celebration of excellence.
Imo State, now 50, carries the weight and wisdom of 15 past governors, each a chapter in its evolving story.
Under the current leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma, aptly called the Infrastructure Governor of the Year, the state has found a rhythm of renewal.
The golden jubilee was chaired by one of Nigeria’s most distinguished sons, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, a symbol in himself of Imo’s global relevance.
The roll call of dignitaries read like a national directory: the Vice President, governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, deputy governors, development partners, local government chairmen, royal fathers including the Ooni of Ife and the Obi of Onitsha, former Deputy Senate Presidents, and the full leadership of the APC National Working Committee. It was Nigeria, in all its diversity, gathered in one place because Imo was celebrating.
And the message was unmistakable: Wherever Imo people are found, excellence follows.
From entertainment to sports, medicine to engineering, law to public service, Imo has consistently given Nigeria some of its finest minds and brightest stars.
At 50, the state was not counting years; it was counting impact.
The breaking of the kolanut, performed by Cosmos Iwu, Secretary to the State Government, symbolised communion, unity, and shared destiny.
Laughter followed, as Okey Bakassi, one of the Masters of Ceremony, held the audience spellbound with wit and warmth. He did not disappoint.
Imo was not the only state born in 1976. Six others share that heritage. Yet, it was in Owerri that the celebration thundered loudest. One could almost imagine governors of sister states hearing the echoes of joy from afar. Imo’s jubilee was exceptional, bold, confident, unforgettable.
When Chief Emeka Anyaoku spoke, history leaned in to listen. He recounted how Governor Uzodimma personally invited him to join in commissioning a power plant capable of lighting and watering Imo before mid-year, a project that places the state firmly on the path of productivity and innovation.
In his words, Imo was “blazing the trail.” He praised the governor’s impact across roads, finance, transportation, agriculture and governance, describing a legacy that would outlive tenure.
Yet, he also issued a statesman’s call, that Nigeria’s political evolution must keep pace with its ambitions, so insecurity may recede and national development flourish.
Then came the voice of royalty and memory.
The 21st Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, spoke with emotion and authority. He recalled arriving in Imo in 1955 as a 19-year-old student, witnessing successive governments and eras.
Today, he said, the governor has taken Imo to Nigeria, and Nigeria to the world. “He builds bridges everywhere,” the monarch declared. “It is hard to see anything bad to say.”
He described Imo as a happy, loving state, and affirmed his pride in being part of its story.
The Ooni of Ife followed with words that moved the room. He described the gathering as a perfect mix of Nigeria, exactly what Governor Uzodimma represents. When applause seemed insufficient, the Ooni demanded a standing ovation. The hall rose. Voices thundered “Onwaaaaa!” as the air itself vibrated with honour.
He praised the governor’s uncommon ability to unify — noting, with awe, that all past governors were present, regardless of party affiliation. “This,” he said, “is remarkable.”
The Progressive Governors Forum spoke through their representatives, hailing Uzodimma as a reference point and praising his decisive push on electricity a foundation for productivity and prosperity.
A documentary followed, chronicling Imo’s past, present and future, a visual journey that reminded the audience how far the state has come, and how far it intends to go.
Finally, the governor spoke.
Governor Hope Uzodimma, visibly moved, greeted his colleagues from Borno, Ekiti, Kogi and Taraba. He recalled with nostalgia the 1976 announcement by General Murtala Mohammed that created Imo State. “God has been faithful,” he said. “Owerri has never looked as beautiful as it does today.”
He spoke of unity, of learning from past mistakes, of rising above narrow interests. He noted the transformation of the state’s finances, from modest revenues to over ₦65 billion in internally generated revenue, the highest in its history. He highlighted 130 iconic roads, reforms in governance, and a future anchored on innovation, education, healthcare and global connectivity.
Quoting Julius Caesar — “I came, I saw, I conquered”, he left it to the people to judge which leader truly conquered.
The celebration concluded with the conferment of the state’s highest honours on deserving sons and daughters, including all former governors, and the unveiling of a comprehensive Imo @ 50 Compendium, to be digitised for generations yet unborn.
At 50, Imo State stands tall, not as a relic of history, but as a promise of tomorrow.
Golden, gallant, and unbreakable.
Abimbola Tooki is a communications analyst and Special Adviser to the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC).
(Media and Communications Strategy)
He can be reached via bimtok@yahoo.com
