Imo @ 50: Music, Nollywood legends laud Uzodimma’s achievements

The hope that Imo State can generate her own electricity became clearer Tuesday night when Governor Hope Uzodimma hinted that the State-owned Orashi Electricity Company is set to switch on her first power generation line any moment from now.

Governor Uzodimma spoke as Nollywood stars, pop and highlife music legends of Imo State extraction have lauded his achievements which they said has brought Imo to national and global limelight.

Imo State was carved out of the old East Central State on February 3, 1976 during the military Administration of late General Muritala Mohammed.

At the Cultural Nite held at the Eze Imo Palace in Owerri on Tuesday night as part of the activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Imo State, the entertainment icons – pop/highlife musicians, actors and actresses, comedians, poets, artists, drummers – brought back the memories of good music, poems, acting, and more with their performances that align with the years preceding the birth of Imo.

They said the convivial environment under which they performed could not have been possible without the intentional efforts of Governor Uzodimma to secure lives and property of the people.

From the Nollywood legends came Okey Bakassi, Okey Ogujiofor ( Pauloooh) of the Living in Bondage fame, Eucharia Anunobi, John Njaka and his sister, Empress Njaka, Dian Chukwu, Enyinnaya Nwigwe, African China, Saro Wiwa, Cubana Chief Priest and Bobby Michaels.

The Nite brought the pop and highlife stars of the ’70s such as Walton Arungwa of the Apostles Rock Group, Dallas Anyanwu

(Sweet Breeze), Jonel Cross ( Country Hara), Lasbery Ojukwu (Semi Colon), Dan Satch Anyanwu ( Oriental Brothers), Ginger Foncher, Marshall Udom ( Founders 15), Jerry Boifriend, Soki Ohale, and more together.

The legends used their performances to electrify the auditorium and consequently, causing the very important personalities who graced the occasion to rise from their seats and danced to the renditions of the old music they were familiar with before, during and after the creation of Imo State.

The legends, most of who are in their ’70s and ’80s used the opportunity provided by the Cultural Nite to pray for Governor Uzodimma and commend  him for thus far he has taken Imo State.

They urged him not to lose focus.

While exchanging pleasantries with the Governor, Lasbery Ojukwu of Semi Colon fame kept the audience spell bound when he informed him that he will be 85 years few months from now.

The stars also solicited the Governor’s intervention in ensuring that the entertainment industry in Imo State is given its pride of place in the country because of what they termed the huge talents that exist in the State.

In his brief remarks at the event, Governor Uzodimma said electricity is key to an enhanced entertainment industry reminding the audience that all the hiccups militating against the Light Up Imo Project by Orashi Electricity Company had been removed, with the State ready to provide her own power.

He thanked the legends across the entertainment industry for being part of the Imo State celebration at 50, and pledged not to relent on the things that will bring development to Imo State.

He thanked them for recognizing the efforts his administration is making to change the narrative and reminded them that nation

(State) building requires all hands to be on deck.

Governor Uzodimma said that Imo State remains the tourism centre of the South East if not of the country, and promised to ensure that the entertainment industry in Imo State is developed in such a manner that every talent in the sector will be properly deployed.

“Count me as one of you. We will work together to ensure that the potential of the industry is fully harnessed,” he assured them.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, Hon Ernest Ibejiako who is also Chairman of the Cultural Sub Committee for the Imo @50 Celebration,  thanked the pop stars of the ’70s for finding time to grace the Nite.

He highlighted the gains from the Cultural Nite, insisting that the story of Imo State could not be complete without a proper evaluation of the role played by certain Imo indigenes before, during and after the creation of Imo State.

The Nite which was a potpourri of activities, both old and new, also featured choral performances, cultural dances among others.

It was attended by dignitaries across the the three arms of government in Imo State, traditional rulers, captains of industries, and critical stakeholders from and and outside Imo State.