Our Own Federal Polytechnic Nekede Annex , Thank You Goodluck Opiah

Goodluck Opiah

Chief Dr. Oliver De Coque did a song titled Eto Dike Na Nke Omere. In that song, he emphasised on the need to commend a man for the good deeds that he has done to enable him do more.I have mentioned it several times that some persons have carried out activities that have impacted positively on many others. They have served humanity like divine agents. One of such men is Goodluck Nanah Opiah. He was Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, member of the Federal House of Reps, former Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum and currently Nigerian Federal Minister of State for Education. This man has been putting smiles on the faces of the people of the oil kingdom of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta in Imo State of Nigeria. Today, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri has got a second campus in Egbema through his efforts. President Muhammadu Buhari granted the approval for the second campus in January 2023 and the handover was done in April 2023.

The Federal Polytechnic Nekede Annex Egbema is a finished project with state-of-the-art facilities, and was originally built as a modern skill acquisition centre by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The Modern Skills Acquisition Centre was built in Abaezi by the Yar'Adua Administration. It was the same Opiah as then Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly who convinced the then Governor, Dr Ikedi Ohakim on the location of the Skills Acquisition Centre. When he was at the House of Reps, he also through a bill tried to convert the Skills Acquisition Centre into the Federal Polytechnic Nekede. As a Federal Minister, he has done it for us. The campus boasts of modern classrooms, workshops, hostels, staff quarters, auditorium and sports complex, among others.

Opiah is a man of peace, an accommodator and harmonizer. I first met him in 2009 in Owerri. It was Edwin who took me to his house. Edwin was a big man at Federal Medical Center (FMC Owerri). When we got to Opiah’s house, a man in his early forties then, dark, tall with smooth skin and a hat pulled down over his neck, came to welcome us. That was my first day of meeting Opiah, fourteen years ago and I have gone ahead to follow his activities with satisfaction. He has gone ahead to record many achievements as legacy to the people of Imo State.

It is the tradition in Nigerian politics to condemn leaders, no matter their level of achievements but we must give kudos to Opiah. I am a critic. I criticise government officials so they can sit up but I must give kudos to Opiah. In the political parlance of Nigeria, it is not easy to glorify one's achievements. Most people are like fowls who after eating, brush their mouths on the ground as if nothing has happened. When one talks about the legacy of Opiah in Imo State, one should be referring to some of his laudable achievements in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta that are indelible and would stand the test of time.

No matter how much one hates him, you cannot talk against the many roads that were rehabilitated in the Oil Kingdom of Imo by him when he was at the Imo State House of Assembly and at the Federal House of Reps. He was in the Imo House of Assembly first from 2003-2007 and then from 2007-2011 during which period, he founded the Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission ( ISOPADEC ) through a private-member bill. He became Speaker of the House in 2007. As Speaker, he made Late Eze SN Uzor Chairman of ISOPADEC and through ISOPADEC several roads were done in Ohaji/Egbema, and Oguta . As Speaker he gave instructions and ISOPADEC offered scholarships to students. He gave orders for countless markets to be built in the communities of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta.He gave so many people jobs and scholarships. ISOPADEC also paid NEPA bills for the people of the oil areas for years through his efforts.

He is also the man who promoted the law that created the Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo in Ohaji. He gave us ISOPADEC, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, some Autonomous Communities, Some Development Centers, Skill Acquisition Center Abaezi, now Federal Polytechnic Nekede Annex, Several employments, Several Youth Empowerment including the Amnesty empowerment. At the end, what matters is not what structures of falsehood against Opiah were erected on quicksand but the strong pillars of truth upon which his iron-cast reputation rests. He is a man of peace, a man of the people, a very good man. Kudos Rt Hon Opiah, Kudos Governor Hope Uzodinma. Egbema Alinso is happy. Much love from me.

-Kenneth Uwadi lives in Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria