Mazi Progressive Network faults the governor’s capacity to attract foreign investment and remittances
By: Rita Onuoha
Owerri, Imo State — A prominent socio-political organization, Mazi Progressive Network for celebrated and people-oriented scholars and leaders, Mazi Gburugburu, Mathew Chima Amadi, P.h.D, has raised serious concerns over the leadership capacity of Governor Hope Uzodimma, alleging that his administration lacks the fundamental governance structures and credibility required to attract meaningful foreign direct investment (FDI) and boost diaspora remittances.
In a statement released over the weekend, the Convener of MPN, Luke Eze, accused the Uzodimma-led government of “chronic mismanagement, lack of transparency, and policy inconsistency,” which it claims have made Imo State an unattractive destination for global investors and Imo indigene in the diaspora.
The Group further criticized the state’s inability to attract foreign investments or harness global economic opportunities, branding it “an invitation to a failed government.” Imo State, despite its strategic position and abundant human capital, continues to lag behind in key indicators of international economic engagement. Other states are securing foreign direct investments, building export markets, and forming bilateral trade relationships,” the group lamented, “yet Imo remains stuck in rhetoric with little to show in real economic terms.
“The global investment community and the Imo diaspora are watching. What they see is not a state ready for serious business. There’s no clear roadmap for economic growth, and no credible platform for partnership,” the statement read.
The group further accused the administration of lacking a coherent economic development strategy, particularly in leveraging tourism, agriculture, and diaspora engagement – sectors with proven potential for global income inflows.
“This is not just poor leadership; it is a betrayal of the people’s mandate,” the statement concluded, urging the government to take urgent action or step aside for more competent leadership.
A Climate of Uncertainty and Missed Opportunities
The Mazi Progressive Network, made up of technocrats, professionals, and diaspora-based Imo citizens, pointed to a series of alleged failures by the Uzodimma administration, including:
Inconsistent investment policies
Lack of fiscal accountability
Weak institutional capacity
Failure to harness the state’s agricultural and industrial potential
According to the Convener, the Governor’s lack of coherent economic reform has stifled both local entrepreneurship and external interest.
“Imo State is rich in resources and talent. But without good governance, even the best potential goes to waste,” said Dr. Tochukwu Anyanwu, the group’s diaspora liaison officer based in Houston, Texas.
The group also referenced a 2024 World Bank subnational report that rated Imo low in Ease of Doing Business compared to regional peers like Anambra and Abia.
“Diaspora remittances to states like Anambra have nearly tripled in the last five years. Imo’s remittance inflow, however, has remained stagnant due to a lack of trust in governance,” the group argued.
Recommendations and a Call to Action
The Mazi Progressive Network in order not to be understood as an armchair critique of the government, is urging Governor Uzodimma to:
Establish a transparent Diaspora Engagement Desk within the Ministry of Commerce or a newly formed Office of Economic Partnerships.
Implement measurable governance reforms, including public expenditure tracking, ease-of-doing-business reforms, and the rule of law.
Create a credible investment framework that includes one-stop-shop investor services and active participation in international investment summits.
They also called on the Imo State House of Assembly and civil society to play a more active role in demanding accountability and transparency.
We size this opportunity to express another worrying trend and trajectory of the Governor Hope Uzodimma led administration and the 10th Legislative Assembly that is the abandonment of governance and the people for politics in the face of worsening economic conditions which a responsible government ought to be busy itself in providing solutions to the people and ameliorating their suffering and economic burdens of parents instead of self pursuits and material acquisition.
The group claims that the administration has not only failed to implement effective policies to cushion the effects of inflation and rising prices on the common citizen, but has also perpetually been out of reach of the people it governs.
According to Eze, “Imo people are barely surviving. Prices of goods and services have skyrocketed, but the state government seems more focused on political interests than on the welfare of the people.”
“If Imo must move forward, we need more than rhetoric. We need leadership that understands the language of diasporic coordination and appeals for development, accountability, and global economic diplomacy,” the statement concluded.
