A senior chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, has congratulated the people of Imo State on the occasion of the state’s 50th anniversary, describing the milestone as a moment for reflection, recommitment, and renewed purpose.

In a statement titled “An Open Congratulatory Letter to Ndi Imo as We Celebrate Our State at Fifty and a Call to Recommit to Unity,” Araraume congratulated “every son and daughter of Imo State” on what he described as a golden jubilee.

He commended past and present leaders of the state, including former military administrator Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, the late Chief Sam Mbakwe, and Governor Hope Uzodimma, for their roles in shaping the state’s development.

According to Araraume, successive administrations have laid critical foundations for Imo State’s growth and progress over the last five decades.

He described the anniversary as “a remarkable milestone” reflecting the resilience, determination, and development recorded since the state’s creation on February 3, 1976.

The former senator urged Ndi Imo to embrace unity, religious tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, stressing that these values remain essential for security and sustainable development.

“My dear people of Imo State, fifty years is more than a milestone. It is a moment of reckoning — an invitation to reflect, to take stock, and to look ahead with renewed purpose,” he said.

Reflecting on the journey of the state, Araraume noted that Imo’s history has been shaped by courage, industry, and perseverance.

“We have experienced seasons of great promise and seasons of profound trial. Yet through every challenge, the spirit of Ndi Imo has endured,” he said, attributing the state’s survival and progress to God’s grace and the steady labour of generations.

He paid tribute to the pioneers of the state, saying the early leaders embraced the responsibility of statehood with discipline and sacrifice.

“Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu provided discipline and order at a formative moment, while the legendary Sam Mbakwe infused governance with vision, compassion, and moral clarity,” he said, adding that their legacies remain deeply rooted in the state’s collective memory.

Araraume also acknowledged the current administration, describing it as important to recognise efforts aimed at sustaining governance and continuity.

“As we celebrate this golden jubilee, we must also confront the demands of the present,” he said, noting that every era is judged by how it responds to its challenges.

While expressing pride in the state’s achievements, he cautioned against complacency, saying Imo State’s “most remarkable chapters lie ahead.”

“There is vast room for growth, innovation, and shared prosperity,” he said.

“The Imo of our aspirations — secure, productive, and just — is attainable, but only if we choose unity over division.”

He stressed that the anniversary should serve as a call to action, urging citizens at home and in the diaspora to recommit to unity, integrity, and shared responsibility.

“This anniversary must be more than a celebration. It must be a recommitment,” Araraume said, as he congratulated Ndi Imo on the golden jubilee and expressed optimism about the future of the state.