Many years after he joined the ancestors, Sam Mbakwe is still revered in Nigeria especially in Imo State where he governed from 1979 to 1983. His achievements in the old Imo State (Before Abia was created) have remained landmarks and no governor from the eastern region since then has commanded the kind of respect his people had for him although close watchers would also thumb up for Jim Nwobodo of the old Anambra State.