The story that the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was negotiating a return to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP dominated the air waves in Imo, including the churches and Beer Palours last week.
But the ironical thing about the whole matter was that in both camps; APC, was fuming that Okorocha was at the verge of abandoning his followers again after APGA, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was rankled that Okorocha should not ever be allowed to return to the party.
However, while the controversy raged the Media Aide to the Governor, Sam Onwuemedo released a statement that his Boss never “contemplated leaving APC” for PDP that is so confused on which leg “to raise first”.
But Uncle Sam may not be aware of the whole story, as he was just asked to release to the public what could cool tension, especially in the Governor’s Camp.
I have travelled that route before, as a former Media Aide to a Governor. Remember?
While Onwuemedo’s press release was in circulation, there were meetings going on in Abuja by Imo PDP Bigwigs working against the Okorocha’s plot to return to the PDP. Now, if there were no plans by Okorocha to return to the PDP I don’t see how such calibre of Imo PDP members could leave all they were doing in Owerri and relocated to Abuja where they buried themselves in a meeting that lasted till the early morning of the next day.
In the end, there was a total agreement by all that Okorocha must be stopped. But the matter is not yet over as there are indications that Okorocha may still come to PDP that is, if he does not pick APC Presidential or Guber forms in the next few days.
However, my concern is the fierce manner with which Imo PDP members rushed to register their anger over the “purported” plot to return to PDP by Okorocha.
I was in Imo state when the former Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim returned to PDP after a brief sojourn in Peoples Progressive Alliance, PPA, under which platform he won the Imo Governorship election in 2007.
Then, the only person who fought against Ohakim’s return to PDP was specifically, his “brother”, Senator Ifeanyi who knew very well that Ohakim’s return to PDP will jeorpardise his chances to hoist the party’s Governorship flag in 2011 election and he had to leave the party for Action Congress of Nigeria ACN.
But in the case of Okorocha’s “rumoured” defection to PDP, the entire PDP people; from the head to tail objected to it. Youths threatened to demonstrate, Aspirants vowed to leave PDP enmasse, Elders promised to go on exile and some even threatened to commit suicide than see Okorocha back to PDP.
The anger was too aggressive that one wondered what Okorocha did to PDP and its members! But remember that Gov Okorocha was a full fledged member of the PDP before he pitched tent with the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA under which platform he won the election of 2011.
In the case of Ohakim in 2007, after winning the election, apart from Onuimo constituency, all the other twenty six Lawmakers in the House of Assembly were of PDP extraction.
Rather than coarse them to join PPA as Okorocha has forced some PDP lawmakers to join APGA, the former Governor developed a strange model under which he worked harmoniously as an opposition Governor with twenty six PDP legislators for years until he returned to PDP amicably.
The Governor then retained the Development Council Areas set up by his predecessor, Achike Udenwa. He even retained some of the appointments made by Udenwa; some of them were in his cabinet till 2011 when he left office.
Ohakim continued with some of his predecessor’s projects instead of duplicating them. He maintained his personal relationship with Imo people and leaders. No matter what political party they belonged to. People like Dr Alex Obi, former state PDP chairman who later fell out with Ohakim at the tail end of his administration still had their wives in the state expanded Exco till 2011 election.
But Okorocha saw his ascension to office in 2011 as an avenue to get even with some marked Imo people, both among the low and mighty, who may have had any previous disagreement with him, be it business, political or personal. Infact he is on a vengeance mission against perceived enemies.
He, from the beginning “never contemplated” to return to PDP like Ohakim, as Onwemedo really pointed out, but political expediency may have made him to change his mind towards PDP following the present political developments.
From Dan Anyiam Stadium where he was sworn-in on May 29, 2011, he demolished every policy enacted or left behind by the PDP Government. The Council Chairmen, and Coordinator of Development Centres were sacked, Board members, even those with statutory tenures were not spared. Imo graduates properly employed by the State Civil Service Commission after due interviews, were sacked. Even some roads, or buildings constructed by PDP were destroyed, and inferior ones erected in their places.
Mr Chinedu Offor, then Media Aide to the Governor went on Radio to give twenty four hours ultimation to all former appointees of the previous administration to hand over their officials vehicles which had already be valued by the Ministry of Works according to their Allowances owed them by Government. Their April and May salaries already scheduled by the Accountant-General of the state for payment were stopped.
Their furniture allowances and other emoluments were denied them till date. Those who could not comply with the directives of Mr Offor were accosted on the streets of Owerri and their vehicles taken away from them in Gestapo fashion.
Till date, any member of PDP or known faces of the previous administration who dare as Imo citizen attend any Government function does so at his or her own risk as he will return home with broken head.
The day I went to cover a tribunal deliberation at the Owerri High Court premises on November 2011, Government Agents “Killed” me and left my “body” inside a gutter, where good Nigerians picked me up to the hospital where a regained consciousness. Up till now, I don’t attend Government functions three years after, for fear of my life. I change my sleeping places today like the legendary Che Guevera.
This hostility from the Okorocha Government scared everybody away as many left the state, while those still in the state remained in their houses. This attitude, till date caused lack of integration of Imo people, which really should not be the case. After every election the new Governments try to heal old wounds and let the state move forward, since political battles are just for power, after which life moves on. It follows to say that all hands must be on deck to develop the state.
But rather than bring everybody together, the Okorocha government has only polarized Imo people due to its selective policy.
The Government House which was like “Obiri Imo” where every citizen can gain entrance has be barricaded with high fences and over twelve gates.
Imo people cannot even look into the Government House again, causing them a mental psychology of abandonment by a Governor who professes to be a “Peoples Governor”.
Rather than open arms for Imo people of different political leanings to come, the present administration “screens you” like an Ebola patient before you could be allowed to benefit from the state facilities, unlike the regimes of Udenwa and Ohakim where you could get a government contract without knowing the Governor, his inlaws or relations and get paid after.
Unfortunately, the Local Government Areas, which served as an avenue to take care of the minor problems ravaging those living at the grassroots is completely dead as the LGA Headquarters are now over grown with weeds, because Imo state for the first in the last three years has functioned without elected Chairmen, Councilors, Supervisory Councilors and various Aides of these people, which reduced hardship in the state prior to Okorocha’s emergence.
Now, since the LGAs are in comatose states and the local people do not have where to go any more for stipends, they troop to Owerri the state capital, only to reach there and see six gates manning Douglas House. They go home and lay ambush for Okorocha in 2015 election as their own way of retaliation for shutting them out of the state’s largess.
But the unfortunate thing is that the Governor is riding on the false euphoria that the populace are swimming with him. The reaction from PDP over his rumoured come-back is just a tip of the iceberg how Imo masses feel about the Okorocha Government. I am talking of the majority.
Which manner of Government can be in office for four years without reconciling everybody and yet believe all is well? The major responsibility of every government is to create a conducive environment for citizens to mingle with each other. That is what is called maintenance of peace and order, which aggregation is security. Can you have security without peace? What is in Imo is the peace of the grave yard
For the first time, I am seeing in Imo state where a Government was in power and tried to destroy totally the old order by pretending it could build a new set of citizens, who are indoctrinated to believe that those before were evil men and must be avoided at arm’s length.
What it meant is that whenever Okorocha is out of office, his successor if he assumes Okorocha’s model will destroy both physical and spiritual legacies of his predecessor, and Imo will continue to be in motion without movement. With this situation, the new Governor will throw away all that has to do with Okorocha both in human and natural structures and the ugly circle will continue. What will it benefit Imo state if Okorocha’s successor demolishes all the round-abouts and Garden squares constructed by the administration? It is sheer pettiness and waste of Imo scarce resources! Can any body erase completely that Okorocha was Imo state Governor? No way.
In this case, the enmity among Imo people will continue eternally. Is that how Governance should be?.
Frankly speaking, the Governor has dealt with Imo PDP and its members want the battle to be settled on the election field, and therefore hates Okorocha joining their fold now after he had decimated the party in the state. Imo PDP would not even want Okorocha to go the Presidency so that he will taste defeat in Imo come 2015.
Although, as expected, the Imo PDP Governorship primaries may not come and go without issues. But whatever be the case, the PDP would unite to battle Okorocha to triumph in 2015. They see him as a common enemy who betrayed them for they had expected he will return, even when he left APGA, only to move further and destroy the party’s legacies in the state
You can fool some people some time, but not all the people all the time, late Bob Marley sang.
The 2015 elections will not be like that of 2011, especially the Governorship election.
Many people believe that if Okorocha remains in Government they will perish economically so, it is not a matter of choice, but life and death. I have not met anybody in Imo state who says things are good for him or her. Even those working in Okorocha’s Government complain of hardship. It is no more a hidden fact.
The delusion pervading Imo Government House presently is usually what most people in authority see only when they are out of power.
This was what Governor Fayose said recently. Sycophants! Governor Okorocha saw it clearly when he was an “ordinary citizen” in 2011, and it helped him to strategise for his campaign propaganda against the incumbent. Now the table has turned. He is the one at the receiving end because he can now be compared on what he has done well and those he could not do unlike in 2011 when he was a free spirit.
Imo PDP has reason to be angry with Okorocha because he has not treated them like one of their own since he assumed office. Therefore the only place to settle the score is the 2015 election battle field. So, remain where you are, they pleading to him.
