The happiest person in Imo State today is the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. He is being sworn-in into office as the Chief Executive of the State for a second consecutive time after having spent four years on the Seat from May 29, 2011 till date. He will remain there until May 29, 2019, God willing.
As things stand today in Imo State politically, Okorocha is the only Cock that crows; in short, he is the political Deity in the State who holds both the yam and knife. Before his ascension into office, Imo State had many political Godfathers who controlled the political nerves of the State. But providence has propelled Okorocha to being the numero uno in Imo today.
Never before in the history of the state has one man wielded political power, without political rivals and Leaders who work as the stabilising factors to the man at the helm of Affairs.
When Achike Udenwa was the Governor of Imo State from 1999-2007, there were political tin gods whom the Governor deferred to. There was the almighty Senator Arthur Nzeribe, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, even Nze Ignatius Umunna, who can look the Governor in the eyes and tell him the truth.
During the Ohakim era which spanned from 2007-2011, Iwuanyanwu and Nzeribe still inspired reference. Adding to the likes of Tony Chukwu, Hope Uzodinma, Chief I.D. Nwoga etc.
However, while age has slowed some of them down, political waterloo sent others into hibernation following the electoral defeat that has retired most of them in the last election.
This scenario has left the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okrocha to bestride the Imo political firmament as a Colossus. Even though there are elements of luck and providence that added to Okorocha’s present political lofty height, it took patience and hardwork to arrive this Eldorado.
Okorocha before he contested for the 2011 Imo Governorship election which took him to Douglas House, has been around politically, only that fortune decided to smile at him this time.
Owelle Okorocha was one of the frontline Governorship Aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 1999. He had primed himself to win the party’s ticket, but was disappointed when the slot was handed over to Chief Achike Udenwa, who had just returned from Port Harcourt in Rivers State.
Okorocha was much disappointed with his allies like the Ajaelu Brothers, who showed their anger for being denied what they felt they had worked hard for. Then I was just a Reporter with Announcer Express Newspaper.
The current Imo Governor went his way after PDP and Udenwa had won the election. He however surfaced again in 2003, but at the National Level, where he scared the wit out of then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who later appointed him his Adviser.
He had also chaired a National Parastatal at a time his political detractors nearly tore his reputation to shreds through various allegations. At this period he stayed away from Imo for nearly a year, until his “Triumphant Entry” that shook the Government of Achike Udenwa.
Okorocha had also wanted to be a Lawmaker, when he battled the Oguta Political Oracle, Senator Arthur Nzeribe for the Orlu Senatorial Seat.
He had traversed nearly all political parties in the land, including forming one himself, the Action Alliance, AA.
In all these political setbacks and failures, Okorocha never gave up, marching on as the hurdles were strewn along his political routes.
When Chief Ikedi Ohakim won the Governorship Seat of Imo State in 2007, Okorocha was one of the prominent Imo sons and daughters he invited to prepare the roadmap to Imo’s development in all spheres of the Economy.
Okorocha was handed over the Education Committee, and even given a Commissioner Slot, which he filled with his in-law, Ben Obinali. However, one thing led to another and Okorocha stopped attending Imo Government functions then. Sources said he fell out with then incumbent Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, as both were thought to have disagreed over Government policies. At this juncture, Okorocha abandoned the Education Committee handed to him by Ohakim. After that, not much was heard from the man Imo people noted for his free Education, through Rochas Foundation Schools.
However, as the 2011 election period drew near, he stopped attending PDP functions and surfaced in the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, meetings. He eventually grabbed the party’s Governorship ticket.
In 2011, all Imo politicians that were renowned were in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It was only those that could not be contained in PDP that sought succour in the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and APGA.
Therefore, Okorocha’s entrance into APGA and Imo Governorship race was not taken by political elites as a big challenge to the PDP that was already in office and had the power of incumbency.
Ironically, Okorocha made good of the disadvantages that faced his ambition to be Governor. It became a case of necessity being the mother of invention.
Because of the fact that who is who in Imo State were in the PDP, Okorocha wrought a political engineering that is alien to Imo society. He assembled what could be tagged a “rag-tag Army” and made use of what was available, by engaging in a psychological indoctrination of the section of Imo Society that felt they were ostracised by the PDP Elites.
Therefore, there was an already made “market” for Okorocha in the Artisans, Civil Servants, Keke Drivers, Traders, Pensioners, roaming youths etc.
The dearth of prominent Allies forced Okorocha to look for his old friends, in-laws, relations and up and coming middleclass Imo Youths, which necessitated him making use of what was available, and in the process created a new political structure outside what hitherto existed in Imo polity as the status quo.
Before anybody could say “Rochas”, Imo State was on fire, as that section of disgruntled Imo masses, who have been bottling-up their grievances against the Elites since they had no alternative, suddenly saw Owelle Okorocha who seems to be preaching what they have been longing for, and pronto they grabbed Okorocha as the Messiah, and a Might was created over-night.
Sensing that the “Ideology” was catching on with the grassroots, Okorocha upped the ante, and embraced more of the proletariat traits, visiting markets, worshipping with the poor, eating oka and Akara in the open, riding keke at Douglas Road, and this sent the Imo poor masses into a frenzy and Okorocha became the Mahatma Ghandi of Imo politics with the poorest of the poor his “soldiers and protectors”.
While the PDP was campaigning in open fields, where deceptive rented Crowds assembled by Political Buccaneers were waiting for how they could get their own “National Cake” from the ruling party, APGA and Okorocha were in Mechanic Villages, Restaurants, Village Meetings, Local Churches etc destroying PDP with the propaganda that the party is for the rich and therefore should not be voted for a second term.
This situation, coupled with a deadly face-off between the Powers that be in Abuja and Imo State Government gave the room for Security Personnel to look the other way as “Electoral terrorism” was taking place in the state to the detriment of the incumbent administration, while APGA nay Okorocha cruized to victory.
All attempts by the PDP to retrieve the mandate from the Tribunal, up to the highest Court in the land; the Supreme, came to naught.
In the entire scenario, you must ever give Okorocha Kudos for his political dexterity, steadfastness on his ambition, perseverance, faith, fearlessness for daring the then incumbent administration matching them on all fronts, until help came his way from Abuja.
To get political power is not a stroll in the park. And naturally, Okorocha suffered his own share for stepping into the shooting range of political power. It is everywhere.
However, it could be because of the Herculean tasks he and his Aides passed through while fighting for power that Okorocha came into Government in 2011 with anger, and his “political enemies” have suffered, as most of those who served the last administration went home without their salaries and Allowances till date unlike their colleagues from other States.
But this Writer believes that having spent four years already on the Seat, Okorocha would have seen many things he did not prior to 2011. Therefore, what many expect from him in this second term is act of statesmanship, which his current position will propel him to in 2019.
Okorocha of 2011 cannot be the same of 2015, because he has seen it all.
According to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, second term is usually harder than the first. Okorocha must have noticed that the euphoria that greeted his victory in 2011 was not the same this second time, meaning that some of those who voted for him in 2011 may have one thing or the other against him in 2015.
President Goodluck Jonathan is a good example. He came into office with Drums rolling, but left with the quietness of the grave yard. It shows that a Leader can squander his goodwill if he takes the people for granted.
Today, Governor Rochas Okorocha has succeeded where many failed, because a lot of people tried to Govern their states, including Imo, but failed. Okorocha tried in 1999, but God rewarded him with the position in 2011; that is twelve years after.
Therefore, that he has won election again in 2015 without the contribution of the so-called Godfathers, who assume they own Imo State, is an indication that his victory is a challenge from God.
He seems now the political Deity of the State, as none of the Political Leaders can say they facilitated his victory. Rather than Lord it over the State and his perceived enemies, he should be humble to his Creator.
One, expects him to do more in his second term; first by making peace to reign in the state as the Chief Security Officer and treat all Imo citizens as equal.
As a young man, who knows if he ends his term in 2019 he may aspire for another political office, which means he still needs Imo people in the future. Power is transient, and those who occupy it are judged by how they touched the masses and that is usually when they get the reward of their stewardship; out of office.
Therefore, as Okorocha is sworn-in today, I congratulate and wish him well, and may his road not be rough.
