It has always been the fashion for Federal and state governments to travel abroad for foreign partnership. The bottom-line of the frequent overseas travels by government leaders in Nigeria have always been to attract investors that would boost the local economy.
Coming down to Imo State, the story has been the same with those at the helm of affairs making periodical trips to advanced countries for the purposes of attracting foreign investors. From the era of Achike Udenwa to Ikedi Ohakim, every official travel outside the country was meant to bring foreign investors for economic development of our dear state. History would judge how far they past administrations succeeded in actualizing these promises as it may not be our subject of discussion in this topic.
Based on the popular clamour that heralded the emergence of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as Executive Governor of Imo State, I strongly believed that the fourth civilian Chief Executive of the State would not only deliver dividends of democracy but also institute people-oriented policies when he came on board. My joy that Okorocha has taken over mantle of leadership in the state knew no bound when his regime was christened “Rescue Mission government”. In view of the perceived mal administration Okorocha accused his predecessors of during the campaigns preceding the 2011 Governorship Election, I was upbeat that the “Rescue Mission” would redefine Imo State and touch essential sectors of the economy neglected in the past.
After one of his numerous official trips outside the country, Kosovo to be precise, Okorocha disclosed that in no distant time, Imo State will among other things have an independent power plant that would generate a 500 megawatts of electricity as well as a housing Estate and an agro-based processing plant, courtesy of the Albanian speaking government of Kosovo.
I watched a clip of the video of the Kosovo trip in AIT where Okorocha told the world about this largesse being fall-out of the Kosovo trip characterized by a tinge of drama over language interpretation between our dear Okorocha and the Kosovo people.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Mr Behgday Pacconi had spoken in Albanian, the main official language of his country, thus needing an interpreter to relate in English for the Imo team to comprehend . When it was the turn of Okorocha to respond, trust the Imo Governor, he added his own comic relief by speaking in Igbo which necessitated Senator Osita Izunaso, who was on the Governor’s entourage to interpret in English for another native to convert to Albanian for the Kosovo PM.
Even as the entire scenario in Kosovo recalled nostalgic feeling for the famous Icheoku drama series of Lomaji Ugorji and Nwa DC, I was captivated by the expected independent power supply project, housing estate, and agro-processing plant that the foreign trip would yield.
With teeming unemployed youths consisting of graduates, I expect any government that means well for the people to provide the necessary incentives that will boost the economy by making power supply and the manufacturing sector the fulcrum of its cardinal objectives. Every economy depends on public power supply for survival and one area that has hindered factors of production in Nigeria is epileptic public power supply that has left several economic sectors at the mercy of running capital-intensive private power generating machines. Undoubtedly, most medium and large scale manufactures went comatose in our country due to absence of regular power supply. I have always considered power supply as a critical aspect of any economy.
Same applies for the Housing sector where residents of the state are grieving over the inflated rate of house rent. As an economy dependent on agriculture, an agro-processing plant will be a welcome development.
Therefore, I considered it wise for Okorocha to have made provision of independent power plant, Housing Estate and agro plant a priority during his official visit to Kosovo. Most times, I get worried with political leaders in Nigeria who jet outside the country to enjoy the best facilities and economic conditions but do not translate same at home. On two occasions I managed to travel outside the country with government officials revealed a lot that made me develop strong indignation over the attitude of those holding public mandate to govern.
I was lucky to be part of the Imo State House of Assembly delegation to Tel Aviv, Israel, in March, 2010, when the then Speaker, Rt Hon Goodluck Nanah Opiah, was honoured with an award by the Israeli-based Yitzak Rabin Centre. It was the second leg of the award after Opiah and the likes of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, and former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, received Yitzak Rabin Peace Awards, at the Sheration Hall, Abuja.
As the overall merit award winner, Opiah was invited and honoured in Tel Aviv, Israel and I joined about eight lawmakers of that regime in my capacity as the Chief Press Secretary (CPS). Some key players holding public offices were part of the entourage. I remember when we arrived Ben Gurion International Airport, in Tel Aviv, Israel, two-time lawmaker, former SA to Okorocha in legislative matters and ISIEC Chairman designate, Amaechi Nwoha wore a forlorn look when he entered the “small room” for convenience at the airport. The former Member who represented Nwangele voiced out that he is disenchanted with what is obtainable at home in Nigeria where our resources are wasted for frivolities coupled with high level corruption and mismanagement of funds. He lamented that the amount approved for a tarmac in any airport in Nigeria would be enough to build a complete first class airport anywhere in the world, adding that any body can conveniently reside in the toilet room of the Israel airport, unlike what is obtained at either the Abuja or Lagos International airports, where the toilets are substandard and no go areas. I heaved a sigh of relief after noticing Nwoha’s worries about bad leadership in our country and never ceased to have regards for him as a public officer with conscience.
During the Tel Aviv journey, the present Sole Administrator of Oguta LGA and member who represented the State Constituency, Henry Igbomezie, two-time representative of Ezinihitte, Dr Obioma Ekennia, and ex-Ehime Mbano representative, Ifeanyi Agwu and yours truly, were shown a reserve Power Supply Station in a suburd of Tel Avivi, by our tour guide. The guide, a Jewish driver while taking us around the city pointed at the power station that only comes alive when there will be minor repairs or fault in the main supply station of the town. According to our tour guide, there will be complete system failure in the city if a minute power outage is experienced, hence the need for a reserve electricity supply outfit. I was elated that the honourable Members could not help but weep for our dear Nigeria for the poor state of public power supply. A particular lawmaker who it is not necessary to mention his name opined during that tour that Nigeria is hell, requesting that while praying for our salvation, we should also pray for our dear country to be extricated from the shackles and manacles of political vampires milking the country dry for selfish aggrandizement. Similar overseas trip with the lawmakers further exposed the insensitivity of our political leaders to the country’s plight and underdevelopment while they make foreign countries their second domain, the home front suffers untold decay and underdevelopment.
It is on this note that I developed interest in the Okorocha’s Kosovo promise. I also felt that the globe-trotting Imo Governor may have witnessed what we experienced in Tel Aviv while gallivanting across the world searching for investors, thereby making a case for a power station, housing estate and agro-processing plant.
Barely seventeen months to the end of Okorocha’s first tenure, there are no signs that the desire of having the promised Kosovo-induced power plant, housing estate and agro-processing factories as promised by the Governor. There is no gain saying in the fact that Okorocha may have been either afflicted by the usual mouth diarhorea that grips Chief executives of the state after any official trip abroad or exhibiting sheer cacophony of lies that is fast turning to Rescue Mission trademark.
My doubts bout the realization of the promised public power plant, housing estate and agro-processing plant commenced when details of the expected Kosovo largesse were not given. I mean the locations, cost implications and commitment of both parties to the projects. I was disturbed why the Governor and his media team would make the expected Kosovo goodies an AIT event if it was not a publicity stunt and media hogwash aimed at hoodwinking unsuspecting public into believing that Okorocha is a performing governor and miracle worker who understands the feelings of his people. I was also worried why the state’s scare resources and tax payers’ money would be wasted for absurdities of showcasing drama of language interpretation.
I expected Okorocha to lean from the past and avoid certain pitfalls if he intends to exit from Government House, Owerri unscathed. Getting into unwarranted electronic media grandstanding without pragmatic results is self-destructive anti-people. Part of the perceived sins that led to public crucifixion of his predecessor, in 2011 election was that Ohakim was a “bill board” Governor. Today, one cannot be vilified if Okorocha is christened a “TV Governor” for making unfulfilled bountiful promises.
Okorocha’s sympathizers, allies, cronies and benefactors will not let him know that “promise and fail” is retrogressive, but constructive critics will not fail to alert him on any noticed shortcomings and misdemeanour. Irrespective of the cost implication of the aforementioned projects expected from the Kosovo deal, I expected that Imo has the financial muscle to execute it. Taking into consideration, Okorocha’s regular verbal display that Imo State is rich and in view of the fact that the House of Assembly gave him express grant to use the state government funds for any purpose under the four-year rolling plan budget, the promised independent power plant project, housing estate and agro-processing plant are achievable. Also, Ohakim’s unspent N18bn bond meant for Oguta Lake development and reported several borrowings running into billions by the present administration can undertake these projects. Unlike the much-touted Oak Refinery and Petrochemical Industry Ohakim told Imo about which frightening security situation in the Niger Delta region, and the economic cash crunch that devastated world economy, during that period, the administration of Okorocha is witnessing a smooth sail and no reason should be offered for non-fulfillment of the promises.
A drive around Imo State will no doubt reveal scores of abandoned projects said to be monumental projects of the Rescue Mission governments. These amount spent so far for these failed signature projects of Governor Okorocha is enough to undertake the expected Kosovo power plant, housing estate and agro plant.
Why I would not challenge or question the rationale behind these building of gigantic fire star hotels in Okigwe and Orlu, magnificent car part centre in Old Ama Jk Recreation Park and the 25-torey building ecumenical, and Akachi high rise somewhere on PortHarcourt Road, (Avu Junction), the government of the day needs to be informed that “block and cement” does not translate to economic development.
