For nearly three weeks, the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been in the news, but all for bad reasons. First was the “Oguta War” where the maverick first son of the late legal icon Justice Oputa, Mr Charles Oputa alias Charly Boy refused the Governor speaking at the burial ceremony of his father which attracted who-is-who in Nigeria to the sleepy riverine enclave, Oguta.
The second one was the “Freudian slip”, where Governor Okorocha inadvertly stirred the hornet nest by declaring that those other than Imolites living in the state would be documented to check-mate inflow of persons aliens into the state.
Since the Governor was not specific in his statement, it was believed to include Northerners residing in the state. And this has raised a lot of problems for the Governor and his administration, as even his own political party, All Progressive Congress APC has washed its hands off the Okorocha statement, and joined in castigating the Governor.
What is Freudian Slip? Oxford Advanced Leaner’s Dictionary describes it as “something you say by mistake but which is believed to show your true thoughts”. This theory was propounded by Freud Sigmund, about how human minds work.
The Okorocha statement delivered at a security meeting with “stakeholders” has now degenerated to the level that the Nigeria Senate had to discus the issue in one of its plenaries.
Very unfortunately most of those at the Green Chamber who gave the sticks to Imo state Governor were members of his political party APC.
Okorocha has since then asked the Senate to apologise to him for crying more than the bereaved, which in this case are the Northerners. And the Senator replied tat he deserves no apology from the Green chamber.
But one important issue still remains unresolved. Was there anytime the Governor of Imo state stated that Northerners living in Imo state will hence forth be documented?
In this regard, the Government of Imo state is not helping matters by not answering the necessary questions first. In all the replies and reactions, what the Imo State Government had insisted on was that such a policy is nowhere existing in the state and that Okorocha is not even thinking of such.
But the million naira question remains; did Okorocha say that? And Government has refused to clear the air on this, but instead dwell on defending that no such policy is in existence in Imo.
Those who visited the International Conference Centre, Owerri on the day Okorocha held the “Open” security meeting with all sectors of Imolites swore that they heard the Governor say some thing like that.
This meeting was held aftermath of the Bomb scare that rocked Imo state following the discovery of bombs at the premises of Winners Chapel Owerri.
Some suspects were rounded up. And in order to assuage the fears of Imo citizens, the Governor made the comment, not knowing that while it douses tension in Imo and reassured her citizens, it raised dust in the far North, where Okorocha is anchoring his political hopes for the 2015 election; that is, if he wants to stretch his political elasticity to the presidency and abandon Imo Governorship.
Unfortunately for Okorocha who also reaps heavy capital from the minutest of slips from his opponents, this time around he has found himself on the defensive as his opponents coated the statement and wore it a splendid material, which has become the vocal discussion in every fora in Nigeria today.
Can we in all honesty say that the “Documentation of Northerners in Imo state” is a “Freudian Slip” or that it never happened and therefore does not exist?
The truth is that every politician makes this “slip” once in a while. But the smart ones “measure” the type of crowd they dish out such tales, but not Okorocha.
The immediate past Governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim was accused of “talking too much”. But between Okorocha and Ohakim, who “talks” more? However, there is a difference between “talking too much” and “Freudian Slips” .
One is that one may be speaking even after his/her audience had gone tired of listening, while the other says what he/she knows is not feasible, and yet went on to say it.
As we approach 2015 election, politicians must realize that as they perfect plans to hoodwink the poor electorate, the poor masses too through much suffering amidst plenty and the few affluent have learnt how to maneouver the politicians and their sugar coated tongues.
An average electorate today knows what is good for him or her. This attitude played out in the last Governorship election in Ekiti state where the Governor Fayemi thought he was carrying the masses along with him.
Much as politicians can say whatever they want to say to confuse and win the hearts of the populace, times are changing, as the electorate are no more gullible and vulnerable as erroneously assumed by the politicians.
For instance, Governor Okorocha since he assumed office in Imo on May 29, 2011, has literally handed Imo people too much cheques waiting to be cashed in the bank of government’s responsibility and truth.
At the heat of the 2011 campaigns, pressure was much on all the Aspirants, and therefore they could afford to make too much “Freudian Slips” but not after the elections have been lost and won.
In this case, the myriads of promises made to Imolites by Governor Okorocha after he was sworn-in ought not to be, since he had made legions of such promises while on his campaign trails. Therefore, it was compounding the problems by adding more.
May be the present Governor saw governance as a matter of Brick and mortar, which was why his administration is dogged with many “Freudian Slips”. This could be the reason he contemplated it possible to build a thirty storey Hotel building in Owerri, another in Orlu and Okigwe in just four years.
Such “Freudian Slips” do not jell, as the now alert Imo electorate may ask questions when the right time comes.
The Okorocha administration “murdered” protocol and due process because “we are in a hurry to develop Imo state”.
But unfortunately, there is no development any where in the world without due process and protocol, even in the haste to “develop Imo” by Okorocha, if care is not taken decisions without in-depth planning may be what his administration would be remembered for, than the good things he left behind.
For instance, the construction of twenty seven specialist Hospitals in the twenty seven local government areas of Imo state.
No where in the world can such a policy work. How many people dwell in the various LGAs of Imo state that each LGA must have one Specialist Hospital? Even if the job of Imo citizens is to get sick everyday.
Had Okorocha chosen to upgrade the Eleven existing General Hospitals in Imo, and constructed one Specialist Hospital in each of the Senatorial zones, the Health Care delivery in Imo now would have been the Tourist attraction of neighbouring states, and Okorocha’s name would have been ingrained in the sand of times.
But today, there is no magic that can get any of the hospitals productive as we face the uncertainty of elections and reelections of some politicians in 2015.
Have you seen how a good policy, for not being properly handled, will be one of the albatross that will trail Okorocha’s administration in Imo state?
Since Okorocha does not believe in completing other’s projects who will complete his own uncompleted projects assuming he leaves office tomorrow?
Today we have seen the State Library built by Ndubuisi Kanu along Bank road destroyed by Bulldozers, just to create parking space for the church being constructed by Okorocha at Government House, Owerri.
How many Imo citizens will be employed in that church compared to the staff at the Library? Before we demolished that Library that produced most Imo elites, including me, have we built another, may be a model one like the 1-Library built by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, to justify the reason for destroying our existing buildings in a state said to be owing Billions of naira in the stock Ex-change and Banks? Do we have that luxury to continue to demolish, when others are building? Why would not Okorocha have sited that church at New Owerri begging for structures and projects than destroy the Ndubuisi legacy?
“Freudian Slip” can be also defined as blasphemy. Remember that when Jesus told the Pharisees that he can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in days, they doubted him without realizing he had such powers.
We said we were going to build Imo state University at its permanent site within three years. Till date no one knows where the IMSU permanent site is; whether at Ogboko, where a model one had been build and locked up, and christened another name, or at Aboh Mbaise or Ngor Okpala where the acres of lands are still lying fallow.
But in this case, one will commend Okorocha for living up to his words, by building a gigantic and solid university within a record months. But where is the university? What if Imo people were Pharisees? Do you think they would not ask questions?
“The Freudian Slip” regarding the Dana Airways victims is another way Government play on the intelligence of the masses.
Their relatives were promised millions of naira as compensation by the Imo state government.
Nobody compelled the government to make that august promise. But unfortunately till date, that promise remains simply a promise.
Our leaders should watch what they say. The masses are not fools any more and demand both financial and “mouth” accountability from their leaders. Why most men die today is because of “Freudian Slip”
While courting a woman, men say many things that they regret when they return to their senses. Imagine when a man promises a woman marriage. The lady gives you not only herself, but other of her things, only the man to give useless excuse later why the marriage cannot be consummated. From hence, watch you back!
This is what will pan out this season of elections. Promises made four years ago will haunt and hunt the “promisers”. “Freudian Slips” will not be accepted this time as the reckoning time is approaching. Meanwhile, both the Northerns and Senators should spare our Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. After all they too are culpable of same offence, as politicians speak before thinking. Only that “Freudian Slips” are more dangerous than others.
