By Hon. Barr. Joe Emenaha
The first question that demands an answer is, have Imolites any common and cultural patrimony and inheritance? The answer is Yes. As a geopolitical entity occupied by people of Igbo extraction our common and cultural patrimony and inheritance can briefly be itemized as follows:
Infrastructural edifices ranging from roads, buildings, etc.
Cultural practices depicting the way and manner of the people including their accepted pattern of family, village and town administration.
Respect to traditional institutions especially with reference to Ezeship stools.
Respect to the rights of others as enshrined in the constitutional provision of rule of law and respect to human dignity.
Respect to established civil service culture
Respect to the rights of children.
Respect to the institution of marriage.
Respect to individual ownership of land
The above listed can be classified as some of our common patrimony and cultural inheritance which the present Owelle administration has without blinking the eye tampered negatively or destroyed in the name and style of innovation, renovation and reconstruction. Examination of the above areas stated seriatim attest thus:
With respect to infrastructural edifices of roads and buildings, the damage is incalculable. Federal roads are dualized where not necessary with partitions, so weak that cannot withstand collision with tricycle (keke). Sand and water with splashing of gravels are mixed to dualize a road. What is the motive behind these shoddy jobs, is difficulty to understand. The most agonizing of such destruction and reconstruction of the solid road partition from IMSU Junction to Orji Junction and beyond. Solid structures that have withstood all weather and battering are being removed to make way for shoddy and weak partitions. It seems to me that the motive behind these renovation and reconstruction is just to siphon away our scarce resources. Imagine de-roofing a public edifice with an inferior guage. Look at the State legislative complex, redesigning without vision, resulting in dangerous cracks in the ancient structure. The purpose of either innovation, renovation or reconstruction is to add value or improve what already is there, not just for flowering exhibitionism. If we discipline ourselves to ask ourselves the question, with regard to what value or improvement, the parroted innovation, renovations or reconstructions are adding, you will not see any. For instance, building a Conference Centre, at the center of a town and at the intersect of roads, to all reasonable minds, does not make sense, except as an object of showmanbiz and flowering exhibitionism.
With respect to our cultural practices with reference to the accepted pattern of family, village, and town administration, the present government of Owelle Rochas has demonised them. From time immemorial, the Igbo man pattern of family, village and town administration has stood us well above the rest of ethnic groups in Nigeria. The revered Igbo town unions have given the Igbo man, the world over, universal respect and honour. It is what makes the Igbo man tick. The present government in the name of innovation is destroying and intends to obliterate the ancient and hallowed system of village and town administration by the introduction of the so called Community Government Council (CGC). As soldiers go and come, this contrivance of CGC is dead on arrival as it is antemna to Igbo man’s way of life. Does this government, really understand the term “Culture”? The Yorubas are Yorubas because of their way of life. Hausas are Hausas, because of their way of life, and that the British, the French, the Germans and Americans are what they are because of their ways of live.
This government even has the audacity to reduce the Ezeship institution in Imo State to a glorified government errand boys that can be ordered about. They can be enthroned and dethroned at the whims and caprices of the present government. Their territories could be decreed out of existence in a twinkle of eye. This is pure madness.
This practice no doubt reinforces the signature tune of this administration that it has no regard to rule of law, no regard to universal human rights and even rights of children.
However, right from inception this government did not hide its distaste for rule of law. Before assumption of office, he ensured that the accounts of the State government were frozen without due process. He went further to ensure that the functionaries of the Ohakim administration ranging from commissioners, Special Advisers, and Honourable Members were not paid their legitimate entitlements and earnings. Professional civil servants ranging from Permanent Secretaries, Directors are retired before their retirement is due without due process. Indeed the Owelle Rochas administration has reduced Imo State to a banana “republic”. The government does everything possible to frustrate Court proceedings and where judgments are obtained, the present government not only disobeys Court judgments but treats them with a wave of the hand. It seems to this writer that these actions of the government are driven by revenge and hatred for Imolites.
Without equivocation, this acclaimed distate for human rights, drives Owelle Rochas administration to forcefully enter into individual, family and village lands without any restraint. Even people conquered by invading army cannot be treated like that.
Indeed seeing beyond the deceitful mantra of “my people, my people” this present administration of Owelle Rochas sees Imolites as conquered people that does not deserve any iota of respect. Imagine reducing our children to Atmagaris by polluting them with the doling out of hundred naira (N100.00) to each. What is the purpose of such act to children of industrious Igbo man and woman. It is a sacrilege to reduce our children to beggars.
This agenda of Islamisation of our culture is depicted in the notorious roundabouts and gates. Even the concept behind the on-going construction of General Hospitals in Imo State is in consonance with Arabian and Islamic culture.
Going through memory lane, it is crystal clear that the de-promulgated abortion law is foreign to our culture. With respect to our civil service structure, that aspect has also been destroyed in the name of innovation and reconstruction. The civil service in Imo State under this administration has become a mere appendage.
For a “performing government” like this government, the civil service is not NecessarY. Roads are constructed without any input from the Ministry of Works in the form of design and supervision. Alt contracts executed by this government have no contract signpost indicating Project Name or Name of Contractor, or Architectural Design. Usually names are given to projects after completion. Imolites need to know who are the contractors behind the shaddy’jobs and projects.
Finance Ministry is rendered redundant as large sums of money are paid out without regard to financial rules.
Our legislature are rendered important as there is no need for yearly budgets. The issue of oversight functions has become matter of the past. In the education sector, the parroted free education programme in Imo State is free in words not in content and practice. No wonder our educational standard has nosedived beyond unimaginable level.
Even Departments of Imo State University (IMSU) cannot function optimally and in keeping with due process, because the administration pontificates to them from the state house. It is not surprising that the university has lost accreditation in major disciplines ranging from Law ant Medicine, etc. What a powerful all-knowing government. However, one is consoled by the fact that the triumph of evil is ephemeral. With the above stated plethora of destruction of our patrimony and common heritage, the inexorable compelling question is “Why are Imolites quiet?” Could it be that they are under a bewitching spell or just a culture of silence for fear of seeing their heads under their feet. However, I make bold to state that my life is hidden in Christ Jesus. In God I trust, what can man do unto me?
Or could it be as one of the colonial overlords pointed out to late Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, that apart from insignificant personal braggacado, his people the Igbos are the most cowardly people in Nigeria. Ojukwu was dazzled and asked him to substantiate his assertion. He, in response stated that in the whole of Nigeria, it is only in Igboland a Whiteman alongside his carriage is carried upon the heads of Igbomen. Whatever may be the reason for this grave-like silence in Imo State as regards the destruction of common and cultural patrimony and heritage in the name of innovation, renovation and reconstruction, for the sake of our children and children unborn, it is time to rise up, challenge and put a stop to this assault to our common heritage. The adage from one of world political philosophers Edmund Burke is instructive to the effect that the silence of good men is the triumph of evil.
