There are divergent opinions on what makes a great man. While some say that greatness is measured by the amount of money one accumulates, others say it is by number of investments; yet, others insist that it is measured by the number of lives one is affecting positively. Whichever way you take it to be, there are people who measure up to the standards. The Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is one of such men who can stand to be counted as great when measured in any ramification.
Born a poor boy in his home town Ogboko, Ideato South, Imo State in 1962, Governor Rochas started his struggle for survival at a very tender age. As a young lad in Barkin Ladi, Jos, he hawked groceries in the streets and later joined the business of selling fairly used clothes popularly called “Ok materials” or “Okirika” in this part of the world. Okorocha’s commitment and hard work made him purchase his first bus at the age of 14 which was used for public transport. A young boy who diversified his means of income, he made his first one million naira from a commission on the sale of road construction equipment. That idea pushed him into what was then regarded as the elites’ business; the sale of fairly used cars, the popular “tokumbo” cars. This, undoubtedly, sent a wide signal to everyone around that the young Rochas was already on his path to greatness.
It is widely proclaimed that education in the life of a man is invaluable. When a man realizes this, the urge to pursue academic heights springs up. Rochas got this insight and started his academic pursuit early through his personal efforts. At the age of 14, in 1976, he started his academic journey in Juladaco High School, Jos, Plateau State, and graduated in 1981. In 1990, the vibrant Rochas started his tertiary education at the University of Jos where he obtained Diploma in Public Administration and Advanced Diploma in the same discipline in 1994. His love for education had also spurred him to garner other academic qualifications like Diploma in Law and Conflict Management, Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Management, among others. One can now trace the background of his strategic management of critical issues in Imo State which could have ordinarily escalated into social unrest.
As a very young man, Rochas had risen to stardom in his life career. Most of the career paths he undertook were informed by his humanitarian idea and kind heart towards the downtrodden. Gov. Rochas joined Red Cross and later rose to the position of President, Nigerian Red Cross. He is the President/Founder, Rochas Foundation Incorporation which has touched large number of lives than any other Foundation in Nigeria; President, Rochas Group of Companies, a business empire with interest in finance, banking, aviation, real estate, pharmaceuticals and health care managements; Pro Chancellor, African Business School, Abuja; Former Chairman, Board of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, et cetera. He attained all these heights long before his 50th birthday, yet a day never passes without him identifying with the poorest of the poor in Nigeria.
Let me further have a swift peep into his political journey in Nigeria polity. A man with genetic leadership instincts, he made several attempts to clinch political positions in a country he has made several personal contributions to build. With the glaring successes he achieved in his leadership antecedents and personal endeavours, I believe you will not exhibit any iota of doubt in the essence of his political strives. Gov. Okorocha was a commissioner in Federal Character Commission, and a member of National Constitution Conference. In 1999, when democracy was restored, he contested for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries which was AWARDED to Chief Achike Udenwa. Again in 2003, a determined fellow with high expectations, he contested as a presidential candidate under All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) where he came second in the primaries. On his return to PDP, the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs. His desire to directly affect changes in Nigerian leadership.
Not deterred by some seeming unsuccessful attempts, Gov. Rochas came back to his home state, Imo, to answer the call of the masses for a true servant leader. This made him to contest the 2011 gubernatorial election in Imo State defeating the incumbent governor Ikedi Ohakim.
Fifteen years ago, as an astute business man with wide investments in real estate, Gov. Rochas bought an estate in Imo State (his home state) which spans over about ten acres of land from Barnax who in turn purchased same from Spibat Company in 2004. With the amount of money involved in contesting elections in Nigeria, it is only few Nigerian politicians that can undertake this huge investment at the time Rochas did.
Let me emphasize something significant in this and other investments of a Gov. Okorocha in Imo. In Nigeria, we have been acclimatized to the “norm” of our political leaders running to overseas like United States of America, London, Dubai, Paris, South Africa, et cetera to buy and/or build estates, hotels and other investments. Or, am I alone in this stance? Ok, this is done because of what I term “the fear of the unknown.” Your guess of the “unknown” should be as good as mine. The question then is, “why did Rochas decide to buy and site this investment in Nigeria?” The interesting part of it is that it is located in Owerri. This is also away of showing his love for his home state by investing and citing his businesses in the state unlike most other politicians. This takes my mind to an Igbo saying that “onye na-ebughi mmanu anaghi akwafu mmanu.” That means that anyone who is not carrying oil will not pour away oil. This can only be done by a man with clear mind and conscience. Don’t we say that a clear mind fears no accusation.
Shouldn’t we applaud this man for encouraging local investment? When his colleagues are busy developing other countries’ economy, Rochas is citing such developmental projects here to keep boosting our economy. Of course, we know that no man builds an estate and lives alone in it. The Spibat Mansion was originally conceived to host the adopted children of Rochas Okorocha who are beneficiaries of the Rochas Foundation . It is geared towards changing the face of the state and giving it steps above majority of others in the “comity of Nigerian States.” Looking at his status in wealth accumulation, he could have acquired and built something greater and more magnificent in South Africa as other politicians would have done. A man who has made a lot of money right from his youth days and has given out money to life support programmes than he invested in this project deserves more than Spibat Mansion from God. Who knows, as a lover of the poor who hardly lives without mingling with them may one day decide to allocate parts of the estate to the poor who cannot build their own houses. I am just thinking alongside his magnanimity.
Earlier before now, His Excellency, Rochas Okorocha established Rochas Foundation in the year 1996. This foundation started by feeding the poor people in the streets and communities who couldn’t provide food for themselves, and support to motherless babies’ homes. Later in 2001, Rochas Foundation College was founded with the motto ‘We Educate to Empower.’ This college was established to cater for the children of wretched Nigerians who could not afford to send their children to school. A school that provides everything a child needs to go to school free of charge including feeding has five campuses located in Kano, Ibadan, Jos, Owerri and his home town Ogboko. Presently, Rochas Foundation College, which is solely sponsored by Owelle Rochas Okorocha has over 10,000 students under her care: the biggest philanthropic stride in Africa.
Outside this too, his Foundation involves in other humanitarian services through which the foundation alleviates people’s sufferings. Such services as award of interest free loans, award of scholarships, for tertiary education, car raffles draws, medical assistance and material/educational sponsorship are what the foundation does. He, in his unrelenting generosity, gives maximum support to his wife who, without selfish considerations, builds and gives out Two Bedroom Flats to indigent widows in Imo. Who amongst other politicians in the state has a record in philanthropy an inch close to this? Who?
Ik Ogbonna
An OWERRI based Journalist and Media Consultant is the Principal Officer to the Imo State Governor on Social Media.
