Socio-political theories are propounded by human beings and therefore no crime for any leader to decide on whatever method that can help him or her achieve results, be it in Governance, Business, Religion etc.
However, while executing such policies, the Leader must strive to put them in practise through existing rules and Laws, because every given society progresses through led out Laws. Even Families exist within a given “Law” that thrives in that home. That is the reason no one family can be the same as the other, because what obtains in a given family may be an aberration in another. Remember, late music Legend Fela wears only pants in his house, and asked his children to call him by his name.
This brings us to the latest fad in Imo State, where the State Chief Executive, Owelle Rochas Okorocha recently introduced various Task Forces and Committees that will pilot the affairs of the State within the next three months.
Meanwhile, it is of note that since Governor Okorocha was inaugurated for a second term in May 29, 2015, he is yet to name his Commissioners. Therefore, if these Committees and Task Forces remain in office for the next three months, as directed by the State’s Chief Executive, Gov Okorocha, it means that Imo State would have spent seven months after a transition without a State Executive Council to run the State yet.
Indeed, the salient question now; is there any Law that backs the Governor to run the State with these hand-picked Committees and Task Forces? This question becomes necessary because, while one is not against the Governor devising any political theory that can help him deliver the goods to a greater number of Imo masses, is he toeing the line of Law in this regard?
For sure, these Committees must be supported with funds to carry out their assignments. However, in any given State Government in Nigeria, the Executive arm must prepare its financial plans into an appropriation which is sent to the Legislature for approval, and then signed into Law, before the Executive can start spending.
Therefore, from where would the funds for logistics for these plethora of Task Forces and Committees in Imo be derived from , since the present Imo House of Assembly led by Rt Hon Acho Ihim is yet to see the State’s fiscal budget, much less approving it?
In the first place, does Imo State need these over- whelming Task Forces and Committees when the State cannot even pay workers salaries? Does it mean that Governor Okorocha has lost confidence on a State Executive Council, made up of about seventeen Commissioners to lift Imo from its present Economic quagmire, and therefore believes that Task Force can be the solution?
In the last count, Governor Okrorocha has inaugurated the over thirty seven (37) Task Forces and Committees, comprising of four members each, or more. The Task Forces range from the Health sector to Ohaji Egbema Industrial Park.I have still been scanning my brain to locate where that Industrial park is sitted in Ohaji Egbema, to require a three- main Committee to take charge of it.
These Committees are too serious to the Governor that some of them parade well-known politicians in the State that LASTLINE worries why such top political juggernauts would decide to accept such positions that ordinarily should have been given to lesser young politicians because we all know what “Task Force” means.
Again, some of the named Task Forces look alike that there would be conflicts when they get down to work.
Another surprise is how some Legislators including the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, were handed Executive appointments which are at variance with the doctrine of checks and balances, which gives the Legislature the power to check the excesses of the Executive.
Indeed, if the Speaker and his Deputy accept Executive appointments, can they be neutral enough to perform their duties as the eyes of the electorate against Executive impunity?
I say this because the lists of the Committees show Rt Hon Acho Ihim as Chairman of Motor Parks in the State, while his Deputy, Hon Ugonna Ozuruigbo is in charge of Sports Facilities.
In a normal clime, the Speaker and his Deputy could accept such positions only if they came as House of Assembly Committees; part of their oversight functions. But in Imo State anything goes, as it is now difficult to identify the Legislature from the Executive.
Heading some of these Committees are some top officials of the present administration who are already neck deep in Government assignments ,yet they were appointed to chair some of the Committees, as well as membership of some, while still holding their plum and top jobs that deserve their constant presence at the centre of power, in Owerri.
For instance, the Youthful Chief of Staff to the Governor and his Son In-law, Chief Uche Nwosu is the Chairman of Committee to look after Nkwerre LGA funds.
He is also the Zonal Head of Orlu political Zone. Much as this young man is brilliant, but how may Chairmen does Gov Okorocha want to make out of this youthful politician, by placing all these heavy loads on his tender Shoulders? Will the young man not be over-stretched with humongous positions that may distract his attention from astute concentration on one, and do good work out of it?
The Task Force on Drainage and Frontage is led by Comrade Jef Nwoha. There is another on Enviroment led by Okechukwu Azu and Task Forces for Sanitation for Okigwe, Owerri and Orlu Zones each.
Under this scenario, is cleaning of drainages not part of the duty of the Sanitation and Environment Committees? In this case, what happens to ENTRACO? Will these mentioned Committees not clash, since their jobs seem to be the same?
Okorocha has a Committee on Agricultural Development headed by former Imo House of Assembly member, Hon Stan Dara.
Then there is the Imo Rubber Plantation Committee and another for Imo Palm plantation. With these important sectors of the Agricultural development stripped off the Committee on Agriculture, what would Stan Dara and his Committee be doing?
For four years now, none of the Twenty seven General Hospitals in the State embarked upon by the Okorocha administration has been completed. Therefore, the Committee on “State Policy on Health” led by the immediate past Commissioner for Health, Dr Edward Ihejirika has its hands full. In the Committee also has Dr Chidi Marume, a former Commissioner for Health under the Achike Udenwa regime.
Without mincing words, it is just clear that the Imo Health sector is in total disarray. Had the Okorocha administration left all the old General Hospitals, and concentrated on three new ones in three of the political zones, they money spent on the bogus uncompleted twenty seven General Hospitals would have given Imo State three Specialist Hospitals that can compare with any other in the world.
Therefore, if there is any Committee that is necessary it is this Health Task Force.
One Task Force that looks complicated is the one on Siren, Tinted Glasses, Illegal use of Government plate numbers etc led by my good friend, former Minority Leader of Imo House of Assembly and a Prince from Owerre Nkworji, Rt Hon Ugochukwu Nzekwe.
Has such Committee the power to stop vehicles with tinted glasses, whose permission is gotten only from the office of the Inspector- General of Police? So, from where would this Committee derive its authority to inspect Tinted permits? Apart from police and Road Safety Commission, has any other organ the right to stop vehicles over plate numbers?
Governor Okorocha also inaugurated the Committee on operations of Welders, Furniture and Block Industries. What is the difference between the mentioned Committee and the one on Reorganization of Artisans? Are Welders and Furniture Makers not Artisans? So, can another Committee be “reorganizing” the Artisans, while another would be incharge of their “Operations?”
While Rt Hon Acho Ihim is incharge of Motor Parks, another Committee is incharge of “City Cabs/Taxi and Bus Management”. Can the different Committees be operating separately and yet achieve results, since their differences are like that between six and half a dozen?
I wonder what Bar Teddy Akwari will be doing as the Chairman of Committee on Ikemba Ojukwu Development Centre. I had spoken to Prof Fabian Osuji, the former Director of the Centre some months back. That centre is supposed to be an entirely Intellectual Citadel. Will Okorocha release funds to the Akwari Committee, since the Governor only believes in physical structures that can been seen and touched, than putting money in salient and silent operations that can change lives?
In the next three months, Imo people would be giving their verdict on the Imo Trade and Investment Centre Committee, headed by Bar Rex (Sokom) Anunobi. Anunobi is a trained Lawyer, who has taken political terrain as his Court Room for years now. Another fellow in the Committee is Bar Kingsley Ononuju of the OZOPOLF fame; his Chairman in OZOPOLF, Chief Charles (Charlvon) Amadi is also in the Committee.
One thing with these three personalities is that they were a few months back, top members of PDP. Since Gov Okorocha said that three months would be used to gauge the competence of the Committees, which is a prelude to a more month-watering position, we assume that this could not have been what to give a person like Chief Amadi, a millionaire is his own right and business mogul. If not, one would have said this is a very big political insult to Charles Amadi, if all he could get in Okorocha’s administration after using OZOPOLF to fight Owerri interest for Owelle Okorocha’s emergence is membership Task Force.
A very interesting Committee is that on Information and Public Awareness. It is headed by Dr Kelechi Okpaleke, a former Commissioner for Information under the administration of Gov Ikedi Ohakim. Chief Blyden Amajirionwn, past Publicity Secretary of the PDP is a member.
It could be that the Governor is impressed on how the duo held his administration spell- bound with hard media face-offs while they were on the other side of the divide. Therefore, the statement from Okorocha to Okpaleke and Amajirionwu is; go and re-enact your media magic!
Okpaleke and Blyden Amajirionwu will soon realize that giving, and accepting a job is one thing, and providing the logistics to execute the job is another.
Nda Paddy Obinna has been placed on his usual known terrain; the Arts and Culture. But how will the Committee survive, when Imo Carnival is not yet around? Who will fund it?
There is one observation Governor Okorocha ought to note. It is surprising that the Committees on Sanitation in Okigwe and Orlu zones are headed by Sons and indigenes of those Areas. But that of Owerri Zone is headed by Hon Ikechukwu Amuka, member of Imo House of Assembly from Ideato North. Why could not an indigene of Owerri zone be selected for that position? Even Bar Emma Ibediro, the second in the Committee is from Onuimo LGA, in Okigwe Zone. What a slight on Owerri people?
Committee on Water policy, headed by Hon Peter Ohagwa should let the Governor know that it is a shame that Imo people now rely on private Bore-Holes, as Government has abandoned its responsibility to provide drinking water for Imo people.
To rub salt into injury, the same Government which shirked its responsibility has charged a Committee to be collecting One hundred thousand Naira (N100,000) from private Bore- Hole owners. Citizens who provided water for themselves at a huge cost after the Okorocha’s administration had demolished the State owned water Board at Okigwe Road? That sounds ridiculous!
The Task Force on Committee on City Beautification is chaired by the Governor’s younger sister, Mrs Ogechi Ololo, married in Egbelu Obube, in Owerri North LGA. She was recently also appointed the Senior Special Assistant SSA to the Governor on Domestic Affairs.
The Governor has also shared Imo Federal
