After my last week piece captioned “Imo State in the hand of Task Forces and Committees” I received a threat call from one anonymous fellow, who was too cowardly to disclose his identity. Although the call was not a surprise, as one have suffered alot in the course of this job; Journalism.
However, what we were thought in the school of Journalism was that you must always be sure of your facts, and when in doubt don’t use. Because if you are not sure of your facts you may be dragged to court for libel. There was no time we were told that we would be shot dead or kidnapped, since every writer must have an open identity through which a maligned fellow can reach him or her and pursue his or her case in the Law courts, which have the authority to apportion blame; either by death sentence or otherwise.
Some time ago, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, whom I usually call “Uncle” Sam Onwuemeodo, sent me this text message “I don’t look 4 trouble. U people have continued to scratch me for no just reason. And any day u guys push me to react nobody should blame me. I have not complained of all u hv bn writing abt d Governor but to scratch me wd be responded and by the time we end d story will be interesting”.
This threat came from an image maker of a sitting Governor in a democratic setting, whose job is to seek ways of polishing the public perception of his Boss in an engaging manner that will leave a good impression on the people. Not by trouble making, but trouble shooting.
However, despite such lame threats and coercive methods, Journalists do not “give a damn” because they will be shirking from their ethic responsibilities of informing and educating the public aright when they keep quiet. And again, no matter the number of Journalists you “shut-up” others will still say it. After the death of Dele Giwa by letter Bomb, has the Press in Nigeria been gagged?
Moreover, when such threats come from the likes of Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, who even as Chief Press Secretary to a Governor still maintains a regular column in Whitepaper, through which he lampoons his people every week, which expose him and his Boss to numerous rebuttals from his attacks on others. However, in a democratic set-up like ours, elected officers occupying their offices through the ballot boxes and voters mandate must be subdued to the scrutiny of the masses, whose offices they are holding in trust.
But every commentary about how Governor Okorocha is spending Imo people’s money must be constructive and engaging, and not frivolous and malicious.
Therefore, no matter what the Sam Onwuemeodos of this world think, constructive engagement is a part and parcel of a democratic Government. Responsible Governments learn from criticisms and make amends, because no Government, just like human beings, is perfect.
Meanwhile, the “ high” office Sam Onwuemeodo is occupying today, through which he is issuing out useless threats, I held about five years ago, and never threatened or arm twisted any Journalist in Imo State from making his or her free Comments on the administration of Gov Ikedi Ohakim, which I served then. And even before I joined that administration, I was one of the major critics of that regime, despite my personal friendship with the former Governor before he assumed office.
Same for the current Okorocha’s administration. As a trained mind and Professional Journalist I had to do my job, but it worries me when people like Sam Onwuemeodo misconstrue whatever I write as being provoked by malice simply because I worked for Imo State under Governor Ikedi Ohakim.
Far from it. I don’t hate Governor Okorocha and had known him long ago, through my former Boss and Publisher of Announcer Newspaper, Hon ThankGod Ezeani, even before Okorocha contemplated being a serious politician. But Journalism ethos takes precedent above sentiment and friendship because the reading public must be told the truth, no matter whose ox is gored.
Therefore, sentiment does not apply when saying the truth, unless you are padding falsehood to make it look truthful. This leads the writer into trouble because it is not fair.
For instance, just last Tuesday, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha arrived Imo State with over two hundred Imo Citizens with whom he visited Turkey for “Business Investment” tour.
The Governor embarked on this Journey when the entire Imo Public Service was being owed salaries and arrears running up to eight months.
Much as the Governor has the right to travel to any part of the earth, but for a compassionate Leader, that was a wrong time to leave the State, with a few number of Imo population, while the rest were left at home suffering, even when the President had released Billions of Naira to pay workers.
Whatever may be the investment these “Businessmen” were searching for, was it acceptable for the State to sponsor this jamboree, at a time Imo was looking for fund to pay the State’s Work Force?
Only God knows how much that trip may have set Imo State backward in its finances, when the major priority should have been to take care of the suffering Imo Civil Servants and the Pensioners living in penury.
And it is quite unfortunate because Governor Okorocha had embarked on such Journey some time ago, and till this morning Imo people are yet to see the result of that first “Business Trip” to Turkey which the State spent Millions of Naira to sponsor a group of “Investors”.
Therefore, since that first trip brought no dividends to the suffering Imo people, not even a “Pure water” factory to the State, why embark on another frivolous journey, with millions of Naira paid for Hotel accommodations and flight Tickets for these “Imo Investors,” which could have been channelled towards other pressing matters of State?
We are told that only the rudderless keeps repeating an action and expects a different result.
Therefore, it follows to ask Gov Okorocha why he embarked on another Turkey Business Trip when the previous outing after four years now is yet to yield any iota of result? This includes the one he went to Kosovo with Senator Osita Izunaso and Chief Martin Agbaso, when the going was good with him and those. Not all Imo people are fools, even though they may have nothing to say.
Let me state here that no theory is water- tight, that is the reason Leaders review their policies once in a while and see those to drop completely and those to adopt and modify.
By now, after four years in office, Gov Okorocha ought to have revisited some of his policies and know the ones that have succeeded and those that are failures. Socio-economic policies are dynamic, and change every day with current developments.
It was unfortunate that while the Governor and his team were in Turkey, the entire State Capital, Owerri, was submerged with heaps of refuse dumps to the extent that fear gripped everybody, because of the possibility of an outbreak of epidemic.
Although some of the refuse heaps have been evacuated, but why would the administration always allow the dirts to accumulate to heaps before they are removed, in most cases after the citizens have noticed the danger and start raising alarm. Must the Government wait until the masses start complaining?
In the last administration, it was not like that. Citizens wake up every day to notice that the little dust bin in their premises had been removed.
It does not matter who is handling the evacuation of refuse bins for Imo State Government under Okorocha. What should matter is if the company is doing a good job of it. It does not matter if the Contractor is the Governor’s in-Law or brother. Look at the news coming out from Imo State University, that the Institution has lost the accreditation of the Law Faculty, why? They said it was caused by poor funding of the Faculty. And this verdict came from the National University Commission NUC. So, you now ask; what happened to the free education policy of the Okorocha’s administration, which the Government said is gulping the State’s finances, including the Governor’s Security vote? Do the two scenarios jell?
Despite the free education mantra, private schools in Imo State are still making fast businesses, as they are all filled to the brim. Is it not an indication that the Okorocha’s free education has either failed or needed a modification? Because, I have been asking from parents who have children in public schools and heard their replies.
There should have been scrambles in public schools now if the free education in Imo State is working .Parents like us wished to send our children to public schools because the hardship is getting un-bearable in private schools, but the sorry news filtering out from Imo public schools is scary to send your wards.
Therefore, Governor Okorocha should have asked why after four years in office majority of Imo Citizens still prefer to send their children to private schools. Is he sincerely satisfied with the results of his free education policy?
Is the Governor Okey with the stories coming out from the public schools? Is anybody sabotaging his efforts in his free education that makes the policy still limp with one leg after four years?
Is Governor Okorocha satisfied with the Health sector after winning his second term in office? Did he plan that the still under-construction twenty seven General Hospitals would remain at their various stages at this time of his tenure?
Since this is the situation, can’t the Governor review his policy towards the Hospitals. If Gov Okorocha has refused to complete any of the structures started by his predecessors, does he believe that his successor will finish these hospitals, assuming they are left uncompleted in the next few years he would be rounding off his tenure? It means Imo would be left with plethora of gigantic while Elephant Projects.
The current raining season has exposed all that we thought were newly constructed good roads in Imo State. Is the Governor satisfied with the state of roads in Imo State? Does his mind tell him that if these roads were privately constructed for him by these construction companies he would have paid them from his personal pocket? Let us face the facts!
Before Sam Ownuemeodo begins to send threat messages, could he please take a careful tour of all the roads Okorocha had constructed in his four years in office, and compare them with the ones Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim built five to sixteen years ago. Has Sam Onwuemedo driven through any of the Round-abouts in Owerri recently? Facts are sacred.
The question now is; can’t the Governor look for the construction companies that handled these long-lasting roads for the Udenwa and Ohakim eras, than wasting tax payers and Imo scarce resources on frequent inferior jobs that hardly last for months?
We are saying these because Okorocha will make Onwuemedo’s job easier if he listens to the voice of the people by doing those things that appeal to the masses, just as he eat and drank with them during the campaigns.
Every kobo that enters Imo State belongs to the masses, but since not everybody will be Governor, they entrusted their common wealth to Okorocha to manage on their bahalf. Therefore, it is not the Governor’s Money, but Imo peoples’. He should use it for their good, because after him Imo remains for her citizens, while another Governor takes over. However, it is posterity that will decide where Imo people will place Okorocha after.
Back to the Turkey Jamboree. We have seen the list of some of the acclaimed “Industrialists” the Governor took to Turkey that will change the face of Imo State soon.
From what we heard, every village in Imo will now have an Industry. This is when the twenty seven Hospitals in each of the LGAs are yet to see the light of the day four years after.
The “Businessmen Industrialists” include, the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, Hon Acho Ihim, who should have been in his office making laws for Imo people for which they voted him into office. Suddenly, Okorocha is dragging this peaceful politician into various crises; he recently made him a motor park Chairman.
When has the Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki, followed President Mohammadu Buhari to any over-sea tour, including the one to USA, and the recent one to France? The Executive and Legislature are distinct departments in a democratic Government. Acho has a budget that can take him and his colleagues to “Business”trips if they so wish. Not with the Governor.
Acho Ihim must watch it. It is unfortunate he has not learnt any lesson from his predecessor, Rt Hon Benji Uwajumogu whose political fortune is hanging in the balance now because he preferred to be Okorocha’s Shadow- Personal Assistant than man his job as the head of the Legislature.
Power is transient, nothing last forever; Acho Ihim has begun too early to disappoint those who love him. What can Acho Ihim say he learnt from this Turkey Business tour to aide his job as Imo State Chief Lawmaker?
The “Industrialists” include Chief Sanfo Nwankwo, of OPOCA high Command Orlu, Bar Rex Anunobi also of OPOCA, Nda Bob Njemanze a renowned Activist, Chief Alan B Onyemeachi, Chief Charles Charlvon Amadi, and Chief Orikeze Ajumbe. HRH Eze Oliver Ohanweh, Dr Clement Anozie, Imo APC Org Secretary, Chief Gerald Okorocha, Hon Benji Uwajumogu, Chief Bright Chimezie, Chief Chris Anele, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, Bar Steve Asimobi.
The present members of Imo House of Assembly on the trip include Hon Lugard Osuji, Hon Joy Mbawuike, Hon Mike Iheanetu, Hon Marcel Odunze, and others.
Apart from Chukwueke, Amadi, and Bright Chimezie, who is the Publisher of Horn Newspaper and an employer of Labour, the others we are yet to see the site of their factories, either in Owerri or elsewhere.
Chief Ajumbe has a Recording Studio, Gerald Okorocha is the Governor’s younger brother, Mrs Josephine Udorji is a woman politician from Ideato, Hon Mathew Omegara just left office as former Federal Lawmaker, Chief Joefrank Ijezie is a husband to a former Commissioner in the State and a Government Contractor, Hon Ikenna Emeh is a former Lawmaker from Isu LGA, Chief Stanley Nzekwe, is Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s Personal Assistant, Dr Edward Ihejirika is a former Commissioner for Health, Chief Alan B Onyemaechi deals on Gas, a Public Commentator and Okorocha’s SA.
Anyway, Imo people are praying that this expensive tour yields good fruits for Imo Industrialization policy soon ala Okorocha, because that will prove doubting Thomas wrong that the Governor simply frittered away Imo scarce resources on a Jamboree to Turkey with Imo Tax payers money and when Workers are begging for their salaries.
