The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has reasons to fear. One of his major concerns today is who would succeed him. But it is clear he had already made up his mind on who to succeed him. Needless naming the fellow here, because the entire Imo political class already knows the person.
But still Okorocha is afraid. He has always made it known that he wants a hand-picked candidate who will take over after him in 2019. But still he is afraid.
The Governor made this open recently when he said that Senator Ifeanyichukwu Godwin Araraume, and his predecessor, His Excellency, Dr Ikedichukwu Godson Ohakim can never succeed him in office.
His reason is that should both men become Governor on May 29, 2019, they would be ruled by vengeance, and therefore, Okorocha does not want anybody who will come after him when he vacates office. But why is Okorocha so afraid of a vengeance-seeking successor? Why should the out-going Governor be apprehensive of “reprisal attacks” when he is out office?
Does his mind tell him he has intentionally wronged some people in the course of his eight years reign in office? Does he feel he has skeletons in his cupboard that would warrant vengeance from whoever is coming after him as Imo Governor?
In all, why would any incoming Governor of Imo State move after Okorocha? Is the out-going Governor afraid that there are things to be unearthed that would warrant vengeance? Too many questions. After all, they say clear conscience fears no accusation.
Well, if wishes were horses, we would assume that Okorocha has already conducted the Imo Governorship election even before it is held in 2019.
From the way the Governor is talking authoritatively, it seems Imo electorate would not determine the out of the elections in 2019. Governor Okorocha had already told us those who will not succeed him in 2019.
It was President Ibrahim Babangida at the height of his political Majesty that told Nigerians that while he does not know who will succeed him in 1984, he knows those who will not succeed him.
Therefore, as we approach 2019, has the out-going Governor of Imo State single-handedly determined for Imo people who would the next Governor of the State will be?
Still in line with his obsession on who will take over after him, Okorocha had at one point set the criteria for his would-be successor. He then said the person must not be above Fifty years.
In the recent disclosure by the Governor, according to him, his successor must not be “Arrogant, greedy, clannish and ambitious”. All these are the qualities set by Okorocha alone, but not from even his political party, APC much more the Imo electorate who ought to determine who becomes their next Governor.
Within these arrangements, why did Okorocha not factor in Imo electorate who have the power to hand over their mandate to whomsoever they chose to Govern them, and also his the political party APC, which has its own constitution and modalities on how to arrive on its flag bearers in elections?
Now to the issue of vengeance; Governor Okorocha is standing on a very good stead to fear about political vengeance, because since the creation of Imo State in 1976, no Governor has carried political vengeance to a State policy like the Okorocha era.
Therefore the Governor, for once, spoke the mind of both his followers and detractors. Records available show that Okorocha has elevated political vengeance in Imo to a dizzying height. Therefore, the Governor is correct in making it open that he would not hand over power to his enemies, else they move after him when derobed of immunity soon.
Okorocha has the right to protect himself out of office, and also has the constitutional right to hoist into office that person whom he believes can protect both his back when out of office, and his legacies while in Government.
In this case, it is therefore between APC as a political party to stop Okorocha from carrying out his plot to grab the party’s ticket for his would-be stooge.
It is also the constitutional right of Imo electorate to stop Okorocha from planting his lackey while vacating Douglas House in 2019.
The Governor knows that some of his policies did not seat well with some Imolites, and such policies are bound to be thrown over-board the moment Okorocha leaves office.
Okorocha himself is master in diminishing and demolishing the legacies of his previous predecessors.
We must realize that the first thing Okorocha did as he assumed office was to sack twenty seven elected LGA Chairmen and the Councilors, without compensation till date.
All the past appointees of the previous administration were harassed and their official vehicles taken away from them as if they were rogues. Their entitlements were denied them until they went to court.
The Development Centers created through law by Governor Achike Udenwa to take developments to the grassroots, and adopted by his successor, Dr Ikedi Ohakim were scrapped by Okorocha.
All the shopping Plazas in Owerri constructed through Local Government funds, under the Udenwa regime have been demolished. The most painful is the one located at New Stadium at Wethdral road that was not obstructing any traffic.
Infact, the Owerri New Stadium has been abandoned by Okorocha to the shame of Imolites. The Stadium must be left fall down because it was there before Okorocha was elected.
The Family Support Programme FSP Parks built by wife of Col Tanko Zubauiru has been pulled down and another set of structures are springing up right there, when there are lands begging for developments in New Owerri. That structure built by Zubairu’s wife with Imo task payers money had to be demolished for yet another building at that same spot. Incredible!
The old Library Building along Bank Road could have been preserved, even alongside the new Church that is there today. But Okorocha pulled that edifice down.
And the Library has to go because it was representing the legacy of a previous administration.
Imo Water Board, and Old Ministry of Works at Okigwe Road have all be converted to a Secondary School and Estate respectively. But there are bigger lands lying fallow in New Owerri for such projects. Those structures represented the legacy of old administrations and therefore had to be demolished.
The Mbari efigy would have done more justice to the Eze Imo Palace today. But it has to be demolished because another administration erected it.
If you mange to scale through the various checks and gain entrance into “Peoples House” Owerri, you will notice that Okorocha has not stepped into the Governor’s office built by Ohakim, but has rather built another one for himself.
I pray that the one built by Ohakim is not demolished before May 29,2019.
Have you noticed that the Medians used in constructing all roads in Owerri have been uprooted and carried away to God-knows-where, while mere cement blocks are used in replacing them. The Medians has to go, because they represent another regime in the State.
Infact, Concorde Hotel built by Mbakwe has remained a confusion to the Okorocha regime. They don’t know how to remove the Hotel from the face of Imo State because it bears Mbakwe’s legacy.
Anyway, after much repainting and cutting of all the “Mbakwe planted” trees in the Hotel premises, it was renamed “New Concorde Hotel” and inside it now the Hall is named “Owelle Hall”. And the former managers (RHAS) brought by Udenwa have been chased away and workers sacked.
This reminds me of the sacked Ten Thousand (10,000) Imo Youths who were employed by a previous administration in Imo. Does it serve Imo better that these Imo born graduates are roaming the streets, than being retained by another administration?
The Owerri Mass Transit Buses which were working perfectly well to the succor of Imo Commuters had to be abolished simply because another administration introduced it into Imo State.
Imo Newspaper, which is owned by Imo State Government and had been functioning well under various administrations, has to literally fold now under Okorocha.
The premises have been converted into a block of dilapidated Houses. Do you still remember that the legendary Imo Statesman Newspaper was floated by the Mbakwe’s regime?
Since the Okorocha regime is fond of revisiting projects brought by other administrations, what happen to ADAPALM, Shoe Industry, Avutu Poultry, Brick Industry etc?
Even the roof of the State Secretariat Owerri had to be changed just alter the place from the old regime. At a point the place was put for sale. Remember that the Secretariat represents the Evans Enwerem/Achike Udenwa regimes? Keke had to be banished even from operating in the rural areas, because it reminds Okorocha of Ohakim’s era.
I don’t know how truthful it is that some pictures of Governors of the State are missing from the Gallery of former Imo State Governors. If true, that is despicable and taking vengeance to the worst level.
Now, we all know that there was IBC Quarters Orji, Owerri North LGA, brought by the Mbakwe ‘s regime. But now the premise bears another name.
The fact remains that Okorocha may have erased some of these projects by his predecessors with reason or reasons. But the question is, if all other regimes continue to erase the structures put up by their predecessors would Imo State make giant’s strides? The State will simply be in motion but with no movement.
How can we demolish another Governor’s project after he or she had left office, yet we want our own to be preserved by our successor?
But I appeal that no successor should tamper with Okorocha’s legacies, even though he spent much of Eight years in office to erase those of his predecessors.
The reason is that if Imo continues like that, it means the State will be running round, while other neighbouring States are moving on.
Vengeance will only set Imo State backward. We must realize that whoever comes tomorrow and begins to demolish Okorocha’s projects is only doing the State harm, because by then Okorocha would have gone, and these projects are not his personal property.
Indeed, it is therefore reasonable for Okorocha to fear about vengeance. But however we must bear in mind that nobody can read the mind of a man by his facial expression.
For fear of vengeance, Okorocha believes that the only condition in which he can go home and enjoy himself after office is by planting a successor.
That does not in the end work out like as thought.
Ask Orji Kalu and Theodore Orji in Abia State. Kwankwanso and Ganduje in Kano State. Peter Obi and Willy Obiano in Anambra State etc.
The only solid protection a leader has after leaving office is his/ her benevolence, humility, kindness and care towards the masses while the show lasted.
A leader who lives in the heart of the people lives forever, because wealth and riches last for a few years. Why is it that Mbakwe still reigns in Imo State years after his demise? Power, as everything in life, is temporary, but goodness lives after you are gone.
