With about 365 days remaining for him to call it quits from Government House, Owerri, the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has commenced his countdown by naming some of the business ventures of his family members in the State since he took over power in 2011.
Speaking to a select group of Journalists he chose to interact with on Democracy Day, the Imo State number one citizen while trying to cast aspersions on political opponents in his ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, openly disclosed the private money making outfits of the family including his son in-law, who is the Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu existing in the State.
While trying to discredit other APC chieftains he accused of trying to stop him from having Nwosu, his in-law, as successor, of not having a meaningful investments at the home front the governor revealed how his wife built an Estate in Owerri and established a furniture outlet.
Okorocha was quoted to have told the newsmen “my wife has built an Estate here in Owerri and she has also established a furniture manufacturing company here, in Owerri; my daughter owns the House of Freeda here, in Owerri, and the most maligned Uche Nwosu owns a hotel and a farm here”, before asking the Journalists present to inquire from those fighting him to show their investments in the state.
Speaking further, the governor querried “where are the investments of Senators Ifeanyi Araraume, Hope Uzodinma and Osita Izunaso in the State? But I have relocated the headquarters of Rochas Foundation from Abuja to Owerri. Rochas Foundation Africa and Rochas Colleges to Owerri”. It would be recalled that Okorocha has been accused of “Familiocracy” a kind of governance that favours only his family members. Apart from the immediate family, siblings have also been accused of being in control of government agencies in charge of generating revenue in the state as well as maintaining juicy positions in government.
Only recently, the governor was linked to a new radio station; Real FM that debuted in the state. The latest taxi in Owerri town, the Black cab also has links to the first family in Imo, while another in law is alleged to be in charge of certain eye popping projects executed by the State government.
From all indication, Trumpeta can report that this would be the last Democracy Day the Okorocha shall preside as governor of Imo State.
The coming of political activities preceding the primaries will dominate governance in the coming months before 2019 approaches.
