When I decided to take on this topic last week, I never knew it would attract spontaneous reactions from numerous quarters. I merely observed the radio program and decided to share with readers the incompetence exhibition displayed by the Information Commissioner during the Hot Fm live radio program. I have no intention to either cast aspersion on the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Chinedu Offor or teach him the spokesperson job. I am only a concerned field journalist and media owner who will benefit from information oozing out from the commissioner’s office.
Expectedly, moments after the topic, “Okorocha’s spokesman and the ‘Small mind’ syndrome” (Part 1) debuted, plethora of reactions trailed my commentary. Even as the space provided was not enough to contain part of the introductory rites, text messages and phone calls greeted the write-up. Before I delve into the supposed concluding part, there is need to apologize to readers over the abrupt manner the last sentence in page 8 of the continued page was ended. It was not deliberate, lack of space and production pressure forced the operators to yank off the concluding sentence.
I will afford readers the opportunity to access two divergent views sent in by keen readers. From 08032080789 “if de Govt had listened to dat program he would hav sacked Mr Offor by now. He really fumbled” and 07035750972 which states “lies cannot help u, rada dan admit de failure of de govt u serve beore now, ur busy making noise, am sure apolitical people dat listened 2 dat Offor programe if de get 2 see wht u wrote will laf u off again. Again ur Akpulonu is one of u, a PDP member 4rm Nkwerre he never deny dat”. I had nothing for the former but I merely thanked the latter for his/her reaction adding that he/she is entitled to his/her views like Akpunonu. However, in the course of this work, I will touch the issues raised by this fellow who text with 07035750972.
Back to Offer’s uncouth language and unsavoury bile while on air. I humbly reiterate my earlier position that the Information Commissioner squandered another chance to disabuse the minds of Imolites over certain unpopular policies and decisions implemented by the present administration. For clarity of purpose, I have no axe to grind with Offor and we have not crossed each others part to warrant a cantankerous relationship between us. I must confess that I was pleased with his personality the few times I had chance of interacting with him. On two occasions, when I had opportunity of meeting him in Government House, Owerri, during interactive sessions his boss, Owelle Rochas Okorocha had with publishers of private newspapers in Owerri, Offor appeared unassuming, simple and good-to-go as an image maker. I was pleased with his personality and okayed him for the job of Senior Special Assistant, Media to the Governor, before his elevation to commissioner status.
But his recent vituperative outburst coloured by tactless finesse and mediocrity during the Hot Fm live program betrayed his mien and simple disposition. Offor’s tantrums have a history. I recall that in a press conference held by the Information Commissioner at the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ Press Centre, few weeks ago, Offor’s opening speech was that journalists in Imo State should glorify the State Government as none of them has been a victim of brutality in the hands of the present administration since Owelle Rochas Okorocha took over power. The Commissioner who failed to tell the bewildered newsmen at the Press Centre listening to his sermon why the state NUJ Chairman, Sir Innocent Igwe (KSM), was hurriedly transferred to IBC, Area Office in Aba, from the corporate office of the state-owned broadcasting organization in Owerri, disclosed that pen pushers should not misconstrue state government passive stance and tolerance to engage in scatting remarks about the Owelle government. Should that unpleasant remark be a preamble need by an image maker to facilitate strategic partnership between the state and the media for effective dissemination of information?
One of the instances where I scored Offor zero was on the issue of relocation of the Government House. The Commissioner in his analysis informed the public that the Imo Government House is the best in the county, one of the best in West Africa and ranks high in the world. I became afraid if Offor was not trying to insult the sensibilities of the people by that assertion. I wondered if Offor has visited any other Government House in the country apart from the Owerri Government House before the premature permutation and assessment. Again, Offor was not categorically clear if Governor Okorocha built a new Government House or renovated the structures at the Shell Camp area of Owerri. I still challenge Offor to distinguish between redesigning, renovating structures from raising new structures from the scratch. There is no doubt that the Government House, Owerri, now has a befitting landscape and appreciable grandeur. Apart from the ancestral Multi Purpose redesigned to acceptable standard, the only significant feature is the demolition of old structures to give way for numerous car park spaces inside the Government House.
Again, Offor fumbled when majority of the callers told him that it was abnormal for the State Government to engage in such colossal economic waste when there is an already earmarked space for New Government House structures. Instead of explaining the rationale behind the renovation, Offor went into a wishy-washy argument that Government House does not move. Stating that what moves are other structures. Though, callers disagreed with Offor and tutored him on the need to relocate to another suitable abode for the Chief Executive of the State. Except Offor has lost sense of memory or merely trying to be economical with the truth to defend the integrity of his paymaster’s, the Information Commissioner would have known that there is no universal, national or state law that forbids relocation of Government House from its old location to a new site. If we go down memory lane, Government House has moved both at State and National levels. From Calabar to Lagos, even Lagos, the seat of power moved from old State House to Dodan Barracks before it was taken to Aso Rock Villa Abuja. In nearby Rivers State, there is a new Brick House, (Government House) built during the tail end of Dr Peter Odili administration. Same applies to states like Akwa Ibom and Enugu who have new Government House projects.
In the case of Imo, it would have been wasteful embarking on a new Government House project if certain underlying factors do not arise. The present Government House otherwise known as Douglas House is located in the heart of Owerri, the State Capital. Besides, the Douglas House is surrounded by public institutions like the State Police Command, Shell Camp Police Barracks, Owerri High Court premises, and State Security Services (SSS) headquarters. Apart from the chaotic human traffic experienced within the few accessible routes to and fro the area, motorists undergo nightmarish procedures in the course of their duties in the aforementioned public places.
Available records indicate that relocating Government House to New Owerri had been in the offing. The pragmatic steps towards its realization started during the era of Sam Mbakwe who erected some structures on Concorde Road, now converted to Ojukwu Centre. Apparently aware of environmental challenges the new Government House would face on Concorde Road, the Ohakim government mapped out another area in New Owerri and began some structures. I am aware that the late President, Musa Yar’Adua was in Owerri for the foundation stone laying ceremony and a multi purpose hall christened Ahiajoku Centre has put in place before the exit of that administration. Offor’s logic that Government House is a sacred place and do not move is a defeatist tendency employed by the Information Commissioner to defend the present administration’s insensitivity to previous meaningful projects started by his predecessors. Because of the desire of the Rescue Mission to erase all structures bequeathed Imolites by Udenwa and Ohakim governments, Gov Okorocha cannot build a structure without demolishing that of his predecessors. How would Okorocha, Offor and the Rescue Mission kingpins feel if the next Governor after Owelle starts demolishing all structure, being put place now and revoke all their obnoxious privitasion policy before embarking on any policy? The renovation of Govt House is like the case of a bird who romped from the ground to a mole hill.
Those governing the state today should know that Government is a continua irrespective of the identity of their predecessors and political lineage. Only those projects that would touch the lives of Ndi Imo and bring about democracy dividends should be considered than embarking on white elephant projects to score cheap political points.
It is pertinent to state that Offor is still hunted by Udenwa and Ohakim shadows hence he can not fail to mention how the duo wasted Imo State fund for twelve years. As Government spokes man, Offor cannot draw public sympathy and support for the Okorocha administration by consistently accusing the previous administrations of failure. The alleged inability of Udenwa and Ohakim governments to deliver cannot be a decoy for Okorocha who supposedly came to Rescue Imo People, to fail. And Imo people are no longer disturbed about the government of Udenwa and Ohakim as their actions and inactions have become part of history. No court has found the former Governors guilty of any offence yet. Making persistent references to their tenures is nothing but another escapist tendency on the part of Okorocha administration not to accept failure in certain sectors of governance. That could be the reason why 07035750972 in his response to my commentary noted that I should have admitted the failure of the government I served before hurling missiles at the Commissioner. But the fellow and Offor forgot that Okorocha during the 2011 campaigns and even before Blessed Sacrament vowed to alleviate our sufferings in Imo. It would not amount to an anathema or harsh criticism to pick on government on certain pit falls experienced so for. There is no perfect government anywhere in the world. And Rescue Govt cannot be an exception criticism and complaints are only wake-up calls to any listening Government. I am sure Owelle Okorocha is also a listening Governor who appreciates constructive criticisms as drastic actions he has taken so far over some complaints tend to show.
On the controversy over the imported free school uniforms and attacks on one-colour system launched at the Commissioner for Information by another popular Hot Fm “Peoples Assembly” contributor, social critic and human rights crusader, Dr (Mrs) Mma Olebara, Offor drifted from the subject of contention to irrelevant self glorification. As a stakeholder in the education sector, Dr (Mrs) Olebara pointed the discrepancies arising from the distribution of same uniform to different schools. While informing Offor of the challenges posed by the act, the school teacher opined that one-type school uniform has never been practiced any where in the world except Imo State. Offor in his response turned a blind eye to the issues raised and began his usual fairy tale analysis of how Okorocha forfeited his security votes for the free education and why should Imo people complain about the free uniform gesture of the over revered Commander of Free Education. Instead of the offensive posture it would have been better for the Information Commissioner to parry the question by stating that same uniform distribution was a temporary measure to experiment the free uniform exercise. And reactions and criticisms are welcomed, hence government suspended the exercise for repackaging. Signs that Offor was at lost with the same uniform exercise emerged the day he interacted with press men at the NUJ Press Centre. When the question was thrown at him, he had nothing to Offor but merely told journalist that his education ministry counterpart is responsible for the answer, suggesting he is a mis-match for the job. Therefore, he is not abreast with latest developments in the state and cannot speak for the government he acts as their Chief spokesman. Is that exhibition of lack of government operation not akin to the antics of the presumed “Small mind” syndrome?
This week’s edition of Agwodinuju column will not end without mentioning one of the baseless insinuations and laughable illogic posited by Offor in that uneventful talk-show. The Information Commissioner in his habitual manner of launching his feisty jeremiad at past administration to promote Okorocha’s government claimed that kidnapping has ceased in Imo State adding what was used to be a normal feature of the State has diminished. I need not labour in vain to disprove Offor assertion but I will ask him to tell Imo people whereabout of the permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s office, Mr Ihekwaba who was abducted several months ago and why did the Okorocha government embark on demolition of kidnappers houses forcing the Imo State House of Assembly to include it as part of sanctions for persons found guilty of the crime? Offor should know that kidnapping has become a flourishing industry without political undertone.
On a final note, I need to reiterate that my piece of advice is only a wake-up call to my dear Commissioner and should not be misconstruing to be antagonistic venom. While wishing him well in office, I also urge him to shun intemperate language in the course of discharging his duties so that Imo will truly be better for all of us. I wish he will not challenge me to a debate as he did to my name salle and kinsman Kelechi Okpaleke who wasted no time to accept the much awaited mother-of-all-debates.
