It is a lie for any body to say that Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the Governor of Imo State has done nothing tangible in the state since he assumed office on May 29, 2011. But that is a story for another day.
However, my concern here is that for nearly two years that Okorocha has been the Chief Executive of the state, there are some avoidable policy implementations which took place in Imo that has created more problems than solving them.
Pundits said these were as a result of Okorocha’s vengeance or outright vindictiveness on perceived foes following what he passed through during the campaigns.
But I doubt that a Governor could intentionally formulate policies to punish a section of the citizens he/she was supposed to take care of for the singular reason that they failed to vote for him or her.
Therefore, I blame what is happening in Imo on a policy formulation released on the masses without well-thought-out plan. Although I could be wrong in my assumption, but what is on ground bellies the situation.
Before I proceed, I want to condemn the attitude of our people in their reactions, which seem partisan to me when it comes to the issue of how to make Imo better. Some people would ask “Why is it that you are now complaining, but you never did during Ohakim’s era when he was doing the same thing?”
I find such talks pedestrian, because if Imo people voted Okorocha in as Governor to replace Ohakim, they did not do so for Okorocha to continue with the things Ohakim may have got wrong, simply because Okorocha hails from a particular zone of Imo state. Therefore, it is silly for people to assume that since Okorocha is now in power, he should continue with “Government as usual” because he “is our brother”.
Therefore, if that is the mind-set of Imo people, the state is doomed, since any person from any section of the state could simply assume office and does what he/she likes and goes scoot free, while Imo suffers.
Having said that, I want a personal verification of all I would state here, to counter mine.
In my own observation, many Imo people are presently living with wounds, inflicted on them and their families knowingly or unknowingly by the Rochas Okorocha administration.
And as 2015 election year approaches, these are the forces “within” that may be the clog in the wheel of Okorocha’s ambition, either to continue as Governor or whatever he deems fit in the future.
The problem is that the forces are not just what you can wish away, or even try to undermine through bravado or sweet-tonguing because they are legion.
Okorocha may have been constructing some roads, erecting round-abouts, building office complexes etc, but these are not all that make a society and a good leader.
Justice and peace are non negotiable to the development of any given society. And it can be achieved by treating all manner of people equal. This gives sense of belonging to all citizens, and removes the insecurity from the psyche of the electorate who will embrace the Government of the day as their own, whether they all voted for it or not.
That is why it is the responsibility of every elected leader to eschew bitterness and vengeance after being voted into office. In fact, it is the duty of the elected to call every body together, for reconciliation, where all hatchets are buried for the peace and happiness of all.
Today in America, John Terry, President Obama’s opponent in the presidential election is the Secretary of State. They believe that America is greater than any individual, and must contribute their own individual quotas to make the country great.
I need to be contradicted, that since after the Imo State Guber election in 2011, the incumbent Governor, Owelle Okorocha, was yet to forgive those who may have worked on the other side of the divide.
We were all here in 2007 when Dr Achike Udenwa handed over power to Chief Ikedi Ohakim. The earthquakes we are witnessing today, in terms of attacks on Ohakim and his followers never took place then. Although Udenwa had disagreements with Ohakim, but the squabble was “too cool” that those “outside” did notice it.
Because of Okorocha’s style, he has created “Reactionaries” who, despite what his achievements in office are, do not care any more but only to see his back, because the system does not want them to exist.
They include his predecessors; Udenwa and Ohakim. In order to get at these men, Okorocha has continued to demolish any legacies that could be pointed at that these men ever ruled Imo state.
Okorocha’s administration has demolished and reconstructed edifices erected by both men. Roads, round-abouts etc built by them have been exhumed or reconstructed. The Multi Billion Naira Ahiajoku Centre built by Ohakim, we learnt, would now be a shopping mall. Even though the building was not designed for such by the Architects.
We learnt the State Secretariat built by the Udenwa administration is now for sale. Path-ways constructed by the Ohakim’s administration have been destroyed, including trees planted by that administration. A committee has been set-up to probe Ohakim and send him to jail. Would these two Ex-Governors fold their hands and watch the man who came after they left office destroy them?
Okorocha created another force in the Twenty Seven LGA Chairmen sacked through Radio Announcement. These men, their families, dependants etc will not forget and forgive easily as 2015 approaches. They have been impoverished by Okorocha for serving their State.
There are also Councilors, the Forty Four Development Area (Coordinators) and their four members. These people, their families and dependants are also waiting for Okorocha in 2015.
What of the over (60) sixty former Commissioners, Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants who served Ohakim’s regime, whom Okorocha has refused to pay their two months salaries and Severance Allowances after serving the state for two to four years? He even collected their vehicles. But Okorocha paid all these Allowances to two commissioners who served under him for six months, after they were removed. They even went home with their Prado Jeeps. What an injustice and bad precedent?
Fourteen former members of the Imo House of Assembly led by Hon Amaechi Nwoha, who supported Okorocha at the beginning of his administration have received their Severance Allowances, including their Committee Vehicles, while their collegues went hope empty handed. This type of injustice has not happened before in the state since the inception of Democracy in 1999. Both Udenwa and Ohakim paid these allowances to such cadre of personnel, including to members of the opposition parties.
The issue of the Ten thousand (10,000) sacked Imo youths is pathetic. This is because most of them voted for Okorocha in 2011. I know many of them who did. One of them calls me today to beg for alms, but I always tell him that “I no get, as ground no level for me too”.
These former employees are angry, and patiently waiting for 2015. I know of Emeka who lives in Orji, has sworn to pay back Okorocha in 2015. His own situation is devastating and cannot be narrated here. In fact, he asked his fiancée to abort three months old (twins) pregnancy; because both of them lost their jobs after Okorocha sacked them. And guess what; they both voted for him. Emeka had hoped to pay the wife dowry with his first three months salaries.
The other Group Okorocha should look out for are the “Gate Contractors” who built the numerous “alamajiri” Gates in Owerri without receiving a kobo. They have assured that Okorocha will see them in 2015.
“Many of us have died. We never though it would turn out like this. Life is tough with us and we are not sure of the next day” they lamented.
This group include suppliers at Concorde Hotel, who did genuine businesses with the company but cannot receive their monies because the former management has been sacked by Okorocha without due process.
I have not forgotten members of various committees and parastals, whose tenure of office were cut-short with Radio Announcements. Most of them have gone to court to seek Justice, yet the Okorocha administration does not give a damn. The little money these people would have spent on their families is going on Lawyers, and you think these fellows will hail “Owelle Owelle” when they see Okorocha?
Now, for the first time in the history of Imo, we are seeing an administration pull down three storey buildings. When the past administration in the state tried to remove Kiosks and Bachas, Citizen Samuel Iwuoha went to the Internet to insult and blackmail the former Governor. I hope Iwuoha is in Imo. I learnt he is now the Special Adviser to Hon Uwajumogu, Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly
Chief Athan Ogo, Prof Okonkwo, Chief Emma Odo etc are living witnesses of these new demolitions in Imo. I am not saying Government has no right to pull down illegal structures, but I am saying that it is novel in this clime. And has Government paid the victims their rightful compensations, at least to ameliorate their hopeless conditions?
Athan Ogo had his shopping Plaza pulled down in Orlu. And ironically, on that same spot, standing there now is a gigantic edifice. Who owns it? Is that one a legal structure?
Much as we want to beautify our place, Imo has not gotten to a level where buildings running into Billons of Naira could be pulled down. Here is not New York or Paris please. We are just managing our lives and calling our brothers back and to invest at home. If this happened in Lagos, PortHarcourt, Kaduna etc Ohaneze would have been shouting of discrimination.
Let me inform here that despite the fact that Okoroch has “relocated” Imo State University IMSU, to Owerri zone, the people there are not yet pleased with what he used the brief “relocation” theatrics to achieve for Orlu to the detriment of Owerri zone.
Owerri argues that today, gigantic structures stand at Ogboko site of IMSU, yet Owerri has nothing, but an instigation of where in the zone IMSU would be relocated, while work was going at Ogboko.
Owerri zone is saying that Okorocha should use the same speed of lightening; he put in constructing the “Ogboko University” and commences work at IMSU permanent site at Aboh Mbaise / Ngor Okopala axis. The zone is baying for revenge in 2015.
All progressives Grand Alliance, AGPA members are not left out in this discuss. Supporters of Okorocha who left their abodes over-seas to facilitate his election lament that Owelle has abandoned them to their fate.
Even in appointment, Okorocha stirs trouble by limiting appointments in particular families, where one family will produce LGA Sole Administrator, Special Adviser, SA, Commissioner from one LGA, while the rest can go the hell.
APGA members are now saying that come 2015Okorocha should go to these families because to whom much is given, mush is expected.
Former Community Liaison Officers and their colleagues are saying that Okorocha raised their hopes and crushed them with the appointments of new GLOs. A relation of mine, who is a victim, is spitting fire and brim stone in the entire village. Okorocha’s name sounds like hunger to him now. But I advised him to take it easy as life in like a table fan, as he told me in 2011.
The Secretaries posted to these communities are complaining of hard condition of service, and constant clashes with Traditional Rulers who feel the Civil Servants are meddling into their Traditional duties.
Therefore these Senior Civil Servants and some of the Traditional Rulers are not happy. They will not let Owelle know, but are waiting for 2015.
Having said all these, it is therefore meet to advise that the Governor of Imo State should try what he can to instill confidence in these marginalized and disgruntled citizens who believe that his administration is out to deal with them.
Speaking from experience, the Governor may not be aware of most of the things happing in his administration because he is not a spirit but the buck stops on his table.
There are a lot of people in Government, at every given time or regime, who relish being petty and reducing Government decisions to a vendetta, forgetting that the main responsibility of every Government, be it at ward, LGA, or state level is to take care of the majority of the people devoid of clan or political leaning.
Okorocha should take a second looked at some of those around him because in 2015, only him would stand before Imo people seeking for their support.
And if it were only members of APGA that voted him in 2011, he would not have been sitting at Douglas House Owerri now.
That is why it is very imperative and germane that he revisits some of his policies which seem to alienate some Imo citizens because of their political thoughts. 2015 is the pay back time, and it is not too late to make amends.
I am informing of all these Sir, because those around you will not tell you.
