Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha is man of many parts. Little wonder that as Governor of Imo State, his brand of governance has elicited diverse opinions and perception from different classes of the people of Imo State.
He is the only Imo State Governor, dead or alive, that has shaped the perception of Imolites about governance. He is indeed, a man of many parts whose personality, candour, and charisma conveys different meanings to the people of Imo State.
I will attempt to capture in this piece what Okorocha means to a sophisticated and enlightened Imo people since he took over the mantle of leadership of Imo State. How his leadership has dismembered Imolites into several classes. And each of these classes has a perception about their dear Governor. Before I do so, let me state here that I shall be not be sentimental or biased. All that I write here are aimed at helping the present Administration to do some soul searching that will enable it strategize and continue on the path of providing dividends of democracy to Imolites.
May I also state that I have respect for leaders who have the capability to endear themselves to those they govern. In otherwords, it is not an easy feat for a public office holder to be showered praises whenever such a leader is sighted on the streets or whenever he speaks to his people. I watched Governor Rochas Okorocha beaming his trademark smiles as he waved to a tiny crowd or would I say passers -by, which watched with keen interest his convoy swerve the streets of Owerri a fortnight ago. I was sipping a bottle of cold Heineken beer at a cosy joint with a friend when Owelle’s convoy passed through Christ Church Road/Tetlow Road in the heart of Owerri metropolis.
What arrested my attention were shouts of Owelle!, Owelle !! that rent the air when his convoy passed. I murmured to myself that Okorocha is a man that has endeared himself to a particular class of Imotes, a feat that has earned him tremendous applause and whenever he speaks at a public function or pass through the streets of Owerri.
This leads me to Okorocha’s report card as governor of Imo State in the last one year from the perception of different classes of Imolites.
I will start with the perception of Imo talakawas who say he has done well in the area of infrastructural rehabilitation and development for the State. For purposes of clarity, the Imo talakawas are the keke riders, market women and men, the traders, and those that constitute the low class of the Imo family. For them, they have seen new roads, rehabilitation of old ones, construction of model schools and building of hospitals across the nooks and crannies of the State. For these laudable initiatives, their verdict is- Owelle has done well. He is the messiah of Imo State! Nothing more, nothing less!
This is why after one year in office; Okorocha still enjoys the cheers of Imo talakawas whenever his convoy cruises through the streets of Owerri. I know he enjoys such show of support and loyalty. Every politician enjoys such public praise. They strive to pretend they do not, but I know they do enjoy it to the fullest!
This may be the propelling factor responsible for the desire of Governor Okorocha to continue to strive for the betterment of the Imo populace, especially those who wave at him on the streets of Owerri and clap whenever he displays his oratory power. This is understandable. He is indebted to them. He owes them that duty to live up to expectation.
However, this disposition seems to have cost him the support of the class of political elites in the State. I call them the political bigheads, the safari suit wearing politicians who dislike the Governor for his one man show, one man style brand of governance he has introduced in the State in the last one year. For this category of Imolites, Okorocha is playing to the gallery, relishing in cheap popularity he enjoys from the talakawas who will always fall cheap to his enchanting smiles whenever he speaks or move on the streets of Owerri.
The second class are the talakawas who enjoy the Governor’s style of leadership and the visible dividends of democracy that have seen. They are the beneficiaries of the free education programme, the new roads, and the Fourth Tier Government that aims at bringing government closer to the rural dwellers.
The third class are the political class, mainly those in opposition political parties, who are disenchanted with the way he is running the State. They have at all times criticized every policy of this government and have strong reservations over some of its policies. Even members and stakeholders of the Governor’s ruling party- APGA- are part of this group. Most times, they murmur in silence and sing the praise of the Governor only when the need arises.
The fourth class are made up of the intellectual elites, who insist that the Governor has not fared well in the State since he came on board on May 29, 2011. They argue that this Administration lacks intellectual depth. For this group, the likes of Prof Anwukah, the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Dr. Sorronnadi Njoku, the State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Obinna Duruji, the Information and Strategy Commissioner, Prof S.N Dike, the Special Adviser on legal matters, who are known for their intellectual sagacity, are yet to place the Administration on the path of sound intellectual development.
This class argue that money is no longer flowing in the State. In their eyes, Imo has been standstill in the past one year because there is no money to throw about. This man egboula mmadu is the sing song of this category of Imolites who frown at the style of the Governor for perpetuating cash squeeze.
In their parlance, the on going projects by the Governor are deceptive projects that will not stand the test of time. They fault the construction of Okorocha’s model schools, the security gates, the roads. The free education programme, in their analysis, is a hoax that will not stand the test of time. In their thinking, it is a mere gra gra move to confuse Imolites to believe that the State is on the march to prosperity. They hold on tenaciously to the conviction that the government has no regards for rule of law, that some of his actions are illegal. With the snap of their fingers, they will recite the catalogue of woes of this Administration like the national anthem.
They will quickly tell you how the sack of the 27 Local Government Chairmen and councillors who were democratically elected is illegal, how the sack of the beneficiaries of the 10, 000 jobs programme was a vendetta move of the Governor to rubbish the legacies left behind by the previous Government.
For this group of Imolites, their views considerably mould public opinion. They will tell you in lucid language how Imo is not moving anywhere. They will ‘lecture’ you how the new roads are substandard, a mere white wash designed to send a message to the less informed that the Government is working while in real sense, it is not.
To them, the present Government dwells on illegality. They have not spared the Community Council Government otherwise known as Fourth Tier Government. They say it is a strange system of Government alien to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an invitation to chaos and disaffection in the hinterlands. The Imo House of Assembly is always on their radar. They say the House is not performing its responsibilities. The members are afraid of the shadow of the illuminating Governor. That the House okays whatever the Executive desires- a factor responsible for the absence of robust debates on the floor of the House.
Another class are those I will call the undecided – the fence sitters-the butter and bread class, who are patiently waiting to see if Rochas will shake body and have a change of heart and invite them to come and chop. They seldom criticize Government policies; neither do they express their support.
The last class are the aggrieved class- they comprise some politicians that are bitter over their political fate. They include the former Local Chairmen and Councillors, who were sacked from office before the expiration of their tenure. The Civil servants constitute part of this class. They frown at the role assigned to them in the community Government arrangement.
The above analysis unveils the perception rating of the Okorocha Administration by the people of Imo State in the last one year. And I believe this will enable the Government make certain adjustments that will energize it to serve Imo people better.
