For the benefit of those who were not part of this commentary which began last week published in this Agwodinuju column titled “Before Imo People Celebrate Freedom Day”, (Part 1), I will do a little recap before the concluding part.
On May 6, 2011, a Supplementary Election was held for the Governorship Election in Imo State, after the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) declaration that the April 26 Election was inconclusive. In the succeeding election which has become a subject of litigation based on legality or otherwise, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of the APGA was declared winner ahead the incumbent, Chief Ikedi Ohakim of the PDP. Having won and sworn in, Owelle Rochas baptized his administration a Rescue Mission government. Judging from the contentions of Owelle and his co-travelers the implication of Rescue Mission is that “they have come to liberate Imo People” These views which they have not failed to express at any given forum are that past administrations masterminded by PDP leadership made a mince-meat of Imo people, hence the coming of the APGA-born Okorocha regime. It is in line with this philosophical belief that the present regime is marking May 6, the second anniversary of Freedom Day Celebration in the state.
Okorocha’s “Freedom Day” celebration may not be an aberration as similar events are marked in other parts of the world. In South Africa, one of the giant African countries, a public holiday is observed every 27April to commemorate the first post Apartheid election held on that day in 1994. It became remarkable in the history of South Africans as the maiden and historic election which had voting franchise that did not depend upon race.
However, this write up will not question the rationale behind the Freedom Day celebration in Imo, rather it will attempt to revisit the liberation endeavours of the Owelle Okorocha administration since it took charge of Imo State affairs in 2011. There is no hiding the fact that in trying to justify the confidence reposed in him by Imo electorates who considered him worthy enough to be number one citizen of the state ahead his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim, who wanted a second term, Okorocha has made appreciable impact in certain areas of infrastructural development.
In one of my previous articles in this column on this Trumpeta Newspapers back page, I was able to highlight some of the landmark achievements of the Imo Governor without failing to give him knocks where necessary. When the State Governor began his Rural Road Revolution, (RRR), project where several roads have been opened, I could not help but write “Multiple Gbosas for Okorocha on Rural Road Development”. Despite the controversies that have plagued the much touted free education, I thumbed up for the self-acclaimed Imo Rescuer when the idea was presented to the public.
As a member of the fourth estate of the realm, social commentator and analyst, I am guided by journalistic ethics devoid of partisan proclivity in the course of informing and enlightening the masses in my weekly Agwodinuju column. And that is why I will always give accurate scores on points of reference to my subject of discussion.
In last week’s edition where this commentary started, I was able to illuminate certain acts perpetuated by Okorocha administration that are in contrast to his self-styled “Freedom” postulations. In this edition, I will also go further in highlighting some sectors that my dear Governor and his rescue cohorts should have a rethink before concluding the Freedom Day celebration.
I was highly elated when Okorocha during Monday May 6, 2013 Freedom Day Speech at a stakeholders forum held at Events Center, New Owerri, did inform the public that he is moving from “Rescue” to “Mission” to eliminate cash squeeze in Imo state. The implication is that most of the “captives” undergoing nightmarish experiences in the hands of the Governor may be “liberated” in the coming “Mission” arrangement promised by Okorocha.
Before I delve into the category of those gnashing their teeth and suffering untold hardship in the hands of Okorocha, permit me to reflect few reactions that greeted last week’s write-up. From 07085175058 wrote Re-Freedom Day! Rather bondage day! Ndi Imo bara ugbo one chance!
08037077128:Oga Kelechi, Rochas has killed a lot of us working in d parasatals, we can no longer provide for our families. 08037077128: when a Governor who came on Rescue is owing us 3 months salary, is that not killing.
However, the “Freedom Day” celebration in Imo coincided with the first week of May when workers worldwide celebrate Workers’ Day. Ironically, all is not well with civil servants in Imo State over the indifferent manner Okorocha’s government adopted in handling matters related to their welfare. Despite the controversial award of Excellence given to Okorocha by the NLC, the Imo workforce is at daggers-draw with the state government over unfulfilled promises bordering on promotion, welfare and sundry labour issues. It would sound nonsensical to drum the “Freedom Day” slogan into the ears of striking Imo workers as Okorocha’s regime has not hearkened to their pleas for better working conditions. Even as some of their leaders have imbibed Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s “Suffering and Smiling” ideology due to pecuniary benefits, a section of the organized labour unions, the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, may have chosen “Freedom Day” moments for the decisive showdown against the Okorocha government. The group led by Comrade Coleman Okwara has defied threats from government quarters and fifth columnists approach from some leaders, to not only make public Okorocha’s inglorious stance at workers’ welfare but also mark the Freedom Day celebration with the declaration of strike action. In JNC views, how would the workers celebrate freedom day when they are starving occasioned by non payment of salaries and allowances to some parasatals and government agencies? Does a starving family celebrate Freedom Day? I am aware that about 350 workers of the Imo Water Corporation, IWC, the establishment responsible for supply of water to residents of the state are wallowing in hunger. In spite of persistent street protests, the Water Corporation staffers are owed seven months salary arrears and other statutory benefits. Same applies to workers of the state owned print media outfit, The Statesman, and other workers in some parasatals who are undergoing extreme hardship as a result of abandonment and lack of monthly remuneration. To worsen the case of most government agencies in the state, the present administration de-listed names of about 22 parasatals entitled to monthly subvention thereby condemning the staffers to abject poverty.
Worst still, for undisclosed reasons, it was gathered that the Governor reversed promotion exercises undertaken by the past regimes and has continued to keep incriminating silence on the issue since 2011 even as statutory leave allowances and over time payments have become forgone alternative in the state civil service sector. Other category of workers that would brand the “Freedom Day” celebration as mere political lyrics are staffers of the health institutions in the state especially those of the General Hospital, Umuguma, in the state capital, which has been baptized Imo Specialist Hospital. After several strikes and street protests to attract government attention, JNC is waging war against Okorocha government over their plight. To the medical workers, it would rather be celebration of bondage than Freedom in Imo on May 6 as they are owed several months’ salaries and statutory allowances.
Aside government employees, there are other labourers that would take the celebration as an abracadabra. Workers employed by Roche Group, a private establishment with vested interest in construction, agriculture and general purpose contract in Imo State are lamenting over inhuman treatment meted to them.
The company said to be of Irish origin but handling 70% of contracts in Imo State and believed to have bought over the state-owned multiple million naira Adapalm Oil Mill Estate, from the present government, is being accused of running a slave-camp where Imo indigenes are allegedly handed undesirable treatment by the foreigners. In a Save-Our-Soul, SOS, letter from concerned employees of Roche and Imo indigenes and addressed as open letter to the State Governor, alleged that the workers of Imo descent are suffering quantum humiliation in the hands of the foreigners milking the resources of the state. The heart wrenching claims of the Imo indigenes allegedly indicate that they are like slaves in their domain .
In my preceding narration, I did state how I appreciated the Free Education Programme of the Okorocha government when it was unveiled. But judging from subsequent implementation and operation of one of the acclaimed signature achievements of the present administration, it would be worthless for some of the beneficiaries joining to celebrate “Freedom Day”. Even as the continuous claim that 305 new modern class room blocks have been constructed across all the electoral wards in the state cannot be substantiated with empirical evidences, higher institutions of learning owned by the state are in shambles. For instance, in my dear Ohaji/Egbema LGA blessed with twelve electoral wards, I have not noticed any new primary school structure except the make-shift arrangement at Adapalm, supposedly done by Roche, the company in charge of Adapalm Oil Mill and responsible for building of the classroom blocks. With Government attention focused on the Roche-type of classroom blocks, other structures in rural schools are in sorry state as the state is yet to pay its counter-part funding to access Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education, UBE, fund for building and rehabilitation of school facilities. Instead of resuscitating deplorable facilities, Okorocha regime decided to play to the gallery by inconsistent payment of paltry sum as stipends to pupils undertaking academic exercise under trees in school compounds.
For many students in Imo State University and Imo State Polytechnic, the “Freedom Day” celebration, could be a continuous fairy tale from the government. While several courses are suffering non accreditation status from the National Universities Commission, NUC, in IMSU, especially, the professional courses, Imo State Polytechnic located at Umuagwo-Ohaji is back to square-one (pre-polytechnic days) as the students are being denied National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization for the 2013 service year, courtesy of non-accreditation of majority of their courses and departments. In this period of “Freedom Day” celebration, it is sorrows, tears and wailing for graduating students of Imopoly who have been denied the mandatory one year service. No thanks to the loquacious Okorocha government that is fast making verbal claims its trademark. With insufficient funding and government insensitivity to the growth of the institution that was upgraded from a monotechnic to polytechnic status by the Ohakim administration in 2007, the school is being denied NYSC mobilization after five years of enjoying the recognition. Recent reports indicate that except for the school of Agriculture, others like Business, Engineering, Environmental, Health and Hospitality Schools have no accreditation for Higher National Diploma HND, programmes, which implies that the students may have wasted their precious time, energy and resources for the two-year ND programe in a state where the state Governor is Commander-General of Free Education and the sector the main thrust of his administration. Will the affected students be celebrating academic bondage or “Freedom Day” in the hands of Okorocha?
I can proudly testify that Owelle Okorocha government has made appreciable impact on provision of street lights. Undoubtedly, what is happening in Imo is more or less a streetlight revolution as most of the abandoned night lights have been re-activated and put into use. While residents of Owerri Municipality, the capital of Imo State would gladly move around in the night, the presence of refuse dumps at strategic places is another point that has rubbed the shine off Okorocha’s effort in the clamoured liberation agenda. Waste management is a disturbing phenomenon and it would amount to theatre of absurdity for people to celebrate in a hazardous environment where epidemic threats and related diseases are inherent.
What of the growing traffic gridlock on major roads in the state capital? Despite improvement on road networks in the state, vehicular traffic remains one of the greatest albatross of the Okorocha government and it is not yet uhuru for the Freedom Day exponents until some of these hydra-headed shenanigans disappear from Imo polity. I rest my case.
