Harvest again sets out a dialogue between two informed Imolites which reveal their divided perception of two years of the Rochas Okorocha Administration in Imo State.
Ikechukwu: The Rescue Mission has done well in two years. Their achievements are too numerous to mention. Since the advent of democracy , which Governor in Imo since 1999 has recorded tremendous leap in achievements
Amos: Which achievements? Where are they? You guys only relish in casting aspersions on the previous government. Must the rescuer always abuse his predecessor whenever he is giving rendition of his achievements?
Ikechukwu: What do you mean. He only said secret accounts were discovered in a bank in Aba. Why are you ascribing it to the previous government when he did not mention anybody’s name? This is guilty conscience you know.
Amos: We do not need a soothsayer to tell us that he was referring to the previous government. The Newspapers reported it. Let me advise you people, the rescuer should leave the previous government alone and focus on his programmes.
Ikechukwu: Well, that is your cup of tea. Imo State has been totally transformed in two years. Physical projects are there for all to see, not internet projects. The general assessment is that the rescuer has done well. Some scored him 75%, some scored him 80%. This shows he has performed above the average mark within two years and Imolites can attest to that.
Amos: Nobody will say her mother’s soup is not sweet. All those scoring him high are his men and adherents of Rochanomics. I never expected you to see anything wrong in this your rescue government. You talk of physical projects, most of them are substandard projects. Did they pass through Due Process. Were these jobs tendered for? And besides, the quality of these projects are something to worry about. And why are most of the projects done by foreigners to the detriment of local contractors?
Ikechukwu: We are seeking for quality jobs. Most of those who brandish themselves as local contractors are political contractors. We do not want to compromise standards. We want the best. Due Process my foot, you want those shylocks in the civil service to use beareaucy and red tapism to sabotage these projects. No, the rescuer cannot allow that. He wants the best.
Amos: Due Process is the practice all over the world. Governance is not philanthropy . These are laid down rules in governance. Due process is a major factor on award of contracts, you people cannot abandon omenala and resort to omenelu
Ikechukwu: Rules and regulations are made by man and can be changed by man. And the rescuer has said he is not a conventional governor, so we must accept that fact as long as we are seeing results.
Amos: He is making a big mistake if he ignores Due process. Is that why he has no speeches? I wonder where earth a governor address his people without a speech. I have never seen him read from a prepared speech. Is that proper?
Ikechukwu: Does Obama read from speeches? Great leaders speak from their hearts. Are you after his speeches or are you interested that he delivers dividends of democracy to Imolites? Since we started listening to speeches of previous governors, of what benefit was it to us?
Amos: Point of correction. Obama reads from a prepared speech. President Jonathan also reads from a prepared speech. Why should our governor address us without a speech. You see, you people are so ignorant and myopic that you do not understand the importance of speeches. Let me educate you. Speeches serves as a reference point. It will enable incoming administration to assess the policies and programmes of the past governments.
Ikechukwu: Which incoming administration. There is no vacancy in Government House, come 2015.
Amos: Taa, mechie onu! (close your mouth) Are you God!. You think the people are happy. Walk along the streets and see how people lament over cash squeeze in the State. Are they going to feed on the roads and schools you guys claim to be building. My brother, there is hunger in the land. And you expect them to return the rescuer to power a second time. Some workers in some government agencies and parastatals have not been paid for some months. How do you expect them to be happy to vote for you again.
Ikechukwu: My brother, forget that cock and bull story. you are the one formulating all this cash squeeze story. Is it because we are not sharing money to godfathers and god mothers? Are workers not been paid? The rescuer decided to focus on provision of infrastructure rather than share money to individuals? . We are sure of going back a second time.
Amos: You think so. The PDP will give you guys the fight of your lives. You think they are happy to be in opposition. They are ready for you people. Besides, Owerri zone will not support the rescuer coming back a second time.
Ikechukwu: Which Owerri zone. Are they not grateful that the rescuer has done much for them in the zone, by providing infrastructure. Look at how beautiful Owerri is. Are you not seeing the best of infrastrutural renewal.
Amos: That alone cannot quench their thirst for the people of the zone to aspire for the governorship seat of the State. They will get more infrastructure if their son is in Government House. They have been marginalized for long. And they are unhappy about it. There are serious groups such as Owerri Peoples Front (OPF) mobilising the zone and galvanizing support. They are bent on ensuring that they succeed this time.
Ikechukwu: Gone are the days such political sentiments influence the outcome of elections. You saw what happened in the last election. Zoning and other considerations were thrown overboard and the people voted in the rescuer whom they wanted to lead them.
Amos: Every political dispensation has its political perculiarties. If the political odds did not favour us then, it will favour us this time.
Ikechukwu: You are dreaming.
Amos: Just watch and see. you think all this razzmatazz your rescuer is displaying will be a factor in the next elections. Besides, the rescuer is partyless. The APC he is imposing on Imolites is not a political party in the eyes of the law. Are you sure INEC will register it?
Ikechukwu: APC is the party to watch in 2015. It has come to sweep the PDP away. INEC will register it because they have fulfilled conditions for registration. I can assure you of that. The rescuer is aligning Imo State and Igbo nation to mainstream politics in Nigeria. Can a regional political party such as APGA convey an Igboman to the presidency. Is it the PDP that has done nothing for the Igbos? APC is the aspirin that will cure our political headache.
Amos: APC is an old aspirin that is not on the shelf of chemists anymore. It has lost its potency. And besides, you have been infected by the rescue virus. I pity you. You all are like zombies that have no say in this Rescue package. Imagine how Commissioners were embarrassed in public by your oga when he told them they will be sacked. He told them to stand up like school children being ordered by a Headmaster. Even Mr. Speaker was ordered to stand up. Chai. Aru!
Ikechukwu: Are they complaining. What is wrong with that. You are a professional fault finder. The rescuer never meant to embarrass them or anybody. It is busy bodies like you that attach funny meanings to everything.
Amos: For God’s sake, these are members of the State Executive Council. They deserve some respect and should not be treated like school children. That they are his appointees does not mean they should be humiliated in public?
Ikechukwu: Na you sabi . The rescuer wants to inject fresh hands into his cabinet. He has said Imolites are yet to see his best. What is wrong if some commissioners are sacked and replaced with new ones. Is this the first time commissioners are removed and replaced.
Amos: Must he tell them that to their faces and in public? It is because they are valueless in his government, that is why he had to embarrass them in public. That is the reason he told the Speaker to stand up and sit down.
Ikechukwu: That is why he says he is an unconventional governor.
Amos: You call that unconventional. That is executive abuse. So tell me is it conventional or unconventional for the severance allowances of those who served the State in the past government to be ceased by the present government.
Ikechukwu: The matter is in court. The Courts will decide if they are entitled to get their pay or not.
Amos: What about the 10,000 jobs beneficiaries and the elected Local Government Chairmen that were sacked from office. Is that also unconventional governance or what do you call it.
Ikechukwu: There were no 10,000 jobs. It was all political stunts. He has the interest of the youths at heart. They invited the youths recently and announced N1.5 billion naira empowerment loan. The sacked LGA chairmen should accept their fate.
Amos: How can you see blue and say it is red. The 10,000 jobs existed. And it is strange for you to say that Local Government Chairmen and Councillors elected democratically should accept their fate.
Ikechukwu: look my friend, we respect the courts . These matters are before competent courts. So, I will not discuss this matter with you. Let the Courts decide.
Amos: Since when did you people begin to have regards for the law. When all that the Courts said were ignored. And …..
Ikechukwu:(Cuts In) My friend, save your breath. Let me tell you are just an incurable pessimist. We did roads, renovated dilapidated ones, introduced CGC, renovated Concorde, built Concorde extension, built a new Government House, erected Ikemba Ojukwu square, built Bongo square, new hospitals are undergoing construction in the LGAs, we increased workers monthly pay to N20,000, introduced free education all levels within two years , yet you complain. Good day!
