I wonder why it took Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha a long time to sack or dissolve his State Executive Council. I had told a colleague that it is not “gubernatorial” for a State Governor to wait for a long time before he implements what he says.
I recall when Okorocha told Imolites at Ahiajoku Convention Centre, during festivities that marked the celebration of his two years in office, that he was bent on sacking his Exco members.
At the event, I recall how he told his commissioners to stand up like school pupils in a classroom. And when they complied, he told them point blank that he will relieve them of their duties.
I frowned at that approach. For me, it was rude and uncultured. You do not disgrace your lieutenants in public no matter their sins.
While Okorocha delayed weilding the sledge hammer on his disciples, his rescue mission lost steam and momentum in the last two months . I observed a slow motion in the movement and direction of his government. Some of his aides simply went to sleep and waited for the day of the armageddon.
I concurred with those who said that the Governor’s pronouncement of his intent to dissolve the cabinet really dislocated the mindset of some of his commissioners and aides.
They were jolted. If we could not see that in their faces, we saw it in their conduct. Their faces radiated folorn hope.We began to see motionless commissioners and Personal Assistants who lost focus of their jobs and began to engage in survival instincts. They began to lobby. Lobbying to retain their positions became their official duties. It became their latest hobbies.
The tension even increased when Okorocha gave another flashlight of his intentions to fire them second time some time a forthnight ago.
I never interacted much with some of the sacked Commissioners, thus I cannot give any a pat on the back. I only got to know Uche Nwosu who heads the Land, Housing and Urban Ministry. Lady Ugochi Nnanna- Okoro who was in charge at the CGC and Chieftaincy Affairs Ministry. I also met Nick Oparandudu, the man who replaced the impeached deputy governor, Jude Agbaso at the Works Ministry.
They were press friendly and interacted with men of the Fourth Estate regularly. Deacon Chike Okafor, the Finance Commissioner and his Public Safety counterpart ,Ifeanyi Nwachukwu continously gave us update of activities at their respective ministries.
I observed that others were either PR shy or were afraid to engage journalists to assist them carry out their functions in their various ministries.
I remember when some of my reporters complained that they (some of the sacked commissoners ) exhibited phobia towards Trumpeta newspapers and some other media organizations.
According to them, the offence was that we were not blowing the trumpet in Owelle’s favour. I never made head or tail of such submission or standpoint because it is against the grain of commonsense for one to allude that a newspaper house or any media organization for that matter is perceived as anti government.
But others in the cabinet who refused to accept this propanganda understood the importance of using the fastest selling newspaper in Imo State to project their achivements did not hesistate to do so.
Hon Uche Nwosu, the Lands, Urban and Housing Commissioner and LadyUgochi Nnanna Okoro, the CGC Commissioner, Ifeanyi Nwachukwu who was redeployed from one ministry to another fall into this category.
They knew and understood the power of both electronic and print media and they never gambled with it.
This is why they appear to have given good account of their stewardship while they served in office. This is why their names and achievements ring together.
Nnanna- Okoro said her biggest achievement in Okorocha’s government is the peaceful resolution of 22 Ezeship tussles across the State, adding that culture has also been sucessfully reawakened in Imo. Uche Nwosu brought in new innovations in land related matters in the State, though the feud with Owere Nchi Ise Indigenes over Area K, Ekwema layout continues to be a sore talking point.
The Agriculture Ministry only came to my searchlight when a fertilizer scandal broke out. When the news became an embarrasment to the Rochas Adminstration, I elected to speak to the then Commissioner of Agriculture, Adaora Ijezie on the issue only to be informed on arrival at the Ministry’s headquater that Madam Commissioner was not on sit!
This was one of the negative sides of some of the past commissoners. Some of them failed to open up to the media on their activities. Some were so naive and media shy. And I ask if their actions was an act of naivety or lack of exposure ? Now that their master has given them the butt, we can only watch and see what will be the criteria for some of them to be retained.
Some speculate that Okorocha will acomodate nominees from his new found political friends in the APC in his new cabinet. I totally disagree. Rochas has no political allies or friends in Imo. If he has, Who are they ? Where are they? Can anyone mention them to me? Have we seen him wine and dine with any political friend or ally? Does he have any?
Are we sure he is on the same political page with the Udenwas and Onyeagochas concerning APC formation in Imo? Those anticipating that new commissioners and Special Advisers will emerge from his political associates in the APC in Imo will be dead wrong when the new list is rolled out. It will be made up of his core loyalists alone. Mark my words.
With two years to the next election, our dear governor must accept the fact that the rescue mission is stagnated in some areas. If the past cabinet aided him in his quest to actualize his intention to provide infrastruture, what he needs is a new team that will give verve and new colouration to his rescue train.
