The administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha has been under public scrutiny for different reasons starting from the time he declared that his administration will run a government unusual devoid of god-fatherism anchored on his Rochanomics of Ohashism. Since he took over mantle of leadership, his actions, policies and body language have suggested that god-fatherism that determined who gets what in the state in the past have been discarded. Owelle has been known to have brought in new breed politicians who have the zeal to make impact and they have also shown uncommon loyalty to him and the rescue mission agenda of his administration.
No sooner than the administration began to make impact heralded by Imolites, some political hawks and chips of the old block began their sycophancy castigating their former masters in order to endow themselves to the heart of Owelle Rochas. People like Chief Tony Black and Chief Chikwem Onuoha all from Mbano and major beneficiaries in the Ohakim administration were the first to prostitute with Rochas administration using blackmail and falsity to hustle for position. Thank God, today, Tony Black is the Mayor for Okigwe Zone courtesy of his mudslingering against his brother Ikedi Ohakim. The cross carpeting did not stop at that point as politicians from other areas began their strategies to relaunch themselves into relevance in the new administration. Governor Okorocha should know like the Igbo adage says’ “Aka eji yaa Okuko ka aga eji aya Okwa” (the manner the domestic fowl was slaughtered will be the same manner the bush fowl will be slaughtered.) After Okorocha, such people will be the first to castigate him telling the world that they regret ever serving the administration but do not regret or forfeit the wealth stolen or acquired in that administration, what a hypocrisy?
In Aboh Mbaise there are leaders who have made their followers relevant with offices and no matter what happens their god-sons can never stand to challenge their general no matter the position they are given in Owelle’s administration. Dr Alex Obi is a political general in Imo politics who made Barr Best Njoku and Chief Alan B Onyemechi, brought them from obscurity to political limelight. The political bulldozer whose support to Chief Achike Udenwa stabilized that administration and helped to strengthen Ohakim’s administration in the early days before things fell apart which contributed to the fall of that regime. No matter the position the loyalists of the great political general, Dr Alex Obi occupy in Owelle’s administration, they must give account of their stewardship to the master for his continuous backing. Imolites will continue to see them as apostles of Dr Alex Obi, a man who has done them great good in politics. Both of them today are appointees of Rochas Okorocha as Special Advisers. Who says god-fatherism does not pay? They may have denounced their loyalty or allegiance to win favour from Owelle but may not achieve the desired impact expected by Owelle in Mbaise. Having settled them, Owelle should begin to look for new breed of leaders and technocrats whose loyalty he can vouch for. To endear himself to more people in Mbaise, Owelle should look the side of people like the present Sole Administrator of Aboh Mbaise, Mr Anthony Atudume who eats, drinks and sleeps Okorocha, a true apostle of rescue mission because he is made by Owelle himself.
Recently, Aboh Mbaise was in the news over the commissioner nominee from the LGA, a non allied personality with no godfather except God and maybe Rochas, a banker with track records in the financial sector whose prominence in politics could be traced to his loyalty to Okorocha’s administration alone. Why Mr Charles Osondu? Who is his godfather in Mbaise? When I could not trace or link him to any, I quickly felt sorry for him knowing that he will be fought from all directions especially from within the new cabal around the governor who would have wished they were appointed. I asked why not Barr Iheukwumere Alaribe, a foremost PDP stalwart who went on sabbatical to APGA for personal reasons. He needs such appointment to beef up his credential and prepare for 2015 election as State House of Assembly hopeful from Oke Ovoro political block where the position will equitably go to in 2015 following the rotational zoning agreement of a single tenure for House of Assembly seat among the 3political blocks in Aboh Mbaise. Barr Iheukwumere is a PDP at heart and I do believe he owes his people a responsibility to provide leadership at the right time when he will abandon any other agenda and play along with the Peoples Democratic Party. But who then is the commissioner nominee? I have not set my eyes on him before but investigations I carried out as a critic revealed that he is at home in his community and delivered his ward to Owelle Rochas during the 2011 gubernatorial elections against well known political gladiators in the area because he is loved. He has also contributed in Church building and many developmental projects in his area and has track record of sincerity. The nomination must have come as a divine touch. It is said that who Jah bless no man can curse but it is known that people pass through challenges in life to test their faith. The attack on his nomination will make him realize that if eventually he scales through, he has God and the people of Imo State to serve not godfathers but must show gratitude to Gov Okorocha who has confidence in nominating him.
When the first shot was fired against the nomination of Charles Osondu in the Whitepaper Newspapers in a news story captioned: Petition Galore for Commissioner Nominee with a rider Aboh Mbaise Nominee Becomes First Victim, it did not come to me as a surprise. However what may be a surprise is the reasons given by the petitioners against his nomination. It is very clear that political jobbers were at it again to cause the governor of Imo State to make another political summersault and drop his nominee whose loyalty he could count on. The self serving petitioners posited that Nguru Clan has been saturated with appointments while other two blocks are yet to smell in their words ‘onions in the rescue mission. Rescue Misson as Imolites were meant to understand is not into sharing of booty but for performance and to achieve such desire, only loyalists to Okorocha can assist him and not political gamblers who may be championing the petitions.
The same people who criticize the governor for inconsistency and for policy or action summersault have gathered their arsenal again to rail road Owelle into recycling his decision by stepping down his nominees for commissioners/SAs. For emphasis, appointment of Commissioners/SAs is the prerogative of the governor and our dear governor should stamp his feet and carry along with loyalists and consider those who delivered their wards to him amidst PDP onslaught in 2011. The manufacturers of the petition mischievously decided not to tell the governor that Oke block in Aboh Mbaise has the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives; Federal Commissioner, Public Complaint Commission; a serving member of ISIEC; Secretary of Pools and Gaming Board in Imo; the immediate and embattled LGA Chairman position and also by the zoning of political offices in Aboh Mbaise, the House of Assembly slot for 2015 are all for Oke block. In Enyiato block, the petitioners failed to inform the Governor that the Senator for Owerri Zone; immediate past Chief Press Secretary to the Governor; immediate past SA to the governor, Best Njoku; Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission; the only permanent secretary from Aboh Mbaise , Dr Ihebereme; National committee member of Sure-P and Chairman of Federal board are all from Enyiato block. All these positions held by Oke and Enyiato blocks have tenure whereas only Hon Ngozi Pat Ekeji has tenure of all mentioned in Nguru block, others are at the mercy of the governor.
The petitioners failed to realize that no matter what Rochas gives to the people of Oke and Enyiato blocks, they cannot abandon their sons and leaders Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Sen Chris Anyanwu or Dr Alex Obi. People who could not deliver their polling booths to APGA in 2011 are now fighting to ensure that a man who God has decided to bless through Rochas Okorocha is deprived of such blessing. The governor who nominated him it is believed has noble reasons why he took the first step and must own up and stand on his decision before the political petitioners and hawks in politics misdirect him into making another decision summersault which is putting his government in bad light.
Appointment of Commissioners, SAs and Committee members in a state is the prerogative of the chief executive of the state, the governor. Such appointments are given based on loyalty, competence and affiliations. The lack of performance by most appointees have been traced to those with godfathers whose loyalty to the government or the party in power cannot be 100% guaranteed. There is nothing wrong for a governor appointing his brother, sister or even wife or husband a Commissioner, SA or into any other office if the person has the proficiency and technical knowhow to carry out his duties. Since appointments have turned political patronage of godfathers, the people have been having it bad. Since Owelle has made a decision abinitio, he should stand his ground.
I do not believe that people should device pull him down tactics in their quest for power. On the reappointed commissioners, I was not surprise about their coming on board again. They were core loyalists of Owelle who worked tirelessly to defend his programmes and policies. Take for example Hon Uche Nwosu, Ichie Mbanaso to mention a few, these men could give their lives to ensure the success of the Rescue Mission. The Solads of Aboh Mbaise and Ngor Okpala are loyalists that cannot be persuaded to derail the vision of Owelle. These are all new breeds and able lieutenants of Governor Okorocha. A governor should concentrate on such new breed whose political records will not ridicule his administration, those who will do the work and win converts for the administration for their sincerity and simplicity.
It is the candid opinion of this writer that Owelle Rochas should be given free hands to select those he found worthy to serve in his cabinet. It is also my candid view that the governor should insist on generational shift in his appointments and must not allow greedy politicians to box him into another summersault or allow members of the House to put him into undue pressure as he gets to the end of his tenure. As a commander of the rescue mission, he should own up to his actions and decisions. He, who the cap fits, let him wear it. He should appoint people who will be loyal to him and those that have not been associated in the past with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He should appoint people that are not vindictive but those whose humility and selfless disposition could win sympathy for his administration. Who are those writing petitions against those who God wants to bless through Owelle Rochas and those God maybe wishing to use to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society. People who will rise to prominence and use their privileged position to humiliate the ordinary person on the street or those that will tomorrow jump like prostitutes into the arms of another party castigating their benefactor should be kept at arm’s-length. Summersault is not the best policy an administration should be known for. From the recent quick abrogation of the abortion law to the dropping of names on commissioners’ nominee list are all the handiwork of political jobbers who are at it again fighting against able qualified Imolites from being made commissioners or SAs. Why? Must it be a particular people to be right? Must it be for only those whose only source of wealth and survival is political jobbing for the petitioners to allow governor Okorocha make his choice?
If I must say, the governor must show that he is in charge and that he consulted and that he also has criteria for selecting appointees. He must defend his decisions and choice because at the end of it, he is the one who will take responsibility of the actions of his appointees. The quick dropping of names from the list will not be taken in good faith by people of the area where the nominees come from. Is it a crime for their son or daughter to serve in the state will be the question in their hearts? Let Okorocha’s milk of human kindness direct him to stick to his initial choice as that which is Holy Spirit directed. The governor should understand that those who are subtly working against his regime will continue their onslaught against any nominee who they believe enjoys the confidence of the governor. Such people may use their acolytes masquerading as APC members and followers of Rochas to misguide the governor into appointing their godsons with instructions to destabilize the administration and come back to the main fold. Those who are petitioning against the commissioner nominees what have they done to better the image of the governor and his administration in the locality? The real enemies of the governor may after all be those who are seeking for the drop of nominees because they believe they will not go there to steal money and share to godfathers. Owelle shine your eyes and stand for your decision and do not allow people do your job. Remember, the appointment of commissioners and SAs are the sole reserve of the governor based on performance, qualification and loyalty. Governor Rochas before you abandon those who won support and delivered their Wards to you in 2015, check the antecedents of those asking for the heads of your nominees, they don’t mean well for you. And to Mbaise people and Imolites, we should learn how to support those God has decided to bless and stop writing petitions in order to pull such people down because only God gives power. This is in fact a contest of the governor’s authority verses envious petitions. The governor should understand that from investigations the petitions do not reflect the minds of entire Aboh Mbaise people so he has free hands to appoint loyal, humble and new breed servant leaders for Imo.
