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For some time now, the attention of keen followers of political events in Imo state has shifted to the seeming imbroglio between the reinstated 27 elected council chairmen and the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Since after the Appeal Court decision in Owerri ruled that the removal of the embattled chairmen from office June last year, was illegal unconstitutional and a breach of the law establishing the local government administration in Nigeria, the present Okorocha administration has been involved in a “hickey mouse” again over the court directive asking the council bosses to go back to their offices.
Before making further moves into this commentary, please permit me to reflect a bit on reactions I got at the end of my piece “Before Owelle Rochas Okorocha plays God”, which ran for three weeks. While some text messages I received tries to agree with me on the issues raised like 08137921022, “Tanks for your work” and 08063381761, Mr K.C, more power to your elbow. Have said it all, he who has ear let him hear, for all I know is that a good lord we serve in this state will surely shame evil sooner than later in this Imo State. More ups we are with you. Thanks from Ben”, few chose to exhibit cowardice tendencies by threatening me on phone with undisclosed phone numbers. Let me use this opportunity to restate my earlier resolve that I have no intention of passing invectives and vitriolic attack at anybody, group or persons for any purpose. For those who are not aware, my mission in agwo di nuju is to comment on socio – political contemporary issues with a view to inform, educate and entertain the reading masses. All views expressed are therefore mine. I must confers that those uncomfortable with my views in the last topic are suffering from sheer ignorance. I only pointed out certain salient issues the number one citizen of the state should worry of, which his aides, and associates many do not intimate him due to the master servant nature of our political system it is worthy for our dear Owelle to know that when the bubble burst and those he fondly calls “my people, my people” begins to chastise him for certain misdemeanors during his first tenure, the aides will pilot the complaints. If I am a fellow traveler in the politics of deceit bellyache as one of the yet to be identified callers tried to brand me, then I am contravening one of notable quotes of a popular French war generallismo, Napoleon Bonaparte who stated that “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake” since Owelle Okorocha is the state Governor, his action or inaction has a direct or indirect bearing on me and my family I am not only an Imolite, but also a stakeholder irrespective of party lineage. Therefore Imo Must Be Better for all not for APGA members, Agenda group, Ideato people and Rochamaniacs.
Concerning the issue at stake, I refused to take a drink offered me by one of the destabilized chairmen at the wake of theAppeal Courtjudgment two weeks ago.
I told the chairman that despite theAppeal Courtdeclarative order asking them to resume after a year absence from the councils, it is not yet Uhuru. I told some concerned colleagues that theAppeal Courtjudgment is a phyric victory for the sacked executive chair man elected August 8, 2010. The concerned chairman and some of his aides who I ran into at a joint savouring their court victory were stunned by posture and indifference approach to their new found fortune.
There were visibly shaken why an informed personality, and a member of fourth Estate of the Realm (journalist) would be pessimistic about their grand return to the council after the Appeal Courtjudgment. Even as the chairman told me that they have perfected strategies to take over the next day, I amused and told him that they will be back here to sue their woes in the hands of unwilling state government officials. Twelve days after predictions were confirmed by the frustrated chairman who called to narrate their ordeal in the quest to regain their positions. I went further to pity him when he retorted in Igbo language, “Nnaa, Owelle di wicked. Anyi ata gbuola onwe anyi na ahuhu, I ma kwa na anyi eburula ogua ruo Abuja, ma presidency, ma IGP ….., (bros, Owelle is wicked. We have suffered. Do you know we have taking this matter toAbuja, to presidency and IGP….)
I didn’t say anything, he ended the discussion with “Ikwu kwara ekwu na ogaghi adi easy” (you predicted that it will not be easy) before begging me for fellowship (outing) to tell him reasons for predicting it will be tough. On the appointed time, the exasperated council Boss was all ears to hear my explanation.
I began to tell him that even if they leave Supreme Court and win before the Court of Almighty God, Owelle Okorocha will prove stubborn. that from all indications, the government in power today is carrying out a vengeance mission” and not “Rescue” as proclaimed . that the Rescue is a smokescreen intended to mesmerize unsuspecting Imo people who have been injected with “the more you look the less you see” that their “modus operandi” is to erase all structures and legacies instutied by the immediate past government and that was why in his historic maiden broadcast to “my people” my people”, it was I hereby dissolve, I hereby dissolve”, interestingly, 10, 000 job scheme beneficiaries, chairman and executive members of the Imo State Council of Traditional rulers, Development Centre coordinators and members, elected chairman and their councilors amongst others were swept off in a swoop. I told him that it would be better for Owelle and his collaborators in the “vengeance mission” to die than allow the elected chairmen back to the councils. That would be sacrilege, I informed by him. I told him that the present administration is playing on time and that was why the Governor has gone to theUnited States of America,USA for the world Igbo congress and some weeks vacations to avoid pressure of succumbing to the reinstating order. The plan is for the Governor to return in August when the planned to dissolve the Chairman and councilors on the basis that their tenure of office has elapsed. I told him that apart from the “vengeance mission”, the present administration may find it difficult to work with the elected chairmen and councilors taking into consideration undiluted relationship between the Okorocha – led executive arm and the serving TC Chairmen who are eyes of the Governor at the grassroots. In view of the alleged deduction of local government monthly allocations and sharp practices perpetuated by all stakeholders in the council, system, the return of the sacked chairmen and councilors would distort the synergy going on between the system. I tried to let him know the local government is the heart beat of any state and no Government would turn a blind eye to what is going on in the councils. Informed in that no state would survive with the statutory monthly allocation from the Federal Government except by tampering with LGA funds.
I did intimate him that the controversial community government council, otherwise known as Fourth Tier Government will suffer not be disposed to the project since elected councilors and appointed supervisors are the legitimate representatives of the people at the community levels. I told him there would be anarchy in the system should the Councilors and Community Speakers undertake their duties at their various communities. As I gave him several reasons which may not be reeled out here due to lack of space, why Governor Okorocha is not disposed to allowing them back to the councils, I however notified him that as a grassroots man who is eager to launch his second term bid from the communities, allowing the chairmen and councilors will be Okoroch’s greatest albatross which may likely spell down for his 2015 second tenure ambition. At that point, my council chairman who listened with rapt attention while I spoke heaved a sigh of relief and took this last drink before clearing his ass to tell me good night. After few steps, to his car parked nearly, he turned back said” Nwokem, ma odi above the law mere ochogi respect ihe court kwuru? (is this man above the law to respect what the court said?), I replied jiri ire guo ezegi onu, use your tongue to count your teeth). I gave the perplexed chairman that response because we were at a public bar and people over heard his exclamation. He left and I took my leave. However, my only concern about the whole affair is that no life should be lost in this supremacy war. I condole the people of Ikeduru especially the family of one of the aides of the executive chairman, Sam Akah who died day after the judgment at the council headquarters Iho. I believe that the struggle for the council is not worth the soul of any Imolite hence those concerned should seek amicable resolutions. I am aware that some high caliber interests have waded in to provide solution. Let’s watch and see, Imo will surely be better.
