Majority of Imo indigenes and non indigenes will agree to some extent that the butted past administration led by one of the most hated, alleged criminal cum 419ner, cunning, heartless etc, governor Ohakim who has earned for himself the above sobriquet as well as “Ikiri/ewi” during and after his wasteful campaign outing, proved to be a “sore’ Chief Executive ever produced in the annals of Imo State politics.
His perceived and proven commissions and omissions are largely responsible for his disastrous bowing out of the government house which most people see as good radiance to poor governance. However, this writer does not want to dwell on Mr. Ohakim’s political flaws which I know are in the realm of public knowledge but my advice to our nascent governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha is to guard himself from or against reenacting the tragedies of the past.
Dissecting the suitability of Owelle for the governorship post prior to gubernatorial poll, one Obi Nwakanma wrote, “Rochas Okorocha, the APGA candidate, is a very interesting character and deserves closer watch. His political history, his intellectual capacities, and his background indicate that he is also likely to bring into the state, a terrible regime of maladministration.” Mr. Nwakanma pointed out thus, “All we need to arrive at this conclusion is simply to examine his conducts as Chairman of the National Airspace Management Agency. A little peep into his website indicates a serious lack of in sight. His great credential is of a “philanthropist” – Eze Umu-ogbeye, as the Igbo would put it. Charity is a good thing, but there is certainly a higher form of charity wherever there is equality; and I’m afraid that a cursory look at Okorocha does not satisfy the imperative for a 21st century administrator in Imo State.”
Whatever might be the reason behind Mr. Nwakanma’s conclusion may not be unconnected with his own purported personal interest - for he inclined to support the candidature of Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba of the Congress of Progressive Change CPC whom he endorsed on the grounds of being a young professional, well-educated, and astute politician among other credentials of the CPC candidate. Before I left my base in Port Harcourt for Ngor/Okpala before the elections to exercise my franchise, I had already made up my mind to vote for Owelle Rochas base on his track record in granting scholarship to many students, his good name and philanthropic works that do not only resonate in Nigeria but also outside the shores of Nigeria. Calls came from both Nigeria and abroad on the need to rally support for this God, electorate-favored personality – Owelle Rochas. This, strengthen my conviction that he was the one most favoured, loved, legitimate and accepted candidate to occupy the government house and it came to pass – today he is the Governor of Imo State.
The truth is Imolites have high expectations from the successive government, led by Mr. Owelle Rochas. The question is, how he will go about to actualize such enormous aspiration and yearnings of Imo people given the present economic fortunes of the state, passed unto him by prodigious “Ikiri”? Such hopes include rapid and even distribution of infrastructural facilities; good roads, well equipped and staffed schools, health centers and hospitals and portable water across the twenty seven Local Government Areas. In addition, employment generation; prompt payment of pensioners and salaries of civil servants, protection of life and property, reduction in tuition fee of students in higher institutions among others are top in the minds of Imo people.
Needless to talk about the state of our roads, educational institutions, hospitals, health centers which are melancholic sights to behold, no thanks to past kleptomaniac regimes whose stock in trade is to line their pockets and stash our common patrimony in closely guarded foreign banks. Though it has been said that Mr. Owelle Rochas is bighearted, but can only his generousity deliver the dividends of democracy at the door steps of Imolites? It is his deeply seated determination, persistence and the crop of likeminded personalities that would work with him who have the overall interest of Imo people at heart given the vital enablement (funds for the execution of people oriented projects) that will see him through. Any thing short of this will bring us back to where we were four years ago because you are not a miracle worker.
Therefore, you should have the necessary sights – insight, hindsight and foresight to be able to select those to work with you to lift Imo from its comatose state to El Dorado. The time to play out your rescue mission to the letter is now and brings Imo back to what it used to be when Sam Mbakwe was the Chief Executive.
Nwao(r)gu, Faustinus Chilee writes from Igboetche, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Mobile: +2348035601312. Email: fausteness at yahoo.com
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