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Imo: Is stocktaking 7 years after apt?

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Imo: Is stocktaking 7 years after apt?

At the end of 2017, Imo state indigenes practically took stock of the seven-year-old administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha, weighing his ‘Rescue Mission Agenda’. CHIDIEBERE IWUOHA who has been following the socio-political developments, reports Governor Rochas Okorocha has ruled Imo state, fondly called the Eastern Heartland for seven years like a colossus. Towards the end of Year 2017, Imo people came up with an assessment of his regime, evaluating his numerous projects and policies, pointing out where he did well and where he did not do well. In the state, there are three categories of assessors:

His Supporters, Political Detractors and Independent Assessors The nature of any assessment made depends on where you are coming from. Thus, you can easily hear statements or comments made in his favour, negative statements against him and statements pointing out where he did not do well and where he should improve on.

Education In the last seven years, Governor Okorocha has been running free education which has become his flagship policy or programme in his government. He introduced it immediately he emerged as governor in 2011, thus fulfilling a major aspect of his campaign promises. And since then, he has held tenaciously to it. He started by sewing school uniforms for students of state owned secondary schools and providing them with desks and chairs imported from abroad. His critics were not happy with the arrangement. One of them, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dominic Uju argued that these could have been done at home, at least to cut costs. But the Governor replied that he could not get what he wanted at home, which made him look elsewhere. Again, the governor started paying N100,000 to indigenes of Imo State in three state owned higher institutions, namely Imo State University, Imo State Polytechnic, and Imo State College of Nursing and gave out N1 and N2 notes to primary school pupils as part of their gains from free education. But his critics carpeted him saying that after receiving the amount they still have to pay more to obtain other services in the schools, meaning that the education given to them is not free after all. But the governor replied that the state had to start somewhere as there was nothing like free education in the past. He added that the opposition never believed that it was going to happen, yet it happened. None indigenes were made to be part of it by paying half of the tuition but when the governor discovered that their home governments were not treating Imo people the same way their people were being treated in Imo, they started paying in full.

Social infrastructure The governor has done extremely well in constructing roads in the state. He has opened up many roads in the three major towns of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe, especially in Owerri where inland roads have been constructed. He gives millions of naira to communities and local government areas every Christmas to grade roads so as to make them accessible to holiday makers or Imo indigenes returning for Christmas and New Year celebrations. But his critics have often pointed out that most of his roads are “China roads” because their life span are too short and cannot stay beyond six months before it gets spoilt, especially with the rains setting in. This appears true, as the governor often find himself bringing back contractors to site. He once told journalists in a briefing that the cost of constructing a solid road was enormous and therefore to achieve his aim, he decided to cut costs. Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps., Chief Emeka Ihedioha and erstwhile Governor, Sir Ikedi Ohakim once pointed it out and advised him to go for more durable roads to curb wastages. The Governor has succeeded in erecting several edifices in the state, although without the approval of the State Assembly or in consultation with the people he is ruling. Most of the projects put in place were his ideas. He often argued in gatherings that the bureaucratic bottleneck encountered by going to the Assembly or following due process would not allow him to turn in good results. Through his method he has succeeded in erecting Heroes’ Square, 5,000 capacity Imo International Convention Centre(IICC),finished the Ahiajoku Centre now Imo Trade and Investment Centre(ITIC),renovated Imo Concorde Hotel, constructed many roundabouts both in Owerri capital city and in the local government areas, constructed 27 General Hospitals in the 27 local government areas. About four have been completed and handed over to the Police, Air Force, Navy, Army, while others are in various stages of completion. Two flyovers, namely Nnamdi Azikiwe and Michael Okpara flyovers are nearing completion, while two tunnels, namely Ikemba Ojukwu and General Aguiyi Ironsi tunnels are already in use in the state capital. There are also art works in the city from where water flows, constructed by Korean partners, many statues of personalities both unveiled and yet to be unveiled and many government offices. There are many other projects under the Rescue Mission Agenda which the governor has promised to finish on or before 2019, such as the Prince and Princess Hotels, Owerri Parking Lot, Orlu Township stadium etc.

Security On security of lives and property, the governor has tried in no small measure to ensure that citizens are protected. Recently, a special police squad was introduced to assist in bringing crime to the barest minimum. Special Kia vehicles with draught like designs (black and white colours) were given to them and stationed at strategic points in the state, especially Owerri, the state capital. But regrettably, they have become agents of extortion as monies are collected from the public, especially from unsuspecting motorists or Keke Napep operatives. A few days ago, officers of the squad stationed at World Bank area in Owerri had a confrontation with a female soldier and inflicted injury on her head. Reason was that she was being carried in a commercial tricycle (Keke Napep) by an operative even though the commercial tricycles have been banned in the State capital. The issue later snowballed into a big crisis as soldiers from the 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze got the information. In spite of pleas from the Police Command that they should be allowed to take care of the matter, the soldiers insisted on going to the barracks with the police officer who inflicted the injury.

Unpopular policies and disregard for masses When Governor Okorocha was campaigning in 2011, he gave the impression that he was going to work with the masses. He freely licked oranges, ate corns and groundnuts given to him by people and even carried children up and cleaned their nostrils to show concern and oneness. This impression was registered in the minds of the masses to the extent that they resolved to oust the Sir Ikedi Ohakim Government at all costs and vote him en masse. With the support of the people, he mounted the Leadership Rostrum and managed to carry people along. But towards the end of his first tenure, the people noticed that his government was not spreading the democracy dividends the way they would have loved it to be. So, they started clamouring for change in 2015. But unfortunately, the change could not materialize as the governor recaptured Douglas House, now People’s House with the Abuja might as it was clear as at that time that Jonathan’s PDP had caved in at the centre. After being sworn in for the second time, he decided to pay them back in their own coin. In Okorocha’s second term, issues like salary cuts by 70% or 80% became the order of day. At a time, some groups of civil servants were threatened with sack and abolition of their parastatals. Pensioners were surprisingly asked to forfeit some percentages of their years of pension. They had to go to court before it was restored and regrettably, their Chairman could not reap from his hard work before he died. Still in his second term, there have been too many demolitions. Orji Mechanic Village, Naze Mechanic village, Eke Ukwu Owere Market, and New Market were all demolished prior to Christmas without providing better alternatives for them, rather manageable arrangements were made which many were not part of, thereby making it difficult for the masses to celebrate the yuletide. People’s houses and business premises were demolished in the name of expansion of roads or better still Urban Renewal Programme. In addition to that, commercial tricycles were banned and those who dared government had their vehicles seized. People were forced to trek long distances to work places or to their destinations. And coupled with the fuel hike which set in during yuletide, the 2017 Christmas for Imo people, was a bad dream they will not want remember.

#assessment #socio-political

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