[size=15pt]Okorocha sacks LG chairmen, dissolves traditional rulers’ council
[/size]…Says Imo owes N100bn

From VAL OKARA Owerri

Tuesday, June 07, 2011




Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha yesterday sacked all the 27 local government chairmen in the state saying the system is characterised with corruption and indiscipline. Also dissolved are all local government development centers in the state.

Okorocha, who made the declaration in his maiden broadcast to the people of the state said an audit committee would be constituted to review the activities all the local governments.
The state governor stated that traditional rulers had left their stool to play politics, a situation that would not be tolerated by the state government.

According to him, the state government would review the staff of office issued recently to the newly created autonomous communities by the immediate past governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.
He, therefore, dissolved the state Council of Traditional Rulers headed by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, saying the leadership no longer enjoyed the confidence of its members.

“It is sad to note that some of our traditional rulers have left their stool to play politics. This will no longer be tolerated. We shall also review the staff of office issued to the recently created autonomous communities in the state during political campaigns for the purpose of politics and political gains. A committee is already being constituted for this purpose.”

Governor Okorocha also announced the suspension of the Acting Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Prof. Osy Nwebo, pointing out that his appointment had affected the smooth running of the institution coupled with his unethetical behaviour.
He said the university still remained the pride of the state regretting that the institution had been over politicised with appointments and court cases.

He stated that his administration considered the increase in school fees in the Imo State University to about N150,000 as unjustifiable.
Okorocha in the broadcast disclosed that the debt profile of the state stood at N100 billion including internal and external debts as well as outstanding contract bills. He said the state remained one of low-income states with about N2.2 billion monthly subvention and about N1.9 billion monthly wage bill.

Okorocha, however, directed the suspension of 10,000 jobs, saying that government would in line with its commitment to job creations review the situation.
Reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imo State chapter, described the dissolution of local government councils as illegal.
The PDP state legal adviser, Chief C.O.C Akolisa said the state would be witnessing a regime of illegality founded on euphoria of mass support.
He said he was yet to find any legal foundation of an elected governor to dissolve a properly constituted and elected third tier of government.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/june/07/national-07-06-2011-009.html

Seems like we have a new Igbo champion. He needs to slow down though, I don't think the Imo people can handle such rapid change in a short time. Maybe he should spread it out, like Fashola does. Rome was not built in a day.

I think the question here is how a state like Imo gets to owe N100Billion? or am i the only one seeing that?

How can he sack LG chairmen? Were they not elected by the people? Can GEJ sack Rochas?

Chyz*:

He stated that his administration considered the increase in school fees in the Imo State University to about N150,000 as unjustifiable.
Okorocha in the broadcast disclosed that the debt profile of the state stood at[b] N100 billion [/b]including internal and external debts as well as outstanding contract bills. He said the state remained one of low-income states with about N2.2 billion monthly subvention and about N1.9 billion monthly wage bill.

It's even worse than I thought! !

Chyz*:

Okorocha, however, directed the suspension of 10,000 jobs, saying that government would in line with its commitment to job creations review the situation.

Are these the same 10,000 jobs Ohakim boasted he would create?

Good step in auditing the state account but it shdnt end there he shd move forward with judicial probing and trial. Someone needs to be locked up for such level of mismanagement.

Also take steps to recover some of the looted money, be it by seizing their property for onward auction. Etc



Could have been nicer if he did break it down with actual figures, what went where, etc.
Hope we get to see that after the probing. (I will use my FOI right this time lol)

The president cannot sack a state Governor. But a sate governor can sack a L G chairman. funny constitution right?

Kobojunkie:

It's even worse than I thought! !
Are these the same 10,000 jobs Ohakim boasted he would create?

the same 10,000 jobs some peeps in nairaland claimed was not real.Now their 'messiah' has confirmed it.

^^^ ten thousand people for what job ? The mere silliness that OHAKIM fraudulently put a said ten thousand people on below-minimum-wage-paid employment without any job description, no office, no responsibility  two weeks to his domed reelection bid doesn't qualify for job creation. Nothing was created.

10,000 x 13,000 naira = wasted 130 Million naira .


I bet not more than the televised 12 people actual got a valid pay cheque.

What job gives u a televised pay cheque before the job description is even fashioned out, role described, office assigned ?

@GOZILA The so called 10,000 jobs beneficiaries have turned to choristers and prayer warriors at Governmemt house.

The LGA chairmen and Councillors are sham and illegal, reason being that PDP made a public broadcast repetitively over the air and in the media that they had no candidate for the said election and will not participate.
Then how come that the PDP that did not participate in a never held election are trying to make a contrary claim

The 10,000 job was a fraud employment letter were given a week b4 leaving office and also sign d 18,000 minimum wage dat same wk is dat nt wickedness

Speed of execution is the hallmark of successful startups. Who says Imo State cannot handle such sweeping reforms, as long as Rochas keeps communicating his vision to us we'll be fine. Let the courts decide what is legal or not, afterall they were all around when the sham was being implemented.
I really feel like going to Imo right now!

rochas keep it on u re d best

There is nothing illegal in sacking the Local Govt Chairmen. They were not democratically elected.

Ohakim appointed the Local Govt Chairmen.

Nice move Owelle especially the dissolution of Imo Council of Ndi Eze. That Chairman Illomanya is an arm robber/419ner. He is not even suppose to be chief talkless of a traditional ruler. On the sacking of all the LG chairmen, thats commendable also. No election was held, Ohakiha just appointed his fellow goons to run the LGs. No election in Nkwerre LG, the chairman of Orlu was here in london a wk b4 the election, travelled for the selection and was back two days after the selection. Is he running Orlu Lg from London?

Imo State and Imolites are breading fresh air. Nice move Owelle.

jumobi1:

How can he sack LG chairmen? Were they not elected by the people? Can GEJ sack Rochas?

Yes he can.

Nigeria has wasted 50 years already, so I do not subscribe to the idea that anybody that is willing to bring changes should take it easy. However, he should always consult his Attorney General on the legality of any action he may want to take.

otukpo:

Funny how people that don't know anything abt Imo state will be the first to jump at anything concerning Rochas or Imo.

In four years time there would be an epic battle to "rescue" Imo state from the grasp of a 'devil' that was once an angel. Mark my words.

@ Ezeuche. Let him move with speed abeg. The extent of rape of the state does not require a gradual handling. This is a revolution.

@ houvest

GBAM


In fact, some traditional rulers(EZEs) need to be dethroned as fast as possible. some of them sponsor kidnappers and armed robbers. The people know them but no one can stand up to them because they were enjoying immunity from the government in power and some Police officers

Things has to begin to work right.

presido1:

Nice move Owelle especially the dissolution of Imo Council of Ndi Eze. That Chairman Illomanya is an arm robber/419ner. He is not even suppose to be chief talkless of a traditional ruler. On the sacking of all the LG chairmen, thats commendable also. No election was held, Ohakiha just appointed his fellow goons to run the LGs. No election in Nkwerre LG, the chairman of Orlu was here in london a wk b4 the election, travelled for the selection and was back two days after the selection. Is he running Orlu Lg from London?

Imo State and Imolites are breading fresh air. Nice move Owelle.

God bless u. am an Orlu son and its a pity we have someone like Ilomuanya as de Eze council chairman, Imo state where we dont have scarcity of wise old Traditional rulers

GOZILLA:

the same 10,000 jobs some peeps in nairaland claimed was not real.Now their 'messiah' has confirmed it.

I am not myself sure if these jobs are the same 10,000. Because back when the scheme was on going, I remember reading somewhere that less than 3000 were actually selected for the jobs. So, please do not quote me on that.

Also, I didn't even know that Ohakim signed the minimum wage bill into law. That is neat. So, is the current Governor's estimate on the state's monthly wage bill based on the previous minimum wage or the new minimum wage?

@ Kobojunkie, you are not getting it.

Ohaki-ha signed the fraudulent 10,000 jobs and the new minimum wage one week before his hand over date.

Its all aimed at creating confusion in the state and problems for Rochas

ZE:

@ Kobojunkie, you are not getting it.

Ohaki-ha signed the fraudulent 10,000 jobs and the new minimum wage one week before his hand over date.

Its all aimed at creating confusion in the state and problems for Rochas

Whether you see them as fraudulent or not, the jobs were created and the minimum wage bill was signed into law. That is to be expected by all. Now, it is up to the new Governor to make sure he understands the situation, and ensure he handles his job responsibly.

I am not certain he can repeal/suspend the new minimum wage law in much the same way he has been able to suspend the 10,000 jobs. He has to deal with the new reality IMO.

@Kobojunkie,
Ohaki-ha had to wait till the last week of his administration before signing the 10,000 jobs he claim he created 3 years ago.

what explanation do you have for that?

presido1:

Nice move Owelle especially the dissolution of Imo Council of Ndi Eze. That Chairman Illomanya is an arm robber/419ner. He is not even suppose to be chief talkless of a traditional ruler. On the sacking of all the LG chairmen, thats commendable also. No election was held, Ohakiha just appointed his fellow goons to run the LGs. No election in Nkwerre LG, the chairman of Orlu was here in london a wk b4 the election, travelled for the selection and was back two days after the selection. Is he running Orlu Lg from London?

Imo State and Imolites are breading fresh air. Nice move Owelle.

A friend of mine from Mbaitoli L.G.A. confirmed that the man Ohakim installed as the L.G.A chairman was his lackey and a man of questionable character. Rochas did well in sacking all of them.

While it is true that Ohakim's many advertised achievements were a total fraud, I am convinced that there were some of his policies that should be entrenched in Imo. Entraco- The facilitator organ of Clean & green Initiative and IRROMA- The Rural Road maintenance initiative are some of such policies. Rochas should not throw away the baby with the bath water.

ZE:

@Kobojunkie,
Ohaki-ha had to wait till the last week of his administration before signing the 10,000 jobs he claim he created 3 years ago.

what explanation do you have for that?

I am not trying to stand in for Ohakim but the above is not correct. I have a relation who actually got her offer letter November 2010. The issue has been that of payment which by the reason of that letter remains a debt which must be paid. Lets get things straight here.

Rochas in a statement said that he is hurry to deliver, and truely he has shown it.