WE have heard that the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has named new commissioners, and therefore the state Executive Council, Exco, is on the verge of returning fully as known to law.

This set should be a thinking and doing group which the governor allows space to bring forward and contribute new ideas that help the government take a systematic and holistic approach.

Obvious challenges confronting the ImoState government now include identifying her current project exposure, aligning that to available resources, embarking on strategic planning and realistically implementing, with a critical target delivery date of June 2014.

The government must change style otherwise election 2015 will be a shocker. The government is fast losing the middle class in ImoState. The class is lost slowly, but also slow to gain. Who are government contractors? Zonal and other discrimination charges are simmering.

Flagship education, roads, infrastructure, and other projects have become some of the areas considered areas of weaknesses. Planning is no longer optional as tikitaka style has to change. Spanish tikitaka approach to football requires effective strikers, something obviously lacking in team Rochas. There is neither Ronaldo nor Messi in the team.

Strong in the mid-field where captain/trainer/coach/technical adviser Rochas plays, very few goals have been scored compared to high percentage ball possession. Higher ball possession does not win matches.

Two German teams in UEFA championship final both emerged by beating Spanish flagship teams, and Brazil beating Spain in the Confederation cup shows that tikitaka is vulnerable with planning, and comparable fans-cheering skills.

The Rochas government has had the rare luck of a clueless opposition, especially the PDP. The Governor has had a rare total control of the Imo polity, deciding what, how, and when to do what he chooses. That luck increasingly needs rigorous thinking, planning, and work, as the PDP congress next year will bring change to the political environment in ImoState.

Even ahead of that, the Anambra election of November 16, which has been cast locally as a Rochas project, may be wrong strategy, as the indicators are pointing elsewhere, most probably in the direction of APGA, and may alter the political temperament in ImoState. These are related political challenges.

Among the Imo middle class in which government is losing support fastest are worries of poverty, and declining wellbeing. They raise questions about how Imo money is spent, who gets contracts for school buildings, uniforms, etc.

Shouldn’t these be people in Imo, they ask. People associate this to electing persons not resident in Imo, and are saying we have to elect Imo residents next time. Is the tertiary level scholarship only for one year? they also ask. Also 27 new hospitals suffer poor funding, even when not needed in the first instance.

Road projects show evidence of over-trading, with many contractors disillusioned. Wastes in earthworks, bitumen, MC1, etc., are mentioned, with worsened conditions of many roads abandoned at various stages.

The completed ones are failing. Location of the roads and school buildings are subject to sundry anti-government interpretations. Government seem not conscious of the voting trend in a highly competitive election as in 2011 and most likely in 2015.

The silence of critical opinion leaders in Imo State, including the clergy, academia, journalists, et al., should no longer be taken for granted as this attitude was informed by a ‘let’s give him a chance’ resolve, especially against the background of the particularly difficult preceding four years.

This concession to Rochas was informed by a belief of his good intention. But good intention is not enough. Every political office holder running for re-election, as Rochas will in 2015 despite what he says about seeking the Presidency, will be assessed by his performance.

Election 2015 in ImoState will be based on Rochas performance. Rochas cabinet must therefore help him. No one knows it all.

Positive about the new cabinet is wisdom in reappointing some of those perceived to have suffered for the Governor. If that was not done would have convinced his appointees that he is not worth sticking out your neck for. Bravo. The people Rochas has chosen to work with him, especially those who were not unemployed, therefore owe him the duty of sincerity and boldness, and tell him the truth.

They should listen to Imo people and work for Imo people, and not wring their fingers in helplessness, and resignation that he seems to know everything, and wouldn’t listen to them, and not let Exco meetings degenerate to instruction classes with a teacher who brooks no questions, or a Maradona and ten nameless others. This was the case with the gang of 2007 to 2011.

We know where that left them and ImoState. This set needs to learn from the Mbakwe Exco, peopled by informed and confident persons, most of whom were capable of being Governor. Anyone of the present set on request can have a free copy of my book The Glorious Mbakwe Era. Ta bu gbuo.

Prof. CHINEDUM NWAJIUBA, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Owerri, Imo State
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/rochas-new-cabinet-imo-state/#sthash.AqmJNnUl.dpuf

i thought Rochas is working? i use to watch him on AIT everyday. now i know the gov is an ordinary con artist.

someone please save my state!!

Anyone who sees the changes in Imo within 2 years and with little resources but yet deny them is an antichrist and deserves hell fire.

^^^ little u mean massive borrowing to the gutter

its obvious u will rot in hell if u carry on like that

Abagworo: Anyone who sees the changes in Imo within 2 years and with little resources but yet deny them is an antichrist and deserves hell fire.

Oh,you have an excuse for his non performance ? What goes around comes around

Owerri was held hostage today by protesters (disabled people) , the second time these people are strangulating vehicular traffic since this present administration came on board. They said they are tired of promises from Rochas and his friends in the Douglas house. Pensioners are groaning under the weight of hardship. ITC workers are lamenting. ADAPALM workers are weeping, Water board people are dying gradually. Civil servants are distressed. The civil service rules have been desecrated with all kinds of crazy policies. Of late, keke drivers who were once his mainstay are vocal in their wish for a change of governor. Indeed, no one can deceive all the people all the time.

Rochas gov in Imo state is a failure what a pity Imo state having 8 yrs of bad governorship..

A kILOMETER of road in Imo state is 60 million naira.... Now i read somewhere here that it is over a billion in our progressively corrupt neighbors backyard.. This governor is working warts and all and Imolites are not pushovers... He will get his second term or we will give you irritants another otokoto revolution..

Onyegecha: Owerri was held hostage today by protesters (disabled people) , the second time these people are strangulating vehicular traffic since this present administration came on board. They said they are tired of promises from Rochas and his friends in the Douglas house. Pensioners are groaning under the weight of hardship. ITC workers are lamenting. ADAPALM workers are weeping, Water board people are dying gradually. Civil servants are distressed. The civil service rules have been desecrated with all kinds of crazy policies. Of late, keke drivers who were once his mainstay are vocal in their wish for a change of governor. Indeed, no one can deceive all the people all the time.

You are the one weeping, crying , distressed and held hostage by your myopia... Just two years and better than the last two governors.. If you guys from Owerri zone want to make it a zero sum game, bet me; you will blink first.

Na wao for WAEC..

Rochas performed ten times better than ohakim and achike udenwa

mumumugu: Rochas performed ten times better than ohakim and achike udenwa

gbam dts all I cn say nw.

Rochas we know.

@ Abagworo u re a good citizen of imo. Only God almighty will pay u back. Thank for nt hiding d truth

the writer is actually balanced in this article as what he is writing seems to be the sentiment expressed by some of my folks living in imo at the moment.i just hope rochas does not lose it in the end.

This is where okorosha wasted 210 billion borrowed funds.

The clownish and clueless gov imported this whor.e to Imo state to serve as the Chief Protocol Officer while the bulk population of imo state are jobless, daily running to neighboring states for their economic survival. Meanwhile the gov is wasting so much resources keep these bed warmers to the detriment of the tax payers.



"The Imo State Government has severally said that she has no loans taken since the inception if this administration. But during the budget presentation, for the 2013 budget, it became clear that Imo State government is heavily indebted.
The budget reveals that twenty two (22) billion naira loan was obtained by this administration in 2011, and sixty one (61) billion naira obtained in 2012. The government further seeks the approval of eighty one (81) billion naira loan for the coming 2013. These figures do not include the forty five (45) Billion naira loan obtained from Zenith Bank using the Local Government Area Allocations, as collateral.
If the State House of Assembly approves the budget, with the requested 81 billion naira loan for 2013, Imo would have taken a total of 211 Billion Naira loan in 2years of Rescue Mission administration."


http://www.imostateblog.com/2012/12/16/mortgaging-the-future-of-imo-children-dr-kelechi-okpalake/#sthash.6XRK9ZBn.dpuf



It is worthy to note that there is absolutely nothing on the ground to show for all these.

It is better to borrow money and do something than
do nothing blaming it on insufficient fond.

Remember it was ohakim who opened treasury during election