IS THE RESCUE MISSION GOVERNMENT A “FAMILIOCRACY”?

Recently too, the word “Familiocracy” became so popular among the ever enlightened Imolites. Something peculiar to this administration is the emergence of many popular mantra, words and phrases, unlike in the past ones. For instance, during Udenwa we heard “Tripod Vision”, “Kashim Formula”, “Orlu Wu Eze”; under ex-Gov Ikedi Ohakim Imo got saturated with “Clean and Green”, “Ikiri”. Under Owelle Rochas Okorocha, we are hearing “Education Must Be Free”, “Imo Must Be Better”, “Corruption Must Stop”, “My People My People, My Governor My Governor”, “Imo My Pride”, the super mantra “Industry Industry Industry, Job Job Job”, etc. Then, “Familiocracy” has filed-up in these litanies, though coined by the opposition but if you ask me, truly, the Rescue Mission Government is a “Familiocracy” and I will tell you more.

In Imo State, it has been observed keenly that every government came up with a form (style) depending on the body language of the Team Leader. In the past 12 years before the emergence of Rescue Mission Government led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, we completely left democracy and operated Aristocracy; the elites who believed they were born to rule others because they were born into the highest class. We also experienced Oligarchy; where few wealthy people ruled the state. For instance, The Kashim Formula under the Udenwa led PDP government was a method that guaranteed the ceding of local governments to certain god-fathers to deal as they wish including their monthly federal allocation. Even during the time of Ohakim, the formula held sway with a mixture of Authoritarianism. We embraced hardship without options, many people lost all they had, it was alleged that in that era people who did not have up to N200,000 in their savings were asked to pack home, and education was declared for the rich alone because we were told to SACRIFICE A LITTLE AND ENJOY FOREVER. Today, Okorocha’s government has been described as a “Familiocracy”.

The term “Familiocracy” is derived from the stem word “family”. The term, according to users, is when a state is ran as a family. Like our various families, everyone is recognized, loved, cherished and given equal opportunity devoid of sex, size, status, educational background, level of intelligence, etc. This is in tandem with the original Igbo form of government, “Ohacracy” from where “Democracy” sprouted. The united families came together to form an extended family-like communities where decisions were taken unanimously. They formed the “Oha” from where their patterns became “Ohacracy” which has been adjudged the best form of government. What then do we say about the CGC? A fourth tier of government where the various hitherto neglected communities are now given opportunities to decide issues affecting the state. The common village citizens are given strong mouth in the government they are originally part of; the “Familiocracy”.



Today, Imo is run like a family; every Sunday, political appointees and ordinary Imolites enjoy breakfast with the Governor and mingle freely with him. Many get their pressing problems solved directly. The Governor operates like a father, he can sign a document for you after perusing it thoroughly even while standing. He can be approached at any time and get his attention without waiting for the cozy confines of his Pentagon office. The governor treats his aids as hids younger brothers and sisters, they stay together, pray and eat together at least every Sunday after church service. He listens to them, encourages and even helps them to succeed in their private lives. This is what a father does to the children and the elderly one does to the younger in a happy, united family.



His policies like the Community Government Council, CGC is a “Familiocratic” system derived from his concept of “Ohashierism and Ofushierism”. Gov Rochas Okorocha believes that government should be run from a bottom- top system with the people’s voice, feelings and opinion counting; their interest protected as well. CGC is an ideal model of democracy the rest of Nigeria needs to embrace.

The Free and Qualitative Education program is another FAMILIOCRATIC System where the society, that is the state in this case takes care of the children collectively. This program is first of its kind in black Africa where children go to school without paying a kobo, get their uniforms, sandals, lockers etc free and even get stipends from the state. Imo is now training a crop of citizens who will forever be indebted to the state for training them, FREE OF CHARGE with a quantum leap in the literacy level and enlightenment of her citizen reaching for the rooftop. This indeed is familiocracy.

His Excellency, Rochas Okorocha treats the school children like his biological children. He goes to schools regularly to give them moral education and motivational talks to inspire them to greater heights. It is not seen anywhere else except in a “familiocracy”. The governor does not see these students as just Imo children but as his biological children and that perception largely informs how he treats them. Governor Okorocha believes that if these are his children, he should train them in school without asking them to pay; in fact, an obligation of the father in the family and that must be done in a conducive environment. In Imo State, no sane head will deny the overwhelming transformation in our public schools today.



Members of a family have access to their father. Owelle Okorocha is the most accessible governor Imo State has ever recorded. It is not exposing a secret if I tell you that the other past governors, all their aids did not have access to them let alone ordinary citizens. Most aides in previous governments go through the Chief of Staff or Secretary to the State Government but Gov Okorocha allows unfettered access to him. Often, we see the governor relaxing, chatting, eating and even playing in the Government House with those who never dreamt of coming close to the Douglas House gate in the nearest future. I will lack space here to talk about that of the governor’s wife, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha who like we see in Familiocratic settings has built over 150 houses for poor abandoned and dejected widows all over the state under her She Needs a Roof program, SNARP. Her Women Of Divine Initiative, WODI assists women to be better mothers and home builders. Hers is an episode entirely. An equal opportunity for everyone in a good family setting.

The Rescue Mission Government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, a “familiocracy” where the state is governed as a family and every member of the state relating to one another as a member of a progressive family for a common purpose. Yes, we accept that the Rescue Mission Government is a true “FAMILIOCRACY”.

Ik Ogbonna, anipr
is the Special Assistant to Imo State Governor on Information & Communications Technology, ICT

Imo will be free from this clown one day!

It will not be well with Ik ogbonna and all who supports the greatest scam in sub Sahara Africa