₦airaland Forum

For some months now, the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has received an avalanche of firestorm in his plate. The forces lining up against his administration appear considerable and the nature and rhetoric of their opposition have become indeed sickening. It’s all about dirty politics. And in Nigeria, it involves high-stakes, sometimes a vicious game. Like in war, all lies seem fair and
acceptable. In Imo State, where the governor has been up against organised labour, and beyond the state, and a section of the public at large, there are many people, who would want to see Okorocha crumble in front of them. But there are many who recognize his good works and still keep faith with his government.
As a journalist, I know with a degree of certainty how the media, especially in our country operate. They usually have their own storyline on issues and events that unfold over the weeks or months. It’s often a narrative that may or may not coincide with reality. In that respect, and specifically in relation to the greasy poisonous hysteria that is Imo politics, some of Okorocha’s political foes will do everything they can, to portray the governor, his aides, as a sort of bizarre phenomena that bear constant watching.
Las week, that trial ballon was deflated. The attacks on the administration were in full-throated. The governor’s opponents sought to portray him as corrupt, of fleecing the state of the bailout fund given by the Federal Government last year, for states to offset some of their obligations, including payment of workers’ salaries. The dysfunctional story was one of the big stories that dominated both the social media and mainstream media last Friday. It was a high-tech lynching of sort meant to deliver a hammer blow to the governor in which, if it sticks, it might take the governor a long time to recover.
Lets revisit some of the recent damaging reports against Okorocha’s administration. Trending last week was the vicious story that the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a “high-level fraud” allegedly perpetrated by some aides to the governor. The punch line was that the EFCC had “arrested the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Pascal Obi, and two others – Uzoho Casmir and Iheoma Kenneth, who were described by the EFCC as directors of Finance and Treasurer”.
According to the report, an “unnamed cashier of the government was alleged to have made cash withdrawal of N456.532 millions between September 3, 2015 and October 10, 2015, from the Government House account in Zenith Bank”. It was also alleged that the said amount was given to an aide to the Chief of Staff to the Governor (Chief Uche Nwosu), following an “approval and directive by the Principal Secretary to the governor”.
Also, more damaging was a report by a national daily (name withheld) that the governor has fled the country because of investigation by EFCC into how he spent N2bn bail out funds for the state. Now, this is the vicious game, orchestrated to tarnish the image of the governor. The governor, contrary to the report, is in his office, in the state, never jetted out anywhere. An angry Okorocha, addressed the press Saturday morning to show that the report was nothing but a calculated blackmail.
The governor said, “If I am with you (journalists) here this morning when someone wrote and published that I had jetted out because of EFCC, you can imagine the level of falsehood and mischief”. But, the governor said he would not take any legal action against the newspaper but would seek a retraction. The reporter of the story is said to be from the same hometown with the PDP candidate who was defeated by Gov. Okorocha in last year’s election.
On the N2bn bailout fund, the governor said the anti-graft agency visited the state several times, as it did in other states, in line with a presidential directive on the bailout funds. In other words, EFCC investigation in Imo State was nothing unusual. The governor said the state has used its bailout fund “judiciously and the records are clear and accessible, and there is nothing like diversion” as alleged. I also know that I spoke with one of the governor’s aides reported to be in EFCC custody, same day he was alleged to be in the anti-graft net. Contrary to the report, the aide was in Owerri, the state capital, not in Abuja as alleged.
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One thing I know for certain is that this is poisoned politics, and a frantic search for a smoking gun against Okorocha’s administration. In such a frantic search to get their enemy, the traducers are feeding frenzy. They don’t care about facts. They just run away with the allegation, never bother to get any shred of evidence to support their orchestrated report. The governor’s enemies are surprised that instead of crumbling, the governor is getting up each time from the mat and getting his job done. Okorocha’s opponents also know that if they can’t get at him, link any “misdeeds” with his closest aide, and perhaps it will stick, at least in the eyes of the gullible public. That’s why they are dragging the name of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Uche Nwosu, who is also a son inlaw to the Governor. I am not holding brief for the COS, but this young man is transparent, of high integrity, but fiercely loyal to the governor. I don’t see anything wrong with that, just the same way the Governor’s Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo. I have known Sam for over 20 years as a committed journalist who loves his job and loyal to his boss.
All of this boils down to one thing: Nothing is beyond Imo politicians to do. It’s the same all over Nigeria. That’s the battle Okorocha is up against right now. It’s not the first time that his opponents have tried to undo him. If one plot fails, try another. Two years ago, it was all about alleged registration of northerners’ resident in Imo State. The governor took a hit. It began in the National Assembly, but the masterminds were Imo representatives in the two chamber of NASS, championed by former senator, Mrs. Chris Anyanwu, who delivered a scathing remark, accusing Gov. Okorocha of drawing “unusual attention to himself”, and for not respecting the “constitutional provisions of free movement, free association, free worship which are well-cherished by our people”.
Interestingly, behind that attack was a plot to stop Okorocha’s reelection in 2015. There was no proof that the governor intended to register northerners in the state with the aim of issuing them ID card. That plot to bring Okorocha in collision course with the leaders of the North failed. Okorocha was re-elected last year, defeating former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha. The Supreme Court has since validated the governor’s victory.
Altogether, It is not in doubt that Gov. Okorocha has incurred the wrath of many in Imo State. Last year, he was called a “land grabber”, but the governor denied ever taking anybody’s land illegally. He knows what he’s up against, possibly to stop him if he wants to take a shot at the Presidency in 2019. As he told a selected journalists last December, “I work for the glory and honour of the job, not for the money”. Rather than take the state’s money, Okorocha insists, he is “the emperor of blocking the ways from where some people embezzle state money”.
He admits that “misinformation” is the problem with his government. His words, “I have good relationship with my people, I am down to earth, and my style of administration is working for Imo”. Gov. Okorocha remains one of the few governors in the country who came to power through the invitation of the people, the ordinary people, not the elite. He doesn’t have godfathers. And they could be the forces behind his present travails. But a word of advice to the governor: Devote maximum attention to what made you the toast of majority of Imo electorate five years ago, and the famed sobriquet, “my people, my people ….., my governor, my governor”. All said, the present spar by his traducers should serve as a sobering experience from which he could learn useful lessons. For more allegations may be in the offing.

The Op has been sacked from Roaches pocket is it?

Bitterleafsoup:
The Op has been sacked from Roaches pocket is it?

The only concern I have is the publishing of false and concocted story by some media houses which even some supposedly enlightened people buy into. I have always maintained my uprightness on issues. An example was Vanguard publishing that Imo owed 11months of salary and some people believed it even till now. I think its time to establish death penalty law for any reporter involved in false publishing.

Abagworo:
The only concern I have is the publishing of false and concocted story by some media houses which even some supposedly enlightened people buy into. I have always maintained my uprightness on issues. An example was Vanguard publishing that Imo owed 11months of salary and some people believed it even till now. I think its time to establish death penalty law for any reporter involved in false publishing.

So because roachas paid someone to write a praise singing article we should believe him?

If vanguard lied. Why not sue them.

Abagworro u r so poor at propaganda Dats why chino always mess u...

I can imagine Ur happiness wen u found dis article

Mtcheeew

Mtchew, just wasted time.



Rochas Okorocha's Traducers have not even come up.


Okorocha is inviting a huge avalanche of firestorm to himself, as he blatantly pitched his guber tent against his home constituency who mostly voted him to office.

Worse traducers are usually those from home.

Aside dualizing Owerri-Akokwa road for the purpose of his private university, what has Rochas as governor done for development of his home area - Ideato/Orlu area? Nothing worth it.

Ideato constitutes nearly one quarter of Imo state but has only a few secondary schools as govt presence, that's all.


Rochas governs Owerri using up the turn of Orlu zone as governor.

About one third of the population in Orlu urban is Ideato. But Okorocha punishes them with dusty roads as he has been punishing others in Orlu in the last four years.

While in the last five years, Okorocha is building his Sodom city in Owrerri - the only Imo governor who took making Owerri the only city in Imo state to a most ridiculous level,.

mandax:
Mtchew, just wasted time.



Rochas Okorocha's Traducers have not even come up.


Okorocha is inviting a huge avalanche of firestorm to himself, as he blatantly pitched his guber tent against his home constituency who mostly voted him to office.

Worse traducers are usually those from home.

Aside dualizing Owerri-Akokwa road for the purpose of his private university, what has Rochas as governor done for development of his home area - Ideato/Orlu area? Nothing worth it.

Ideato constitutes nearly one quarter of Imo state but has only a few secondary schools as govt presence, that's all.


Rochas governs Owerri using up the turn of Orlu zone as governor.

About one third of the population in Orlu urban is Ideato. But Okorocha punishes them with dusty roads as he has been punishing others in Orlu in the last four years.

While in the last five years, Okorocha is building his Sodom city in Owrerri - the only Imo governor who took making Owerri the only city in Imo state to a most ridiculous level,.

Before Okorocha Orlu was a glorified village and Owerri was not this beautiful and developed. Most of our primary schools were bad as seen in other States today and Secondary schools were not as they are shining today. Many villages with paved roads today had none and there was no free education.

Today we are the fastest growing State with the 4th busiest Airport and there is surely a reason for that. I foresee an unprecedented flood of massive investments in the next 2 years. Already we have the biggest bottling company in Nigeria on the offing at Okigwe and Owerri mall is opening in a week's time.

Abagworo:
Before Okorocha Orlu was a glorified village and Owerri was not this beautiful and developed. Most of our primary schools were bad as seen in other States today and Secondary schools were not as they are shining today. Many villages with paved roads today had none and there was no free education.

Today we are the fastest growing State with the 4th busiest Airport and there is surely a reason for that. I foresee an unprecedented flood of massive investments in the next 2 years. Already we have the biggest bottling company in Nigeria on the offing at Okigwe and Owerri mall is opening in a week's time.

You sef de think like Okorocha.

Rochas govt dualized one major road in Orlu measuring about 2km, three other township roads about 1.5km total, placed street lamps on some of these roads, then says he has made Orlu a city, just like you do say. No. Population first makes a city.
Orlu population is emigrating since Rochas government.

Let Okorocha government create a multi department of IMSU in Orlu or convert the Ogboko university facility to a government university in Ideato.
A town with a university grows fast.


There are at least twenty urban roads created by old Orlu urban council many years ago and are waiting to be modernized, and nearly fully built, left and right, with houses; can Okorocha ever think of modernizing these roads? Udenwa modernized many others.

If Rochas can't modernize these roads, let his govt asphalt the roads which it scraped four years ago, and which constitute imminent danger to inhabitants of Orlu.

Do we talk about the stadium he partly destroyed, and has not built a new one?

Rochas has three more years to go. If he does these things enumerated above, we shall help him to any political position he aspires to in future.
But another one year and things remain the same, it shall be let loose an avalanche of anti-Rochas campaign from all over.


Even if Rochas makes Owerri look like Abuja (and leaves Orlu in this condition), Owerri can't advance Rocha's politics.