mandax:



Odumegwu Ojukwu and Sam Mbakwe remain heroes and role models for most Igbo.

Zik could only be role model for rest of Nigeria outside Igboland, except perhaps for a few one Nigeria Igbos. Northern people were rejecting a country of northern and southern Nigeria before independence, but Zik wanted one big Nigeria he would rule. And he got today's one Nigeria which has been to the detriment of the average Igbo.

Zik betrayed Igbos when Igbos needed him most during the civil war.
Zik abandoned Igbos who were besieged by then Nigeria's federal and foreign forces at the heat of the civil war, and joined the camp of Igbos' enemies.

If what you call betrayal is nationalism then Ojukwu did worse when he returned from exile.

Abagworo:


If what you call betrayal is nationalism then Ojukwu did worse when he returned from exile.

Ojukwu did the right thing by joining the ruling NPN when he returned from exile. He couldn't have been rehabilitated so that he would continue to struggle for Igbo cause if he had joined Igbo-based NPP then.

Through belonging to the ruling and mainstream party, NPN, Ojukwu was able to continue to struggle for Igbo interests in Nigeria. He couldn't have been able to do the struggle if he had joined Igbo-based NPP.

Your friend, governor of Imo state, Rocha Okorocha is he a good politician?. He started his popularity by association with Ojukwu who was very popular with the Igbo.
Now he switches to be apostle of Zik whose popularity with the Igbo diminished tremendously as Zik's ONE Nigeria's stranglehold on the Igbo increased.

mandax:


Ojukwu did the right thing by joining the ruling NPN when he returned from exile. He couldn't have been rehabilitated so that he would continue to struggle for Igbo cause if he had joined Igbo-based NPP then.

Through belonging to the ruling and mainstream party, NPN, Ojukwu was able to continue to struggle for Igbo interests in Nigeria. He couldn't have been able to do the struggle if he had joined Igbo-based NPP.

Your friend, governor of Imo state, Rocha Okorocha is he a good politician?. He started his popularity by association with Ojukwu who was very popular with the Igbo.
Now he switches to be apostle of Zik whose popularity with the Igbo diminished tremendously as Zik's ONE Nigeria's stranglehold on the Igbo increased.

Forget the twist in order to discredit Okorocha. Okorocha was Ojukwu's only true friend in APGA and remains so even after death. If Ojukwu was alive he would have obviously been in APC today.

Abagworo:


Forget the twist in order to discredit Okorocha. Okorocha was Ojukwu's only true friend in APGA and remains so even after death. If Ojukwu was alive he would have obviously been in APC today.

Ojukwu to join APC? A party purposely formed to isolate Igbos from mainstream politics of Nigeria. You must be a joker.

Ojukwu was a core Igbo and astute politician who was not in politics to enrich himself. Igbos in APC are self-serving. Ojukwu could have no reason to join APC.

mandax:


Ojukwu to join APC? A party purposely formed to isolate Igbos from mainstream politics of Nigeria. You must be a joker.

Ojukwu was a core Igbo and astute politician who is not in politics to enrich himself. Igbos in APC are self-serving. Ojukwu could have no reason to join APC.

So Igbos in PDP and APGA are not self serving. IMHO Okorocha, Ngige and Onu are probably the least self-serving Igbos in mainstream politics. You need to clear your eyes and face reality that Igbos gained nothing from the last administration to warrant the level of loyalty to Jonathan's failed 3rd term bid.

Abagworo:


So Igbos in PDP and APGA are not self serving. IMHO Okorocha, Ngige and Onu are probably the least self-serving Igbos in mainstream politics. You need to clear your eyes and face reality that Igbos gained nothing from the last administration to warrant the level of loyalty to Jonathan's failed 3rd term bid.

Abooki,

Jonathan contested for second term in 2015, not bid for third term.

If Igbos did not get anything from PDP, what do Igbos expect from an APC whose apex leader, President Buhari, said he would preside more over the 95% that voted him, and less over the 5% that did not vote him? Buhari did not capture 25% votes in any Igbo state. Igbos don't regret that till today.

Buhari means whatever he says. He shall preside over those areas that voted him. Igbo shall survive.

Unlike Buhari, your friend Rochas Okorocha abandoned the areas that massively voted him governor. Okorocha only pursues urban transformation of Owerri solely for the sake of his various businesses and palatial home in Owerri the state capital where he received less votes.

mandax:


Abooki,

Jonathan contested for second term in 2015, not bid for third term.

If Igbos did not get anything from PDP, what do Igbos expect from an APC whose apex leader, President Buhari, said he would preside more over the 95% that voted him, and less over the 5% that did not vote him? Buhari did not capture 25% votes in any Igbo state. Igbos don't regret that till today.

Buhari means whatever he says. He shall preside over those areas that voted him. Igbo shall survive.

Unlike Buhari, your friend Rochas Okorocha abandoned the areas that massively voted him governor. Okorocha only pursues urban transformation of Owerri solely for the sake of his various businesses and palatial home in Owerri the state capital where he received less votes.

Buhari is doing more for us than Jonathan hence your 5% nonsense doesn't exist. Rochas Okorocha won in the entire LGAs of Imo State apart from the 3 Mbaise but his governance is felt everywhere including Mbaise.

As for Jonathan he tried to play Ojoro with Nigerians by being sworn in as President for the 3rd time but we fought him down. If he did well like Obasanjo I would still not support hus 3rd term bid but alas he remains the worst in our history from Imo State point of view.

Abagworo:


Buhari is doing more for us than Jonathan hence your 5% nonsense doesn't exist. Rochas Okorocha won in the entire LGAs of Imo State apart from the 3 Mbaise but his governance is felt everywhere including Mbaise.

As for Jonathan he tried to play Ojoro with Nigerians by being sworn in as President for the 3rd time but we fought him down. If he did well like Obasanjo I would still not support hus 3rd term bid but alas he remains the worst in our history from Imo State point of view.

You said Rochas didn't win in any of the 3 lgas of Mbaise.

But Rochas is building a university campus in Mbaise.

In future, the Mbaise campus may be converted into a full university, just like many of today's full universities.

That shall make the fourth government -subsidized university in Owerri area.
Ideatos and Orlu Municipal gave Rochas the most massive numbers of votes.

Rochas refused Ideato this government university campus.

Rochas denied Orlu this government university campus, the first thing Orlu people requested from him immediately he was sworn in as governor.

Building his private university in his village, Ogboko, is all that mattered to Okorocha as governor.

What type of politician is Rochas?

What's Zik's contribution to Imo state? Okorocha should stop acting like a clown. What happened to names like Enwerem, Oputa, Nwapa, Acholonu, Afigbo, Eni Njoku,Ikokwu, Ekeonuwa, Chioma Ajunwa, Ocholor etc. Okorocha should stop disgracing us.

Who Zik don epp?

I Have Completed All Projects Abandoned By My Predecessors- Gov Okorocha

Gov Rochas Okorocha In An Interactive Meeting With Imo State Based Journalists, Correspondents and Publishers

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim, SGI, Sir George Eche, Chief of Staff, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, Comissioners and other apostles of the Rescue Mission Government too numerous too mention are in attendance.

Here are some quotes from Governor Okorocha’s ongoing regular interaction with Imo based journalists, correspondents and publishers.

For me, honor is more than life and glory more than wealth.

In Owerri city, you cannot find a shanty public primary or secondary school. We have reconstructed all schools within the capital city. We have also built new schools from the scratch like the Young Scientists College, Imo Girls College etc.

We have recruited 12,000 teachers including the Youth Must Work teachers to reduce the shortage of teachers in our schools.

We have built, equipped a new College of Nursing Science in Orlu.

Almost all the 27 general hospitals in the state are 80% completed furnished with equipment ongoing. We intend to make Imo a health tourist destination. The Oshiedike Medical Diagnostic Centre is 100% the property of the Imo State Government.

Government House before my emergence was akin to a glorified local government headquarters. The entire landscape of Imo State Government House has changed.

The Government House Chapel is a project very close to my heart. We are not ashamed of the word of God.

Owerri has witnessed remarkable changes, from Warehouse Roundabout to Assumpta, Nze Junction Government House, IMSU Junction, Mbaise Road, Emmanuel College etc. These roundabouts have reduced vehicular traffic. From Amakohia to Warehouse junction etc. We have 5 inland roads from New Owerri to the city. We now have water falls. We now have two flyovers in the city.

Foundation Road is under construction and leads from Mbaise Road to MCC down to Orji Flyover to Amakohia Flyover upto Onitsha road. This is a bypass that will decongest the city.

Imo State is the busiest state in the South-East today. We now host major international and national events like NBA, CAN conferences etc owing to the construction of the Imo International Convention Centre, IICC.

At New Owerri axis, we have several projects like the new judiciary headquarters named Oputa Court under construction, ISOPADEC headquarters completed and in use. We have the 5 inland roads leading to and outside the city from New Owerri.

We have the Artisan City at Naze where handbags, shoes will be produced. We are attracting our people from Aba to invest here in Imo by providing an enabling environment for them to ply their trade.

We are building an "Alaba Market" to start before the end of the year. We are attracting our sons and daughters in Alaba International Market to return home and invest.

The new Concord Hotel is beautiful and recovered project of Dee Sam Mbakwe.

We have completed all abandoned projects of our predecessors.

Our local government headquarters have changed.

We have rescued Works Layout from flood and tarred the roads there.

We have one of the best liaison office in Abuja. We where in a rented apartment until we completed our Liaison Office which has since been put to use.

We properly utilised our bail out funds.

Mark my words, when am done with my second term, Owerri will be one of the best cities in Nigeria.

Pchidexy:
What's Zik's contribution to Imo state? Okorocha should stop acting like a clown. What happened to names like Enwerem, Oputa, Nwapa, Acholonu, Afigbo, Eni Njoku,Ikokwu, Ekeonuwa, Chioma Ajunwa, Ocholor etc. Okorocha should stop disgracing us.

Who Zik don epp?

Abeg drop that Yoruba accent. We call it help not epp like Olamide. Most of those people have things named after them and Oputa is the name for Imo Judiciary complex. It's going to be a huge edifice. The 2nd flyover will be named after Akanu Ibiam who hailed from Ebonyi State. All Igbos are one "Igbo bu otu" .

Obviously Okorocha is a Zikist.

mandax:



You said Rochas didn't win in any of the 3 lgas of Mbaise.

But Rochas is building a university campus in Mbaise.

In future, the Mbaise campus may be converted into a full university, just like many of today's full universities.

That shall make the fourth government -subsidized university in Owerri area.
Ideatos and Orlu Municipal gave Rochas the most massive numbers of votes.

Rochas refused Ideato this government university campus.

Rochas denied Orlu this government university campus, the first thing Orlu people requested from him immediately he was sworn in as governor.

Building his private university in his village, Ogboko, is all that mattered to Okorocha as governor.

What type of politician is Rochas?

Eastern Palms University is not Okorocha's private property. Stop using hearsay to pass judgements. People equally lied that Ochiedike diagnostic center is Okorocha's private business but yesterday he said loudly that it is 100% owned by Imo State. Eastern Palms is a partnership between State Government and private investors which could include Rochas foundation. All Rochas foundation schools including the 2 in Imo State are 100% free and maintains very high standard.

Abagworo:


Eastern Palms University is not Okorocha's private property. Stop using hearsay to pass judgements. People equally lied that Ochiedike diagnostic center is Okorocha's private business but yesterday he said loudly that it is 100% owned by Imo State. Eastern Palms is a partnership between State Government and private investors which could include Rochas foundation. All Rochas foundation schools including the 2 in Imo State are 100% free and maintains very high standard.

Abagworo, please carry your Rochas wahala de go.
How could a normal person think that he could acquire land in the name of government to relocate IMSU to Ogboko, later turned around to build his private university in the land?

Even a little child knows that Rochas will soon turn around to say that Imo state government has sold its share in the Ogboko facilities to Rochas Foundation for a Rochas Foundation University.

Does Rochas Okorocha even understand that one day he shall be out of power?


Look at the hostility against the Ogboko facilities while Rochas is still in office. Imagine what shall happen the day he is out of power.

mandax:


Abagworo, please carry your Rochas wahala de go.
How could a normal person think that he could acquire land in the name of government to relocate IMSU to Ogboko, later turned around to build his private university in the land?

Even a little child knows that Rochas will soon turn around to say that Imo state government has sold its share in the Ogboko facilities to Rochas Foundation for a Rochas Foundation University.

Why not wait until he says that? Until then what we have heard is what we believe. It is a welcome development too.

More from the site

Abagworo:


Why not wait until he says that? Until then what we have heard is what we believe. It is a welcome development too.

Rochas Okorocha told the National Universities Commission when he was receiving the license for Eastern Palm University last month that his 12 years dream for that university has come true.

So Rochas Foundation University is what he is up to.

Soon he will tell you that Imo state government has sold its share in the university project to a private bidder.

Why Imo elite don’t like me –Okorocha

…Says Igbo should queue behind Buhari

By Alvan Ewuzie and Willy Eya

GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State believes that the Igbo did not play the right kind of politics in last year’s general elections. He argues that they should not have put all their eggs in one basket in the 2015 poll. In this exclusive interview with Daily Sun in Owerri, the Imo State capital, he bared his mind on a number of issues including the reasons the elite in his state do not like him.

Excerpts:

You have embarked on so many giant projects despite the downturn in the nation’s economy. Where are you getting the funds for all these and what are the prospects for sustaining these projects?

My passion to see Imo as a modern state is what is making me go into these infrastructural developments which were lacking in the past. They range from roads, schools, hospitals and indeed key infrastructural developments.

Talking about funding, Imo is not one of those states that get huge subventions. It might surprise you to know that what I get as governor in 10 months is what some states get in one month. This is to tell you how low it is.

And our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) ranges from N400 to N500 million monthly.

This is because our people have not developed the attitude of paying taxes and there is a lot of corruption in the system. They do not even see the reasons why they should pay tax because of lack of infrastructure. But when we introduced free education and embarked on various infrastructural developments, people are beginning to sympathise with the government and are seeing the benefits of paying tax.

I am not saying that our IGR has significantly improved but what has really helped us is thinking outside the box. What we do is to make sure that we reduce the cost of governance to almost zero per cent. We try to remove those bureaucratic bottlenecks that have kept projects dead. I make sure that the implementation of projects are made open and transparent. We try to get the lowest cost of projects and at the same time get a high quality.

In Imo State, our style of awarding contracts is quite different. We call for tenders and it is like a bidding process. We have introduced Tax Force system that allows us to declare an emergency on any project. So, that makes us on a daily basis enter into any of these projects because the House of Assembly has given us powers to do so.

This has helped and this has been responsible for what we have been able to do and also on cutting down on recurrent expenditure. But it has nothing to do with the salary of workers. We pay better than any state in terms of salaries. So, the secret is cutting down on cost of governance and making sure that we get value for our money. I make sure I supervise these projects almost on a daily basis. With this strategy, we get the results. But if you sit down as an executive governor, cross your legs and be enjoying the air condition and you are not always in the field, you would never get it right. You

have to practically become a carpenter, mason, electrician and all of that just to make sure that you get things right.

I can close my eyes and describe all my projects. I do not need anybody to tell me about the projects because I inspect them almost on a daily basis.

What do you think is the greatest challenge you are facing governing Imo State?

Honestly, none except what I may call the culture of recurrent rather

than capital expenditure government which is almost like a nationwide

problem. You see people who are employed on sentimental considerations by their political masters who do nothing.

All they do is collect salaries and do nothing. That pains me. There is

also the problem of over bloated salary structure. Like now, what I get in a month is about N3.4 billion and my total salary structure is over N5 billion; how do you reconcile it? These are my greatest challenges in government. It is about the recurrent versus capital expenditure. As a businessman, I work it out that if I can save the recurrent for one year, I would make Imo State an industrial zone. The industries would be employing people and paying those people that I borrowed those recurrent salaries from and paying them twice their salaries for the next 100 years.

We eat our future in this country. I cannot understand why a governor should get N5 billion and pay N4.9 billion to workers and this constitutes about three per cent of the population and there is no productivity of any sort that you see. It does not show on them or the environment they live. It does not show any where other than in consumption.

What happens is that you see joints of pepper soup, ‘Isi ewu and

Nkwobi’ all over the streets. We keep consuming the future of our children.

My problem is how can I change capital to become the recurrent. If I can get that, I would transform Imo State in less than two years and Imo State would be like China. We have money in this country but we do not know how to spend it.

But paying salary is also part of welfare and government is all about providing welfare and keeping people alive It is a wrong way of keeping people alive. For how long can we keep people alive this way and the people are not even alive.

Think about it. If this money is put into the manufacturing sector, and the workers are transferred to the productive sector, then we would be better off for it. I heard some of my colleagues say that this is a salary state, so you must pay salary. I agree with them that people must receive salary but there must also be something for the generation yet unborn. My worry is about the future generation. Something must be done and every man must be paid according to his labour.

This is what I am saying. Civil service job is not the kind of job that countries in the under developed world need. In Imo State, we do not need more than 1000 workers and 12000 teachers but here we have about 18000 teachers and over 45000 civil servants. Doing what?

Some believe that the Igbo made a mistake by not supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election.

What is your take on that?

I think the last election is an eye opener for the Igbo people never to put their eggs in one basket. That was bad politics. The Igbo played the worst kind of politics. Even in the North where the APC is strong, you still have the PDP. In the South West, they balance it almost 50-50. But in Igbo land, we put all our eggs in one basket.

That is the imaginary fear of the marginalization of Ndigbo going on because we did not even vote for the man; so, we do not even have the confidence to approach the president. I do not think that anybody has approached Buhari and he said to the person that he would not do what he asked for. I told you about the international cargo airport of Imo State. He gave me the licence and we now have an international cargo airport.

I do not know what I have asked of him that he has not done for me. So, it is not true that he is against Ndigbo as people think. It is because the Igbo did not vote for him, they do not even have the confidence to approach him.

But they should come off their shell; they are Nigerians. Muhammadu Buhari owes them the duty of care as the president. He is not the president of the APC, he is the president of the federal republic of Nigeria. Whether you voted for him or not, he owes you the duty of care. And I think the Igbo should do their political arithmetic and queue behind Buhari properly.

But what do you think is the future of the APC in Igbo land?

As far as I am concerned, the future of the APC in Igbo land is very bright. What has happened is that the political ‘who is who’ in Igbo land, the masses have come to understand that they misled them in the past. There is nothing that has come out of all the political leaders. Ninety per cent of political leaders in Igbo land have done nothing for their people other than themselves and their families.

So, they are now beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel by seeing the emergence of new leaders. If you come to Imo State now, you know I have done something and you believe it and it was not like that in the past. So, if I tell them come, they would follow me because

they have seen what I have done for them. So, the whole politics of deceit is gone. You cannot be a leader when you cannot show your people the light. So, that is the new politics but people think that it is only when these old names are in a political party that that is where the Igbo are. That is not true. People are now watching out for where the light is and not where the old names are.

The issue of herdsmen, we understand that there was a little skirmish in Imo State sometimes; what is your solution to it and what do you think should be done generally?

I do not think there was any skirmish. It is a rumour. There was nothing like that. But what I have come to tell the world, Nigerians and the Igbo is to understand that a criminal is a criminal.

It does not matter whether he is a Fulani herdsman, an Hausa Boko Haram, Igbo kidnapper or South South kidnapper; a criminal is a criminal.

All of them give bad names to where they come from. So, you should separate them and deal with them as criminals. And I think the president has given an order to that effect and I am happy about
The kidnapping that is taking place in Kaduna, 90 per cent of them are Fulanis. They are not Igbos; those are criminals; if you say they are Fulanis, it does not mean that all the Fulanis are criminals,

And when you come here, you say Igbo kidnapper; does it mean all of us are kidnappers?

Those Igbo people that are kidnappers should be treated as criminals. If we are able to do this, then it would promote unity in this country. Let us face the issues rather than talking about the sentiments of where you come from.

It appears that the elite in Imo State have an issue with you and it appears that there is a gang up to bring you down. What is the matter?

Yes, there is a gang up. Ask yourself, how am I surviving with Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Arthur Nzeribe, Hope Uzodinma, Achike Udenwa, Kema Chikwe, Christy Anyanwu, Emeka Ihedioha and the political who is who? They are on the other side while I am on the other side. And every time, I defeat them. They have the police, they have the Army in those days. They have the instruments of power; they have the money and they had the federal government and I defeated them. They were all behind Ohakim when I defeated Ohakim.

There was no known name other than the masses, my people, my people. That tells you the divide and that tells you that the people have seen the light. My strength is that the people know I mean well. God almighty and the people are my strength. I know the elite are against me but I am not against them. Their reason for wanting political power is different for my reason. They are two different divide. I believe that the dividends of democracy should go to the people. But they believe that the dividends of democracy must be for those who are called by their political names.

I am not for that; my life is for the ordinary man and with them I will stay for all the days of my political life. And it looks like we might never go the same way because of their political beliefs.

if i had been with this group of people in PDP, I would never have introduced free education, the infrastructural development you are seeing could never have been possible. The schools, hospitals, roads, all these projects could never have been possible.

Why do you say so?

It is because we could have been busy sharing the money and plan for who gets the next power.

For me, I think about the future of the next generation and not about who gets the next political power. It might shock you that I literally spent nothing for my politics. In the first instance, I spent little or nothing to become a governor but my counterpart then spent over N14 or N15 billion.

Just like the last election, did you not see about N2 billion and even here in Imo State, do you know how much they spent? Over N20 billion came into Imo State to fight the last election and yet they lost. So, you can see that the difference is clear. I prefer to stay with the masses. Unless those people are baptized with Holy water and their whole political life changes before I can work with them but as long as they remain with the orthodox old system of oppressors, I will not be part of them.

There is this speculation that the recent change of the Secretary to the State government is in connection with the 2019 general elections. How true is that?

Why did you change the SSG?

No, it has nothing to do with the elections in 2019. My SSG was changed for balancing and strategic issues. It had nothing to do with politics.

He is my son and I made him relevant in this state. I appointed him the chairman of Internally Generated Revenue, the Chief of Staff and so on within five years. If I say wait as a player, it may be for some reasons. Any time you see a coach remove a good player and put him somewhere, it might be for strategic reasons. So, it has nothing to do with politics. Even the present person who is the SSG was once my Accountant

General and when he was removed heads almost rolled as if he had committed one crime like that but there was no such thing. I am the man at the helm of affairs and I understand what I need to do at a particular time to achieve the maximum objective.

You have at various times contested to be the president of this country and many think that you still have your eye on that seat; will you take a shot at it in 2019 or is your ambition for that position over?

Let me tell you, the only reason I will not contest for presidency in 2019 is because of President Buhari.

The only reason on earth I would not contest in 2019 is because of President Muhammadu Buhari. I will support him and I believe he was called up at a time like this to clean up the mess in the society. I am not even judging Buhari in terms of achievement but to clean up the mess and lay a new foundation upon which subsequent governments of Nigeria would be built.

Anybody judging Buhari from the other side is not fair to him. For me, that is the only reason I am supporting him; that is why I am with him. I know he would lay a solid foundation for Nigeria. That is the only reason but outside President Buhari, I am back to the trenches.

Do you think the Nigerian people would be ready for you as an Igbo man?

If I am going to run for president, I am not going to run as an Igbo man. I am going to run for that position as a Nigerian. I make bold to say it that I am one of the few Nigerians that are accepted all over the nation and I am proud to say so. I am an Igbo man but I was born in the North and my empowerment and wealth came from the West. I cannot afford to be a tribalized Nigerian. I am a completely detribalized Nigerian. And I think that is the way to go. I do not see a person from Borno as a stranger or Osun as a stranger or any person from any part of Nigeria. They are my brothers and my sisters. I believe in one enclave called Nigeria and that is my mindset. So, any

time I am running for an election, I am running as a Nigerian president and I know that by the grace of God, I will be the president of Nigeria one day. I have made my mark and I have that confidence.

But with all the crises in the land, what do you think is the future of this country?

Great! History is about being made. But like I said, every leader comes at a time for a particular purpose in history. We needed somebody with a political will to strengthen this country and that is the reason for my support for President Buhari. Do not forget, I ran for the same primaries with him.

When I lost, I queued up behind him, supported him, did all the campaigns and took all the risks, humiliations and abuses from my people and he won. So, for me, the future of Nigeria is great. But you know what? We must stop ‘monkeying’ around and face the realities of the time. We must stop this plastering of this economic cracked wall every time; it can no longer help us.

We must break down this whole building and lay a solid foundation once and for all without sentiments. Jokes apart, until we do that, we will not move forward as a nation; a situation where professionalism is gone. There is no target to getting results. What drives us here is sentiments, where you come from and who you are, what religion you are and when we want to take up any political issue, people say it must be this way.
If we keep doing things the same old way, we keep getting the same old results. I do not care but we can no longer plaster this cracked wall of our economy. We must break it down and lay a solid foundation and that might need some form of radical action. And this is what Nigerians are not ready for. Nigerians are not ready for this. We just have to do it.

One of the controversial issues now on ground is the grazing bill. Many believe that if there is any state in the South east that would give consent to the bill, that it is Imo State because of your perceived relationship with people of the Northern zone. Many say you would easily provide land for herdsmen. Is that true?

But that is the only solution. There should be a specified space of land in every state of the federation that would serve as a grazing land. Such land is not only for Fulanis. It is for everybody.

There must be a school there even to teach people about grazing and how to handle animal husbandry. There is no other way. We need the cow meat; we need the people and they need us also and we can organize them but what I do not like is the idea of taking their cows into the streets and destroying people’s property. That is unacceptable but everything should be organized in this country. It is the same thing I am talking about here. You see people building shanties and you say let us organize it and they say no, we prefer to trade in the middle of the road. This must stop. It is better we organize our society.

My worry is that I visit some of these our local markets and see that there is no road in between, so if there is fire, everything goes. Everything here is based on sentiments. Excuse me, we must crack this wall of sentiments and face issues.

You were reported once as having said that you would produce your successor because you do not want what you have labored for to be wasted; are you sure what happened to most former governors who fell out with their successors would not be your fate?

I have not said I would produce my successor. The word produce is too direct; it is only God that can produce.

But what I want to do is that I want to identify those I think that are capable because having worked with them, I understand them much better than anyone would understand them. Having interacted as a governor with all of them, I am in a position to say this particular person could do it. This is because the joy of a governor who is about to leave office is to see a worthy successor.

If you are a governor about to leave and you do not see a worthy successor, it is so painful. I think that is what most governors go through. I do not want to see this beautiful Imo go down the drain again like it used to be in the past. So, what will I do? It is to say okay I have one, two, three, four, five and six, and I suggest may be this particular one could do it, what do you people think. But it must still come from the people.

A little calculation on the amount of IGR Okorocha forfeited or gave out as subsidy to Imolites in free education which is making some sections unhappy.

Primary School fees. Assuming there are 400, 000 primary school pupils in public schools paying 10, 000 Naira per term or quaterly it means the total amount is 4billion Naira quaterly or 1billion Naira monthly.

Secondary schools at 10, 000 Naira per term with average of 200, 000 students will yield additional 2billion quaterly or 500million Naira monthly.

With population of about 15, 000 students and school fees of 100k per semester IMSU can generate 1.5billion every 4months or roughly 350million monthly.

Let us do a little arithmetics

1billion + 500million + 350million = 1.85 billion monthly.

If we add Imopoly we arrive a little above 2billion.

Abagworo:
I Have Completed All Projects Abandoned By My Predecessors- Gov Okorocha

Gov Rochas Okorocha In An Interactive Meeting With Imo State Based Journalists, Correspondents and Publishers

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim, SGI, Sir George Eche, Chief of Staff, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, Comissioners and other apostles of the Rescue Mission Government too numerous too mention are in attendance.

Here are some quotes from Governor Okorocha’s ongoing regular interaction with Imo based journalists, correspondents and publishers.

For me, honor is more than life and glory more than wealth.

In Owerri city, you cannot find a shanty public primary or secondary school. We have reconstructed all schools within the capital city. We have also built new schools from the scratch like the Young Scientists College, Imo Girls College etc.

We have recruited 12,000 teachers including the Youth Must Work teachers to reduce the shortage of teachers in our schools.

We have built, equipped a new College of Nursing Science in Orlu.

Almost all the 27 general hospitals in the state are 80% completed furnished with equipment ongoing. We intend to make Imo a health tourist destination. The Oshiedike Medical Diagnostic Centre is 100% the property of the Imo State Government.

Government House before my emergence was akin to a glorified local government headquarters. The entire landscape of Imo State Government House has changed.

The Government House Chapel is a project very close to my heart. We are not ashamed of the word of God.

Owerri has witnessed remarkable changes, from Warehouse Roundabout to Assumpta, Nze Junction Government House, IMSU Junction, Mbaise Road, Emmanuel College etc. These roundabouts have reduced vehicular traffic. From Amakohia to Warehouse junction etc. We have 5 inland roads from New Owerri to the city. We now have water falls. We now have two flyovers in the city.

Foundation Road is under construction and leads from Mbaise Road to MCC down to Orji Flyover to Amakohia Flyover upto Onitsha road. This is a bypass that will decongest the city.

Imo State is the busiest state in the South-East today. We now host major international and national events like NBA, CAN conferences etc owing to the construction of the Imo International Convention Centre, IICC.

At New Owerri axis, we have several projects like the new judiciary headquarters named Oputa Court under construction, ISOPADEC headquarters completed and in use. We have the 5 inland roads leading to and outside the city from New Owerri.

We have the Artisan City at Naze where handbags, shoes will be produced. We are attracting our people from Aba to invest here in Imo by providing an enabling environment for them to ply their trade.

We are building an "Alaba Market" to start before the end of the year. We are attracting our sons and daughters in Alaba International Market to return home and invest.

The new Concord Hotel is beautiful and recovered project of Dee Sam Mbakwe.

We have completed all abandoned projects of our predecessors.

Our local government headquarters have changed.

We have rescued Works Layout from flood and tarred the roads there.

We have one of the best liaison office in Abuja. We where in a rented apartment until we completed our Liaison Office which has since been put to use.

We properly utilised our bail out funds.

Mark my words, when am done with my second term, Owerri will be one of the best cities in Nigeria.

Something is missing about the governor;
I mean:


a state governor makes a public speech about his development projects in his state;

more than 95% of his speech and development projects he mentioned are in the state capital alone.

Dr Alban Nwapa is one of the most internationally succesful musicians born in Africa. He is a native of Oguta in Imo State. Picture below is his family and his lakeside mansion in Oguta.

Our maiden tunnel is nearing completion in record time.

One of our most beautiful but underestimated endowments being sandfilled for a beach. As Imo Government now has money Oguta lake should be a priority project for Okorocha. If Oguta lake finally achieves 40% of its potentials Imo will swim in IGR.

Our floating restaurant

Let's dance to Dr Alban's "It's My Life" released 24 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHm_6AQ7CY

IMO DON BETTER

Zik is a dead weight as long as Igbo political history is concerned. It smacks insults comparing him with the great Ikemba Ojukwu. The Igbo nation mourns the day fate allowed Zik emerge as our pre-independence leader. Okorocha's zikist tendencies would surely put to an end his political career come 2019, If he doesn't retrace his steps. Here was a man once loved by all (Igbo nile) and seen as the true successor to Ikemba Ojukwu suddenly become hated, despised and seen as a villain. How it happened within a shortwhile seems to me a surprise. If I was told last 5 years by a sorcerer, how low Rochas popularity would fare, I wouldn't have believed it. The Igbo nation at this trying times are in the look out for people in the clout of Ojukwu. You don't go 'left' when they go 'right' and you don't say 'no' when they say 'yes'. Nnamdi Kanu is making wave today because he understands the innate thoughts of majority Ndigbo.
Joining APC is not a crime, but getting outsmarted by other big boys in game and always losing your voice when it concerns your people out of fear of upstaging the establishment is foolishness of the highest order. Rochas seems like a lost needle in the midst of grains.
Rochas should learn from Zik's blunders and return home when there is still time. Events in Nigeria has proven times without number that you cannot lead your people when majority of them is against you. Zik once rosed to greater height because he was embraced by his people, but the moment Zik left his people he became history.
Party or no party, Rochas should abdicate being a Zikist and return to being an Ojukwu. Zikism is hypocrisy, blindness, political shallowness and Zikists usually ends in political widerness. The Igbo nation under one Nigeria doesn't need a Zikist, the Igbo nation demands an Ojukwu.

Chiwude:
Zik is a dead weight as long as Igbo political history is concerned. It smacks insults comparing him with the great Ikemba Ojukwu. The Igbo nation mourns the day fate allowed Zik emerge as our pre-independence leader. Okorocha's zikist tendencies would surely put to an end his political career come 2019, If he doesn't retrace his steps. Here was a man once loved by all (Igbo nile) and seen as the true successor to Ikemba Ojukwu suddenly become hated, despised and seen as a villain. How it happened within a shortwhile seems to me a surprise. If I was told last 5 years by a sorcerer, how low Rochas popularity would fare, I wouldn't have believed it. The Igbo nation at this trying times are in the look out for people in the clout of Ojukwu. Wike is now likened as Ojukwu because of his ruggedity to the bone and readiness to move with his people all through. You don't go 'left' when they go 'right' and you don't say 'no' when they say 'yes'. Nnamdi Kanu is making wave today because he understands the innate thoughts of majority Ndigbo.
Joining APC is not a crime, but getting outsmarted by other big boys in game and always losing your voice when it concerns your people out of fear of upstaging the establishment is foolishness of the highest order. Rochas seems like a lost needle in the midst of grains.
Rochas should learn from Zik's blunders and return home when there is still time. Events in Nigeria has proven times without number that you cannot lead your people when majority of them is against you. Zik once rosed to greater height because he was embraced by his people, but the moment Zik left his people he became history.
Party or no party, Rochas should abdicate being a Zikist and return to being an Ojukwu. Zikism is hypocrisy, blindness, political shallowness and Zikists usually ends in political widerness. The Igbo nation under one Nigeria doesn't need a Zikist, the Igbo nation demands an Ojukwu.

never put wike( ikwerre man) and ojukwu in the same sentence..moreover if you experienced what Igbos living in obi akpo lga did when wike was their chairman you will retract what you just typed about him

asha80:
never put wike( ikwerre man) and ojukwu in the same sentence..moreover if you experienced what Igbos living in obi akpo lga did when wike was their chairman you will retract what you just typed about him

Ok. Let me retract it.

Abagworo:
Our maiden tunnel is nearing completion in record time.

Work has resumed on a 2nd tunnel and 2nd flyover at a great pace. The 1st flyover was completed in record 7 months so I won't be surprised if the 2nd one is ready before December.

As the Ikemba Ojukwu tunnel nears completion in record 2 months I equally expect the just resumed IMHA tunnel to be that fast.

God bless Imo State.

Abagworo:


Work has resumed on a 2nd tunnel and 2nd flyover at a great pace. The 1st flyover was completed in record 7 months so I won't be surprised if the 2nd one is ready before December.

As the Ikemba Ojukwu tunnel nears completion in record 2 months I equally expect the just resumed IMHA tunnel to be that fast.

God bless Imo State.

2nd flyover where?

asha80:
2nd flyover where?

The Amakohia flyover. A lot of demolition is ongoing and the work pace is unbelievably fast.

Abagworo:


The Amakohia flyover. A lot of demolition is ongoing and the work pace is unbelievably fast.

Abagworo( thanks for this keep bringing the update ok. Imo must be better