₦airaland Forum

500 housing units in 4 different locations

Housing Unit fir civil servants

Distribution of 250 tricycles

The commissioning ceremony

Commissioning of the bridge

Dan Jekan, Wammako and Sultan of Sokoto

The bridge to ve commissioned by Owelle

Rochas and Wamakko

Owelle Rochas Okorocha commissioning the projects

I today pledge to build a Rochas Foundation College in Sokoto - Rochas Okorocha

Owelle was invited to commission several projects in Sokoto
"No educational system can rise above the quality of teachers- Gov Wammako

Governors Owelle Okorocha and Wamakko at the occasion

Projects for commissioning

Ezenwammadu:
This guy has not paid 13 months salary and claims imo is oweing him yet he is here gallivinating around

Pl Owelle is not owing Imo workers sir. Stop spreading propaganda

Dan Jekan Sokoto, your Rochas Foundation is all over Nigeria, please bring one of it here so we can also benefit from your philanthropy - Sultan of Sokoto to Rochas Okorocha

As Dan Jekan Sokoto, you are our great ambassador, we are proud of you and your efforts in building bridges across Nigeria. Please continue your good works - Sultan to Gov Okorocha

Elections are over, bickering must stop. It is time to unite our country. Those that predicted doom for Nigeria were disappointed as we are stronger now. I pray opposition leaders will come together to further unite the country. I wish the opposition at state and federal levels will attend the inauguration of the winners. Let's put politics aside while working for our people. The voice of the people must guide government actions at all times. - Sultan of Sokoto

Other dignitaries include the Imo Finance Commissioner, Mr Ikechukwu Njoku

Dan Jekan received by Sultan

Dan Jekan Sokoto, Rochas Okorocha speaking to the Sultan

Received by Gov Wamakko

At the airport

More pix

Welcomed by aides

Besieged by the press

Owelle

Ozo Igbo Ndu, Owelle Ndigbo nile is back. He proclaimed that free education upto university level remains

GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE
PRESS RELEASE
 
RE: HON. EMEKA IHEDIOHA AT THE TRIBUNAL TO CHALLENGE THE VICTORY OF GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA AT THE TRIBUNAL
 
It has come to the knowledge of the Governor of the State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Rescue Mission Government in the State that the governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the April governorship election, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has finally lived upto his earlier threat to challenge the resounding Victory of Governor Okorocha in that election at the tribunal.
 
In the reports to that effect, Hon. Ihedioha had claimed that he decided to challenge Governor Okorocha’s Victory at the tribunal because the election that produced him was marred by “Violence, intimidation, wide spread malpractices and partisanship on the part of INEC”.
 
In our candid reaction, we want to sincerely state that Hon. Ihedioha has only done what others who also lost election have done. He is appropriating his legal right as a Candidate who lost election. And it is also interesting to note that since 2003 when he ran his first election to the House of Representatives, this is the first time he is being a Plaintiff or Claimant in Court over election result. From 2003 to April 2015 when the guber poll was held, he has been the respondent. Others have been going to the tribunal or Court against him, but today, the reverse is the case, which marks, a turning point in his Political Career. And it is a very healthy development.
 
In fact, some of the Petitions against all his election victories are still pending in Court including those of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, and Barr. Austin Ogugua.
 
Although, Hon. Ihedioha’s journey to the tribunal against Governor Okorocha will end up being an exercise in futility, it will help to let the world know who imported violence, and intimidation into the 2015 guber election in the State when the exhibits will be tendered and who benefitted from his claimed partisanship of the State INEC and who actually was the brain behind the invidious malpractice in some Local Governments like Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte Mbaise.
 
As a matter of fact, Governor Okorocha will come up with his Counter-Claims and would challenge Ihedioha and INEC to tell the world how a governorship Candidate in a State with 27 Local Governments would have half of all the Votes he got in the election from only three Local Governments mentioned earlier, where he comes from.
 
We also have our firm belief that Hon. Ihedioha didn’t go to the tribunal on the ground that Governor Okorocha did not win his election resoundly and convincingly too considering the spread he had and his enviable popularity among the Imo Populace or that Governor Okorocha would not have even beaten him in his ward Mbutu or in Mbaise where he comes from if ballot boxes were not snatched and figures falsified, but Hon. Ihedioha wants to use the tribunal matter to keep the hope of the remainant members of the PDP in the State alive and to prevent them from defecting to APC as it is the case at the moment. Hon. Ihedioha’s trip to the tribunal would be the only consolation for the Imo PDP now. That is his real reason for heading to the tribunal and not to contest Okorocha’s Victory because he knows that if the governorship election is conducted twenty times in Imo, Governor Okorocha will still win.
 
We sympathize with him and would advice him not to overstretch himself over the fate of the Imo PDP at the moment and in the nearest future because the truth of the matter is that the Party has become history in the State and there is nothing anybody can do about that.
 
 
Sam Onwuemeodo
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media

OWELLE ROCHAS OKOROCHA AND THE SPIBAT MANSION
By Ik Ogbonna

There are divergent opinions on what makes a great man. While some say that greatness is measured by the amount of money one accumulates, others say it is by number of investments; yet, others insist that it is measured by the number of lives one is affecting positively. Whichever way you take it to be, there are people who measure up to the standards. The Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is one of such men who can stand to be counted as great when measured in any ramification.

Born a poor boy in his home town Ogboko, Ideato South, Imo State in 1962, Governor Rochas started his struggle for survival at a very tender age. As a young lad in Barkin Ladi, Jos, he hawked groceries in the streets and later joined the business of selling fairly used clothes popularly called “Ok materials” or “Okirika” in this part of the world. Okorocha’s commitment and hard work made him purchase his first bus at the age of 14 which was used for public transport. A young boy who diversified his means of income, he made his first one million naira from a commission on the sale of road construction equipment. That idea pushed him into what was then regarded as the elites’ business; the sale of fairly used cars, the popular “tokumbo” cars. This, undoubtedly, sent a wide signal to everyone around that the young Rochas was already on his path to greatness.

It is widely proclaimed that education in the life of a man is invaluable. When a man realizes this, the urge to pursue academic heights springs up. Rochas got this insight and started his academic pursuit early through his personal efforts. At the age of 14, in 1976, he started his academic journey in Juladaco High School, Jos, Plateau State, and graduated in 1981. In 1990, the vibrant Rochas started his tertiary education at the University of Jos where he obtained Diploma in Public Administration and Advanced Diploma in the same discipline in 1994. His love for education had also spurred him to garner other academic qualifications like Diploma in Law and Conflict Management, Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Management, among others. One can now trace the background of his strategic management of critical issues in Imo State which could have ordinarily escalated into social unrest.

As a very young man, Rochas had risen to stardom in his life career. Most of the career paths he undertook were informed by his humanitarian idea and kind heart towards the downtrodden. Gov. Rochas joined Red Cross and later rose to the position of President, Nigerian Red Cross. He is the President/Founder, Rochas Foundation Incorporation which has touched large number of lives than any other Foundation in Nigeria; President, Rochas Group of Companies, a business empire with interest in finance, banking, aviation, real estate, pharmaceuticals and health care managements; Pro Chancellor, African Business School, Abuja; Former Chairman, Board of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, et cetera. He attained all these heights long before his 50th birthday, yet a day never passes without him identifying with the poorest of the poor in Nigeria.

Let me further have a swift peep into his political journey in Nigeria polity. A man with genetic leadership instincts, he made several attempts to clinch political positions in a country he has made several personal contributions to build. With the glaring successes he achieved in his leadership antecedents and personal endeavours, I believe you will not exhibit any iota of doubt in the essence of his political strives. Gov. Okorocha was a commissioner in Federal Character Commission, and a member of National Constitution Conference. In 1999, when democracy was restored, he contested for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries which was AWARDED to Chief Achike Udenwa. Again in 2003, a determined fellow with high expectations, he contested as a presidential candidate under All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) where he came second in the primaries. On his return to PDP, the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs. His desire to directly affect changes in Nigerian leadership.

Not deterred by some seeming unsuccessful attempts, Gov. Rochas came back to his home state, Imo, to answer the call of the masses for a true servant leader. This made him to contest the 2011 gubernatorial election in Imo State defeating the incumbent governor Ikedi Ohakim.

Fifteen years ago, as an astute business man with wide investments in real estate, Gov. Rochas bought an estate in Imo State (his home state) which spans over about ten acres of land from Barnax who in turn purchased same from Spibat Company in 2004. With the amount of money involved in contesting elections in Nigeria, it is only few Nigerian politicians that can undertake this huge investment at the time Rochas did.

Let me emphasize something significant in this and other investments of a Gov. Okorocha in Imo. In Nigeria, we have been acclimatized to the “norm” of our political leaders running to overseas like United States of America, London, Dubai, Paris, South Africa, et cetera to buy and/or build estates, hotels and other investments. Or, am I alone in this stance? Ok, this is done because of what I term “the fear of the unknown.” Your guess of the “unknown” should be as good as mine. The question then is, “why did Rochas decide to buy and site this investment in Nigeria?” The interesting part of it is that it is located in Owerri. This is also away of showing his love for his home state by investing and citing his businesses in the state unlike most other politicians. This takes my mind to an Igbo saying that “onye na-ebughi mmanu anaghi akwafu mmanu.” That means that anyone who is not carrying oil will not pour away oil. This can only be done by a man with clear mind and conscience. Don’t we say that a clear mind fears no accusation.

Shouldn’t we applaud this man for encouraging local investment? When his colleagues are busy developing other countries’ economy, Rochas is citing such developmental projects here to keep boosting our economy. Of course, we know that no man builds an estate and lives alone in it. The Spibat Mansion was originally conceived to host the adopted children of Rochas Okorocha who are beneficiaries of the Rochas Foundation . It is geared towards changing the face of the state and giving it steps above majority of others in the “comity of Nigerian States.” Looking at his status in wealth accumulation, he could have acquired and built something greater and more magnificent in South Africa as other politicians would have done. A man who has made a lot of money right from his youth days and has given out money to life support programmes than he invested in this project deserves more than Spibat Mansion from God. Who knows, as a lover of the poor who hardly lives without mingling with them may one day decide to allocate parts of the estate to the poor who cannot build their own houses. I am just thinking alongside his magnanimity.

Earlier before now, His Excellency, Rochas Okorocha established Rochas Foundation in the year 1996. This foundation started by feeding the poor people in the streets and communities who couldn’t provide foods for themselves, and support to motherless babies’ homes. Later in 2001, Rochas Foundation College was founded with the motto ‘We Educate to Empower.’ This college was established to cater for the children of wretched Nigerians who could not afford to send their children to school. A school that provides everything a child needs to go to school free of charge including feeding has five campuses located in Kano, Ibadan, Jos, Owerri and his home town Ogboko. Presently, Rochas Foundation College, which is solely sponsored by Owelle Rochas Okorocha has over 10,000 students under her care: the biggest philanthropic stride in Africa.

Outside this too, his Foundation involves in other humanitarian services through which the foundation alleviates people’s sufferings. Such services as award of interest free loans, award of scholarships, for tertiary education, car raffles draws, medical assistance and material/educational sponsorship are what the foundation does. He, in his unrelenting generosity, gives maximum support to his wife who, without selfish considerations, builds and gives out Two Bedroom Flats to indigent widows in Imo. Who amongst other politicians in the state has a record in philanthropy an inch close to this? Who?

Ik Ogbonna
An OWERRI based Journalist and Media Consultant

GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE
PRESS RELEASE
 
RE: OKOROCHA PROMISES TO PAY 13 MONTHS SALARY ARREARS OWED TO PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
 
The Imo State government has read a report with the above caption in the media including the social media, stating that the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has promised to pay the 13 months salary arrears owed to the primary school teachers in the state.
 
Those behind the false report, in their effort to make it look real had also claimed that the Governor made the pledge while addressing the workers in the State during the Workers Day celebration.
 
It is interesting to note that both the report published in the newspapers and the one in the social media, none has by-line. In other words, the report was fictitious.
 
The truth of the matter is that the Imo State Government is not owing the primary school teachers 13 months arrears of salary; and we stand to be contradicted. The primary school teachers in the state have always received their salary as at when due.
 
The false report was authored by the Imo PDP and they did it as part of their anger after the party’s abysmal outing in the just concluded governorship election. They have not yet realized that part of their problem was hate campaign and falsehood which they called propaganda.
 
They have been boasting of bouncing back, and they cannot bounce back by trading on lies and being economical with the truth. They must toe the part of honour to bounce back. Imo people and Nigerians should disregard the report. It is not true.
 
 
Sam Onwuemeodo
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media

GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE
PRESS RELEASE
 
RE: OKOROCHA PROMISES TO PAY 13 MONTHS SALARY ARREARS OWED TO PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
 
The Imo State government has read a report with the above caption in the media including the social media, stating that the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has promised to pay the 13 months salary arrears owed to the primary school teachers in the state.
 
Those behind the false report, in their effort to make it look real had also claimed that the Governor made the pledge while addressing the workers in the State during the Workers Day celebration.
 
It is interesting to note that both the report published in the newspapers and the one in the social media, none has by-line. In other words, the report was fictitious.
 
The truth of the matter is that the Imo State Government is not owing the primary school teachers 13 months arrears of salary; and we stand to be contradicted. The primary school teachers in the state have always received their salary as at when due.
 
The false report was authored by the Imo PDP and they did it as part of their anger after the party’s abysmal outing in the just concluded governorship election. They have not yet realized that part of their problem was hate campaign and falsehood which they called propaganda.
 
They have been boasting of bouncing back, and they cannot bounce back by trading on lies and being economical with the truth. They must toe the part of honour to bounce back. Imo people and Nigerians should disregard the report. It is not true.
 
 
Sam Onwuemeodo
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media

Ihedioha Pays Secret Visit To Gov. Okorocha; Pleads For Soft Landing
- Governor asks him to apologize to his SSA Media & remain in the race.


It was a big shock in Douglas House tonight as Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was spotted there in company of former governor Achike Udenwa.

Sources in the governors lodge venue of the secret parley said Gov Okorocha was taken aback when he got a call from Udenwa his kinsman from Orlu Zone and predecessor intimating him that Ihedioha wants him to bring him to see the governor for a private chat. While Owelle Okorocha was still trying to digest the request, a black colored Toyota Avenza, 2014 model, tinted all round drove him and the duo with 2 other aides to government house.

Our source said Ihedioha went on his knees pleading for forgiveness that he was deceived by PDP national and his aides. He regretted his political misadventure that has cost him all his savings and political capital. Our source who pleaded not to be named further said, the Deputy Speaker said he regretted not following the way of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal who is now Governor-Elect of Sokoto State inspite of the governors invitation to that effect in the past. He said Ihedioha confessed that he is aware that tomorrow's runoff is a mere "academic exercise" and asked to be considered for appointment in the new government. He said it will be embarrassing for a whole Deputy Speaker to be an ordinary citizen so soon.

Our source who is a close confidante and aide to the governor from Owerri Zone said the governor told Ihedioha that it was too late for him to retreat now as he refused to heed to advise in the past. The governor requested him to openly apologize and compensate his kinsman from the same Mbutu and his SSA on a media, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo who was arrested twice and battered by security men sent by the DS. Owelle was quoted to have said that "Iwe nwanne agaghi eru na okpukpu" but told the DS to remain in the race reminding him that Okechukwu Buhari, the President - Elect had made it known that there will not be appointments for defectors but assured him that he will not be harassed as long as he goes about his legitimate business.

The Deputy Speaker our source said the Deputy Speaker wore his usual trade mark green cap left the lodge looking despondent and disappointed and drove off in a haste not to be seen.

Our source who had called our correspondent on phone for the breaking news further gave a picture of the meeting to confirm his story.