GOV OKOROCHA MUST APOLOGIZE
One of my favorite philosophers Aesop in one of his fables told a story about the farmer and the viper thus, “One winter a farmer found a viper frozen and numb with cold, and out of pity picked it up and placed it in his bosom. The viper was no sooner revived by the warmth than it turned upon its benefactor and inflicted a fatal bite upon him, and as the poor man lay dying, he cried, 'I have only got what I deserved, for taking compassion on so villainous a creature”.
Imo State has truly got what she deserves from Gov. Okorocha who is leading a government that could be best described as a cesspool of corruption. Imo needed a change without knowing that they were electing a hock instead of the cock they already knew. Today the saying of former Nigerian President Obasanjo that Imo was going for the worse criminal is no longer a story but highly conspicuous in Imo state. If you doubt me come and see!
During the 2011 political campaign in Imo State, some people and in fact, some top catholic clergies like Arch Bishop A.J.V Obinna took it upon (himself) themselves both in prayers and radical actions, propaganda and much more to make sure that Chief Ohakim was manipulated out because they saw an angel (Okorocha) with flattering cum vain promises aimed at hoodwinking and hypnotizing their enslaved minds. They saw the 'angel', but could not ask themselves the nature of the 'angel' whether it came from God or Satan. Yes, there are angels of light and that of darkness but unfortunately, they accepted and took the term ANGEL without any investigation into its nature and decided to have pity on him and assisted him like the farmer in Aesop's fables assisted the frozen viper. Today the viper (Okorocha) is revived and has given a fatal bite to Imo state and everybody is crying.
Imo people truly deserve what they are presently receiving from Okorocha's government of corruption because we were in a hurry for a change and all the people who expected the angel to act like a divine messenger, have all been disappointed hence tongues are wagging; no wonder Arch. Bishop A.J.V Obinna is recently credited to have inferred that “Rochas has made Ohakim a hero”. This is true because in two evils, there must be a 'better' one. Okorocha has forgotten that life is just a gift from God. He is busy gathering wealth that should have been used to properly develop Imo unto himself. This greedy desire for opulence reminds me of Alexander the Great who upon seeing Diogenes (the philosopher) looking attentively at a parcel of human bones, asked the philosopher what he was looking for. “That which I cannot find”, was his reply; 'the difference between your father's bones and those of his slaves'. What a life of pity to a man who flatters his people with words of love while evil is in his heart. No wonder some Imo youths upon sighting Chief Ikedi Ohakim in Owerri started cheering him with a song (“ikiri ka onye oshi mma”) meaning bush-baby is better than a thief. You could recall during 2011 political campaign in Imo, the then Governor Chief Ohakim was popularly called Ikiri for his wisdom and smartness. Today, the revise is the case hence the above slogan.
The same governor who then claimed to be a friend of all is today a friend of none as Aristotle puts it, “A friend to all is a friend to none”. The true philosophy of friendship is a single soul dwelling in two or more bodies contrary to Rochas Okorocha's philosophy of “myself, myself and myself alone.” This is an act of abomination induced by selfishness. According to Socrates, “False words are not only evil on themselves, but infect the soul with evil”. Yes Okorocha's false flattering words that have continued to play on few minds in Imo state are all lies. The bible says, “A flattering mouth worketh ruin”. Prov. 26-28. For John Ray, “When flatterers meet, the devil goes to dinner”.
Today the devil has gone to dinner with Imo people in so many ways as flatterers have continued to meet. The dinner started sometime in 2012 when Gov. Okorocha implored every well meaning Imo person and beyond with his flattering mouth to come and take up road construction projects on the premise that they would only be paid in parts of 30% of the job when they must have mobilized to site and reached to an advanced stage of the project. In response to this all important call Imo contractors as well as others outside Imo gathered their resources and commenced the massive road projects in various communities. This was why the Okorocha's led government counted the opening of roads as part of his achievements and is still being televised on various television houses.
Today Gov. Okorocha has refused to pay the Imo contractors despite the praises showered on them when it started. Gov. Okorocha that swore to protect the masses is now milking them to death. Some have started dying before hearing the claim of the government that there was no official agreement. Oh what a government of 419! They were asked to start the job so that they will not abscond if payment was effected from the beginning. Today the people did the job and the state government has 'absconded'. 90% of the roads have been abandoned, erosion has claimed some parts-oh Rochas must apologize to Imo people!
When Gov. Okorocha noticed that some Imo based contractors were dying, he decided to make payment to few of them in order to revitalize them; this he did by issuing cheques to few of them. Okorocha issued Zenith bank cheques (NO: 70051640, 68582986, 70051638, 68582983, 68582987, 70051639, 70051637, 68582985), to mention but a few to his fellow Imo people. It could interest you to know that all the cheques with the above numbers bounced and the people came back crying and gnashing their teeth in pain. Gov. Okorocha must apologize to Imo people for this ignoble action against the same people he flatters with 'my people, my people' policy.
The same government that gave his people bounced cheques effected the payment of over N1.5 billion to a Lebanese man for a job not done. Most of the people who started all the abandoned road projects in Imo state, borrowed money from both banks and individuals to do the job, they cannot move freely in their own city for fear of one harassment or the other; while the Lebanese man is moving freely in a city he committed such crime because the government is giving him courage. Owelle must apologize!
The press is highly awash with the JPROS contract scam the Lebanese company that received over N1.5 billion for a job not done. Our governor has abused his office and has committed monumental impeachable offences in a proportion heavier than that of the Deputy Governor Sir. Jude Agbaso. Okorocha must apologize! The Imo House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu is busy playing with words with Sir Jude Agbaso, leaving Gov.Rochas untouched while he has committed more crime than his deputy, for instance on page 13 of Gov. Okorocha's Budget Speech-“The Rescue Budget 2”, he accepted to have paid 40% of the contract sum of some non existing projects in Imo state. Now hear Gov. Okorocha, “Our legacy projects like Imo Towers of 1,000 Housing Units targeted at high network individuals and our citizens in the diaspora, the Ecumenical Centre known as “Amarachi”, and the Magnificent Towers known as “Akachi”, the Five Star Crystal Hotel, Ultra-modern Shopping Malls, Multi level Car Parks, the ultra-modern Judiciary Headquarters, all designed to put Imo state in the Guinness Book of Records. At present 40 percent of the contract sum for these projects has been paid”.
From the above claim, it is obvious that Gov. Okorocha is using Greek language to explain English to English speaking Imo House of Assembly. The Imo House of Assembly quickly understood the Greek and is now interpreting same to us in Igbo language even when they did not understand Greek language. Now I wish to use English language to decode Gov. Okorocha's manipulation in the Imo House of Assembly. The facts must be said. Facts according to Tryon Edwards “are God's arguments; we should be careful never to misunderstand or prevent them”. Yes, there is nothing more remorseful, just as there is nothing more helpful, than truth.
Apart from the wasteful Ecumenical Center known as “Amarachi” none of the so called projects as indicated above is sighted in Imo state. They are none existing projects, why should Imo House of Assembly be silent on hearing that the government of Okorocha has paid 40 percent of none existing projects? To whom was the money paid to? 40 percent of nine none existing projects must amount to billions of naira. Which companies or company received this money from Gov. Okorocha? When, how and where? Is this not an impeachable offence? Gov. Okorocha may have cornered the whole billions to buy his two private Jets. The same Okorocha concealed the revenue from the proceed of the concession of Imo Concord Hotel, Ada-palm, Imo Transport Company, Imo General Hospitals, to mention only a few. The same Gov. Okorocha did the worst when he gave approval for purchase of furniture to the tune of N4 billion for Imo Government House without proper appropriation contrary to Imo State Appropriation Law. Oh he must apologize or else…!
Around the year 494 B.C, Marcius Coriolanus, a Roman general had a grudge against Rome, because he was punished and sent away form Rome in spite of his brilliant military services. In his anger he joined the Volscians, the enemies of Rome, and prepared them to attack Rome. Leading the Volscian army he appeared before Rome threatening to destroy it. The Romans, noticing that their former invisible general led the war, were filled with dismay. The people of Rome tried to make peace by every means. But he refused to make peace. Finally, the Romans sought his mother to beg for them, that for her sake he might spare the city. When Coriolanus saw his mother coming, tears filled his eyes, and when she asked him to have pity upon the ungrateful Romans, for her sake, he said, “Mother you have overcome my anger. You have saved my enemies and their city”.
Who shall help us appeal to Okorocha to cease from using Imo as his private firm? Who shall he see and have a change of heart toward Imo state? If we must need a woman to do this, then Mary the mother of Jesus Christ should be the one. Another question is who shall invite HER? My answer is direct; the same Arch Bishop AJV Obinna who helped in giving us Rochas shall lead us to invite Marry to appeal to Gov. Rochas to allow the assets in Imo alone. God will be happy if the Arch Bishop will undertake this assignment; this is very necessary because Okorocha after selling off everything in Imo may begin to sell off communities one by one. Our Arch Bishop, this is the right time to act!
By Prof Nathan Protus Uzorma (The Reformer) Email [email protected]