GOV. OKOROCHA, GOV. OKOROCHA, GOV. OKOROCHA, HOW MANY TIMES DID I CALL YOU?

According to Aesop the great philosopher, “A goat was straying in the vineyard, and began to browse on the tender shoots of a vine which bore several fine bunches of grapes. 'What have I done to you', said the vine, 'that you should harm me thus? Isn't there grass enough for you to feed on? All the same, even if you eat up every leaf I have, and leave me quite bare, I shall produce wine enough to pour over you when you are led to the alter to be sacrificed.”

It is obvious hitherto in accordance with the principles of Hormic Psychology that behavior is characterized by purpose or a tendency to seek goals. Goal-seeking behavior is motivated by propensities that are instincts or sentiments. We all know that instincts are innate propensities such as pugnacity, curiosity, acquisition and self-assertion. According to William McDougall (a great Psychologist) “all instincts are describable in terms of their three fundamental characteristics or attributes-cognitive, affective, and conative.”

Following the above assertion all instincts have a sensory, a motivational, and an emotional component. Instincts therefore may be modified into sentiments, such as love, jealousy, or patriotism, which are combinations of instincts and through experience, become associated with complex stimulus situations. The point here is that every behavior is characterized by purpose and goal-seeking. The influence of sentiments has greatly affected many people who sincerely wish to achieve a particular goal. People can kill out of sentiments occasioned by jealousy.

I am not trying to take you to my lecture room in order to educate you on Hormic Psychology which lost its ground when behaviorists attacked it, rather I am by virtue of the above alluding and inferring that the allegory of the goat as was highlighted by Aesop the philosopher was influenced by envy and jealousy to harm the tender shoots of a vine which bore several bunches of grapes.

The reader of this article could recall that I have written several articles bore out of patriotism and aimed at giving the present administration of Imo State, led by Chief Rochas Okorocha a good sense of direction. But he has completely negated my advice, and like the goat in Aesop's fables went ahead to browse on the tender shoots of the vine after the goat had complained, so has Okorocha continued to treat Imo State. Now I am calling him three times so that the response of the vine to the goat will not be his portion in his political career.

In Igbo Cosmology, when someone is called three times, it signifies warning, either to correct the person or to warn him/her about the danger in the future. A similar scenario played out during Christ earthly ministry when he called Peter three times indirectly prognosticating the future in a loving manner and language depicting warning. Jesus said to Peter, “…Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? Yea, Lord….feed my lambs…And saith to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord…Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time…” John 21:15-17.

Following the above, Peter's exasperation was informed by the repeated manner in which Christ asked him a single question which he already knew the answer. In the same vein, I am not calling Gov. Okorocha because of what he does not know. He knows why I am calling him and Imo people know that Okorocha's government has failed to deliver the dividend of democracy simply because he has no respect for virtue. In the words of Shakespeare, “Our life is short, but to expand that span to vast eternity is virtue's work”. The virtue of a man ought to be measured not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his every-day conduct.

Confucius one of the greatest Chinese sage, was asked if he knew a secret for happiness. He answered that he did not know any. Then a disciple asked, “Do you know any secret to ruin a country?” “Yes”, Confucius replied. “When the rulers do not accept criticisms”.

Criticism cannot be stopped through the art of violence which informs why Voltaire infers, “Really to stop criticism they say one must die”. Destructive criticism is dangerous because it wounds a man's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses his resentments. On the contrary, constructive criticism does the opposite to a man of virtue and value. This however is not the case with Imo State government. I had before now informed Imolites that should anything happen to me, they should contact or inquire from Imo government house. This I said due to so many threats I have received, not knowing that worse plans have been concluded to eliminate me so that I would stop criticizing the government.

In the words of William O. Douglas, “The use of violence as an instrument of persuasion is therefore inviting and seems to the discontented to be the only effective protest”. Violence has never stopped any right thinking social critic; it only strengthens him. As many would admit that I have been a social critic for a long time now, my criticisms are very objective and has also helped the previous administration of Chief Ohakim to deliver the dividend of democracy to Imo people.

Gov. Okorocha has never loved me, because beginning from time (I saw his posters and hand bills) he declared his intension to run for the governorship seat of Imo, I took it upon myself to inform the Imo people of the danger inherent in electing him as the state Chief Executive. Today, all my predictions about him have all fulfilled. Though, when he was declared the winner of the supplementary election, I started advising him through my various columns both in the Sun Newspaper and other local newsprint. I did all that as a patriotic Nigerian but he completely negated all my admonitions.

As a social critic, I continued my work and assignment under the slogan of the present administration 'Imo must be better'. Imo cannot be better without constrictive criticism because those who clap forGov. Okorocha in error are now mocking him now that his failure is conspicuous. Instead of positively appreciating my patriotic contribution in making Imo better, I was negatively appreciated through violence and evil plans. It was on the 17th of March, 2013 at exactly 5:30am that a group of armed men numbering 4 stormed my residence when I was away and consequently broke into my bed-room and my library searching for me.

My children were all at home and my sister-in-law informed them that I travelled the previous day being 16th of March, but they insisted on searching for me; their search led to breaking of the ceiling of my house, when they became convinced that I was truly not at home, they left a verbal message with my sister-in-law thus, “Tell Prof that it is not over yet…we shall come back again and when we see him, we shall cut off those hands of his used in writing…” She confessed to me that they came in un-masked faces.

I have duly reported to the appropriate quarters and investigation is going on. But I have continued to ask why the men were after cutting off my hands. Such insinuation points to one single direction-the Imo state government. Is there no other way of resolving the issue if they feel hurt over my criticism on them than to cut off my hands? Is the government of Okorocha that bad? I think so! After all, the Horn Newspaper (one of the local tabloids in Imo State) had it hot with Okorocha when they carried a particular report alleging that Gov. Okorocha was an Ogboni member. Imo people could remember what happened. It is still very fresh in my memory.

I have a young family. Gov. Okorocha, Gov. Okorocha, Gov. Okorocha, how many times did I call you? I know you may know why I am calling you three times, nobody can stop me from talking against this administration that is known with lies, fraud, manipulation, illegality, falsehood, and cheat, to mention but a few. We have not forgotten the case of Mr. Henry Ekpe and Dr. Ethelbert Okere all of whom had at one time or the other received either threats or beating from the government of Chief Rochas Okorocha. Imo belongs to us all and we cannot run away from our collective responsible. Imo must be better!

By Prof. Nathan Protus Uzorma-The Reformer.
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Articles by Nathan Protus Uzorma