Gov. Rochas, Show Us The Man And Prepare For War

The French literary icon, Willian Shakespeare, in his drama Macbeth,

had the Dane of Cawdor declare, “why should I play the Roman fool and

die, while I see my sword and gashes do them better?” Prudence said

the Italian angelic Doctor of the Catholic Church, Saint Thomas of

Aquinas, is a great virtue, but this virtue he postulated like the

ancient Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, rests in the middle of

pusillanimity (or cowardice) and bravery. Thus, prudence as virtuous

or authentic living rests in the middle of silence or indifference and

excessive activism.
These two witty sayings point to the fact that
there are times when man, the real man, must decisively deal with

realities of life in order to reposition situations.

It is a well talked about fact in Europe and America, that the African

continent is known for debased dispositions to apex leadership

positions, economic acquisitions, vicarious power shows and luxurious

life patterns. These not only typify some Africans who at present are

bereaved of postmodern behaviours and uncivil mind-sets, but also the

rape of possibilities for socio-economic and political growth and

advancement of such human societies and nations from attaining

laudable development.
These uncivil features are shamelessly displayed by our local, states

and national leaders, elected and appointed, who not only studied in

developed countries of Europe and America, but frequently travel to

such countries and have grand business investments and properties in

them.
Virtually, in all facets of the Nigerian socio-economic and political

life, especially political leadership, Nigerian national, state and

local leaders are of the habit of ensuring eternity in office, either

by the incumbent in se or by proxy. This has resulted to

self-substitution through in-group cabalism, which the cabals see

themselves as inevitable factors in state and national leadership, and

thus the anointing vessel of Prophet Samuel, which flows on whoever

they nominate as God’s elect for the people.
This happened in theocracies and never in democracies, and not even in nascent ones, especially in Imo State, given the degree and pedigree of the State’s elites and enlightened masses.

Ultimately, leadership imposition, caucus factors, live-leadership

(especially in elective positions), diversions of public funds and

properties, tenure elongation schemes, etc., are products of such

schemes. Living examples abound in Nigeria about the unfavourable

outcomes of such manipulations, and this is one of the reasons

advancement has eluded most states, constituencies of the federation

and nation at large.
The incumbent Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has also

embarked on such schemes of cabalism and in-group political leadership

despite the abysmal failure of his administration. His administration,

which is reckoned as the worst regime (Junta and civilian) in the

history of the State since its creation in 1976, has not only been a

grand failure and deep setback on the tracks of development, but has

also been undemocratic and a mixture of authoritarianism. Rochas

Okorocha has ruled Imo since 2011 like Benito Mussolini’s fascist

government, Mobutu Seseko’s tyrannical government, Sani Abacha’s and

Id Amin’s dictatorial government, Nguema and Bokassi’s

totalitarianism, etc.
No Imolite resident abroad or home today is not of this conviction,

that Imo is ruled by an earless Governor, a tyrant who has no regard

for the sanctity of law and juridical orders, no sensitivity is his

social neurons, no empathy for the less impoverished masses and

employees in the State, no truth and welfare-based project for the

State, fake and never fulfilled promise during electoral campaigns, a

government ruled by deceit.
Imolites are three times poorer now than they were before his coming,

especially during the unmerited second tenure. Yet, the man who has

led Imolites to great living pains and poverty, the man who has

rendered many homeless, jobless and stranded financially, is today

with volte face, luring Imolites to accept anointed candidature for

his succession as the Governor of the State for another period of

hardship. The native Igbo say that the snake never gives birth to

short creatures. A son, whose father grossly failed in leadership and

led the citizens as captives to their most dreaded enemies, has

nothing reasonable to afford the masses once redeemed, as an aspiring

leader after his father.
Every Imo citizen home and abroad, elite and commoner, party chieftain

and ordinary member, and beyond party affiliation, must rise on time

against the incessant strives of the failed Governor Okorocha to

nominate or anoint leaders for us. Let due democratic process take its

course, and let Imolites chose themselves who rules them.

This necessitates the condemnation of his nomination strives, as well

as inter and intra-party resistance against the Governor’s engineered

militant group-canvassers, who advertise and declare as vox populi for

Imolites to Rochas, to “show us the man and go to sleep.”

Certainly, and as usual, Imolites have taken such comments and strives

uncommon and as come and gone. But insidiously, the Governor, his son

in-law and other unconscientious members of his cabal, have been

working strongly to ensure that Rochas not only nominates his beloved

successor, but ensure that he becomes the Governor of Imo State at all

cost.
Such schemes as directing that candidates above 50 years should not

aspire for the Governorship seat in APC, is a scheme to get rid of

possible good candidates that may come up for the gubernatorial seat

come 2019, that is, if there is any reasonable Imolite that still has

confidence in APC, their candidates and execution of the party’s

manifesto.
Let us rise and resist every bit of Rochas schemes for succession come

2019, Imo is too big for one man to own totally at all times, and too

old to be cajoled into old tricks. In fact, let Okorocha show us that

man after his own heart, and prepare for the greatest war.