The seeming political bickering between the incumbent Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his predecessor, Dr Ikedi Ohakim has not only been thrown upon, but assuming various dimensions.
This came to the climax this week, with the release by Gov Okorocha of a 22 page document which he said chronicled the financial activities of Ikedi Ohakim while in office.
The document with the caption “Report on Imo State Account Reconciliation; June 2007 – May 2011” is said to be submitted by the “Exco Committee on Account reconciliation”
Even though the amount in question is N62b, yet the Okorocha administration said it was just the “first tranche of our investigation. Several more investigations are under way and Imo people will be briefed on their outcomes”. This is serious!
This development came just after the Governor had set up various Committees headed by eminent jurists to probe the Ikedi Ohakim administration.
The questions now are, would the already report released by Gov Okorocha be part of the investigation by the inaugurated Committees? Apart from the present report released about financial transactions by Ohakim government, are there other transactions of that administration that were not covered in the one in circulation?
We should all wait for the answers of these questions when Justices Onumajulu and Ahinuhu Panels release their own findings.
I am happy with the latest development, so that Imo people can finally rest about all these financial allegations against the past administration. The topic had remained a top issue at every interaction at Government House Owerri.
Every visitor that arrives Imo Government House has always been regaled with the various funds frittered away by the past administration, to the extent that we were told that the present administration saves N100,000,000 (one hundred million naira) daily, being frivolous money spent by Ohakim as breakfast and wine every day in four years.
Now that Governor Okorocha has at last thrown the document to the public domain, let Imo people await the next action by the appropriate authorities in dealing with this matter, while Okorocha should now concentrate in delivering the goods to Imo people, and Ohakim faces his own fate.
However, to the uninitiated, the whole scenario is a good omen, but for the politically experienced, Gov Okorocha has set a precedent which will consume many, presently, and others yet to even indicate interest to rule Imo state.
One would ask, why should Imo state be under tension at all times? Since the administration of Gov Okorocha, it has been as if Imo people are at war with each other.
The reason I think is that the opposition has not relented in keeping Okorocha on his toes with niggling attacks while the Government in power has failed at all times to realize that it is the job of opposition in a democratic environment to question the sitting Government, and even devise means to distract it so as to fumble or expose itself to ridicule for more attacts.
In order words, it is the duty of the sitting Government to always defend, but surely attact when necessary.
Looking at the latest brouhaha in Imo over the allegations against Ohakim administration which has heightened tension in the state, one would say it was as a result of EFCC arrest of Imo Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor, and the Accountant General, Sir Eche George. Okorocha even said so.
However, it was not the first time EFCC was inviting Government officials from Imo state. They did during Udenwa and Ohakim’s regimes and heavens did not fall, because inviting any official by EFCC does not mean sentencing them to jail term. It is no big deal. Invitation is not indictment.
But Imo State Government mismanaged the invitation of its officials by EFCC by denying they were invited and therefore making it an issue. The Commissioner for Information could have simply called a press conference to intimate media men that Imo officials were invited for interaction by EFCC and may take days in briefing the Agency.
Now the opposition has deliberately stampeded Okorocha into throwing open his flanks, by already indicting his predecessor, with the release of the Exco reconciliation Account document, even before the Judicial Panels could sit.
This document now in circulation has not only predicted the out come of the Judicial Commissions, but has also preempted them, and therefore may not raise anymore eyebrows whenever released, as Imolites are already aware what the outcome of the Judicial Panel will be. It follows to say that Ohakim has already been found guilty before the jury could even enter the court.
This situation has inadvertently created a lot of sympathy for the former Governor, as most Imo people now ask “what really did Ohakim do to Okorocha? Let him leave this man and face his job”
However, what is playing out now between Okorocha and Ohakim is not new in Imo politics. We are all aware that it happened between Ohakim and his predecessor, Udenwa.
I can remember vividly that Ohakim at a time set up a Judiciary Committee to investigate Udenwa’s actions while in Government, but the result never saw the light of the day.
Although Udenwa and Ohakim had some political differences, but it did not degenerate into a civil war like we are witnessing between Ohakim and Okorocha today.
While Ohakim checkmated Udenwa then, yet the Orlu born politician kept his own through various propaganda machinery, channeled from his political machine, “Redemption” ably manned by Dr Alex Obi.
What ever was the issue, nobody could easily decipher, but it was clear then that Ohakim had fallen out with the group that facilitated his rise to Douglas House Owerri.
But while this lasted, Ohakim did no day touch any of the “Udenwa Boys” in his cabinet, including Dr Vin Udokwu, and others. Infact, the wife of Dr Alex Obi remained a Special Adviser to Ohakim till the end of that administration.
Not only that, Ohakim even paid all the severance allowances to Udenwa’s Commissioners, even allowed them to go home with their vehicles. He also paid allowances to Council Chairmen and Councilors who worked with Udenwa.
His differences with Udenwa did not stop him from executing his statutory obligations to Imo people, no matter who appointed them. He paid them what was theirs as enshrined in ethics of leadership.
This mature and political strategy at least, reduced Ohakim’s political enemies and encouraged circulation of money within the Imo polity, while Ohakim gradually settled into office, this is despite the various litigations against him.
But why Ohakim and Okorocha are at cross purposes now is hard to fathom! Because I know that even while the Peoples Democratic Party PDP were still contemplating what to do with the Imo Guber election results in 2011, Ohakim had instructed his media men to draft a letter accepting defeat.
In the content, Ohakim even urged all candidates in the race, even those whose party logos were missing, to accept the outcome so that Okorocha could assume office without distractions. Yours truly read that release to Nigerian Press.
Soon after Gov Okorocha assumed office, all appointees who worked with Ohakim were ordered through Radio Announcement to return their official vehicles within 24 hours. Some had their homes invaded by thugs in search of the vehicles as if Imo state was at war. Their two months salaries were seized, there severance allowances, which Ohakim paid Udenwa’s appointees, are yet to be paid them till date.
These appointees are still confused till now as they continue to wonder what offence they committed except being invited to work for Imo, just as Owelle Okorocha has invited another crop of Imolites to render service to the state. Worse, they today are in court paying lawyers, demanding what ordinarily is their statutory payment, from their state government which they rendered service to.
Even Ohakim has not received a dime as gratuity ever since he left office even as his former colleagues from other states receive their statutory payments every month.
It was these and other ugly actions from the Okorocha administration against perceived political opponents that propelled Ohakim and PDP into going to court to challenge Owelle Okorocha’s victory, which stretched up to Supreme Court.
Till date Okorocha has not soft-peddled in his hard stance against opponents, when many thought his declaration as Governor would have brought final peace in the state, which he should have spear-headed, since he is the father of the state now, and holds both the knife and yam.
Ordinarily, all that transpired during the election period should have been accepted as part of electoral strategies by all the participants which deepens democracy. Those involved in these fights are all Imo citizens, which is why the “Roforo fight” should be played with caution.
It is Okorocha now on the saddle, and will be another person tomorrow. However, now that the Imo State Government has beckoned on EFCC to arrest Ohakim, let the Agency do their job, if Ohakim has questions to answer.
But if not, it is also left for the Agency to let him go. Indeed, what has however been recorded into Imo politics now is that for the first time, a sitting Governor is asking EFCC to arrest, try and if possible jail his predecessor.
It is a good development, and will make all those hoping to govern Imo state wary. It will stand as a norm that all past Governors in Imo state will from hence forth be probed after leaving office, starting from Ohakim, since Udenwa has escaped because his successor did not deem it fit to accuse him or circulate documents about his tenure.
One day begins a story. The story of self-examination has started in Imo. And we all appreciate that for the progress of the state.
What however will bring another problem now in Imo polity is the issue of succession. Now that Gov Okorocha has introduced the regime of a successor probing his predecessor, all incumbent Governors in the state will strive to install their stooges to hold forth and cover their backs.
But unfortunately, in politics, such things don’t work because two plus two in politics does not usually give four.
In order words, an incumbent Governor who plants his own son as successor may not even go free. Have we not seen where son, brother or uncles kill each other for power? Power is like opium and intoxicates. That is why they say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Power is also jealous. We are all vulnerable, aren’t we?
Governor Theodore Orji was in detention in 2007 when his predecessor, Dr Orji Uzor Kanu brought him out and made him Governor. Today, they can’t stay in one room.
The chicken one day called the Bush Fowl (Okwa) to come and witness how she was being de-feathered saying “take note, one day they will do the same to you” It is now a period of long knives in Imo politics indeed. And it is good for all of us, since what goes round comes around, and mostly when it is all about transparency and accountability for Imo people’s fund. Let Dog chop Dog. But I de laughoo!
