Owelle Rochas Anayo Ethelbert Okorocha needs no introduction. Born 51 years ago, the Executive Governor of Imo State has a chequered political history which has made him the fourth civilian Governor of the state. After several attempts to grab political office since 1999 when he narrowly missed becoming the PDP gubernatorial candidate, he had already cut a monumental figure in Nigerian politics that stood him out as unique player in the political terrain.
Aside from politics, Owelle Okorocha is an astute businessman with vested interest in several sectors. As a business mogul, the present Chief Executive of the state fondly called Eastern Heartland, is also a pronounced name in generosity. His philanthropic gestures in the area of education made him to establish Rochas Foundation Colleges; a tuition free post primary school in some parts of the country. These altruistic postures endeared him to the heart of many which manifested during the last general election as he was elected a Governor for the state on popular demand.
Despite encumbrances, Owelle Okorocha who had in the past sought to become President of Nigeria through several platforms was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in May 2011. Irrespective of the legal challenges to his emergence, the Ogboko Ideato South-born politician has continued to function as number one citizen of the state.
Since taking over mantle of leadership, Owelle has however become the “man in the news” as most of his actions and utterances attract media attention. The Governor’s controversial disposition commenced moments after he was declared winner in May 2011, when a letter alleged to have emanated from his camp reportedly forced banks handling moneys of the state to frozen the accounts, thereby putting the state in financial quagmire before he was sworn-in on May 29, 2011.
On getting the official seal of the mandate as Governor, Owelle in his maiden address showcased what to expect of his government in the infamous June 7, 2011 maiden state address, where in one full swoop, he demolished all legally constituted and existing political structures he met in government. Notwithstanding the legal and constitutional implications behind the existence of these structures, Okorocha in what could be termed a military fiat demolished inherited political structures left behind by his predecessors.
The elected Chairmen and councilors of the 27 LGAs and the Coordinators and Members of Development Centres were sacked as well as the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya. Beneficiaries of the 10,000 jobs scheme initiated by his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim were not left out as they were sent packing. These illegal acts which competent law courts have proven to be so, triggered off criticisms and oppositions against Okorocha’s newly-born government as affected persons did not only cry foul but also rushed to court to seek redress. Despite the fact that the courts have exposed the Governor’s lack of respect to constituted authorities by granting the request of the appellants, the Governor remained insensitive to the oath of office he took to govern based on Nigerian Constitution and also abide by the rule of law.
Criticisms against Okorocha’s government continued when he began strange and seeming obnoxious practices by altering social institutions existing at the various local units, to establish another controversial policy called Fourth-Tier Government. Anti-Okorocha protagonists insist that the Fourth-Tier Government christened Community Government Council, CGC, which became operational before Members of the House of Assembly deliberated on the Bill for the law, contravenes the Nigerian Constitutions, that operates three-tier of government. Inspite of the outcry that greeted the CGC introduction, Okorocha went ahead in the implementation resulting to aggrieved persons, especially President Generals of Town Unions, who were displaced by the new arrangements, rushing to court, to also seek redress.
Criticisms and attacks against the Imo State Governor are not home-made alone as Okorocha could not divorce himself from external skirmishes that attracted negative reactions from non-Imolites. Owelle Okorocha attracted the wrath of people from the East residing in Northern parts of the country when he visited Kano State to commiserate with victims of Boko Haram induced sectarian violence without touching foot on Sabon Gari where Igbos were predominantly domiciled and suffered attacks. Following Okorocha’s publicity stunts that he was in Kano to share Ndigbo’s grief for the severe loses suffered during the sectarian attacks, there were counter-claims from Igbos in Kano who opined that the Imo State Governor was on self-seeking mission in Kano as he only had audience with Kano State Government and never cared for the victims and Igbo community in Kano. The alleged seat-dragging brouhaha Okorocha had with an aide to Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi is yet to erase from the memory of keen observers of developments in the state as the imbroglio further attracted venoms against Okorocha.
There are several other actions of the Governor that became products of the propaganda machine targeted at him. While some are genuine, objective, constructive and obtainable in any democratic setting, others no doubt are unsubstantiated and mere campaign of calumny propagated by perceived political opponents targeted at ridiculing his administration.
Unfortunately, the Governor who claims to be running a “peculiar government” with “peculiar differences has not been out of troubled waters while steering the ship of the Rescue Mission government. No period passes without him being in the news for “wrong reasons”. From the JPros gate to the impeachment of his first Deputy Jude Agbaso, Okorocha’s government may be dubbed “One Week, One Trouble” administration as no week passes without the grand apostle of Rescue Mission acting in a manner that makes his government vulnerable to sharp criticisms.
These uncommon traits of a “Unique Governor” could perhaps be the reason behind Okorocha being subject of public discourse and object of Sunday tantrums from both arm chair and constructive critics.
Likened to the Israel’s rescue operation in Uganda tagged “90 Minutes at Entebbe” Okorocha’s Rescue Mission government, unlike the Uganda expedition which was purposeful with exquisite sense of turning and rescuing Israeli hostages from despotic field Marshal Idi Amin Dada, has in recent time experienced scathing remarks.
Recently, the Rescue Mission working in concert with the state legislature stirred the hornet’s nest when some contentious clause in Law No 12 of 2012 is said to be Pro-abortion even as the dust raised by his recent romance with APC is yet to settle. While the law now referred to Abortion Law generated media ruckus, crossfire attacks ensued between social commentators and apostles of the Rescue Mission. Apart from the social media network, the altercations rage in both print and electronic media with concerned parties singing different tunes when the controversial law takes front burner.
I am not interested in arguments raised for or against the said Abortion Law, but the approach adopted by the contending forces attracted my attention. The excruciation from social commentators and pro-life activist made pro-Okorocha group to be edgy over barrage of criticism that trailed the exposure. Aside from the flaming abortion Law debacle, most of those who sympathized with the Rescue Mission administration misconstrue the barrage of criticism as an attempt at denigrating the office and personality of the Governor for cheap political gains.
The pro-Okorocha however forgot that criticisms cannot be divorced from any human endeavour. This is more pronounced in a democracy where there are ideological differences and contrasting political lineages. When the news of the recent reviles that sparked off the attacks against Okorocha blew open, the Governor’s backers retaliated with boorish, amazing gauche and demented valour. While trying to indicate that Law No 12 of 2012 which the Governor has given accent does not encourage Abortion, the comical radiation of the traducers was exposed when the Governor made a volte-face about the law by apologizing and requesting Imo Assembly to make amendment, especially on the offensive clause of the law.
Those on the side of Okorocha forgot that public commentators are also serving the society and masses like public officers but in a different role.
By next week when I will conclude the topic in the second part of this column, I will comment on the primitive tendencies of some rabble rousers who showcase partisan proclivity while discussing the actions of Governor Okorocha.
