{"id":3134,"date":"2012-11-01T17:10:26","date_gmt":"2012-11-01T17:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/?p=3134"},"modified":"2012-11-01T17:10:26","modified_gmt":"2012-11-01T17:10:26","slug":"imo-okorocha-and-the-unfinished-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/?p=3134","title":{"rendered":"Imo: Okorocha and the unfinished Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For the Governor of Imo state, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, his hands are full. In fact, he has a lot of unfinished businesses in the project called Imo state.\u00a0 And I don\u2019t envy him at all.\u00a0 But, he put himself in this quagmire.<\/p>\n

How?\u00a0 Okorocha during the campaigns in 2011 put the hope of Imo Electorate in utopian height following his promises.\u00a0 Okorocha raised their expectations to high heavens, that today they are insatiable, and now waiting for Godot.<\/p>\n

Imo people in 2011 wanted to throw out \u201ca non performing Government whose achievements were on posters and Newspapers\u201d.\u00a0 But unfortunately, last week I walked into an elite discussion in Owerri, in fact Okorocha\u2019s main men, somewhere aroundMbonu Ojike Street, and was told point blank that whatever reason for voting Okorocha has been defeated as he has \u201cadopted all the methods for which we wanted Ohakim out\u201d.<\/p>\n

All efforts I made to defend Okorocha was poopooed.\u00a0 I then remembered that sometime around May 2011, I had written a piece where I told then Governor-elect to be careful with the myriads of promises to the people, as campaigns were not the same as governance.\u00a0 It is a different thing to promise heaven and earth to the people, and another to bring those promises to fruition.\u00a0 There is the problem of funds, and realization of the promises through properly supervised execution.<\/p>\n

However, Okorocha made all these to look simple when he said openly several times that Imo state was very rich and can execute any project it so deems fit.\u00a0 Okorocha even asked \u201cHow much does it take to plant flowers and keep Owerri clean?<\/p>\n

But Okorocha\u2019s magic wand was his Free Education Policy which became opium and spurred Imo Electorate on into voting for him massively.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, after spending over a year and more in office Imo people are yet to know how the Free Education policy is working.\u00a0 Every parent, including me want to withdraw their wards from these expensive private schools and enroll them in public schools that can be affordable.<\/p>\n

But the confusion now is where the schools are?\u00a0 The only one that can be seen is the one sited at Old Township Primary School Owerri, and the construction is still on.\u00a0 By May next year Okorocha would have clocked 2 years in office.\u00a0 So, how many years would our children enjoy this free education, since anything can happen in Imo Guber 2015?<\/p>\n

The story emanating from IMSU the only state owned University is a sad one.\u00a0 Now, Imo born students are allocated only 30% admission spaces.\u00a0 The rest 70% is for non Igbo students, and those who can afford the prohibitive schools fees.<\/p>\n

This development is because in the spirit of Free Education, Imo state Government wants to admit only those students it can cater for.\u00a0 Please, is this policy really Free Education?\u00a0 Free education is supposed to be for all qualified Imo students, not the number the state can take care of.<\/p>\n

This exercise has destroyed the purpose why Mbakwe wanted a University for Imo children.\u00a0 The main reason was to make education available to Imo children, even if it means their parents paying for them.<\/p>\n

Free education is meaningless if it is meant for a few.\u00a0 What is the meaning of the word \u201cfree\u201d there?<\/p>\n

Now, Imo students claim to be from Abia or Ebonyi states in order to gain admission into IMSU.\u00a0 Something must be done quickly before Imo loses its position as one of the most educated states inNigeria.\u00a0 Mbakwe must be turning in his grave now, because it was his dream for Imo children to have quality education, even if it means paying school fees.<\/p>\n

If this situation continues till 2015, the said free education would have killed the enthusiasm of Imo children return home to gain admission into IMSU, and the after effect will be felt year to come through low human production and height of criminality in Imo.<\/p>\n

While still on IMSU, it is pertinent to note that the problem created by Okorocha\u2019s relocation of IMSU, and the setting up of a Committee to look for its \u201cpermanent site\u201d is another sore point of the administration.\u00a0 This problem may linger even after Okorocha.<\/p>\n

In the area of infrastructure development, when Okorocha began the massive road construction and rehabilitations in the state, many heaved a sigh of relief that at last Imo landscape would be dotted with good roads.\u00a0 But the exercise has ended up as an unfinished business.<\/p>\n

All the streets of Owerri are now blocked with abandoned \u201cAlmajiri\u201d gates for whose construction no one knows.\u00a0 And I suspect that these abandoned gates may remain like they are till Okorocha leaves office.<\/p>\n

No significant road has been constructed in Imo.\u00a0 The short Nworie bridge toAbaroad which many thought would have been completed all these while still remains abandoned.\u00a0 Roads in Okigwe and Orlu towns for which houses were demolished have remained static since then.\u00a0 We are told that work will commence now after the rains.<\/p>\n

Yet the worst road in Imo state is found opposite Government House Owerri.\u00a0 The road leading to Police-SSS entrance.\u00a0 The dualization Road of Government House to Wethral road which started six months ago has remained uncompleted till date.<\/p>\n

We have seen construction going on in some round-abouts in Owerri, including the \u201cMolten Calf\u201d.\u00a0 But the jobs are taking ages.\u00a0 The Traffic lights in Owerri are all falling down.\u00a0 Street lights have all gone dead. If you visit Concorde, Yaradua, Egbu, Orji, Wethral roads etc in the night you pity Imo and its security.\u00a0 These roads that were pride of Owerri dwellers about a year ago are now a shame to the city.\u00a0 Like Owelle would ask; \u201cHow much does it take to power street lights in Owerri?<\/p>\n

For over a year now, Imo state has not had of general clean up.\u00a0 Even as the people are crying that Government should resume the ritual of monthly clean up, the authorities have refused. Only God knows why the people should live on top of wastes.\u00a0 Enter Ekeukwu Owerri and see.\u00a0 The refuse dump there is as high as a mountain, Chukwuma Nwoha road, a very busy and important road when in use, have been taken over by refuse bins.\u00a0 You see refuse at every point in Owerri now, and those in charge do not care.<\/p>\n

Street traders are everywhere.\u00a0 Motor sellers now display their wares everywhere.\u00a0 Touts up motor parks any where they want without any Government intervention.\u00a0 Street urchins parade every dark spot in Owerri every night.\u00a0 The number of Hawkers on Bank, Assumpta Cathedral and Orlu roads round about are an eye sore to a state that is practicing \u201cfree education\u201d.\u00a0 Where are these youths from and selling goods instead of being in classroom?<\/p>\n

When these Hawkers vacate their \u201cMarkets\u201d in the night, the amount of refuse they leave behind in Owerri from their wares are enough to block the flow ofNwaorieRiver.<\/p>\n

Nobody is seeing, nobody is talking.\u00a0 The Government prides itself of constructing Ojukwu \u201cBunker\u201d,Heroes Squareand Bongo spot, of what value are these projects to the keke man who stood under rain and sun to vote Okorocha as Governor?<\/p>\n

My fear is that Okorocha will not complete most of these projects before he leaves office.\u00a0 And since Okorocha does not believe in completing another person\u2019s project, who would complete these projects?<\/p>\n

Are you telling me that all those roads in Ngor Okpala, Ezinihitte, Orlu, Oru East LGAs etc started by Okorocha will ever be completed in the life of the regime even in eight years?\u00a0 How much does Imo state make as internally generated funds annually and how much does the state collect from the Federation account a year?\u00a0 Even if the state embarks on these projects alone and forget salaries and other financial obligations, it cannot complete them.<\/p>\n

Okorocha should try to cut Imo states coat according to its size, or else a lot of businesses would be left unfinished.<\/p>\n

Let Government articulate its priorities by pursuing them one by one.\u00a0 All these quick and fire brigade measures without adequate plans are the cause why many people are beginning to see through the wool over the promises made to the electorate by Okorocha in 2011.<\/p>\n

Governance is different from private organization.\u00a0 While you can take decisions without consulting anybody in the former, in the later you are free to call for imputs from all and sundry.\u00a0 There is no shame about it, after all the Governor is only holding office in trust of the rest, since not all will be Governor at the same time.<\/p>\n

That is why I like President Goodluck Jonathan.\u00a0 When things get too tough and out of hand, he will raise alarm.\u00a0 After all, he is still on his seat, and nobody can remove him until during election.<\/p>\n

But in Imo, the story is different.\u00a0 Even when things are getting bad those who are supposed to advise the Governor will pretend that all is well, and this is what destroy leaders, because their aides tell them only what they want to hear.<\/p>\n

If you speak out, either you are attacked or you are bombarded with threat calls.<\/p>\n

Traders, Civil Servants, Unemployed, Keke operators and many others who voted for Okorocha in 2011 are not happy with development of things in the state.<\/p>\n

Traders were shocked when soldiers stormed their shades atDouglasroad to destroy their wares.\u00a0 They were hawking at wrong places, but many of them said that they were told that they will remain there and therefore voted for Owelle.\u00a0\u00a0 Today soldiers visit them daily.\u00a0 \u201cWhy were we shouting about Willie Amadi? One of them asked.\u00a0 The answer is just like six and half a dozen, abi?<\/p>\n

Civil Servants, as customary of them, whisper in their offices that they have been rendered useless with their allowances stripped off their basic salaries, after they were promised enhanced salary package by Okorocha in 2011.\u00a0 The worse is that they have been reduced to zombie as they are ordered to attend Government functions \u201cby force with our uniforms\u201d or you are sacked.<\/p>\n

Unemployed youths argue that after one year, they are yet to get their \u201crewards for supporting Owelle\u201d.\u00a0 Keke Operators were shocked recently when the saw fleet of Air conditioned Buses bought by Government for state city transport system.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not good now.\u00a0 He promised us that nothing will happen\u201d.\u00a0 A keke driver said.\u00a0 Artisans in Orji, Nekede and other mechanic \u201cvillage\u201d lament that \u201cbusiness\u201d is dull because there is no money in circulation as vehicle owners have preferred to \u201cparked their cars\u201d.\u00a0 Pastors and others said they were dumb founded that this Government could demolish churches.\u00a0 And the argument continues.<\/p>\n

Akara and corn sellers lament they have not set their eyes on the Governor again, after he patronized them a year ago.<\/p>\n

The lamentation will continue.\u00a0 Even within Okorocha\u2019s cabinet, many of them are complaining.\u00a0 But Okorocha is a human being and cannot perform any miracle because he is working with what is available, forget campaign slogans and speeches.<\/p>\n

The reality is that Okorocha is not sitting on his hands, or drinking coffee in the Government every morning doing nothing.\u00a0 He is working, and working hard to meet the demands of the people.\u00a0 But the problem is that he underestimated the enormous job facing a governor, and worse still made a lot of promises to the people which may not be realizable.\u00a0 That is why there will still remain unfinished business, even after Okorocha.\u00a0 The people are insatiable, mainly Imo electorate.\u00a0 But will you blame them? Okorocha said the funds are their.\u00a0 Therefore we are waiting.\u00a0 At least we still have more years left or what you think? Your answer is as good as mine.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the Governor of Imo state, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, his hands are full.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-columnists"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","elegant-magazine-featured":"","elegant-magazine-medium":"","elegant-magazine-medium-small":"","elegant-magazine-thumbnail-small":""},"author_info":{"info":["Imo Trumpeta"]},"category_info":"Last-Line<\/a>","tag_info":"Last-Line","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3134"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3136,"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3134\/revisions\/3136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}