Understanding the Rochas phenomenon
By Sylvanus Amaechi
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Gov Rochas Okorocha of Imo State
The burial of foremost nationalist and Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu afforded some Nigerians the opportunity to understand the personality, purpose and programmes of Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, the governor of Imo State. Providentially, the burial coincided with the Supreme Court verdict affirming the election of Okorocha as the fifth civilian governor of Imo State.
While most Nigerians know Okorocha as a selfless philanthropist whose Rochas Foundation and schools have empowered millions of Nigerian with qualitative but free education, Imo people have in the last eight months beheld a first class administrator who has re-defined governance, demystified bureaucracy and eliminated corruption and sycophancy in government.
While other governors in the South East are engaged in formulation and articulation of ways of honouring and immortalizing Ojukwu, the Imo State governor had already completed a multi-million naira Ojukwu Convention Centre where the Ikemba actually lay in state. The hosting of the body of the people’s general in Imo was adjudged the best and most colourful of all events held preparatory to the burial on March 2, 2012. It was also instructive that the presence of Okorocha in any of those events, including those hosted outside Imo State, electrified the audience and brought charm and charisma in the atmosphere. It was as if Ojukwu himself resurrected.
The lesson from the growing popularity of Okorocha across Igboland at a time some his colleagues are being booed and pelted with sachet water in their home states is that Igbos are yearning for inspirational leadership reminiscent of that provided by the late Head of State of Biafra. They want a self-less leader who uses the wealth of the people for the welfare of the people. They abhor pseudo leaders who embark upon primitive acquisition of wealth for themselves and family members. Governor Okorocha aroused national consciousness when on assumption of office, he offered to cut his security vote from N6billion to N2billion. In an unprecedented move, he also offered his salary for the education of Imo children. As the apostle of free education, he made education free and compulsory from primary to university levels. He swore that no Imo child shall remain uneducated so long as he remains governor. He has kept faith by upgrading the infrastructures in the schools, and the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries.
Apart from education, he has revamped the health sector. The former General Hospital, Owerri has been upgraded to a Specialist Hospital and a major referral centre for the management of complicated health challenges. The people need not travel to India again for renal and other high profile treatments. Construction of roads in the state is at a jet-speed making Imo one huge construction site. The question the citizens are asking is, where is all the money coming from?
Suffice it to say that through the blockage of leakages, the governor has conserved enough funds to develop Imo State. People like us who believe in Okorocha’s philosophy of frugal financial management and transparent governance are spending our personal money to assist the governor realize his vision for the state. The practical lesson here is that the people are prepared to follow a leader who is selfless, sensitive and transparent. At this period that Igbos are seeking renaissance following the death of Ojukwu, it is refreshing that Okorocha is ready to rebuild the confidence of the people and renew their faith in government.
It is regrettable that Igbos who were in the commanding heights of the military, civil service and commerce when the British left Nigeria have found themselves as second class citizens, groveling for tokenism in appointments because of selfish leaders. Igbos are being humiliated, suppressed and annihilated in Nigeria today because those who claim to be leaders are in an unholy alliance with reactionary elements who want to perpetually put down the people of the South East. By pretending to be in the mainstream national political parties like NPN, NRC and PDP, these people have misled Igbos into losing their identity. In their delusion, they accept any crumb from of the master who consistently engineers a theatre of the absurd to paint the Igboman as unfit to hold a responsible position. It happened with the senate presidency and chairmanship of PDP which were all made a comedian party. The South East continues to lack any federal presence apart from universities and federal medical centres that are under-funded and ill-equipped. This mental siege has resulted in low-self esteem among Igbos who appear to have resigned themselves to their second class statues in Nigeria .
It was in a bid to liberate them from that awful status that APGA came into being. And this is the vehicle Okorocha chose to rescue not just Imo people but the entire South East. His mission is to help the Igboman rediscover himself preparatory to claiming his pride of place in Nigeria . The restoration of confidence, rejuvenation of his innate capabilities and ingenuity are at the heart of Okorocha’s revolution. The Igbo identity must be stamped again in national consciousness. Okorocha is leading the way forward through good governance which attracts and inspires confidence, trust and follower ship as was evident during Ojukwu’s burial.
Ironically, while Okorocha is selflessly and consciously building a pan Igbo movement, a tiny group is back home seeking to distract and discredit him with the accusation of sectionalism simply because he wants to move Imo State University to a permanent site after 20 years of being on a congested temporary site. Because the governor is moving the university to his home town at Ogboko, the opposition, comprising ethnic bigots and frustrated politicians, who no longer have access to free money from the public treasury are up in arms with the government. It is unfortunate that some otherwise respected statesmen are being deceived and recruited into this campaign of hate and propaganda.
Facts are sacred. There has never been a time before now that the location of the permanent site of Imo State University was a settled matter. Aboh Mbaise, Ngor Okpala and Mbaitoli have variously been considered. All of them are in Owerri zone which already has four tertiary institution namely, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Alvan Ikoku Federal Collage of Education, Owerri, Imo State , Polytechnic, Umuagwo, and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede. It is evident that Owerri is already congested. For 20 years, no administration summoned the courage and finance to move the university to the permanent site. In just eight months, Okorocha has taken a concrete step to effect the movement. The question to ask is whether he can achieve that. Answer is that he is already doing it. Ideato South is in Imo State and one of the least developed local governments in the state. What is wrong in taking development to that area? In any case, the governor has also pledged to set up two other universities in the remaining two senatorial zones of Okigwe and Owerri.
Instead of appreciating this, some people have decided to make a political capital out of it by instigating imaginary crisis in the state and whipping up base sentiments. I sincerely believe that those involved in such unpatriotic acts have been misled and should retrace their steps. They should rather support the governor to realize his vision for Imo and Ndigbo. The Mbaise nation especially needs to work with the governor and well meaning and trusted people from Owerri Zone if they are to actualize their future ambition of producing a Senator for Owerri zone and the governor of Imo State .
As for some of the critics from Owerri zone, I am baffled that for 12 years they worked with Governors Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim as PDP members, they could not persuade them to move the university to a permanent site in Owerri zone. What influence did they have? Or were they content to service their personal interest as city god fathers who preyed on the local government allocations?
The truth of the matter is that Okorocha has done so much for Owerri zone than all previous governors put together. It is even doubtful if an Owerri indigene as governor can equal the records. Our sons abroad have attested to this, telling me that the only good news that comes from Nigeria emanates from Okorocha’s Imo State .
However, if they are so pained over the relocation of the university to Ideato, they should pull resources and establish a university. People are doing it. In fact private individual have set up universities in Uturu and elsewhere. They should borrow a leaf from them. Personally I am planning for Owerri zone a model university and ultra modern market in concert with local and foreign. As the Special Adviser to the governor on Health, I am not on a salary. Just as I am running the largest privately owned orthopaedic hospital in Nigeria in Egbu to assist and empower our people, I am urging others to contribute their quota towards assisting Governor Rochas Okorocha to achieve his goals for Ndigbo. Recently established dialysis centre in the centre, because I am moved and disturbed by Imo sons and daughters who suffer this terrible health condition as renal failure have to travel to Abuja , Lagos and Port Harcourt for his essential treatments, some now voice outside Imo State in order to take these treatments. Certainly that is not to make money, but to offer services to those helpless Imo citizens.
Now that the Supreme Court has finally settled the issue of who won the last governorship election, which has never been in doubt anyway, my appeal is for Imo people to spare our governor the unnecessary distraction as he marches on to deliver on his divine mandate to rescue not just Imo State but the entire South East.
Dr Amaechi, a two term President of Nigeria Orthopedic Association, wrote from Ezeogba, Emekuku, Imo State .
