I revile those who say that the current
economic situation in Imo State is not only applicable in the State. It is annoying when we are told that Imo
State is not the only State where workers and pensioners are groaning over
unpaid salaries and pensions.
They further say that it is not the only
State where there is cash crunch as other States in the federation are also
witnessing terrible hardship worse than what is obtained in Imo State
presently. The ordeal of Workers in Osun
State who were owed seven months’ salary is readily used a basis to justify our
ordeal in Imo.What a pity!
I told a friend that this argument bandied by those
we elected to govern us holds no water. It is a total departure from what we were told
that prompted Imolites to vote for the present government a second time. I have pondered and asked what brought us to
this sorry pass. If other States owe their workers from creation of the earth,
must we emulate them? Must we see it as yardstick for Imo workers to be owed? Must we learn or adopt things that will bring
hunger and agony on the faces of Imolites?
If 23 States in the federation owe workers and
pensioners, why must we not emulate the 13 States that are not on the debt list
of workers? What magic wand did those state Governors perform that has made
their States viable and capable to continuously pay their workers? Why must we
not emulate those States who saw the welfare of their people a top priority?
In a public service driven economy obtained in Imo
State, it is ridiculous for workers to be owed a dime. It is man’s inhumanity
to man. This situation has brought
nothing but hunger, pain and agony in the land and has bred frustration which is boldly showing on the
faces of Imo people. Other sectors of the economy in the State are also
affected. The Informal sector is almost gone. Businesses are on the low ebb.
Worst hit are traders who now open their shops or offices and go home almost
empty handed. The peasants are not left out. They also lament to anyone that
cares to listen over the pitiable situation that has brought us grinding
hunger, disillusion and pain.
The Churches and spiritual centers are making huge
capital from this predicament. They are now booming because many Imolites are
now seeking for God’s immediate intervention to salvage them from their ordeal.
Though it is true that Imo people are
religious, the quest for prosperity and instant financial gains seem to have
become the crux of the message impacted on Church goers in the State. Sermons on Salvation and repentance has been
either downplayed or totally ignored and replaced with the gospel of prosperity
to assuage the feelings of the people. This is so because there is despondency in the
land. There is hunger. There is pain. Therefore
I tend to agree with my fellow Imolites that it is Only God’s divine rescue that
can save us from the affliction that is ravaging the entire State.
The bail- out funds which was released by President
Buhari to ameliorate the economic woes of Imo people and other States appears
not to be in sight. I have ceased to make further inquiries on this matter
because we have been hearing different tales concerning when the funds will
come. I have always asked if the bail-out is a gift that will take the return
of Jesus Christ to earth a second time for it to get to Imo State.
We were told the cash will be here by the end of
July, now we hear it will be in mid – August. May be, by mid August, the story
will change to September. Who is the biggest casualty- the workers, the
peasants, Imo people, while the pain and agony continues ceaselessly? When the
bail- out eventually comes, does it not entail that all will be well with the
people? Will all the salaries and pensions arrears be paid or are we going to
see another merry go round full of cock and bull stories?
I have asked those who should know if the source of
livelihood of our workers and pensioners depend solely on the bail- out funds.
Agreed, there is economic downturn in the country, but what was the source of
payment of workers’ salaries before now. Where they paid from the blues before
President Buhari came up with the dangling carrot of a bail out? When did some States (Imo inclusive) in the
country begin to parade begging bowls in Abuja?
Bail Out is synonymous with Greece which has
shamelessly gone to the European Union more than twice to beg for funds to re-jump
start their battered economy. What led Greece to ask the EU for a bail out in
the first place? The answer is simple.
Greece mismanaged its resources and they are sorry for it. Those who
carry begging bowls always ask for more. No one has been able to tell me if the bail -out
does not come from Abuja to Imo State, there will be no salary for Imo workers
or things will not shape up in the State. Can someone clarify me on this issue? I am one of those who have been around in Imo
State and to the best of my knowledge, workers salaries were paid from the
monthly federal allocation complimented with Internal Generated Revenue. Why is
the scenario different now? How did Imo and other States fall into the pit
Greece has fallen into? Why should we get to this pitiable condition? We all
wonder?
During the reign of Ikedi Ohakim as governor of Imo
State, crude oil was sold for $38 dollar per barrel and yet there was enough cash
for workers to be paid. Quality infrastructural projects were executed and
contractors were paid for jobs done. Now
that crude oil is fluctuating between $40 and $ 65 per barrel, how come there
is not enough in the vaults to at least pay workers salaries? The
insinuation that the massive looting by past PDP governments in the last 16
years is responsible for this anomaly is an untenable argument. Looting has
been a way of life for past governments in Nigeria since independence and yet
salaries were promptly paid. Workers and pensioners due were never tampered
with. Why is the scenario different now? Again, we wonder.
We wonder why
Imo State is lying prostrate at the moment after Okorocha told us sometime last
year that there is too much money in the land. What happened? What went wrong?
Imo People are groaning and succor seems not be
coming their way. The collapse of the
local Governments in the State is also adding fuel to the agony of Imo
people. The Local Governments in the
State are comatose because majority of the local people are not deriving the
gains and benefits from the Local Government system as was the case in the
past. This has led to disquiet in the hinterlands thus compelling the local populace
to ceaselessly hope upon hope.
It is more
painful when one recalls with happiness the promises made by the present administration
in the State. I can attest that Okorocha
performed above 60%in his first tenure by providing free education and embarking
on infrastructural renewal. But all of that now looks like a tiny fish in
the sea, all of that has given way to a ferocious demand by the people for
stomach infrastructure.
While we wait for the factory, factory, factory that
will create thousands of jobs for our unemployed youths soonest, there is need
to assuage the suffering of the people in Imo State immediately. A hungry and
despondent populace cannot continue to listen to tales of how Imo State will be
transformed overnight. What is prevalent
in Imo State is murmuring over the poor economic situation. And when the people
murmur, there is great danger in the land. It creates discontent and discontent
is the manure that nourishes disdain for those in authority.
Certainly, Imo State is in dire straits and only a
quick fix to the hunger and their agony can put smiles on their faces. Our dear Imo shall surely get better. Hunger
and agony shall never be our portion in Jesus name. Did I hear you say Amen.
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