BY EXCEL CHIMA, HEAD, INVESTIGATIONS/SPECIAL PROJECTS
It has been observed lately the silence of leaders, top politicians in Imo State over the turn of events in the State.
Prior to the April 2015 governorship election, Governor Rochas Okorocha had boasted that he will sack and retire from politics those he described as PDP politicians.
His open boast seems to have come to pass when one considers the total silence of some opposition politicians on Okorocha’s style of governance since he was re-elected as governor of the State for a second term in April 2015.
Close observers of political events in Imo State contend that the Governor has been running unconventional style of governance since he was first elected into office 2011 which has elevated him to the status of an emperor whose word is law.
Before the 2015 governorship election in the State, many politicians bestrode the political landscape of the State. Encapsulated in various political parties mainly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), they transversed the nook and crannies of Imo State, enumerating the misdeeds of Okorocha and vowing to unseat the rescue mission governor.
They were furious with him and never hid their disdain for his leadership style. As they campaigned across the State, they poured invectives on the governor resenting his “banana” approach to governance.
Those in the PDP who had an axe to grind with him were legion and they spared no effort to express their resentment and ability to take over the reigns of governance.
Senator Chris Anyanwu is one of them. Her criticisms of the Okorocha government got to the point both of them nearly exchanged fisticuffs in public, precisely at Azaraegbelu, a tiny community on the outskirts of Owerri in December 2014.
Others include Barr Bethel Amadi, Mike Ahamba (SAN), Ken Njemanze (SAN) who had an open war of words with Okorocha at Oru Owere festival in 2014, Mr. Ken Ojiri who later defected to Accord Party, Chief Jerry Chukwueke (now Okorocha’s political ally in the APC), Barr Charles Onyeagbako, ex governor Ikedi Ohakim, the then Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Barr Humphrey Anumudu, and many others.
In the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Okorocha also faced fireworks from Martin Agbaso who later defected to the PDP. The Governor also had Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho, the APGA governorship flag-bearer to contend with as the former minister never failed to highlight the deficiency of the incumbent governor at any public fora.
Their wishes to unseat Rochas however never transformed to reality as he won a second term to govern Imo State and later rose to become the Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum, a body comprising all the State Governors elected on the APC platform in Nigeria.
Since then, political pundits had expected these politicians to watch, analyze and constructively criticize Okorocha’s style of governance which has not really gone down well with vast majority of the people of Imo State especially when cash squeeze, salaries of workers became irregular.
They have also kept mute over the collapse of almost all sectors of the Imo economy and the inability of the governor to set in motion mechanisms to realize some of his campaign promises.
Aside the PDP governorship candidate and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha who has maintained his consistent criticisms of some policies of the APC led Imo State government; other opposition politicians seem to have gone into limbo maintaining absolute silence on issues affecting the State.
It was Ihedioha who last year, criticized the government on two key issues. The former Deputy Speaker had asked the State government to give account of the monies accrued to the State and local Governments which run into billions.
Last December 2015, he also raised eyebrows over a whopping N600 million naira he alleged was used by Okorocha to decorate Owerri city for the Christmas/New Year celebrations in the face of biting hunger, non- payment of workers’ salaries for several months and total collapse of an already stagnant economy.
Since then,no other voice from the camp of opposition politicians has dared challenge some actions of the strong incumbent governor of the State. Some top leaders of the State such as Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a national PDP leader from Imo State has also kept mute on issues affecting the people of the State.
Key opposition figures such as Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who did not spare Okorocha during electioneering in 2015 has rather abandoned the opposition boat and joined the Governor’s political camp. Araraume’s son was nominated a commissioner by Okorocha last December.
Others are Chief Jerry Chukwueke and Barr Humphrey Anumudu, both of whom have dumped the PDP for Okorocha’s APC. The likes of Chief Vitalis Ajumbe who fell out with former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Rex Anunobi, a staunch PDP stalwart (SOKOM) had all defected to the APC as well and were promptly rewarded with commissioner ship positions.
The extinction of the voices of opposition which is the ingredient that nourishes good governance in saner democratic climes has indeed vanished in Imo State. Analysts attribute it to many factors such as inability for some opposition politicians to cope with pains of being in an opposition party and inability to withstand the power of an incumbent governor.
But one of the opposition politicians told INNONEWS.COM on condition of anonymity that there is no need any-more to criticize the governor. Ostensibly reacting on the biting economy of the State which has impoverished the people, he said the people of Imo State should carry their cross.
He said “When we campaigned against Rochas during the election and told Imo people to reject him at the elections, did the people listen to us? They said they wanted CHANGE, now CHANGE has come. Whatever policy is foisted on them now, they should accept it. Imo people did not listen to us. They should learn their lessons.
On the silence of the opposition politicians, he said “We have done our bit. We came and offered ourselves for service and leadership of the State. Some of us sacrificed our personal resources to fund our campaigns then. At the end of the day, Imo people allowed themselves to be hoodwinked. There is little or nothing we can do now.
Most opposition leaders who spoke to this newspape, however refused to subscribe to the notion that Okorocha has made real his boast that he will retire politicians in the opposition.
One of the governorship aspirants from Owerri zone on the PDP platform disagreed with this online newspaper when the question was put across to him.
He said “How can he retire us from politics. Did he (Rochas) win that election in a free and fair manner. As peace loving people of Imo State, we decided to allow him to govern the State in peace, because without peace, development will not come to the people of the State.
“This is the time for governance. When politics come, we will come out and ask the people if they really want to continue the way they are being governed.
“You can see that what we have in Imo State is not governance. It is rulership and dictatorship which this government has perpetuated. Based on the complains of the people, I think they will reject this irresponsible government that has no human face in Imo State in the next election.
He continued “We hear the murmurings of the people; we hear their sufferings. They are regretting for electing this government
A legal practitioner and former legal Adviser of the PDP in Imo State, Barr C.O.C Akaolisa had told INNONEWS.COM that Okorocha is merely foisting unconventional governance in Imo State and whoever he want foists on the people of the State in 2019 elections will not succeed.
However, pro Okorocha followers say that indeed Rochas has retired opposition politicians in Imo State.
Chief Ernest Onuoha, an APC chieftain in Njaba LGA submitted that Okorocha has really sent the opposition leaders packing.
“Is there no remarkable difference in Imo State the period the PDP governed the State and the time Rochas has held sway as governor so far. In terms of infrastructure and development, is Imo State not better off under Rochas leadership?.
“These opposition politicians are really in retirement because they do not share the same philosophy with Okorocha. The Governor is a people oriented governor while the opposition politicians are merely those who want to capture power for themselves. There is no meeting point, thus they are quite because they are in retirement.
“Imo people are aware of this fact. Rochas might not be perfect but he has surpassed the achievements of past PDP administrations in Imo State” he concluded.
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