By Igbotako Nowinta
Okorocha met his political waterloo via Emeka Nwosu, his son in-law, when he decided to force him on his party men in Imo state as his successor. His extreme bravado and dictatorial tendencies became his nemesis as he lost out woefully during the All Progressives Congress (APC) party primaries in the state. Rochas Okorocha miserable political ambition to continue to grab and suck from the political tree in Nigeria pushed him to contest for the Senatorial seat in Imo State during the last National Assembly Election. His penchant to win at all cost, to dribble his way by hook or crook on the political tuff has led to the controversial withholding of his certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the senatorial seat, having been alleged that the process that purportedly gave him the senatorial victory was heavily tainted and could not stand the true democratic test.
Of all the ex-Governors who recently exited power under the canopy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria, none perverted and ridiculed public office like Rochas Okorocha, former Governor of Imo State.
His administration was enthusiastically ushered into Government House, Owerri, like many across the country on May 29, 2015, by the electorate, but by the reason of some of his unpopular actions and decisions Owelle Rochas Okorocha ended sadly in the gutter of unnecessary controversy.
Regrettably too, none of the former APC Governors played brazenly on the intelligence of peace loving people of Imo State like Okorocha. The Imolites waited patiently to see a genuine display of repatriated democratic dividends to compensate for their unalloyed support.
But in the long run he fumbled beyond redemption, by his so called ‘miserable towers/statues’ and ridiculous decisions which he initiated to boost his inordinate ambition, paid for by the sweats of the helpless and hapless tax payers.
Okorocha’s administration left behind no specific scintillating legacies, but only a sense of colossal wastages of public funds on parochial wretched ambitions meant to launder his overstained ego and image, to project him as a man of all sessions, which he is not and will never be.
It is not unexpected that the recently inaugurated Governor, flying the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha, first alleged official directives (though he has denied ordering the demolition) included the takedown down of one of Rochas Okorocha’s hated and miserable statues in the state, the Akachi tower.
What business is the Akachi tower with the economic reality cum situation of the poverty-stricken people of Imo State? The forty feet tower, along Akachi Road in Owerri, has a hand pointing at its topmost into the sky signifying a ‘praying hand’ or ‘hand of God.’ How did the Akachi Tower’s praying hand of God influence the daily lives of lmolites during the tenure of Owelle Rocha’s Okorocha?
How did he get it wrong in office? Owelle Rochas Okorocha started by fanning the ember of nepotism to the zenith of lunacy when he appointed his close relatives to control lucrative positions while his tenure lasted.
He specifically created special portfolio like ‘the Ministry of Enjoyment and Purpose Fulfilment’ that was occupied by his blood sister as Commissioner. I hear of a Ministry of Domestic Affairs; the establishment of Okorocha Foundation College of Africa.
What of the street Okorocha named after Jacob Zuma, former President of South Africa in Owerri, the state capital? As if such reckless effrontery of hosting a foreign leader with the huge economic implication was not enough, Okorocha went ahead to erect a statue to honor Jacob Zuma, who was bedeviled by huge corruption allegations in his own country before he was mercilessly disrobed and humiliated out of power for engaging in absolute gross mismanagement of state resources and abuse of power!
Okorocha met his political waterloo via Emeka Nwosu, his son in-law, when he decided to force him on his party men in Imo state as his successor. His extreme bravado and dictatorial tendencies became his nemesis as he lost out woefully during the All Progressives Congress (APC) party primaries in the state.
Rochas Okorocha miserable political ambition to continue to grab and suck from the political tree in Nigeria pushed him to contest for the Senatorial seat in Imo State during the last National Assembly Election.
His penchant to win at all cost, to dribble his way by hook or crook on the political tuff has led to the controversial withholding of his certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the senatorial seat, having been alleged that the process that purportedly gave him the senatorial victory was heavily tainted and could not stand the true democratic test.
When the likes of Donald Trump, President of the United States of America and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia and others insinuated some misgivings about Africa and most of its leaders cum citizens talking about incredible and abysmal leaderships, insatiable corruption/habits and unbridled satanic penchant for wastages and greed being common place in spite of the unlimited natural endowment scattered all over the continent, the character and personality of Owelle Rochas Okorocha easily come to mind.
Okorocha is a minus for democratic evolvement in Nigeria, yet he wanted to be president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; his political philosophy is saturated with cant and caprice, he is one of the stark unprogressive fellows that have painted the banner of the APC in terrible colors and names.
His style in Imo State is certainty not how to govern a civilized rational and cultured people. Rochas Okorocha loves power and he was indeed intoxicated by power while he rode rough shod over the people of Imo State.
Now his blind and deaf agenda to foist his son-in-law (Emeka Nwosu) on the people as his successor by any means necessary has cost the All Progressives Congress dearly in the state, and sadly and ironically, he remains unrepentant by his utterances till tomorrow.
The likes of Owelle Rochas Okorocha abound in the political firmament of Nigeria, the electorate should watch out for them at all times, for democracy is about accountability and responsibility to the governed, never about deceitful characters who frequently wear the toga of philanthropism to climb to power, only to dash the hope of the innocent voters to pieces.
Nowinta wrote Where We Are – A Call for Democratic Revolution in Nigeria.
