IMO ELDERS FORUM: NO TO POLITICS OF DISUNITY
We have received news of the planned hosting of the Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha by Imo Citizens in Abia on the 21st of April, 2012 with shock. We are also privy to various newspaper reports intimating the public of the planned visit being spearheaded by prominent Igbo sons like Chief Maduakor and Owunna.
Heaven knows that Imo Citizens are peace loving people and have had the most fruitful and rewarding cohabitation with our other brothers in Abia State especially enjoying the lavish support of the State Government. Having lived in Aba for well over fifty years and made our marks as successful business men, we as elders cannot stay at home and watch the she goat deliver in its tether. It is abominable in Imo and elsewhere in Igbo land. We are not aliens to official protocol and therefore state as follows:
1. That there is no such thing as Imo Citizens without having recourse to the real Elders. Chief Onyenso Nwachukwu and Chief John Anyahie know enough to deny the existence of any phantom group.
2. We have not invited our Governor as any such visit must have the blessing of the Abia State Government who by the way is our host and landlord
3. Rochas Okorocha is not a charlatan and cannot be railroaded into any arrangement that would see him as disregarding all official protocols
4. Abia State government has denied receiving any request from either the Imo State Government or any such Group at that. Thiss imply means that there are plans by the so called organizers to rubbish the reputation of the office and person of the Governor of both Imo and Abis States
5. The entire country is sitting on a precipice in terms of security and it would be foolhardy for any person to do anything that would incense the volatility already being experienced
6. The sudden appearance of fugitive Reagan Ufomba as a central figure in Igbo politics portrays NDI IGBO as lacking in quality leadership. He is simply setting Imolites against their Igbo kinsmen
7. Regan Ufomba cannot organize Imolites in Abia State. He does not only lack the moral justification to do so, he equally lacks the prerequisite integrity to act in that capacity
8. If Regan Ufomba is keen on hosting Imo State Governor, he could jolly well distance Imolites from that awful, distasteful and disunity – motivated Greek Gift
9. NDI IMO in Abia appreciate the good working relationship that had long existed between them and their Abia hosts, accountable for Imolites having the most flourishing businesses (more than any other ethnic nationality in Nigeria) in Abia. Our investments can attest to that.
10. As beneficiaries of unity and brotherly love, we cannot be seen to be playing double standards through cutting corners, breaching official protocols and setting our Governor against the Abia State Government and by extension NDI IGBO in general
11. The business of fixing Imo State is more deserving of attention now than the planned jamboree which in the first place is a concocted marriage of convenience bound to crash
12. We have no hands in the planned visit and could attest unequivocally that our children are far from the evil arrangement
13. We warn all those who are behind this charade to desist forthwith from further causing disaffection and animosity between Imolites and the rest of NDI IGBO
14. We insist without fear or favour, not minding whose ox is gored that Rochas Okorocha is not welcomed, not now and not anytime when he would allow himself to be used as an instrument of disunity.
15. No State Governor can visit another State without the courtesy of notifying the host State Government. Imo State is too big to fall into that bobby, banana and slippery peel.
16. We should remember that most of us have lived here way too long that resettling would be a Herculean Task. It is only wise to court peace, affection and unity
There is no alternative to peace and we therefore stand on the side of the very many successful business people, professionals; artisans, market traders and commoners of Imo extraction living in Abia. A word is enough for the wise.
Signed:
F: IMO ELDERS FROM
Chief Nwachukwu Onyenso
Chief John Anyaehie
www.thejuristlaw.blogspot.co.uk
26th April 2012
The Lies And Deceits Of Governor Rochas Okorocha
By Citizen Reporter - 247REPORT
The Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha while narrating the full import of his government’s rescue mission likened it to the Israel’s rescue operation in Uganda tagged “90 minutes at Entebbe”. Although, the Entebbe raid was acted with exquisite sense of timing, its target of rescuing Israeli hostages from Field Marshall Idi Amin Dada was of vital strategic importance to Israel’s prestige as a nation. Nevertheless, the rescue operation as mission accomplished had all the hostages rescued and airlifted to Israel.
In view of the foregoing, governor Okorocha’s rescue agenda in Imo State lacks vision, since it was likened to the Israel’s operation in Uganda, which has its distinctive circumstance. In fact, such an imitation cannot pass for a vision. It can be a mere daydream, which most times, cannot be turned into reality due to lack of originality and reasonable concordance.
Apparently, within 10 months in office, a state government that purports to be on rescue mission could not pass simple litmus test as it still appears insensitive to the two factors, namely to rescue people in supposed desperate plight, and to achieve it within a time frame. Thus, the only question on the lips of Imo people is “who is the rescue government actually rescuing or for whom is effort made in that direction?”
Is it the Transition Committee (TC) Chairmen at the Local Government Councils (LGCs) that have neither members nor appointment letters and all the paraphernalia of office? Or, is it the stooge members of the Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA) and the rescue government appointees who act as guinea pigs in the midst of being denied the pleasure of using brand new official vehicles and the benefit of all the entitlements attached to their offices? Or, is it the state civil servants who are at a crossroads between asking for a stop to an endless screening of certificates and craving for the actual computation of the hyped N20,000 new minimum wage, which should have placed them above the federal civil servants?
Let’s tell ourselves the bitter truth! Is governor Okorocha in all sincerity paying the state civil servants far and above their counterparts in the federal civil service who are earning N18,000 minimum wage? What is this lackadaisical mentality beclouding Imo people that a spade can no longer be addressed as such? Nevertheless, the civil servants know too well that the table used by governor Okorocha in calculating the so-called N20,000 minimum wage does not give a value worth up to N11,000 minimum wage, and they are afraid to voice out this truth for fear of victimization.
BUILDING TRUST AND ENGAGING THE PEOPLE
One is worried at the level of lies, falsehood, deceit, and abracadabra, which the Imo people have brazenly admitted to contend with.
* It is beyond every reasonable doubt that governor Okorocha did not cut down any state security vote as claimed. Reference to the 2011 budget reveals that the said state security vote was N2billion and not N6billion. Therefore, for governor Okorocha to claim that he cut down the said state security vote to N2.5billion is a criminal projection aimed at hoodwinking the Imo people for self-aggrandizement to the tune of N500million. This is fraud.
* Imolites are no daft to be deceived that governor Okorocha paid 2-12years pensions to retirees whereas he merely paid 3months arrears in a dramatized interactive session. This window dressing to attract undeserved applause was stage –managed to portray the past governors of Imo State as insensitive to the plight of the retirees while masquerading as “a self-acclaimed messiah”.
SECTORAL REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE
(a) PUBLIC WORKS/INFRASTRUCTURE
* The totality of the public works and infrastructural projects embarked upon by governor Okorocha are all at their teething stages that should not warrant any self-glory or applause. It is sad to note that the award of these contracts did not follow due process because according to governor Okorocha, “in rescue mission, there is no protocol”.
* The verbosity in respect of breaking the age-long jinx about Okigwe and Orlu regarding the location of such white elephant projects as a five star hotel, a civic centre, a modern stadium, etc are the usual fallacious promises of governor Okorocha. It can be likened to the N100million development fund promised to each of the LGAs in the State, which till date is yet to be realized. To add salt to injury, governor Okorocha promised another N1billion to each of the LGAs in a manner that presents him as one in need of psychiatric diagnosis and spiritual deliverance so as to bring his flippancy to a bearable level.
(b) EDUCATION
* Governor Okorocha has made a ruse of education in the Imo State public school system with his ill conceived free education programme. Disappointedly the governor is busy politicizing the N100 stipend to school children, while the imprest to run the schools have not been made available, which invariably affects the quality of the so-called free education. Recently, the school children were restive on why the state government could not live up to its words of N100 daily stipend, which was paid for the first (and last) time in October 2011.
* In the face of the above, governor Okorocha perfected another lies and deceit phenomenon where he promised free education scheme and mouthwatering bursary for all Imo State undergraduates in the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri and the Imo State Polytechnic (ImoPoly), Umuagwo. If Lagos, Rivers, and Bayelsa States whose Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) surpasses the federal allocation to Imo State cannot offer free tertiary education programme, and are finding it difficult to grapple with that of the secondary and primary schools, one marvels at why governor Okorocha thinks he can always play on the intelligence of the enlightened Imo citizens.
(c) SECURITY
* Imo people witnessed how governor Okorocha rebranded all the Hilux vans and Healthcare delivery hummer buses in the State to credit his so-called rescue government. Even, the additional 100 Ford Ranger Trucks, which he claimed to have purchased were actually donated by banks to the State government. The said governor was not ashamed to present these trucks to Imo people as his achievement in his first 100days in office, which he earlier planned not to celebrate.
* In the same manner, the said governor re-allocated all the official vehicles (acquired by the past administration) to his political appointees who invariably were denied the comfort of brand new official vehicles. Thus, the money so conserved from not purchasing any new vehicle is not seen to have been meaningfully utilized by the Okorocha’s government.
* In late January 2012, governor Okorocha visited Gombe, Bauchi and Kano States for his 2015 presidential ambition. However, he claimed to have visited and held meetings with the Igbos, and found out that no Igbo was killed in any of the Boko Haram attacks. Thanks to God that Rochas abracadabra did not charm the visibly annoyed Chairman of Ohaneze ndi Igbo of Kano State who was quick to respond that, “Okorocha did not enter Sabon Gari to see anybody. He came for his own political business. He did not come to see Ndigbo. He did not set foot in the community”. This is how governance has been reduced to a child’s play where time, effort and money are wasted on frivolities.
(d) IMO STATE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM AND COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAMME
It is on record that governor Okorocha has addressed Imolites on several occasions on the issue of the State being very rich. However, one is amazed on why, in the midst of this professed plenty, the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were directed by the governor to engage in commercial activities in order to generate their salaries and allowances, while subventions to these MDAs have since been completely withdrawn. What a contradiction and double speak by governor Okorocha!
(e) REDUCING THE COST OF GOVERNANCE
* Governor Okorocha, in his address on the STATE OF IMO told Imolites that, “one of the biggest setbacks to the development of our nation has been the unusually high and largely unjustified cost of governance. Unfortunately, our State was a classic example of how resources could be frittered away by the excessive overheads and a plethora of unwholesome practices fueled, to a large extent, by greed and avarice”.
The same governor Okorocha who claims to be patriotic and prudent by his so-called rescue agenda deceived Imo people by wasting a whopping sum of N2billion on a trip to woo investors from purported seven countries. Imolites are still waiting for the investors to arrive.
* During the same address on the STATE OF IMO, governor Okorocha disclosed that “my government since inception has not borrowed a kobo”. Thus, the governor should in the spirit of his acclaimed prudent management of the State resources explain the following:
- Who borrowed the N10billion and N50billion respectively in 2011, and which were approved as supplementary budgets by the stooge IMHA?
- Who borrowed N6billion for repayment of purported loan owed to UBA PLC by the past administration?
- Who borrowed another N6billion for supposedly counterpart fund for UBE, ETF, MDG, etc?
- Who, also, borrowed N5billion for fruitless adventure of re-surfacing good and motorable roads in Owerri municipality?
- Who, too, borrowed a whopping sum of N10billion for phantom infrastructural development?
The loans are endless. Who is governor Okorocha fooling? Perhaps, governor Okorocha is right, because he is yet to start the actual borrowing spree.
* Whereas governor Okorocha is busy siphoning the State funds, he turns round with a Catholic look to tell easy-going Imolites what they like to hear about manna falling from heaven. Without fear of contradictions, Concorde hotel has been suffocated in the guise of renovation to pave way for LA MONDE hotel (owned by governor Okorocha) to reap all government sponsored socio-political activities. Roche group International (owned by governor Okorocha) controls all the ETF and UBE contracts at IMSUBEB as well as manages ADAPALM, Concorde hotel, and ITC. LA MONDE Press, LA MONDE Guest House, Concorde newspapers, and Rochas Convention Center Fast Food are other conduit pipes of governor Okorocha for siphoning state fund. No wonder, governor Okorocha once said, “I am here for a mission, and the mission shall come to pass. Don’t see me as a conventional governor, but a radical governor, that is why I don’t observe protocol”.
* As a friend, Kenneth Uwadi once wrote, “Okorocha has been proclaiming heaven that will become of Imo State. Every month, he will make press release, promising Imolites heaven on earth. To get cheap popularity, he rents praise singers who lie to the world that all is honky dory with Imo State. Our ears are sore with ‘we will build this and that’ in place of ‘we have done this and that’.” Indeed, Imo people are yearning for result. Do governor Okorocha realize that he sacked the following groups of Imo people from the government pay roll?
(a) The beneficiaries of the 10,000 jobs
(b) The elected LGC chairmen, the deputy chairmen, the councilors, the supervisory councilors in the 27 LGAs (their personal assistants and drivers).
(c) The Co-ordinators and members of the Local Government Development Centers in the 27 LGAs (including their personal assistants and drivers).
(d) The chairmen and members of the various boards of government departments and agencies (including their personal assistants and drivers).
In fact, these groups result in a combined total of about 16,000 Imo people displaced. Till date, there is no replacement with other Imo people begging for rescue. Then, where do we place governor Okorocha and his rescue mission in the annals of Imo history?
CONCLUSION
It poses a great difficulty to reconcile the random and reckless utterances of governor Okorocha with the realities on ground in Imo State. A situation where MDAs are subjected to generate their salaries and allowances; where contractors are subjected to fund government projects to completion without payment; where in ten months in office, a government borrowed a sum of money more than the sum total of the borrowings of three previous administrations in Imo State; where governor Okorocha sets up numerous private outfits which took over the management and control of government contracts, departments and agencies for his self-aggrandizement; where about 16,000 Imolites were deprived of their legitimate jobs without payment of their entitlements or their replacement thereof smacks of a government cover-up and hypocrisy. It’s time to stop the lies and deceit. EFCC will, indeed be needed to help Imolites unravel the true accountability of the reckless and mischievous financial transactions of governor Okorocha’s rescue government in Imo State
HEN-USA
UMU-IBE,
Here is HEN still Crying Very Loud, since the New Gov. Okoroacha of Imo state, threw his Resume to the waste Paper Basket, and instead recruited the Most Qualified for the position, which Prof. Dr. HEN sought for in the New Imo State Governor!!
My brother HEN, hundred years of Crying and Malinging the New Gov. of Imo State, who is Really on Rescue Mission of Ndi-Imo Dum, will NOT stop him nor cause him to deviate from this Divine Mission, which the Governor has been Anointed to carry out!!
We have no time for any Cry babies out there who was NOT included in this mission. You are Not Qualified to be part of this Divine Mission of today; may be some day in future years you will be considered. Let's Stop the Cry and innuendos!! OSO NDI, OWE NDI. Otoiheoma Egbe.
I am not sure what the strident criticism of Governor Okorocha is based on, but I think it is appropriate that some of us who are seeing a picture different from what is being painted chime in.
I have spent significant time in Nigeria in the past few months, and the accounts from persons at both the upper and lower levels of society are speaking very positively about Governor Okorocha and his efforts to transform Imo State. Last weekend, all the Senators from Imo (regardless of party) joined in Owerri to sing Okorocha's praises. Some said that Imo had seen this level of developmental activity since the time of the ebullient and beloved Sir Mbakwe.
Many are daily acknowledging Okorocha's efforts to improve and facilitate movement in Imo through a complex of new roads and improvements to existing ones. Approaching Owerri from Aba, one can now bypass the town to access the Mbaise Rd/Egbu axis. The same is also true if approaching Owerri from the Okigwe axis. I have personally seen parts of my native Mbaise that have never smelled anything government until now (except the Old County Council), with new roads actively being constructed.
As I understand it, the grand design is to connect all the zones and areas of of Imo, from Mbaise through parts of Mbano, Okigwe, Orlu, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, and back out to the Ngor-Okpalla area. This is the mega loop. I also understand that one or more beltways (ring roads) will circle the Owerri municipal area.
As of last summer, Rivers State had dualized and modernized its segment of the Owerri-Port Harcourt Rd. I understand that the segment from Owerri has now caught up all the way to the state boundary. The excitement is that, unlike the theories about Nwangele and Oguta Lake in the previous administration on which billions was squandered, several of the structures in the Okorocha master-plan are actually under construction, not just on paper.
Also evident is that Concord Hotel, which was a ran-down rat hole for decades, has been restored to a truly functioning standard hotel with quality service. Eagle Square, where Owerri received and celebrated the late Ikemba and housed his body in state overnight was showcased globally early in March, and it is an impressive structure. The Owerri I saw this February and have since heard a lot about even during this April is different from the Owerri I have known from childhood.
One clear proof this is that Owerri is now a weekend resort for people from as far away as Lagos and Benin. For this reason, every flight to Owerri and Port Harcourt is solidly booked. I was forced to spend Easter weekend in Lagos because every seat was taken on every flight and I could not brave traveling by road. Even when you get to Owerri, it is even more difficult to get a hotel room (and there are now literally hundreds of quality hotels) in Owerri. Many who work in the oil gas belt of the Niger Delta now prefer to commute from Owerri. And I know for a fact that plans for in corporate relocation to Owerri is stirring up very strongly in that sector.
Prior to now, the place of Imo as an oil producing state was in question, but not any more. Dozens of marginal fields operations and new exploration activities are flourishing within Imo, thanks to initiatives and willingness of the government to encourage and welcome these activities. It has long been established that Anambra is the leading gas basin in Nigeria, but recent revisions are extending the boundaries of the gas belt very deep into Imo. The current government is actively interested in this sector and is promoting and encouraging it seriously .
The only exception and my personal reservation about Okorocha is the misguided desire/attempt to relocate Imo State University Main Campus from its current Owerri town location to his Ideator area rather than actualize the decision repeatedly made by successive Imo governments to develop a permanent site on a huge acreage of land acquired for that purpose about 2 kilometers off Aba-Owerri Road.on the Okpalla-Mbaise Road,
To be clear, I have absolutely no connection to Governor Rochas. I simply base my view on what I have personally observed and several independent assessments by persons and interests directly affected by what the government is doing. They all seem to like it what is happening. In a way, I am not surprised because this government does have active connection to Chief Agboso (the former APGA candidate), a very pragmatic and savvy socio economist whose brother is Okorocha's deputy.
I also contrast my current views against my expressed feelings during Ohakim's period, when all I saw each time I went to Imo was dozens of billboards profiling the personality of the governor. I remember reminiscing very often on these forums when Anambra persons complained about Governor Obi that I would welcome seeing in Imo a small % of what Obi was doing in Anambra. It is right to say, thank God, I am now beginning to get my wish, and the credit goes to Governor Okorocha, in my opinion.
Ken Okorie
[Every business decision has legal implications]
Dear Ken Okorie,
I do not want to unleash an unnecessary debate, but this email is in order.
Apart from HEN's position, my point of argument is that what this Okorocha
guy is doing/accomplishing fall short of the level of federal government funding
he's receiving on behalf of ALL levels of government in Imo State. And why is
Okorocha taking loans on behalf of Imo state, when such loans are unnecessary?
You correctly made made mention of the lootings by Ohakim. So, what is stopping
Governor Okorocha from going after Ohakim and Udenwa to recover our billions
those individual governors are yet to account for.
Keep in mind that it is no secret any more that most of the land Rochas now owns
in and around Owerri are due to sweetheart deals he got from Achike Udenwa.
As an erudite lawyer, I think you need to probe deeper before you lower your
garvel. Also and again, keep your eyes on lands around Owerri and Oguta, those
are targets for Okorocha.
This is constructive "opposition".
Cheers!
Collins Ezebuihe.
My brother Attorney Collins
Whatever Rochas got from the previous administration has nothing to do with him being the Governor rightnow. We need to focus on what he is doing for our dear state as Governor. Anybody can criticise anybody. I have been criticized several times. A critic finds fault without a search warrant. Criticism is a compliment when you know what you doing is right. Any leader knows that to lead, you must be willing to accept blisters and have sand kicked in your face. Rochas is not worried about detractors. Ana ekwu ekwu, ana ememe. He said he is on a rescue mission and we are watching. So far it has all been thumbs high for the young man. On April 19, 2012, Rev. Athanasius Abanulo, of Nigerian Catholic Community, Nashville came back from Owerri. He informed us that Imo State is perhaps the best State in Nigeria now. He talked about grading of all the roads that he saw around Owerri and within his Mbaise community. I don't know who else to believe. This is a reverend father. In short, Rochas is performing. He will do more if we let him. If he wants to borrow money for the betterment of Imo people, let him do so. Ndewo
Mazi Okoro
Mr. Okwesi Agu
It gets to be annoying when we break every discussion or argument on this foray into those seeking appointment and those who have sought appointments.
The fora is to enlighten us and bring us information that edify us or help us in making decisions. Your utterance as above has not added anything to this discussion, and to that extent, practically useless.
Everyone of us has every right to seek a job or position in our government. It only becomes a problem when we LEAD Community organizations with an ulterior motive to use that office to further our individual political or Economic agenda, to the detriment of the Goals and Aspirations of the Organization.
Hen has a right to continue to criticise the Government. Okorie too has a right to post his observations and findings for those of us who have not been to Imo lately.
We are smart enough to know when we are reading from hollow "OTIMKPU'S". Ken in his write-up does not sound like one of them.
If you have any information to the contrary, be clear and say it. Otherwise, let us stop this denigration of thoughts and ideas, in the name of politics.
Nze John Igbokwe
Imo workers dare Okorocha ...Over commercialization policy
From VAL OKARA, Owerri
The organized labour in Imo State has threatened to declare a trade dispute with the state government should it carry out its commercialization policy, and mass transfer of civil servants to various communities. The state government had earlier declared to introduce commercialization policy state ministries and parastatals to generate their funds.
Addressing the civil servants yesterday, at the state secretariat along Owerri/Port Harcourt Road, the Chairman Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Coleman Opara said the commercialization policy of the government was unacceptable to the labour and threatened industrial dispute this week.
“There is fire on the mountain. It is improper and unconventional for any civil servant to lea information to the state government that we are holding our meeting today.”
“We are not going to leave any stone unturned to resist the government’s commercialization policy and transfer of civil servants to communities where they will be paid by traditional rulers.
“We don’t have effective and dynamic permanent secretaries and because of their jumbo salaries, they see themselves as politicians.”
Opara who warned that labour would deal with any permanent secretary in the state that issued letter of transfer to communities for the purpose establishment of the fourth tier government.
“We say no to the commercialization policy. No to the transfer of civil servants to various communities in the state. The policies are unacceptable to the labour.”
Opara accompanied by other labour leaders in the state including, the state chairman of NLC, Dr. Reginald Anyadike, NLC acting secretary Austin Chilampu, Trade Union Congress chairman, Nze C.O Aharanwa, observed that the labour had extended olive branch to the present administration than previous governments in the state.
The State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha who stormed the venue of the meeting earlier met hostile civil servants that dished out some unprintable things on the commercialization policy and mass transfer of workers to various communities.
Okorocha ordered for the immediate transfer of all accountants in the state civil service, disclosing that the sum of N650 million has been saved from the payment of salaries to ghost workers.
He also disclosed that N1 billion has been saved from pension funds for illegal payment pensioners, saying that N650 million recovered from the payment of ghost workers would be used to build new judicial headquarters.
He ordered for the immediate commencement of investigation of frauds by accountants saying that any one found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted.
Okorocha who was visibly angry said, “Any day I wake up and discovers that there is love lost between the people of the state and myself, I will throw in the towel immediately. Some of you are now politicians holding secret meetings against me.
He therefore assured them that no civil servant would be sacked as a result of the downsizing but threatened to sack any civil servant that if failed to be transferred to the communities. He directed the state civil service commission to embark on massive promotion of civil servants.
Source: Sun, 18th April 2012.
Labour in Imo rejects Okorocha’s policies, may down tools
The organised labour in Imo has rejected Gov. Rochas Okorocha’s policies of decentralisation and commercialisation of the state public service.
It also rejected the Community Government Council (CGC), initially termed the fourth tier of government.
The Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiation Council, Mr Coleman Opara, announced the workers’ resolutions on the issues on Tuesday in Owerri at a rally at the state government secretariat.
Opara said that public servants in the state were totally opposed to the policies because they were not in the interest of the workers.
He threatened that the workers might embark on strike if the government failed to rescind the decisions, explaining, however, the leadership of the workers would meet with the governor over the issue.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that under the new arrangement, the government plans to redeploy some workers to rural communities where they will be part of the CGC.
Under the commercialisation policy, ministries and parastatals are to generate revenue to pay their workers.
But Opara said the plan on redeployment violated the Civil Service Rule, adding that the governor’s aides were not advising him properly on the issues. NAN
Source: Sun, 18th April 2012.
Power Outage Hits Hard In Imo
FROM CHARLES OGUGBUAJA, OWERRI
ON December 23, 2011, Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, was in Egbu, Owerri North Local Council of Imo State to commission the installed brand new 60 MVA sub-station to step up power supply in Owerri capital city and environs.
The Minister also commissioned a 33 KV injection sub station located in Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise, on the same day. The move was expected to beef up power supply.
Three months earlier, a 45-MVA Egbu sub-station was gutted by fire. But the Ministry decided to increase the capacity to 60 MVA so that it could serve the people of Owerri municipal, Emii, Orji, Works Layout, Imo State University, Owerri, Awaka, Emekuku, Egbu, Mbieri and others.
Electricity consumers in those areas had remained in the dark for about six months before the Egbu power station was refurbished.
Notwithstanding, power outages have continued to be the lot of these communities. For instance, from the Imo State University junction to Orji, Works Layout, even in the main city of Owerri, perennial power cut has continued unabated.
Also, the ongoing construction of the Mbutu Aboh Mbaise 33.11 with 60 MVA x2 sub station awarded at a total cost of N1.2 billion in 2009, has been on a snail speed.
The site Engineer, Mr. Idris Ayimu, had promised that the station would be ready this month.
The way it is, it will be a wonder if the project — expected to provide and beef up power in 14 local councils of Imo state and neighbouring state of Abia — is completed this month.
Another power station being built in the Ohaji /Egbema Local Council, still completion is not promising.
Even now, the Owerri metropolis and environs have no power supply, due to the rainstorm that occurred Thursday evening.
Businesses that required power to run their operations now have to bear the high cost of running the generators.
Public Affairs Officer of the Owerri District of the PHCN, Mr. Osita Ugwuafor, disclosed that Imo consumers of electricity owe about N1 billion, with the Imo State government and some public institutions taking the lead.
A consumer, Ambrose Amadi, urged government to beef up power supply.
“We want government to truly pay attention to the power sector. Please let them save us from unnecessary costs of running our businesses,” he said.
Source: The Guardian, 15th April 2012.
Imo State free education policy
THE declaration of free education at all levels for all students of Imo State origin by Governor Rochas Okorocha is a noteworthy measure, particularly in the South East zone where such official policy is perhaps the first of its type. If it is genuinely motivated and implemented with devotion, the state government may be at the threshold of making history. The governor has a duty to prove cynics of the policy wrong, and justify his promise to Imo citizens. The policy is aimed at all Imo students in state owned institutions.
Expectedly, the declaration has elicited jubilation and enthusiasm among people of the state particularly parents who, like their counterparts in other parts of the country, have difficulty in paying school fees. According to the governor, who announced the policy to a huge crowd at the Imo Freedom Square in Owerri, all students of Imo origin studying at the Imo State University would receive a scholarship of N100,000 annually. Out of this amount, N80,000 would be free while N20,000 would be loan repayable by the students after graduation and employment.
Similarly, polytechnics students at HND level will get N80,000 broken down into N60,000 free and N20,000 loan; OND level will get N60,000 broken down into N40,000 free and N20,000 loan. The governor had earlier declared free education in primary schools where students would receive N25,000 per annum; and secondary school where students are already receiving N100 stipend every day. All the loans are without collateral. The monies, the governor stated, would be paid with effect from next academic year (September 2012).
Against the backdrop of constitutional provisions enjoining all governments in the country to operate free education at all levels, the Imo government policy appears laudable and worthy of emulation by other states. Section 18 (1) of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that “Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels”. Sub-section (3) (a, b, c, d) state that “Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy through free, compulsory and universal primary education; free secondary education; free university education; and free adult literacy programme.”
However, those who have expressed reservation about the seriousness and ability of the state government to implement free education at all levels should not be discountenanced easily. The policy requires logistics and planning much beyond mere allocation of money, which appears to be the thrust of Governor Okorocha’s campaign. So far, there is no assurance that the money thus earmarked will go all the way in making the policy successful; and there is also not much on ground to assure the much-needed continuity.
Nevertheless, the government of Imo State can be taken to have started a worthy venture. The governor and his cabinet should recognise the immense responsibility they have given themselves, and strive to live up to expectation.
For a start, Imo State has practically lost its pride of place in male educational enrolment. It needs a progressive policy therefore to reverse its stage of backwardness.
The policy is an acceptance of the challenge posed by the notion in some quarters that free education at all levels is not possible in Nigeria. The governor, to meet this challenge, needs to assure the people of sustainable funding of the policy, beyond mere enthusiastic declaration that money is available. Part of this assurance is for government to spend wisely, avoid ostentation and curtail the size and cost of government. With transparency in the running of government, the state can avail itself of sufficient funds to carry out free education. There can be no room for corruption but prudent and judicious management of scarce resources.
If Nigeria is to be truly transformed in the near future, it must start with raising the literacy level through mass education, which is the bedrock for national development.
Governor Okorocha should therefore pursue this policy with diligence and commitment. There should be no playing of politics with it. The people would hold the governor by his word. As it were, the policy should be regarded as work in progress. Every governor should take education with the seriousness it deserves, rather than toy with as is largely the case now.
There should be an effective modality for disbursing money on the project, to avoid misapplication and fraud. Ideally, money should not be paid to parents and guardians to prevent them from misapplying same and leaving the students at home. Money should be disbursed towards the payment of school fees and other necessities of the students.
It is equally important that the programme is sustained into the future. The State House of Assembly should consider an enabling law to this effect.
Source, The Guardian, 23rd March 2012.
Gunmen kill 5 in Anambra
By Alphonsus Nweze, Awka
Gunmen on Tuesday went wild in Oba, Idemili South Local Government area of Anambra state as they killed five members of the Oba Local vigilance group who were said to be on patrol within the community even as over seven other passers-by were hit by stray bullets.
It was gathered that the armed robbers were said to have been trailing the vigilance group members for some time now, when they finally caught them at 8th Mile junction, on Oba Old Road and opened fire on them, killing five out of the six occupants of the van while one escaped with severe bullet wounds.
According to eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, the armed robbers had trailed the Hilux patrol van conveying the vigilance group members from a far place when they had gone out on routine patrol within the community at about 8.30am and finished them up with assorted dangerous weapons.
Our source said when the vigilante operatives finished their patrol, they drove down to the 8th mile when the robbers who were in a black Sports Utility Vehicle SUV (Infinity Jeep) stopped behind them and opened fire on them rapidly resulting to death of five of them whose bodies was shattered by bullets.
Among the robbers was a girl who was crushing AK47 and a boy holding AK47 and a machine gun which they used to open fire on the vigilante operatives vehicle.
Said our source "the girl was the one who told two motorcycle operators (Okada) to pass that they were not the people they were looking for, so the girl was just focusing her rifle on the van, emptying the magazine while the other boy was just watching their sides and also pumping the trigger rapidly at the vehicle. After they finished their mission, they entered the jeep, reversed and drove away unchallenged".
Daily Champion gathered that the robbers were more than five, as about three members of the gang were said to be at different strategic places, watching out for either police or any other external force.
Daily Champion gathered that the five members of the Oba vigilance group killed by the robbers were Nzube Obianyo, Uzodimma Onwuka, Stephen Onyedum, Oscar Emebo and Maduike whose corpses have been deposited at the Fah Hospital mortuary, Oba.
However, when contacted, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), ASP Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the incident and said efforts were in top gear to arrest the gang that have unleashed terror in the state.
But speculation are rife in the State that the recent violent crime in the State may not be unconnected wit the absence of the police on the roads in the State, alleging that some criminal minded among them may have gone to laise with criminals to give impression that there can no peace and order without police on the road.
Source, Daily Champion, 22nd March 2012.
Court orders Shell to pay N4b to five Imo communities
FROM KELVIN EBIRI, PORT HARCOURT
A FEDERAL High Court in Port Harcourt has awarded N4 billion as general damages against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), in favour of five communities in Imo State for a crude oil spill that occurred in 1997.
A Shell pipeline which ruptured along the Egbema-Assa delivery line, had large volume of crude oil beneath the surface until the soil became saturated, and with rising water levels, oil was carried to the surface, destroying swamps, streams, forest of Umudike, Alimiri Umudike, Ekpe Agah, Ukpazizi Ekpe Mbede and Etekuru communities in Imo State.
Based on this, the communities led by Chief Sylvester Onyema Esiegwu (Eze-Ali Umudike-Egbema), 11 other chiefs on behalf of the communities, through their counsel , Mr. Lucius Nwosu (SAN) filed a suit No.FHC/PH/CS/159/2002, to demand special damages in the sum of N5,408,000.000 as compensation for immediate direct losses to their means of livelihood as assessed by their expert chartered Valuation Surveyors and itemised in their report.
Prior to the suit, a N900 million ex-gratia was made by Shell to the communities, for which they were compelled to sign an undertaking that the full and final settlement for the oil spill had been made.
Justice Gladys Olotu in her judgement, observed that looking at the documents presented by Shell in relation to the agreement, one might be tempted to agree with Shell.
But she stressed that by doing so, the course of justice will not be served.
And based on the fact that the word ex-gratia means favour and not right, Justice Olotu said the agreement with the communities cannot act as estoppel on their rights to claim adequate compensation.
While looking at the claims for the sum of N5.4 billion in special damages as compensation for the immediate direct losses to their means of livelihood as assessed by their experts, chartered valuation surveyors, the Judge declined to grant this based that it was not pleaded by the plaintiffs as required by law.
Instead, Justice Olotu ordered Shell to pay the sum of N4 billion as general damages for the indirect economic losses and negative environmental impact the communities suffered, including loss of objects of reverence, totems, historical land marks, air quality and associated fear and forced refugee status.
The court also granted the plaintiffs’ requested remediate of the communities’ environment to the pre-impact status. In addition, a perpetual injunction restraining Shell from causing such pollution in the future was slammed on the company.
Shell had in a bid to determine the cause of the spill which occurred on April 29, 1997, constituted a tripartite investigation team made up of 11 persons, five of whom were on its staff, one from the Department of Petroleum Resources, as well four persons from the communities.
In a report which Shell tendered in court as Exhibit 5, it was noted that the spillage incident was as a result of an external corrosion on the pipeline. In course of the trial, Shell presented an amended statement of defence, alleging that the spill was caused by sabotage.
But Nwosu had argued that a graphic examination of the point of rupture and the depth of the pipeline (buried seven metres) will show the impossibility of a saboteur accessing the point to punch the hole standing atop the buried pipeline from the earth’s surface above.
“From the graphic illustration attached, possibility is zero that a saboteur standing on the surface of the earth, using a punch can achieve a punch on the pipeline at an impossible angle such as the 4 o’clock position instead of the 12 o’clock or at the worst 2 o’clock position” he said.
The communities accused Shell of negligence, for failing to realise that the steel pipelines it buried underground in a tropical rain format environment is susceptible to rapid corrosion.
They also told the court that Shell ought to have reasonably forearmed that given the near stream and swamp topography under which the pipeline was laid, the natural tendency in the event of a spill will be unrestricted spill into the streams, the flood plains and flat lands characteristic of the Niger Delta and the service stream prevalent in the plaintiffs’ environment.
Source: The Guardian, 20th March 2012.
Oil spill: Court orders Shell to pay Imo communities N4b
By Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt
Justice Gladys Olotu of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday ordered the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to pay N4 billion as general damages to some communities in Imo State, for crude oil spillage.
The spill occurred on April 29, 1997.
Before filing the suit, a N900 million ex-gratia was made by Shell to the communities, for which they signed an undertaking that the full and final settlement for the oil spill had been made.
The affected communities are Umudike, Alimiri Umudike, Ekpe Agah, Ukpazizi Ekpe Mbede and Etekuru.
Shell’s pipeline ruptured along the Egbema-Assa delivery line, destroying the areas’ streams, swamps and forest, causing pollution and environmental degradation.
The communities, led by Sylvester Onyema Esiegwu and 11 others, through their counsel, Lucius Nwosu (SAN),filed the suit, demanding N5,408,000.000 as special damages, as assessed by their chartered valuation surveyors.
Justice Olotu said the course of justice would not be served, if she had to agree with Shell, based on the document corroborating the earlier agreement.
She reiterated that ex-gratia means favour and not right, stressing that the agreement with the communities could not stop their rights to claim adequate compensation.
The judge noted that the N4 billion would be for the indirect economic losses and negative environmental impact the communities had suffered, including loss of objects of reverence, totems, historical landmarks, air quality and associated fear and forced refugee status.
Experts’ report showed that the spillage was as a result of external corrosion on the pipeline, buried seven metres deep, but in the course of the trial, Shell alleged that the spill was caused by sabotage.
Source: The Nation, 20th March 2012.
Okorocha Hails Amaechi’s Performance on Infrastructure
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has lauded the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his unequalled accomplishments in infrastructural development of the State.
Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday during a grand reception organized in his honour by Imo Development Partners and Imo Indigenes in Rivers State, at the Community Secondary School, Nkpolu, Okorocha commended Amaechi for bringing democratic dividends to Rivers people.
"Your Excellency, I must take notice of the political, judicial and social indices of your performance in Rivers State… What you are doing in Rivers State has not been seen before... Thank you very much", Okorocha said.
Okorocha also commended the Rivers State Chief Executive for the role played by the Rivers State Government during the recent burial of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
"Imo and Rivers States share very close common boundary and the part that Governor Amaechi and I should play is to ensure that these two states become one in terms of road connection and all activities."
Amaechi assured his Imo State counterpart that he would collaborate with him for the common benefit of the people of the two states.
"We will continue to work together with the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha in areas we need to partner to develop together," Amaechi said.
Amaechi also pledged his administration’s support to those doing business in the state.
Source: This Day, 10th March 2012.
Owelle Rochas and Hon. Emeka Nwaorfo: Our Votes for You Was Not In Vain
By Nwaorgu Faustinus
Friday 10th February 2012
The joy of democracy for me is when politicians who are voted into elective offices ensure that those that elected them reap the benefit for electing them into office. Such benefit is not individually centered but people-oriented which is aimed at reducing the suffering of people, be it in skill acquisition, job creation, protection of life and property, road construction, which falls under infrastructural development among others. The crux of this piece is on the last but one – road construction.
The purpose of this piece is to inform not only Eziama and Ntu communities but also the entire Ngor/Okpala people living at home, and especially those living outside the shores of Nigeria that Owelle Ndi Imo is putting his money where his mouth is. This is sequel to his observation and promise to make sure that if voted into office, his administration will look into the poor nature of roads in the council area. My article captioned “Ngor/Okpala: A council area in need of development” published in some online media sites and in few print media outfits wherein I stated: ‘I remembered vividly the comment made by the current governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okoroha about the poor nature of Ngor/Okpala LGA roads when he was campaigning prior to the April 2011 gubernatorial election. The manner he spoke on the nature of roads in the area left no one in doubt that he will swing into action with a view to renovating and building new key roads which I had identified in my article titled “Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu and the challenge of Ngor/Okpala Council Area”. As at the time I wrote the former article, there was no concrete evidence to show that one or two roads are getting facelift from the governor.
This made me to aver thus in that piece: “Those who use the votes of Ngor/Okpala electorates to ascend to elective pinnacle should not ignore the council area by bequeathing on it lasting and commendable development projects not just to be remembered but also to be reelected in subsequent elections based on what they were able to achieve developmentally during their first tenure or risk the melancholic fate that befell the Ex-Governor, Ikedi Ohakim who campaigned vigorously in Ngor/Okpala to seek for votes and spent so much money but was shown the way out just for a change. The people from the council area are wiser ever than before as shown by what they did to Owelle Rochas’ predecessor during the supplementary elections and would not accept anything short of enduring developmental projects. The time to act is now”.
It is therefore noteworthy that he has started delivering on his campaign promise in the construction of roads. In my last but one piece with the title “Ngor-Okpala: Owelle Rochas on Course to Make Good his Promise”, I wrote ‘True to his promise, governor owelle rochas administration has commenced the construction of the road that runs from Umukabia to the Local Government Council located at Umuneke Ngor. While the people from the area commend him for this among other good plans he has for the council area given his philanthropic disposition and the remarkable, prominent and praiseworthy role majority of electorates from Ngor-Okpala played to put him in the Douglas House (State Government House) where he is today, he should ensure that the construction company handling the construction of the road delivers on target. It is important to observe here that it is one thing to commence the construction of road and another to complete it while adhering strictly to time, standards and specification. This observation is based on previous attempt made to construct the road by past administration but was abandoned”.
Optimistically, last week, the people of Umuodagu Ntu were beside themselves with joy when the current administration moved in its construction machine to the community, and without much ado, kick started the construction of the popular “Theo Road” named after late Theodor Amadi who created the initial footpath of the road from Umucham Ntu, a village in Ntu community to Elelem, a nearby community. The people of Umuodagu Ntu, which is made up of six villages could not hide their happiness as cheerful expression enveloped their countenance for what the state government through the influence of Hon. Emeka Nwaorfo has started to do for them. “Ama Theo” as the road is fondly called has never been remembered by past administration, it was therefore a moment of great joy for the inhabitants of the community to witness the maiden construction of the road.
Now that the road construction is at its early stage, it would be prudent to remind the state government as I did in my recent article to ensure prompt monitoring of the road construction so as to make sure that the contractor or construction company handling the project adhere strictly to standards and specification which informed the award of the contract, for anything contrary to this may not go down well with the people of the community. In addition, Owelle Rochas and Hon. Emeka Nwaorfo should as a matter of necessity extend road construction to other communities that make up the LGA in order to give them a sense of belonging, because it is not only people from Ntu community and others living along the road that leads to the local government headquarters that voted for you during the supplementary election last year. This among other developmental needs should be the duty of a responsible administration that has the interest of the people at heart. God bless Ngor/Okpala
Nwaorgu Faustinus writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Mobile: +2348035601312. Email ngorokpalaresearcher@gmail.com or ngorokpalaresearcher@yahoomail.com
Appeal Court Upholds Okorocha’s Election
By Tobi Soniyi
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on yesterday dismissed the appeal brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the declaration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the winner of the supplementary governorship election conducted in Imo State on May 6th 2011.
The court presided over by Justice Tijani Abdulahi who led four other Justices of the court in a unanimous decision held that the PDP appeal lacked merit and was therefore dismissed.
The Court subsequently upheld the election of Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Justice Abdulahi said: "After a careful consideration of the preliminary objection filed by the appellants, we hold that it lacks merit and is hereby dismissed. The appeal also lacks merit and also dismissed with N50, 000 cost against the appellant.
Justice Abdualhi said the reasons for the decision would be given on a date to be communicated to counsel in the suit.
Reacting to the court’s decision, the APGA National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh described the court’s decision as an affirmation of the will of the people.
Source: This Day, 8th January 2012.
Ngor/Okpala: - Non Acquisition of Textbooks among Public Schools’ Students and Other Challenges
By Nwaorgu Faustinus
The role textbooks play in the advancement and enlightenment of humanity cannot be over stressed especially in the education of public and private primary school pupils as well as their secondary school counterparts. Apart from being a veritable source of acquiring knowledge, it also serves as an invaluable medium for preparing public and private school students for both internal and external examinations as they burn the midnight oil in order to make good grades. Furthermore, students consult their textbooks when assignment or homework is given thus playing the role of an assistant in getting the assignment done.
But what has continued to agitate the minds of many observers of the issue at hand is the alarming rate of non possession or rather acquisition of textbooks by public and even private school students in Ngor/Okpala council area. Investigation by this writer showed that few students have Mathematics and English Language textbooks as a result of the importance teachers and parents attach to them. It is not an exaggeration that out of ten randomly picked students, only three or four have Mathematics or English Textbooks not to mention other subjects’ textbooks whose possession have become very rare. A visit to public schools and dispassionate assessment of the numbers of students that have textbooks will surely make the assessor sad.
Question: who is to blame for this state of affairs? No doubt, parents should be the ones to take the bulk of the blame as the provision of textbooks for their wards should be their responsibility. Poverty one of the vicissitudes of life, in addition to other family challenges has been adduced for the inability of most parents to purchase textbooks for the various subjects taught in schools. The situation most times prevent some public school students from solving their take-home assignment as there is no handy textbooks they can use as a guide, assistance or aid to get the assignment done. Often times such homework is left unattended as there is no textbook or willing individual or person knowledgeable that can assist them tackle such academic work.
The various tiers of government should not be excluded from the blame, for there are still public schools that have not received textbooks either from the state government or local government since the inception of democracy in 1999. A visit to some public school libraries will reveal a sad story of indifference by the state government and local government to equip them with contemporary textbooks for the students to use.
No doubt our parents and constituted authorities whose responsibility is to provide textbooks for their wards and public schools especially at the grassroots have failed, taking into cognizance the state of some of the libraries which is best described as abysmal. Needless to say that such state of affairs needs to be reversed for the better. Therefore, a proactive step should be taken by parents, state government and the local government with a view to providing textbooks for students and public schools’libraries. As an addition, public-spirited individuals, nongovernmental organizations and cooperate organisation touched by the seemingly appalling state of libraries in the council area can donate textbooks as part of their corporate social responsibility
Similarly, the state government led by Governor Owelle Rochas should as a matter of utmost importance employ teachers who will teach some subjects where teachers for such subjects are lacking. The above request has become imperative in view of complaint being made by students of some public secondary schools in the council area.
It is being alleged in some quarters that teachers deployed or transferred to schools that are far and located at the outskirts of some rural communities immediately work their transfer or deployment back to urban-based schools as a result of the availability of social and infrastructural facilities. But for how long will the government continue to tolerate such misdemeanour meted out to rural-based public schools and what is it doing to nip the trend in the bud? It behoves the appropriate authority charged with posting of teachers in rural areas to follow it up to ensure that those posted to rural schools do not influence their posting back to the state capital.
With the present upsurge in the population of public school students, especially in the rural areas brought about by the introduction of free education in Imo State by the current administration of Chief Rochas Okorocha, it has therefore become expedient to send teachers to schools where their services are urgently needed. I remember at the time I did a piece with the title, “Imo State Government: Save Amala/Ntu Secondary School from Total Rot” published in some online media that the above school among other schools need teachers that will teach a number of subjects that has no teachers to teach them. The ealier the state government do this the better.
God bless Ngor/Okpala.
Nwao(r)gu, Faustinus wrote from Port Harcourt, Rivers State and can be reached on 08035601312. Email:ngorokpalaresearcher@gmail.com/ngorokpalaresearcher@yahoomail.com
Insecurity; Okorocha Suspends Salaries Of 6 Monarchs
STANLEY UZOARU
Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has directed the immediate suspension of the monthly salaries of all the traditional rulers in six local government areas of the state over what he termed “an increase in criminal activities” in their respective areas.
In a release signed by the senior special assistant to the governor on media, Chinedu offor, and made available to LEADERSHIP, the traditional rulers’ salaries were suspended, because they had failed to check the surge in crime in their respective communities.
The affected LGAs, according to the releases, are Orsu, Isu, Nwangele, Orlu, Oru West and Nkwere.
The governor also reiterates the commitment of his administration towards the protection of lives and properties of citizens of the state in line with his rescue mission agenda.
Source: This Day, 4th December 2011
Why Owerri Is Now Rated As Nigeria’s Dirtiest City
By Kenneth Uwadi
3rd December 2011
Owerri the capital ofImoStateinNigeriahas been named the dirtiest city inNigeriain a report published on Tuesday by Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria. Excrement in the street, graffiti, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and lack of sanitation exercises are the typical problems which Owerri city suffers, the report said. Another is the pure water sachets, cans, the mass booze-up, which brings hundreds of teenagers on to the streets at weekends, leaving litter strewn on streets. The report also stated that 88 percent of those questioned believed more public awareness of litter problems and regular cleanup exercise would have greater effect in Owerri .According to the report ,146 local authorities were contacted and it was discovered that each of the thousands of Imolites living in Owerri generates 1.5kg of rubbish per day and that only 5 percent of homes in Owerri have rubbish collection systems.
I am down and angry about this news. It is shocking to discover that for six months now the administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha has not conducted the monthly cleanup exercise. Owerri is now rated the dirtiest city inNigeria. It is still fresh in our memory that by the first 100 days of the last administration of the state, Clean and Green policy and the New face of Imo program transformed Owerri into an admirably clean city. During the last administration, once in a month Imolites take part in a major cleanup exercise, picking up garbage, sweeping streets, sweeping roads, clearing away refuse, sorting bottles and so on.Thanks to an administration with a poor outlook on life, ignorance, laziness and nothing to gain by being clean, Owerri has become the dirtiest city. Governor Okorocha has cut Imo citizens out of their clean-up the environment responsibility and nobody seems to have the guts to say anything for fear of the governor’s attack dogs and for fear of being accused of fanning ambers of disunity in the state.
All it takes for evil to thrive in a society is for few good men to say nothing. All what we are saying is that our governor should face the task of governance and meet the people’s expectations. We demand that Okorocha should reintroduce the monthly sanitation exercise in the state. We demand that theImoStategovernment should find a way of stopping indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Owerri and if possible inaugurate a sanitation court to prosecute offenders. Owerri city is now refuse city as a result of poor waste management. Even people living outside Owerri now transport refuse into it and dump them along the roads.
We will also never stop demanding that Governor Okorocha should recall the sacked 10,000 legally employed Civil Servants in Imo state.The civil Servants were duly employed according to Imo State Civil Service Commission laws. There are laid down civil service rules to follow in the sack of any civil servant. We must follow the rule of law in governance for we operate democratic system inNigeria. The expectation of the working class inImoState,traders, keke riders and transporters was that Okorocha would usher in a government where citizens right will be protected under the provision of the constitution as against decree under military dictatorship. Six months into Owelle’s rule, we have begun to ask question: is there a rule of law? Illegal proclamations are being made in gross violation of democratic norms and the provisions of Nigerian Constitution.
The executive fiat announcement of the sack of 10,000 civil servants in Imo state by the governor is an abuse of executive powers. It portrays the government as being very insensitive to the plights of the masses and a non respecter of the rule of law. Section 17 sub 3(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states, “the state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that all citizens, without discriminations on any group whatsoever, have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as well as adequate opportunity to secure suitable employments”. A governor that cannot provide employment for the youths of the state has no business in office.
-Kenneth Uwadi, Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State ,Nigeria
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