By Temple Okonji
In every decent society, responsible governments and their officials hold in high esteem the opinions expressed by high-ranking office holders. It is also the obligation of all leaders to offer patriotic suggestions on the best way to run political and economic systems, drawing from their vast experience and expertise. The exercise of such obligation must always be viewed from the patriotic prism rather than from pedestrian and selfish angles. This is the unfortunate circumstance which Imo State has found itself since the former governor, Ikedi Ohakim, wrote a recent 18-page letter with pictorials to the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. And gleefully, the letter contained practical suggestions on how to survive the pernicious and calamitous circumstances occasioned in the main by poor knowledge of the public service in the present dispensation. Arising from this letter, unsavoury responses, commentaries and articles have been deployed and executed by the state government not to salvage the present ruinous circumstances in Imo state but to castigate and embarrass Chief Ohakim. And continually, these efforts have failed.
Many commentors like Louis Odion, (The Nation) and Prof. Protus Nathan Uzoma (Daily Sun) lent their columns to the importance and relevance of Ohakim’s letter, including the political and economic realities in Imo State, as conveyed in the letter. And, bogged down by the preponderance of positive public opinion on the letter, the State Government through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemedo, denied authorising any reply, including denouncing the activities of certain political appointees and aides, notably the former Commissioner of Information, Chief Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, recently relieved of his job in circumstances not far from the activities on the letter. However, the state government said it would make a detailed reply to the Ohakim letter. The column of Dan Onwukwe last week drew serious concern. It was entitled: What does Ikedi Ohakim want in Imo State? This is regrettably unfortunate,considering what the writer said in his column under reference. Before dwelling on what exactly Ikedi Ohakim wants in Imo State, let me respond to the spurious allegations on the person and governance of Ohakim as raised in the column. The column hinted at an unfortunate contract for the dredging of the Nworie River reportedly valued at eight billion naira by the Ohakim administration. This is blatant falsehood, as it was a federal government project through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to which Imo State contributed only one billion naira as counterpart funding.The financial obligations covered the engagement of the consultants, engineering drawing and design, feasibility studies and preliminary works on the project. And, it must be stated that the dredging of Nworie River was captured in the successive annual budgets of governments in Imo State, including that of Chief Achike Udenwa. It is, therefore, ingenuity founded on robust political will which enabled Ohakim to seek the intervention of the federal government under late President UmaruYar’Adua. The writer, Mr. Onwukwe, goofed. Another lie and obvious falsehood was the allegations that Ohakim assaulted a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Eustace Okorie. This wickedness against Chief Ohakim has since been cleared by the confession of the renowned Catholic Church priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka. .
Another treacherous lie was the alleged prosecution of Ohakim by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of converting funds amounting to two hundred million naira through which he allegedly bought a house at Asokoro, Abuja. It must be repeated that Ohakim handed over to Gov. Rochas Okorocha in 2011 the sum of N26:27bn upon assumption of office. And, this remained an economic and political feat in the state since this dispensation. It’s unpatriotic, therefore, to continue to embarrass Ohakim through frivolous charges of converting the said amount in excess of foreign exchange for which he reportedly acquired his private residence in Abuja but not on account of criminality and dishonesty in the governance of Imo State between 2007 and 2011. All these negative stories have no bearing or relevance to his letter to Governor Okorocha.
Ikedi Ohakim handed over in 2011 a healthy and robust economic system, in every measurement and calculation. Every public institution and facility was functional from Udenwa to Ohakim administrations. Ohakim wants a vibrant Imo State. Also, Ohakim handed over a democratically elected local government system with funds and allocations drawn as of right. Today, after five years of Okorocha’s government, the local government system is dead. Ohakim wants restoration here. All known State enterprises have been sold off or concessioned to cronies, yet they are nonfunctional. Under the administration of Ohakim, Owerri, the state capital, was the cleanest state in Nigeria. But today, Owerri is a cesspool of dirt and diseases. Ohakim preached urban renewal through his Clean and Green Initiative Programme. But today, in Imo State, the property of the citizens and buildings have been confiscated and destroyed without compensation. Ohakim empathises with the victims and seeks succour and compensation for their property.
Imo is a civil service-oriented state with a motivated workforce, drawing salaries and other privileges. However, the workers are currently owed arrears of salaries. Ohakim wants the workers to be paid regularly. The ten thousand jobs for the youths got blown off. Ohakim wants their reinstatement, especially as the courts declared their employment legal. Many roads in Imo State are in a deplorable condition. Ohakim wants quality road projects using good contractors. He also wants traditional rulers to be given their pride of place.
Ohakim wants public accountability from the government under Okorocha. And, governance must be on legislative framework and budgetary appropriations. Governance must be based on law, due process, accountability and transparency. Ohakim also wants the independence of the legislature to exert the desired checks and balances. Ohakim, as a celebrated democrat, wants the restoration of the glory of the parliament as only an effective parliamentary system can play its role fully without let or hindrance. Everything Ohakim wants in Imo State is captured in the historic letter of August 22, 2011. And the government of Imo State must redirect itself to the issues and suggestions made by Ohakim. Let peace and stability reign in Imo State.
Okonji writes from Abuja.
Re: What does Ohakim really want?
