The many sins of Rochas that may cost APC Imo State

IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has committed heinous sins, too numerous to forgive and forget, since the advent of his almost eight years of misrule of the eastern State.

His sins include non-functional 27 general hospital project, 80% non-completed 15km roads per LGA, non-conduct of LGA election in six years, fraudulent Imo Air, fraudulent Turkey investors, sack of LGA workers, sack of 10,000 job beneficiaries, non-payment of pension arrears and deductions of pensions and workers salaries, loss of accreditation of vital courses at IMSU and IMO Poly.

Allegedly, forceful acquisition of private lands of Imo citizens by state government including FIDA, allege eviction/demolition of artisans’ business areas e.g. Orji Mechanic Village, etc, abandonment of Prince and \princess Hotel projects, desecration of Imo traditional institution, abandonment of flyover now certified as death trap by COREN, non-payment of ex-appointees’ severance allowance despite court orders.

Alleged misapplication of 13% oil derivation fund/death of ISOPADEC, non-payment of compensation on demolished properties in IMO state, erosion of IMO heritages like Douglas House, Old Library, Mbari Efigee etc, unnecessary demolition of Water Board, Old Ministry of Works etc, unrealised Ohaji/Egbema Industrial Park, abandonment of 44 city gates despite huge resources spent, Hearland Football Club relegated, first time in 40 years, to mention but a few.

However, the most spiteful sin on his part is the accusation of reducing governance to family affair. Rochas Okorocha appoints his family members including in laws into several government positions, thereby taking IMO people for a ride and running the th state like a monarchy. Or how do we explain the creation of a “Ministry of Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment” with the appointment of his sister, Ogechi Ololo as the commissioner?

Who can fathom his insistence that his son in law, Mr Uche Nwosu, who coincidentally is also is Chief of Staff, must succeed him as governor, hence the fight for the party ticket? It is already turning into a ‘roforofo’ fight as Governor Okorocha remains defiant, weeks after the Imo APC governorship primaries. He is insisting that his son in law, Mr Uche Nwosu’s name must be submitted to INEC as winner as against the name of Chief Hope Uzodinma that was submitted by the National Working Committee.

There was even a time when his brother in law, Mr Chuks Ololo was seriously interested in Imo State governorship seat. Mr Chuks Ololo is married to Oghechi, Okorocha’s younger sister, the Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment. The governor had to caution him to forget his ambition because he had not only endorsed Nwosu, his son in law but also pursuing the endorsement with all vigour and passion.

The biggest losers from the many sins of the IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha is the All Progress Congress (APC) at the 2019 Elections.

How can you explain a man, who rode to power on goodwill and his philanthropic disposition (remember his building of one secondary school per geopolitical zone for indigent students) now turn himself into an imperial emperor that must hand over to a family member at all cost, in a democracy dispensation?