I was invited to a function by a friend from a nearby state and on
arrival, I was introduced to the audience as the Mayor of Imo youths and the
Master of Ceremony MC did not waste time to ask me how many statues are yet to
be completed in Imo state? The way and manner he spoke about my governor
motivated me to ask some questions within me. He alleged that my governor is
the worst governor in Nigeria that has destroyed the future of Imo people. He
said all in a comic manner and many laughed and I was deeply ashamed and
disenchanted. Many things have happened in Imo since Mr. Rochas became
governor.
In the first place, who owns Fraser hotel in Abuja and
Tokyo? Again, is it true that the Air Ambulance that took Gov. Rochas son to
America when he was sick landed in Port Harcourt first and finally came to
Owerri and picked up the young boy? Is it also true that the same Air
Ambulance was also loaded with 18 million US Dollars, Imo money? Is it also
true that the Air Ambulance stopped over at Tokyo before going to America? Was
the stop over for refuel or for something else? Is it also true that Imo state
got about 7billion Naira from the Federal Government in Dec. 2017? Where is the
said money? Is it in Tokyo? I am just asking too many questions and I
think Imo people would want to know too. We all need answers but not
threat.
The reader of this article could recall that I have written
several articles out of patriotism and aimed at giving the present
administration of Imo State, led by Chief Rochas Okorocha a good sense of
direction; hence he appears to have lost direction many years ago. But he has
completely negated my advice. He has destroyed our economy. Now, I am still
calling on him to sit up to enable him deliver democratic dividend to Imo
people but all he is doing are all shrouded in fraud which informs why his
political destiny would be likened to that of a man in deep wishful thinking.
In Igbo Cosmology, when someone sees or senses a rabbit in the
afternoon (an omen), it signifies warning of the danger in the future. In such
a situation, the man begins to arrange on how to handle the situation in
sincerity. The western scholars call it ‘superstition’ which is a derogatory
term to vilify the cultural cum spiritual orientation and philosophy of the
African society. However, the Igbo man has a way of understanding his
cosmology. Every Igbo man who sees the handwriting on the wall will certainly
know that Gov. Rochas political time is up. The omen is here and there, yet he
does not want to see it, which informs the traditional philosophical saying
that “whom the gods want to kill, they first make blind.”
If truly Rochas is an Igbo man, he would have used the ancient
wisdom to discern what is going on now. Gov. Rochas, Gov. Rochas, Gov. Rochas,
how many times did I call you? How could you say in Imo State, no one can match
you politically? Igbos are known as people of wisdom. I do not see any wisdom
in all your political scheming and manipulation that has kept Imo bare and upon
same you want your son in-law to succeed you.
At this point I want to advise all those vying for any political
position in Imo state to cease from thinking like Rochas. We all know that he
has done so many things to our future that could warrant serious political
fight but we are watching him.
I have called Gov Rochas three times in this article which
means a lot to any Igbo person. A similar scenario played out during Christ
earthly ministry when he called Peter three times indirectly prognosticating
the future in a loving manner and language depicting warning. Jesus said to
Peter, “…Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? Yea, Lord….feed my
lambs…And saith to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou
me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord…Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third
time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said
unto him the third time…” John 21:15-17.
Following the above, Peter’s exasperation was informed by the
repeated manner in which Christ asked him a single question which he already
knew the answer. In the same vein, I am not calling Gov. Okorocha because of
what he is aware of. He knows why I am calling him and Imo people know that
Okorocha’s government has failed to deliver the dividend of democracy simply
because he has no respect for virtue. In the words of Shakespeare, “Our life is
short, but to expand that span to vast eternity is virtue’s work”. The virtue
of a man ought to be measured not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his
every-day conduct.
Confucius one of the greatest Chinese sage, was asked if he knew a
secret for happiness. He answered that he did not know any. Then a disciple
asked, “Do you know any secret to ruin a country?” “Yes”, Confucius replied,
“When the rulers do not accept criticisms”.
Criticism cannot be stopped through the art of violence which
informs why Voltaire infers, “Really to stop criticism they say one must die”.
Destructive criticism is dangerous because it wounds a man’s precious pride,
hurts his sense of importance, and arouses his resentments. On the contrary,
constructive criticism does the opposite to a man of virtue and value. This
however is not the case with Imo State government.
Gov. Okorocha has never loved me, because beginning from the time
(I saw his posters and hand bills) he declared his intension to run for the
governorship seat of Imo, I took it upon myself to inform the Imo people of the
danger inherent in electing him as the state Chief Executive. Today, all my
predictions about him have all fulfilled. Though, when he was declared the
winner of the supplementary election, I started advising him through my various
columns both in the Sun Newspaper and other local newsprint. I did all that as
a patriotic Nigerian but he completely negated all my admonitions.
Salvinho, the actor, put such intensity into his performances that
sometimes he became tired. Once, when the audience was rather small, someone
suggested that it wasn’t worth knocking himself out for so few people. “No my
friend” replied the artist, “those few have paid their good money and I have a
right to expect the best of me; besides, when I am acting, I forget this world
and live my character”.
The above is the function of conscience. The artist knew that
those (no matter how few they are) who came to watch him invested their hard
earned money to come and so he must perform to their satisfaction no matter the
number. The question is, how far has our noble governor felt in his conscience
(if it is alive) seeing Imo civil servants perish in deep lack occasioned by the
deductions he makes on monthly basis from the salaries of poor civil servants?
In the words of Juan Aries, “I am free when I accept the fact that
my life should be ruled by conscience “, while Martin Luther jnr. infers “it is
both hazardous and dishonorable for a man to act contrary to the dictates of
conscience”. No brave man risks his conscience. And I ask again how has Gov.
Rochas felt seeing the same people he called “Ndi Imomu” in 2015 after his
victory languishing in pain, penury and sickness caused by his bad government?
How does he feel? Where is Gov. Rochas progress and conscience? This situation
was what made Albert Einstein to enthuse that “Real human progress depends upon
a good conscience”.
St. Thomas (1478-1535) who died even more bravely was not totally
unafraid. He himself says, “I have found myself to be very sensitive and I know
well-and I beg God to show me his pity- that my flesh fears pain and death with
more horror than is fitting, as I suppose, to a devout Christian. This is my great
comfort that even if I am by nature so fearful in the presence of pain that I
should frighten myself before hand at a simple slap, yet In all the moments of
my suffering, thanks to the goodness of almighty God, I have never thought in
my mind to do anything whatsoever against my conscience”. This assessment is
the judgment that awaits any leader!
I sense a rabbit in the day time in Imo.
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