Like it was common sights to see and behold Owelle Rochas Okorocha hugging the mentally ill and physically challenged while on campaign train in 2011, most politicians in Imo State aspiring to various categories of elective political offices, these days, embrace any opportunity to either hug the mentally ill or go into full blast showmanship and acts of compassion or philanthropy.
These were people previously unknown to have associated or identified with the less privileged, or any humanitarian or philanthropic gestures or ventures.
Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha in a comic manner had dramatized his concern for Imo Pensioners, few months after assuming office, with false claims of paying 12 year arrears of gratuity. Yet Imo pensioners according to reliable records were ordinarily owed a maximum of three months arrears of pension, one refused by ex-Governor Achike Udenwa, another owed by departing Governor Ikedi Ohakim for April 2011 and that of the month of May 2011 within which periods Ohakim could not have paid following instructions issued to Government banks not a honour cheques or requests for funds from the exiting government of Ikedi Ohakim. Most pathetic, however is that most parastatals under Okorocha have their pensioners owed several months of pension, presently. They include ITC, Imo Newspapers Ltd, publishers of Nigerian Statesman, Staff of the Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, those of Imo transport Company (ITC) and Imo Water Corporation to mention but a few. Those who were forced out of their means of livelihood at Concorde Hotels Owerri, the Five-Star pearl legacy of late Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe (Ph.D) since August 2013, are yet to be paid their entitlements.
These developments have increased the level of poverty, hunger, misery, penury and agony ravaging the people of Imo State. In fact it was while this script was on the drawing board that an announcement was made on IBC TV inviting IBC pensioners to come with their letters of first appointment, to the office of the Accountant General (AG) of Imo State for verification and possible consideration for payment of accumulated arrears of pension. These victims of Governments insensitivity are now left at the mercy of prospective Governorship, Senatorial candidates and other elective offices.
At Ikeduru, the Samuel-Manya Dame Emily Obiyo Foundation was set up by Chief (Dr) Uzoma Obiyo, a senatorial aspirant for Owerri District to offer free medical eye treatment. He has also instituted a football tournament to try to lure the support of the youths. In his desperate attempt to pick the PDP senate ticket for Owerri, he refused to realize that his Mbaike people have enjoyed the senate severally through late Evan Enwerem and Amah Iwuagwu. They have even had a shot at the Governorship and now a Deputy Governor. One expected that in the spirit of zoning Mbaike should withdraw out of the race for the native Owerri indigenes including Ngor Okpala, who are yet to take a shot on either.
Bethel Amadi who has appropriated the Mbaike Federal House of Representatives for a consecutive 12 years, is just coming to terms with realities. Last month, he mobilized a number of Imo youths including Kissinger Ikokwu to South Africa. According to one of the youths, they were lodged at the most expensive hotel in South Africa. Also in that prestigious hotel were senators from Nigeria led by Ndoma Egba, the incumbent senate leader. This is very commendable but comes as one of that emergency charity being offered by our present day Governorship Aspirant. Rochas Okorocha did the same in 2010 when he took 30 youths to the New York Film Academy organized in Abuja by Stephanie Okereke. The event was a National one funded and sponsored by NDDC. Okorocha took advantage of his fabled closeness with Jonathan to hijack the event which he used to corner the youth community in Imo State, who thought such gestures will last forever. It was not.Not even the film house which he promised to establish in Imo State. Those who got the NDDC funds to establish a film house like Okorocha, have since accomplished the tasks in Akwa Ibom and Edo State.
Another emergency philanthropist is Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives. Before now, he was not known for any philanthropy or humanitarian activities even though he debuted at the corridors of power and wealth immediately after NYSC. Because of his burning desire to govern Imo State, he is always hugging and embracing infants, the mentally ill and physically challenged, like Rochas Okorocha did recently at an event, Iheadioha was caught to be posing for a photograph while hugging a school girl in a warm embrace that portrays him as a man of the people.
In Okigwe Zone, multi millionaire Clement Owunna of the Grail Message Fame Aba, proprietor of Starline Industries Eziama, who has never associated or identified with the development of Okigwe Zone, last month published a list of those who benefitted from his free eye treatment scheme simply to showcase his capacity to fund his senatorial ambition. He wants to be the Senator of Okigwe Zone and its political leader without carrying the necessary political bags. Just because Ndizuogu has their roots in Arondizuogu in Ideato Federal Constituency, he wants to ride on the back of Rochas Okorocha to become the Senator of Okigwe Zone.
It will be recalled that this was the same Owelle Rochas Okorocha who while reacting to Prof Maurice Iwu’s attempt to join Ideato Federal Constituency to Okigwe Senatorial Zone, objected vehemently, insisting they share no affinity, culturally and politically. Little wonder he now wants to foist a stooge on Okigwe leadership even against Rt Hon Ben Uwajumogu.Dr Kpaduwa a USA based Isiala Mbano politician who disappeared after expressing interest to Govern Imo State in 2003, 2007 and 2011 has now come back with a free medical scheme in a bid to lure support for his Governorship ambition. After sacking 10,000 Imo youths employed by his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha has started issuing out appointment letters to his Youth Must Work candidates in a bid to shore up his support base among the youths now that the 2015 general elections are around the corner.
Imo youths who were used and dumped by previous administrations of Udenwa, Ohakim and Owelle Rochas Okorocha are said to be watching with keen interest, the antics of these emergency political philanthropists whose stock in trade is to amass stupendous wealth by fair and foul means and use such to terrorize the electorates into submission whenever it is election time.
Courtesy: Community Watchdog Newspaper
