Nigeria Daily News: Okorocha’s fights: Winning some, losing hearts

Okorocha’s fights: Winning some, losing hearts
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Staff  on 25/10/2012 19:27:00


By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
For a man who has fought and overwhelmed many formidable opponents, including
the once entrenched former governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim (Ikiri), the news
that Governor Rochas Okorocha fought the aide of Governor Peter Obi over a chair
must have looked salacious. Is it the spice of the opposition?
What happened last Saturday between Governor Rochas Okorocha and an unnamed aide
of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State remains a matter of contention.
A national newspaper claims the governor punched Obi’s protocol officer over a
seat at the venue of the 80th birthday celebration of former Vice-President Dr.
Alex Ekwueme, in Enugu.
Okorocha’s media office, however, disputes the claim describing it as
irresponsible journalism. It alleged that the governor never physically engaged
the aide saying that engagement was only between the ‘over zealous’ protocol
aide of Governor Obi and protocol officers of Governor Okorocha.
In his statement debunking the newspaper report Okorocha’s media aide further
highlighted the well known humility of the governor who has enthralled many with
his populist inclinations.
Okorocha’s claim to popularity was undoubtedly helped by the resentment
against the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administration, which
in the opinion of many played god.
The new administration’s populist programmes including the payment of tokens
to school pupils, the many road construction projects that the government
embarked upon and other ambitious efforts must have gladdened the hearts of many
Imolites. But where the governor has won hearts with his projects and
programmes, he has also caused heartaches with what many now consider as bad
politicking.
Remarkably, Governor Okorocha started well with his notable feat in pulling the
rug under the feet of PDP when a number of the PDP members of the House of
Assembly decamped to his All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, to transform APGA
from the minority party to the majority party.
One of the defectors from the PDP, Ben Uwajimogu was enthroned as speaker of the
Imo State House of Assembly. Uwajimogu eventually became a bedrock for Okrocha
in the legislative House and one of his closest advisers.
Gov Rochas and Fmr. Gov Ohakim
Given the bruising defeat handed over to the PDP it was understandable that the
new opposition party would turn out to fight the governor over the defection of
Mr. Uwajimogu and others.
But many in the state do not find excuse for some other fights that the governor
has had to engage since the advent of his administration penultimate May.
Governor Okorocha is in battle with PDP council chairmen whose time in office he
unceremoniously cut short, he is allegedly engaged in a cold war with his
brother governor, Peter Obi in Anambra State over the shape and structure of
their party, APGA, he is also said to be engaged in a cold war with some of
those who supported him in his fight against Ohakim, notably Senator Chris
Anyanwu.
The governor has also engaged local government workers in the state in a
bruising battle over the administration’s controversial fourth tier
administrative policy. The policy which aims to establish a fourth tier of
administration at the community level has been seriously opposed by workers who
believe that it would dislocate their careers.
The first battle of the governor was with the local government chairmen he met
in office all of whom were elected on the platform of the PDP.
On assumption he sacked them alleging irregularities in the framework that
guided the election. The action against the local government chairmen was
considered in some quarters to have been unnecessary.
“All that the governor should have done was to have wooed them and he would
have seen a large number of them defect to his party instead of the unnecessary
battle of fighting them,” one political stakeholder said.
The reported face off between the governor and the speaker it is claimed arose
from the speaker’s decision to swear in a member of the House of Assembly who
was elected on the platform of the PDP. Speaker Uwajimogu had shied away from
inaugurating Chief Eugene Dibiagwu, as the member representing Oguta
Constituency despite a certificate of return from the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC.
The speaker, however, caved in following a court order obtained by Dibiagwu
ordering the speaker to swear in Dibiagwu as a member of the House. The action
of the speaker is alleged to have seriously angered top officials in the
Government House, Owerri who saw it as a betrayal. The speaker it was learnt,
was compelled to heed the court order out of fear that unlike the governor that
he does not have immunity that could stop him from being committed for contempt.
However, the State Commissioner for Information Obinna Ofor disputes the claim
of a rift between the governor and the speaker claiming that such suggestions
are fanned by mischief makers.
“It is absolute rubbish, not true,” he said in a text message, saying that
the claim is fanned by “Political jobbers who are wishfully hoping to stir up
trouble.”
“The relationship between the governor and speaker is very cordial,” Ofor
said as he claimed that the duo are “united in moving Imo forward and would
not be deterred by this ridiculous claim.”
One of the whispered fights of the governor which has shocked many is the
alleged face-off between the governor and Senator Anyanwu, the senator
representing Owerri Senatorial zone in the senate.
Senator Anyanwu it would be recalled, was a pillar of support in the
governor’s entrenched battle with Ohakim. However, the duo it is alleged is
have fallen out and have lost the mutual confidence they enjoyed at the
inception of the new administration.
Many, however, trace the crisis between the senator and the governor to the
government’s earlier decision to relocate the Imo State University from Owerri
to the governor’s senatorial district.
Though Senator Anyanwu did not openly come out to criticize the move, it is
believed that she would have been hurt over it.
Governor Okorocha, however, has recently rescinded the decision and has
constituted a committee of eminent citizens including Senator Anyanwu to find a
new site for the university within the Owerri senatorial zone.
Another great fight the governor may contend with could also be with his alleged
promise of doing a single term in office.
Not too long ago, Cpt. David Mbara, a chieftain of the PDP had a reception for
him by women of Mbaise had charged the governor to respect what he said was the
governor’s promise of doing only one term in office.
Mbaise, which comprises a sizeable proportion of the state’s political elite,
remarkably has not produced a governor for the state and many stakeholders from
the region would be waiting to tackle the governor on the issue when the time
comes.
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