Owelle and Imo property, Only the Guilty are afraid
Stanford Arinze Nwokedi
SSA Public Enlightenment to Gov Hope Uzodinma
The clarion call to the Shared Prosperity Government of IMO State by Imo Stakeholders comprising of political leaders, opinion moulders, religious leaders, civil society groups, etc etc on 27th February, 2021 was unambiguous. It was simple. It was unequivocal: *RECOVER TO THE LAST PIN EVERY AND ALL IMO LOOTED ASSETS AND WEALTH!*
The time is therefore ripe to undo all the emasculation of the good people of IMO State between 2011 and 2019 using the tool of government.
The time to walk the talk is now. The unconscionable raping and looting of IMO treasury for eight unhindered years have elicited public opprobrium and far reaching melancholy. The mindless criminal effrontery with which IMO was raped, looted and subsequently invaded with thugs can not be taken for granted. The mood of IMO public is solemn anger and opinions are now a consensus to pursue, overtake and recover all IMO patrimony openly converted to private use, brazenly stolen from our Commonwealth and without any hoot of remorsefulness.
Take for example; how could a huge and massive University built from start to finish with public funds on a land acquired using the authority of IMO State government and with the objective of relocating IMO State University to decongest the Capital City Centre be such that IMO State which produced the land and funds is now shortchanged in a concocted Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement wherein the government owns 10% stake while the erstwhile Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who owns ROCHAS FOUNDATION “partner” grabs 90% stake? How may the same person that concocted the PPP arrangement be the signatory representing the State Government (as the Governor) and at the same time representing ROCHAS FOUNDATION (as the Chairman of the foundation)? How could the same man do the bidding for government and for himself?
What is abuse of authority/office? What led to the PPP, in the first place? COULD THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ACCEDED TO A PALTRY 10% share on a project it funded 100% and provided the massive acres of land on which the project was built?
Between 2011 and 2019, Imo State’s assets were brazenly converted and shared amongst Owelle Rochas Okorocha, his immediately family members, his in-laws and cronies. Look at old IMO BROADCASTING CORPORATION (IBC) located at ORJI. What explanations may anybody give as to how the massive acres of land has become Rochas Foundation College, owned and run by the former Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha?
The Mechanic Village Orji is yet another eye popper. How could an already government acquired land be revoked and instead of being used for public interest as the law permits, be shared amongst private cronies of the former Governor?
Now, the big one!
How unconscionable could a man be to armtwist IMO State of some reserved acres of land at New Owerri designed for the New Government House, converting same to private uses for himself, family members, his in-laws and cronies?
Who does these?
How may a man who came from Jos late 90s, because he became a Governor, of himself, for himself and all by himself desire to abuse the Owerri master plan jealously guarded from the time of Ndubuisi Kalu? What would have been the lot of IMO if all the Governors that succeeded one another had tried to loot as little as 10% of what Okorocha has done in IMO? Wouldn’t IMO now have been former Governor’s Estate?
The recent effrontery with which the former Governor invaded IMO State to unseal the government-sealed Spring Palm Estate built on the green verge or the Otamiri watershed area calls for mob action. The rascality in the use of thugs to overpower policemen on duty in the place further amplified the defiant abuse of the Owerri master plan. It must not be forgotten that Owelle Rochas Okorocha had in his time as Governor delighted himself in the demolition of people’s properties in the acclaimed defense of the same Owerri master plan. The Lifeline Assembly at Warehouse Junction was demolished for being on the watershed of the Nwaorie River. Many people’s houses were also demolished without compensation by Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
To instill public confidence in Government of the day, it is nonnegotiable to ensure that all IMO patrimony grabbed, stolen, looted and converted are returned back to the people of IMO. Let what is deemed good for the Goose be good enough for Gander. Rule of law must be upheld and the law now must show its upper edge to cut the excesses of Owelle Rochas Okorocha to size.
Ohashierism is an external way to whittle down the excesses of a totalitarian usurper.
Taa bu gbuo.
