THERE IS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IF THIS IS TRUE
Word on the streets of Owerri, the Imo State capital, is
that Governor Rochas Okorocha has depleted the state’s finances in his
failed bid to emerge presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Party (APC) and subsequent financial contributions to the party’s
eventual candidate, Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign.
Naij.com commentator on Political Issues, Chidi Okoye, has analysed how it is possible that Okorocha could, albeit unintentionally, be campaigning against Buhari.
Hitherto hugely popular in the state, Governor Rochas Okorocha, who rode on the wings of this trend to defeat the then incumbent, Ikedi Ohakim, in 2011, is fast losing the love of his people as a result of recent happenings.
On February 26, hundreds of contractors in the state protested alleged non-payment of over N180 billion owed them by the state government. The jobs being owed for, according to the protesters, who formed an association known as Unpaid Imo Contractors, ranged from road construction to supplies of road construction materials.
READ ALSO: 19 Contractors Die Of Frustration In Imo
Led by their chairman, Ugodadi Ononiwu, and Vice Chairman, Uche Madu, the contractors alleged that Governor Okorocha has failed to pay for several approved projects since 2011. Mr Ononiwu claimed that his firm is being owed N58 million, which was contentiously reduced to N45 million; adding that 19 of their members have died as a result of illness associated with the pains of the situation.
A
similar situation is currently playing out in public schools across the
state, as thousands of teachers engaged under the government’s ‘Youth
Must Work’ initiative allege that they were last paid salaries in
November 2014. “It is so unfortunate because my wife and I relocated to the state from Port-Harcourt to take up these jobs,” said Caleb Egwu, one of the teachers. “Now, we are all stranded. How can Rochas use our money for elections? This is so unfair.”
The state government has, on many occasions, denied these allegations; but these denials have been very opaque. The government has blamed political opponents for sponsoring these protests. The teachers and contractors I have engaged on this issue do not seem to be playing a script; their anguish and despair is real.
However, the government should know that the burden of proof lies on it; and therefore publish records of payments made to these owed workers to put this matter to rest.
READ ALSO: 2015: Okorocha Ignores CAN Invitation
While we wait for that to happen, the damage this situation is doing to the APC and Buhari’s chances is irreparable. Although Buhari’s supporters in the state may be in the minority, a growing population of people in the state have continued to campaign for his election. The fact that Governor Okorocha belongs to the APC was also expected to result in appreciable number of votes for the former head of state.
Imo and other states in the south-east have become strongholds of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and are expected to vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan, a fellow southerner. However, perhaps for the first time since the current democratic setting, voters in the state are reconsidering the hitherto unwritten law to vote for the ruling party. Buhari, who was roundly vilified for his alleged hatred for Igbos during his previous bids to be elected president, is being re-examined this time around. People who would have spat on his posters in 2011 are now reconsidering their options, with some openly campaigning for him.
As various political analysts have pointed out, this is Buhari’s best chance at emerging president. However, he is already losing the supporters he has gained in Imo as a result of Governor Okorocha’s actions and inactions. Anti-Buhari campaigners have feasted on the state’s financial woes; citing the owed contractors and teachers as victims of the APC’s insensitivity to the common man. Pro-Buhari campaigners have no answers to this, and have been left scratching their heads.
The APC needs to have a quiet word with Governor Okorocha if it truly wants to be seen as a progressive party that genuinely desires change. If the current state government truly owes these set of workers, and any others, it should halt its shuttle towards self-destruction and pay up these debts. If not, the state government should show itself as a transparent one and publish records of payments. Anything short of this, Buhari might as well begin to count his losses.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/396785-how-okorocha-is-campaigning-against-buhari.html
Naij.com commentator on Political Issues, Chidi Okoye, has analysed how it is possible that Okorocha could, albeit unintentionally, be campaigning against Buhari.
Hitherto hugely popular in the state, Governor Rochas Okorocha, who rode on the wings of this trend to defeat the then incumbent, Ikedi Ohakim, in 2011, is fast losing the love of his people as a result of recent happenings.
On February 26, hundreds of contractors in the state protested alleged non-payment of over N180 billion owed them by the state government. The jobs being owed for, according to the protesters, who formed an association known as Unpaid Imo Contractors, ranged from road construction to supplies of road construction materials.
READ ALSO: 19 Contractors Die Of Frustration In Imo
Led by their chairman, Ugodadi Ononiwu, and Vice Chairman, Uche Madu, the contractors alleged that Governor Okorocha has failed to pay for several approved projects since 2011. Mr Ononiwu claimed that his firm is being owed N58 million, which was contentiously reduced to N45 million; adding that 19 of their members have died as a result of illness associated with the pains of the situation.
The state government has, on many occasions, denied these allegations; but these denials have been very opaque. The government has blamed political opponents for sponsoring these protests. The teachers and contractors I have engaged on this issue do not seem to be playing a script; their anguish and despair is real.
However, the government should know that the burden of proof lies on it; and therefore publish records of payments made to these owed workers to put this matter to rest.
READ ALSO: 2015: Okorocha Ignores CAN Invitation
While we wait for that to happen, the damage this situation is doing to the APC and Buhari’s chances is irreparable. Although Buhari’s supporters in the state may be in the minority, a growing population of people in the state have continued to campaign for his election. The fact that Governor Okorocha belongs to the APC was also expected to result in appreciable number of votes for the former head of state.
Imo and other states in the south-east have become strongholds of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and are expected to vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan, a fellow southerner. However, perhaps for the first time since the current democratic setting, voters in the state are reconsidering the hitherto unwritten law to vote for the ruling party. Buhari, who was roundly vilified for his alleged hatred for Igbos during his previous bids to be elected president, is being re-examined this time around. People who would have spat on his posters in 2011 are now reconsidering their options, with some openly campaigning for him.
As various political analysts have pointed out, this is Buhari’s best chance at emerging president. However, he is already losing the supporters he has gained in Imo as a result of Governor Okorocha’s actions and inactions. Anti-Buhari campaigners have feasted on the state’s financial woes; citing the owed contractors and teachers as victims of the APC’s insensitivity to the common man. Pro-Buhari campaigners have no answers to this, and have been left scratching their heads.
The APC needs to have a quiet word with Governor Okorocha if it truly wants to be seen as a progressive party that genuinely desires change. If the current state government truly owes these set of workers, and any others, it should halt its shuttle towards self-destruction and pay up these debts. If not, the state government should show itself as a transparent one and publish records of payments. Anything short of this, Buhari might as well begin to count his losses.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/396785-how-okorocha-is-campaigning-against-buhari.html
Comments
Post a Comment