Imo: A State in Chains?

Nigeria has had 10 years of unbroken political climate. Nigerians stormed the streets last month despite misgovernance that has continued to greet the nation in the past ten years.

With all it is worth, this writer disagrees with several analysts comparing ten years of unbroken democracy with the years military stayed in Power, a comparison that is akin to comparing Atan Cemetery with a disused cemetery in far away Ikorodu town, however the truth remains that the worst civilian government is better that the best Military administration, although I have my doubts now with what has been happening in the country since 2007. (Left, Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo state; Right, Maximus Uba, Civil Rights Activist)

In the face of this mis-governance, several analysts were at loss at the fanfare exhibited by several state governments just to celebrate two years in office of stagnant performance. From Sokoto to Lokoja down to Uyo and other states Capitals, the celebration was more of competition in National dailies by governors who are celebrating just to buoy their egos and selfish interests.

The irony of this madness in that governors who should have covered their faces in shame for looting scarce resources of their states and for general non performance are the ones dominating the Pages of Newspapers in the name of two year anniversary.
A classic example here is the case of the man that has been superintending over the affairs of Imo state since 2007, a certain Ikedi Ohakim who, based on experience and qualifications, have no business in the first place mounting such sensitive Position as that of Governor of a state.

As I write, his two years of achievements in office is still running in several Newspapers including in Hausa and Yoruba tabloids. That’s not all! Bill-boards of several sizes are mounted in far away places like Minna, Abeokuta, kaduna and Lagos, while Radio Stations in Sokoto, Ogun states are daily singing his praises not only as a performing Governor but one who have more than the needed credentials to take over from an ailing Musa Yar’adua when nothing tangible is on the ground in Imo state.

Ironically, while the Government in Imo state under Ikedi Ohakim is gloating over the air waves and on pages of Newspapers on his two years of achievement in office even as he has spent only 150 days in Imo state as against over 500 days spent in Lagos, London, Abuja, a good governance non governmental organization based in Lagos, “Good Governance Initiative” which conducted an on the spot assessment of activities of Governments in the South East recently released a bag of woes as it concerns governance in Imo state.

A look at the said report which is yet to be made public shows unreasonable bank interest to the tune of over N930 million, an amount whose principal could not be traced to any meaningful project except lodgments into the accounts of the Governor and his brother.

The report of the “Good governance Initiative” also indicated that no new industries were built or rehabilitated while graduate unemployment has risen to a dangerous level. The report also linked the rising wave of kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Child Labour and graduate prostitution which is assuming a dangerous dimension to the vexed issue of unemployment ravaging the state.

Aside the above, the report also stated that there were no new roads constructed or Rehabilitated except badly built ones at Anara/Amaraku axis, the home town of the governor and his wife, while hospitals remained consulting centres and health centres have long been deserted due to poor personnel and funding.

Also part of the good governance report include covered massive fraud especially in Government House, transfer of funds without authority or due process, abuse of government directives as it concerns finance, non release of PVC for audit inspection, non return of Personnel cash advances as well as uncertified capital payments.

The report also indicted the Ikedi Ohakim led government on the disappearance of Excess crude money running into billions of Naira, massive unauthorized withdrawal from local government allocation now totally over 61 billion naira, outright stealing of government property, disappearance of vehicles donated by International Organizations, as well as disappearance of sensitive documents and files especially from the Ministry of Finance and Local Government.

Interestingly, the earth moving reports by Human Right Group is similar to the one done in 2008 and packaged by Imo Democratic congress, a democracy focused Socio/Political organization based in Owerri, Imo state.

In their own report which the Ikedi Ohakim government found no answers to, the Group stated that issue of financial discipline is not anywhere near agenda of the government of Imo state.

For example, the group said it uncovered acts like over invoicing running into millions of naira, lack of audit inspection of government establishment, huge payments for contract jobs not executed, double debiting, Lack of receipts to cover payments, contract inflation especially on road contracts around Amaraku/Anara axis, poor implementation of budget of 2007/2008 as well the supplementary budget.

Further to the above, the Group stated the irritating pain of driving on potholes riddles roads month after month and year after year, the epileptic Power supply, the unbearable experience of lack of potable water in may parts of the State especially Owerri and Okigwe are more that enough to turn the People against the Ikedi Led administration and justify the citizens taken the laws into their hand. In its conclusion the Imo group Stated that the above drawbacks is worsened by selfishness and absence of patriotism on the part of both the Governor, his brother who is the chief of staff, as well as his aides including the Local Government Chairmen whose idea of ADMINSTRATION is pocketing the entire allocation of their various councils and leaving the councils prostate.

The expectation thereafter was that the Imo State Government should look at the two damning reports not from the prism of opposition but as a subtle guide to getting governance on a sound footing in Imo but because the government is all about media hype, the reports of the two groups are now being proved right, no thanks to the worsening financial condition in state culminating in social crimes like kidnapping, Prostitution, armed robbery and child labour, crimes that have become the order of the day in Imo State. Ironically the government functionaries appear to be target to both the kidnappers and Armed Robbers.

We need not say here that the patience of Imo People who saw Ohakim as a young man without political burden appears to be running out and fast too, worse the legislature which should be the watch dog on the infantile executive is busy singing haleluyah vibes to the Governor, a fellow who in the last two years appears to have no agenda hence his dismal performance since 2007.

Now the Question on the lips of Imo People is, “if Ohakim can not give account of two years with surplus money coming from here and there, now with the bells already tolling for another election, where will the magic then come from? Also how can one expect performance from Ohakim now that the economy is battered in terms of revenue whereas precious time was wasted on frivolous matters? We ask again what happened to the N40 billion bond with UBA Plc? And why is Imo State servicing primary loans to the tune of 1 billion every month since 2007?

From the foregoing there is no doubt the fact that indeed Imo State a beautiful state blessed with fertile and productive landscape no doubt is “in chains” courtesy of rulers without vision. And we ask, Should Ohakim have celebrated two years in office in the face of all these? Who will save Imo State from the Ohakims who have since 2007 commandeered our common wealth and left us in chains? When will sanity be restored in the Land of Hope? Who will cut short this long and delayed take off of Imo to the path of sustainable growth and development?

But the question still remains: Who will remove the chains inflicted on Imo by the Ohakims and their co travelers? Only time will tell.

Maximus Uba sent in this piece from Mbaise, Imo State.