Says: Fellow governors are being insulted for my achievements
Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has denied being a stingy or wicked governor.
This is against the backdrop of the myriad of complaints by the people of the state including family members of the governor of stifling the state’s economy.
Speaking at a birthday bash organised by his siblings last Friday at Concorde Hotels, Owerri, Governor Okorocha said he only wanted to use the governorship opportunity to bring more good name to the Okorocha family. He said his shrewd management of the state resources and the achievements thereof had led to other state governors being insulted and derided by their people because “Imo is achieving a lot”.
Okorocha used the opportunity to appeal to the members of his family to stop complaining of not being financially buoyant but to allow him to serve the people of the state. He however said that Imo would soon enter the cruising stage where plenty money would be in circulation.
Governor Okorocha thanked the members of his family for their discipline and understanding, saying that it was one of the best legacies their parents bequeathed to them.
He also thanked his family for honouring him in a great way at his golden jubilee, promising to continue to touch more lives positively. He said at 50, he could only acquire more wealth for charity because of his belief that he who gives receives plenty more.
Earlier, all the other eight siblings of the governor had plenty to say about their brother governor. Leading the pack was the first child of the family and former chairman of Ideato South LGA of the state, Mrs. Geraldine Obinali who told the guests the great mysteries surrounding the birth of Owelle Okorocha. According to her, “We’re plenty in the family but God chose him to be the greatest. He was born on a great Orie market day at the village square and not in hospital when our mother was going to the hospital but could not go beyond the village square”. She said she was not surprised at Owelle Okorocha’s current position because right from his young age, he demonstrated the qualities of a great man first by taking first position throughout his school time, a development she said led youth corps members and teachers paying most of his school fees.
“Even when we are selling oranges, he sold higher and more than us. We have a great man in him. Above all, he is a peaceful man. Imo is lucky to have him as governor”, Mrs. Obinali enthused.
Also speaking, the head of the Okorocha family, Chief Gerald Okorocha narrated how Rochas rescued their father from dying during the war even as a small boy.
According to him, “during the civil war when we are very young, the Biafran soldiers came and took our father away to go to the war front with others. While they took our father away, it was he (Rochas) who approached the army commander then to release our father so that he (Rochas) would replace him”. “The army man was surprised at the courage of the seven-year-old boy then and asked him, “can you go to war?”, he said “yes, give me gun to go and kill Gowon”.
He said with that courage, the army commander released their father to them and saved him because according to him, all who were taken away then never returned. Gerald described his brother as a man who likes pleasing others and said God used him to bless the Okorocha family, Ogboko community, Imo State and Nigeria at large.
All who spoke reminded the governor of the need for him to make them feel like governor’s siblings. Speaking to journalists after the occasion, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Hon. Uche Nwosu commended the members of the Okorocha family for honouring their brother, saying it was a wonderful idea because many do not know they should celebrate what they have.
On the complaints of the people of the state including the governor’s family members and government appointees, Hon. Nwosu said the governor was never stingy because “I’ve worked with him for 15 years and so he’s only working for the good of the over four million Imo people”.
He therefore appealed to the members of the governor’s executive and the entire people of the state to bear with the governor for according to him, in less than two years, the tap would soon open for everyone.
