With political pundits in Imo State believing that all is not well for Governor Rochas Okorocha’s political Image just few months into his second term in office, comments and posts have been flying on social media with most of them aimed at regretting the choice of Imolites in 2015 election.
One of the outspoken people on social media [Facebook especially], is former Nigerian Highlife Artiste of the Year, Ugo Stevenson who recently came on Facebook to regret his choice of campaigning against former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim in the 2011 general elections.
Ugo Stevenson in his usual ‘EKWE&OGENE’ intro wrote “EKWE&OGENE: I woke up this morning feeling like a repented church member. In my mothers [SIC] church, the Assemblies of God Mission, sinners are kept at the back end of the church seating row, till they are found sober of their misconduct. I have been in such position in the past four years, when I championed the removal of Ikedi Ohakim, as the governor of Imo State.
Not even when I paid his family a visit in December 2013, and was served a plate of rice with stew by Her Excellence, Bar Chioma Ohakim, did I regret my campaign efforts against their continuous [SIC] stay at the Douglas House. But this morning i want to apologise to Chief Sir Ikedi Ohakim,for my actions
and inaction that worked against his reelection as the governor of Imo State.
Ndaa, im [SIC] sorry. gbahara. Its [SIC] not like you are the better “thief”, but you didnt [SIC] allow God, read Malachai 10, to you (Why do you Rob me?).Forgive me, as I have forgiven those who worked against US.”
In a response or more of an acceptance for the apology letter, Chief Ikedi Ohakim who is known to be amongst the politicians who can write, as usual dropped a lengthy one for Ugo Stevenson, his supporters, Imolites and the world at large on why he believes everyone who voted against him in 2011 made the wrong choice.
He wrote,
“My dear friend Ugo,
I have just finished reading your wonderful piece. Which is your apology to me for actively participating in quenching the fire of Imo development in 2011. I feel humbled by your piece. It takes unadulterated wisdom for any human to come out and say ‘ I am sorry I now know better’
One leader I have the highest respect for in the country today is Rev Father Ejike Mbaka. Father Mbaka did the unthinkable by coming out in the open to exonerate me of the wicked and satanic allegation that I Ikedichi Godson Ohakim slapped a Rev Father.
To God be the glory, many of us, plus those outsiders who initiated that sabotage have since known the truth.
Personally as a matter of principle I do not dwell on the past.
We give glory to God who made it possible for us to survive that devastating effect of all the intrigues and lies told against us in the days immediately before and during the 2011 general elections.
I have sincerely forgiven all those who were involved in all that act of personal assassination of my character and perfidy against the entire state.
I have also asked all those whom I wronged( directly or indirect) whether during my tenure as governor or in the last four years after the unfortunate incident of 2011 for forgiveness.
As one man of God said, we should forgive the past and bless the future because every storm is a school. Every trial is a test. Every experience education.
It is true that many of us have since realized that we were deceived, I believe that a better opportunity for us to come together again may arise in future.
My dear Ugo, your piece made me remember the true story told by Niccolo Machiavelli about a certain man of God who never did anything but to con people. According to Machiavelli ‘No one ever gave more convincing promises than Alexander, or swore greater oaths to back them up, and no one ever kept his promises less; yet his deceptions always worked, because he new this side of human nature so well”
For those youths who were compromised to continue to abuse Ohakim. I shall continue to pray for them that one day they will discover that it does no one any good to dabble into any issue without reason and facts.
For my brothers and sister who continue to say derogatorily ‘what did Ohakim achieve’ all I can say to that is to describe such talks as shameful public exhibition of total ignorance.
Was it by magic that real estate appreciated to 300%, crime rate by verifiable police record reduced by 50%, hotel occupancy rate moved from 45% to 93%, WAEC exams pass result increase by 20%, total hotel rooms in Owerri capital moved from 2000 in 2007 to 10200 in 2011, Functioning water schemes from 600 in 2007 to 1935 in 2011 including Major schemes like Orji and Egbeada with staff residences and maintenance workshop, the main Owerri water scheme working at 60 and 75% between 2003 to 2011, took away Okada from the streets of our capital thus reducing orthopedic bed occupancy at the federal medical center by 80%, total number of flights to Imo airport increased from 2 per day to 4 per day.
In addition we created by appropriate laws strategic governance institutions such as 164man transition committee headed by Our revered father Hon Justice Oputa, Imo Elders Council headed by Chief Innocent Nwoga mni, Imo State Investment Agency ISIPA, Imo Road Maintenance Agency IROMA, Environmental Transformation Corporation ENTRACO, Clean and Green Initiative C&G, Trading floor of Nigerian stock exchange, Imo Municipal Bus company, Imo Freeway company ltd, Imo Wonderlake Development Company ltd with Projects on the pipeline estimated at $430m in Oguta and environs.
In addition we founded the Imo Polytechnic from a small college of Agriculture, attracted and built the first court of Appeal in Imo State. Structured the government and in partnership with some of our federal legislators attracted federal projects in excess of #200b
Our quality infrastructure including roads are legacies nobody can wish away even when crude was selling at $38 per barrel.
You may wish to react the book “The Legacies that Speak” I can make available some copies to you if you do not have.
God bless you.”
With the renewed furnishing and polishing of Chief Ohakim, one would be wondering if few months from 2015 general election has already taken us to 2019, but I will say that the Okigwe Zone born politician who is still determined to serve his remaining one-year term will stop at nothing until he gets it.
He will be avoiding the chief mistake he made after 2011 election which involves hibernating for close to three years and reappearing when campaign had started. Should Chief Ikedi Ohakim wish to find his feet in the Douglas House again, he must find a way to remain politically active and relevant till 2019.
On the other hand, his handlers should look for new strategies because all we have been hearing of is “The Legacies that Speak”; a book which might not get into the hands of many imolites and also a book filled with economic theories which an ordinary rural dweller who has nothing to do with politics and governance will also not understand or attach much importance to.
Four years is a long time for rebranding, ‘when a church changes their priest, they gain or lose members’. Chief Ikedi Ohakim should go with that gamble and no one should look at reactivating failed slogans like ‘Ka O Puo’ and ‘Ikiri ka onye oshi nma’. One thing certain is this, Gov. Okorocha has nothing to lose in their campaign, if he decides to retire from politics, no one will flog him at Douglas Road, plus he is also a smart Igbo man.
