MY OPEN LETTER TO OKOROCHA
The
last time I painstakingly checked, this would be the very first time I would
tender an open epistle to the Imo State governor in the person of Chief Rochas
Okorocha, though I have been advising the said leader in my own little way via
various channels ab initio or since the commencement of my humble ministry.
Your Excellency, many people would be
wondering why an open epistle is coming to your revered office from Comrade
Fred Doc Nwaozor, a man who prefers to stay alone or hide in his humble abode
rather than airing a view that might eventually be swept under the carpet. But
true Imolites would be deeply glad to come across this letter owing to various
facts; because they are not unaware that it is timely; because they know I have
invariably represented the interest of the state at large; because they are
convinced that I have never derailed from the prime motives of this ministry,
which graciously kicked off over a decade ago.
First,
I wish to commence by congratulating you over the tremendous and remarkable
feats you have recorded thus far since the inception of the Rescue Mission
Administration, precisely on May 29, 2011. I cannot equally cease from appreciating
the nature of charisma that is embodied in your person, because it takes only a
charismatic person to successfully lead any existing society across the globe
let alone Imo that is reckoned to be an entity made up of well informed,
educated and widely travelled individuals.
I commend you immensely for having ensured
that amid the outpouring criticisms that have been trending within the shores
of the state and beyond, obvious landmark developments were accomplished. Most
times in my lonely self, I candidly see you as an enigma; a person of many
colours. It only takes someone who possesses suchlike idiosyncrasy to overcome
several challenges, or to be able to thrive even when many attempt to pull him
down.
Now, it is high time I disclosed what
actually necessitated this critique which I candidly tagged an epistle. This
letter is solely targeted towards making your person take cognizance of a
foreseen seeming unpleasant scene that might spring up if your Excellency fails
to aptly address some lingering issues pertaining to both politics and
governance. Considering my stance in the Nigerian polity in general, I cannot
possibly claim ignorance or overlook some political matters concerning the
state I hail from, because I’m of the strong view that a healthy political
scenario begets sound governance.
It’s no longer news that you have
outrightly dissolved your cabinet in its entirety, a step which was long
overdue. The affected arms included the State Executive Council (SEC), the
Expanded Executive Council as well as the Transition Committee (TC) Chairmen of
the existing twenty-seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. I must
tell you that everyone is indeed jittery right now. ‘Jittery’ in the sense that
they cannot predict who and who would ably make the awaited list; in the sense
that they are unsure if less/more active individuals would be recruited
subsequently to fill the vacant positions.
You must acknowledge that the greatest
mistake you would make at the moment, both as a politician and a true leader,
is to come up with bunch of mediocrists, sycophants and hypocrites in the name
of cabinet members. It suffices to assert that you are expected to thoroughly
examine and reexamine whosoever you intend to include in the list for the sole
interest of the Eastern Heartland at large. In other words, you must not let
anyone decide for you on this critical matter. Even if a recommendation comes
to your desk, accept it but take your precious time to ascertain if the person
in question has all it takes to occupy the concerned post.
One
thing you must note is that, it is not everyone that’s clapping for you that
actually loves you or means well for you. So, do not let people’s countenance
deceive you or becloud your sense of judgement. You are unarguably a discerning
individual, thus I humbly enjoin you to concentrate mainly on the needful; the
needful remains understanding those who can truly deliver when assigned to
carry out any challenging task.
Then, away from governance, I am compelled to
equally discuss politics with your Excellency. We all, myself in particular,
have been watching the political stage of Imo State with keen interest. In
recent times, a lot of melodramas have really transpired on the stage, thereby
making us the spectators become more thoughtful. Currently, the All
Progressives Congress (APC) is obviously in charge both in the state and at the
federal level.
We have seen many supposed members of
the said political platform trying to disorganize the activities of the party
or the togetherness of the entire members. I’m not here for name calling;
rather, my interest is only to let you comprehend that the APC is yearning for sincere
harmony. You must use your capacity as the leader of the great party to without
much ado address this state of unease that’s already overheating the polity,
else, the party may live to regret it. You need to note that not all members in
the party that claim to be loyal or behind you are really in support of you;
hence, I urge you to shine your eyes.
The ongoing quagmire is not
unconnected with the emerged political differences between the party members
cum supporters. There’s no space and time to go into details, but we are not
unaware that the aforementioned differences were occasioned by the individual
choices of the members as regards who becomes your successor, or the next
governor of the ancient state. I have
heard you say that the aggrieved ones would ‘come to their senses at the right
time’. I do not know what you meant by the ‘right time’ but you must understand
that time is really ticking.
It is on this premise that I wish to
humbly remind your Excellency that the tension may not come down, or might
linger indefinitely, if you don’t do the needful in earnest as the overall
leader of the party as far as the state is concerned. And, to do the needful,
you need to jettison your personal interest for that of the state in general.
So, I implore you to act as a father while addressing this very critical
matter.
Sure, anything that affects the APC
will adversely affect Imo State both presently and in the future, because the
party is in charge of the state and has succeeded in winning the heart of most
Imolites. Needless to state that whatever that affects the party is liable to
affect the welfare of the state’s citizenry. This is no doubt food for thought,
thus I urge you to digest it wholly and adequately.
Above all, please ensure that the
awaited LG elections are duly conducted before the end of this year (2017) as
promised. This would enable you to balance the equation in regard to ushering
in real democratic dividend, or the true picture of democracy. In the same
vein, you need to also handle your differences with the retirees with proper
attention and compassion, so that, they will all live to bless you and this
administration too. If they have eventually accepted the proposal for fifty per
cent (50%) cut in their pensions, please endeavour to regularize the payment so
that it would go a long way in solving their respective plights; and equally
endeavour to make the payment in full when the economy becomes juicy again.
At this juncture, permit me to drop my
humble pen and allow you to painstakingly give the candid epistle the attention
it truly deserves. But before I do that, on a lighter mood I want to ask your
Excellency, who would you like to see as your successor come 2019? Think about
it!
Comrade FDN Nwaozor
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Clinic - Owerri
_______________________________________
Twitter: @mediambassador
http://facebook.com/fred4nwaozor
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