The
last time I checked, I had what could best be described as a one-on-one and
rigorous discussion with the Imo State governor in the person of Chief Rochas
Okorocha. Though the outcome of the scheduled meeting was lengthy, I promise to
summarize it.
It all started like a joke on Saturday
the 18th day of November, 2017. On that fateful day, I got a phone
call from an unknown number and in the process, I learnt the caller was the
leader in question. After brief introductory words, he invited me to his
country home situated in Ogboko, Ideato-South Local Government Area (LGA), on
the following day being Sunday. While still on the call, I quickly gave the
invitation a second thought and eventually obliged him.
When I arrived the ancient Ogboko, precisely
on the premises of the Governor’s home, on the stipulated day at about 2:00 pm
which was the agreed time, I didn’t face much protocol right from the main
gates till the time the chief host graciously stepped to the point outside the
main building where I was received. From all indications, it seemed everyone
was aware of my coming.
Several but consequential pleasantries were
exchanged but I’ve earlier pledged to be succinct as well as concentrate only
on the highpoints of the outing owing to time and space, hence the need not to
go into inconsequential details. However, I wouldn’t fail to inform that a
bottle of wine was presented by one of the domestic aides upon his Excellency’s
request. He popped the drink himself and poured it into the two glasses placed
in our respective fronts. We tossed to more successes and long life.
Having commended my writing and
activism prowess, the governor verified that he learnt I’m a product of the
prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), thus asked what
informed my skills cum passion in the aforementioned career. I answered that I
remained a tech expert by profession but a writer and activist by calling. On
absorbing the more light thrown on the contradictory scenario, he was deeply
impressed; hence, enjoined me to keep it loud.
His Excellency who was simply clad in a
black three-quarter jeans, white T-shirt and leather slippers, told me that the
invitation was necessitated by the need to appreciate my doggedness in writing
and equally notify me that he cherished the style of my analysis and criticism,
among other sundry issues of the moment. According to him, he had been
following my works ab initio and had felt so much elated over my unflinching
steadiness and passion in spite of where I was coming from, or my educational
background.
Having welcomed his seeming candid
fatherly commendations, I thought it wise to delve into business, thus began by
asking him the reason he loved to talk or address a gathering without any
written material lying before his presence. He simply responded that he was a
born orator, adding he saw oratory as part and parcel of his person right from
his secondary school days. I disclosed that I had been attracted to such rare
idiosyncrasy found in his nature even though I belong to such class.
I told him that most times I sensed he
doesn’t pay apt attention to all the stuffs we write especially the ones
targeted towards criticizing his policies constructively. He said people might
think he does not adhere to advices or instructions, but the truth was that he
often tried to overlook those analyses that would affect his emotions so that
his enemies wouldn’t laugh at him. I saw reason in his reply but asked him to
start paying better attention to constructive criticisms, which would help
tremendously to reshape his policies, either on arrival or as they exist.
Although I’ve severally written on it,
I therein unequivocally reiterated that I wasn’t on the same page with him
concerning the idea of constructing new General Hospitals in each of the
twenty-seven LGAs in the state. He acknowledged my criticisms in the past
regarding the said project and went further to state that his idea was informed
by his eager quest to resuscitate the wellbeing of the Imo people, health wise.
He
therefore said if he knew individuals like me wouldn’t welcome the idea, he
would have jettisoned it prior to its implementation. He equally pledged that
the project would be completed before he leaves office in less than two years
time. I verified if other projects commenced by the Rescue Mission administration
would be completed as well, and he strongly replied “Yes.” I further said it
wasn’t that I was against uplift of the people’s health status, but the funds
utilized on the projects so far would have been channeled toward uplifting the
already existing ones across the state thereby saving sufficient funds for
other viable projects needed by the state.
Furthermore, we eventually ventured
into politics. First, we discussed about zoning. I told him that other zones
such as Imo East and Imo North were currently of the notion that they had been
sidelined or intimidated by Imo West, thus sensed unfair treatment. He
responded that politics remained a highly competitive tango whereby only the
strongest is liable to emerge victorious in the long run, hence had nothing to
do with fairness or what have you as being perceived by some individuals.
According to him, rather than focusing on zoning, he preferred to pay greater
attention to the individuality cum antecedents of the aspirant(s).
I verified about the rumoured altercation
between him and his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere. In his words, the said
second-in-command remained his trusted friend and brother till date, thus ought
to be described as his best friend. He further clarified that his political
enemies were just trying to make something out of nothing.
Similarly, I courageously looked into
his majestic eyes and asked him whom he was seeing as his successor come 2019. He replied that the name of his foreseen
successor was still inborn in the public domain and since I deal with the
public, there was no need disclosing it to me. I laughed in French and insisted
that I needed to realize the anointed person, so I would know if he had made a
good choice. Then he cheerily said, “Okay, I will tell you but not now.” I
replied, “When, Your Excellency?”
Perhaps,
in other to divert my attention, he asked, “Comrade, do you play table tennis?”
I smiled in Latin and answered, “Yes sir.” He therefore invited me over to his
Table Tennis court for a novelty match. We played and chatted intermittently
till a point when his amiable wife, Her Excellency Dr. Nkechi Okorocha
majestically walked up to us and rightly informed that the lunch was ready,
thus had already been served to our delight. At this juncture, I turned only to
find myself in my bedroom lying in my duvet. Then I soliloquized, “So it was a
dream?”
If I had further opportunity in the
dream, I would have asked his Excellency if he would love to vie for a third
term in office while given the chance. But, does he really deserve a third
term? Think about it!
Comrade FDN Nwaozor
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri
________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: @mediambassador
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