But I must say here that Gov. Rochas has done some projects with standard materials. Yes, his new house in Ogboko is a clear example of this. Anyone who visits Ogboko, will certainly know that Gov. Rochas knows what is good for himself but he has refused to replicate same in all other projects of his.
By Prof. Nathan Uzorma
Life has taught me that men and women of focus, intention and target are people who easily make it in life. One should not be in a hurry in trying to deliver the dividend of democracy to his people and so create sub-standard jobs, sub-standard roads and above all engage in china products both in construction of infrastructure and in administration.
In 2011, Gov. Rochas won the election and was consequently sworn in as the executive governor of Imo State. He informed Imo people that he stood too low to run for the governorship race of Imo state and over estimated his capacity by inferring that he was best meant for president seat. He in all totality informed us that he was in a hurry to deliver so that Imo can move forward.
It is a natural law that if a man get it into his head to do something, and gets himself exclusively occupied by the vision of that target, he must succeed, whatever be the difficulties. In this case of Chief Rochas, he is busy everyday chasing his vision of being the President of Nigeria, as a result he may not be able to monitor the projects he has contracted to his brother or sister. This may lead to delivering of sub-standard projects as the dividend of democracy in Imo State.
I feel pity for my state Imo because with the rate of sub-standard roads, buildings, gates and jobs this administration has created, one is in doubt whether Gov. Okorocha is interested in living good legacy that will speak for him in the future.
It was plato, who said that, to do it, vice is as a result of ignorance, this points to the truth that, knowing the good and carrying it out through sound action is wisdom itself. In the language of Socrates, libration of man, he likes Plato taught that, the evil-doer who thinks he is free because he can satisfy his desires is himself a slave. As a philosophical, I am convinced that only the wise and the virtuous man in whom reason rules is truly free.
As a matter of fact, ignorance and absence of discipline are the causes of man’s troubles as Kautilya, would have it. Brotherhood, they say is true, sincere honest and simple, it is true that one who has self-respect would not hate oneself, as it is also true that, one who does not hate himself may not hate another person.
Everything Gov. Rochas is doing appears to be fake in reality. Is it that he hates himself or that it is people who hate him are responsible? Is it that he is not skilled in administration or that those who are working with him are responsible? Is it that he hate investing money on solid projects or that the company he is using to do jobs is not capable? Is it that he hates Imo people or that his enemies are at work trying to complicate his achievements? Too many question without answers!
I am saying this because last week at the Imo Government house owerri some workers escaped death as a particular gate collapsed. The incident took place at about 5:30pm on Wednesday July 23, after a little rain fall. It was after the days work as Government House workers were trooping out, one of the numerous gates under construction in the premises suddenly collapsed. The staff of the Government House were thrown into shock following the pang and the gravity of the fall.
Media report has it that Gov. Rochas Okorocha was near the scene when the gate collapsed. Thank God Gov. Rochas was not at the gate because he would have benefited from the sorrow and would have learnt from experience that using sub-standard materials in constructing anything amount to social genocide.
It is on record that the incident happened after Chief Rochas had addressed the Government House Press Corp by warning and lambasting those who described his projects as “China Products”, calling them ingrates and political failures. The same day and in accordance with the law of truth, one of the china product- gate under construction collapsed authenticating our criticism on china products” of Gov. Rochas projects.
Fillers from the Government House of Imo state indicates that staff have been complaining before now on what they regard as “Inferior gates” scattered all over the premises of the Government House now there are twelve gates, and information has it that all the eight new gates were constructed under the supervision of a female relation of Gov. Rochas who is not neither a building Engineer, Architect nor a registered contractor. If such construction is done under the supervision of an unprofessional entity, we should even be amazed why seven other gates have not collapsed.
The great question is, supposing the collapsed gate had fallen on anyone? Would the person have survived it? If Gov. Rochas is not aware of this, he should now try and supervise most of these “china product” construction and to make sure quality materials are used because life is more precious than anything else. On the other hand, if he is aware of them and chooses to economize money for selfish purposes, he should sit up and come to light with his conscience because his moral freedom depends on how he uses his conscience, as Martin Luther would say, “It is both hazardous and dishonourable for a man to act contrary to the dictates of conscience”.
We have not forgotten in a hurry that a simi;ar thing occurred at okigwe where the Princes hotel under construction collapsed too, though no casualtieswere recorded. Some of the roads Gov. Okorocha’s administration has constructed all need urgent repairs now. Roads constructed within two or three years in office needing repairs? Yes, of course, the reason is that he is still in a hurry to deliver the dividend of democracy to Imo people.