THE
VUVUZELA GOVERNOR, 3 YEARS AFTER Pt2.....
A
man of integrity is that man who live up to his words, not one who abandons the
ship when their whims are satisfied.....
 |
| Roland Akachukwu Emmanuel |
Last time on this column we discussed the
promises and the percentage of fulfillment of the promises made prior to the
2011 Gubernatorial election in Imo State. I, among other things, highlighted
the failure and inability of this government to keep to the promises made to Imolites
during the Campaigns. Of utmost importance are ROADS and the HEALTH Sector. The
inability of the Rochas Okorocha-led government to fulfill his 2011 Campaign
promises in those regards is not only a pointer to the fact that Okorocha is a Man who Imolites should not only
ignore come 28th February 2015, but must also be made to account for the over N50 Billion we are told his government has
invested in these two sectors mentioned above.. In government and Leadership,
it is your achievement as a public servant that immortalizes your name. Like
Dee Sam Mbakwe, who not only borrowed to finance his own government then, but
also laid a legacy that some individuals want to, but are yet to equal, but
trumpet that they have performed. Former Anambra State Leader, Chief Peter “OKWUTE”
Obi not only proved to all that good leadership is not about borrowing and/or
mortgaging the future. Even when You borrow Billions to finance State projects,
the citizens on whose behalf you borrowed must be made to feel the impact of
your borrowing. Haven said that, it's about time we looked at other sectors
which he promised in 2011 to not only revive, but to ensure that their effect
impact positively on the lives of the ordinary citizens. 3 years after, what's
with the Promises?
1)
WATER RESOURCES: Before the coming of Governor Rochas Okorocha led
administration, Imo State had 76 major Water Schemes & about 64 motorized
Boreholes. 2014 and 3 years of life of the government, the numbers not only
remained the same, nothing positively has occurred in that sector. In this 21st
century, some communities in the state still make do with stagnant, polluted streams.
They cook with them, eat with them, wash with them, bath with them and worst of
all, drink them. The health effects of drinking such stream water is
innumerable, and since the hospitals in the state are in utterly bad shape, I
leave you to imagine the situation.
We
are have over 10 months to the next elections. They would come with promises of
revitalizing the State’s Water Schemes, promises they made in 2011 but have
failed to keep to, so far. Most of the projects initiated by past
administrations are now moribund. The Present Government promised among other
things to, as soon as elected, embark on "rehabilitation of existing water
schemes" and also promised to embark on New projects to be solely financed
by “Foreign water companies”, based on what they called Build, Operate and
Transfer (BOT) basis. 3 years down the line, we are yet to see any BOT or TOB. Mr
Governor, How far?
2) RURAL
ELECTRIFICATION: Before You tell me it's the Federal Government's
responsibility, not States. Lagos, Rivers and Enugu State Governments have
built and developed power plants. One not only invests for the future, but also
put things in place in case a situation arises that requires One to be self-reliant.
Enugu State Government is leaving nothing to chance in this regard. The
Government of Sullivan Chime is currently electrifying rural communities and by
2015 we are told that 85% of all communities in the State would have been electrified.
They didn't do it alone, the State government partnered with genuine foreign
investors whose sincerity cannot be compared with that of J-PROS, a Spanish
company that stole billions of our Money under the watchful eyes of Governor Rochas
Okorocha. The difference between Enugu and Imo is that Imo is an oil producing state,
while Enugu is not. One wonders why a State as Rich as IMO, cannot replicate
The Feat in ENUGU. IMO State’s monthly allocation is higher compared to that
allotted to Anambra & Enugu states, respectively, yet the State under
Governor Rochas Okorocha is yet to embark on any meaningful electrification
project 3 years down the line.
In
2011, according to the Governor, the State would initiate a Public Private
Partnership Project aimed at
establishing an Independent power project (IPP) in the State. It also, among
other things, promised to ensure that Imolites Enjoy uninterrupted power
supply. "Under my government, we will vigorously pursue The development of
an independent power generation scheme with a recognized international Energy
company "—Rochas Okorocha.
The
project, we were told then, would target a minimum of 100MW generating capacity
necessary to meet our short and medium term growth in energy demand. The last
time I checked, 18 & 20 MW is still the current situation. The promises of
The “Energy Implementation Unit” which will be saddled with the responsibility
of pursuing various energy related investment projects, covering Energy supply
and conservation Issues, demand, site management and also deal with Issues in policy
has not achieved anything. In the midst of numerous promises, one is left
asking, What about the “NATURAL GAS POLICY”? “WASTE TO ENERGY POLICY?” “OUR
ENVIRONMENT, OUR FUTURE POLICY?” (The streets of Owerri are now a massive
refuse dump site and flooding is now the order of the day). What about the
“Energy and Industrial Free Zones Policy”? “What about the GAS Transmission
System policy”? “What about the Bio-Energy policy? etc. Were they all political
rhetoric?
3)
WELFARE: A society is best rated based on how it caters for those who gave
their all in Service to their State. The unpalatable situation of Our
Pensioners in the State should worry any serious Government.
4)
AGRICULTURE: The biggest employer of labour all over the world is Agriculture.
In Imo State today, 89% of the able bodied youths are unemployed. Majority of
whom make a living from Keke-ing to and from the major towns in the State.
While the government pays lip service to the issue of unemployment, it
squandered over 2 billion prosecuting the election campaign of Chris Ngige in
Anambra Stateduring the last November election in Anambra State.
In
2011, the government promised to maximize the Urashi, Imo an Njaba rivers to boost
Rice Production and other staple crops in the State. It promised to ensure that
the 27 LGA's in the State prioritize Agriculture and Education. According to
the government then, "We shall take advantage of our upland grassland at
Okigwe Agric zone for the development of livestock. We will encourage the
production of fish protein by aiding the supply of fish meals and fingerlings.
We shall provide OUR subsistence Farmers with tractors, etcetera”. The promise
of providing farmers with Tractors and other Agricultural implements would have
helped To check Rural-Urban drift. But 3 years down the line, we are still
where we were. The present government promised to establish 6 Agricultural and
Industrial zones in the State. In the following Places:
1)
Ahiazu/Ezinihitte/Aboh/Ikeduru/Ihitte Uboma Zone: To concentrate on Palm
produce, Vegetables, Rice & Poultry.
2)
Owerri North/Owerri Municipal/Mbaitolu Zone: Live stocks, cassava processing,
fisheries, etcetera,
3)
Oru East/Oru West/Orlu/Isu/Njaba zone: Fisheries, Cashew, Paint and Adhesive,
Baking powder,
4)
Okigwe/OnuImo/Ideato North/Ideato South Zone: Cashew, Rice, Hydrated lime,
vegetables, fisheries, plantains etcetera,
5)
Ehime Mbano/Isiala Mbano/Nkwere/Nwangele/Obowo Zone: Vegetables, cassava,
poultry, plantains.
6)
Owerri West/Ohaji Egbema/Ngor Okpala/Oguta Zone: Oil, gas, Rubber, cassava,
poultry, palm produce, pineapple, fisheries, Banana, mango, piggery etcetera. Furthermore,
the government promised to build an Aggro-allied Industry in each of the 27
LGA's to support the Zones. Taking a quote from the Governor, "Nothing is
wrong with our head, but something must be wrong with the State of our head
"—Rochas Okorocha..
It
seems OUR governor has suddenly forgotten all of his promises!
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions of our guest columnists
do not in any way reflect or represent the views, standpoint or editorials
policy of Nigerian Hotline Newspaper.
©2014
No comments:
Post a Comment