Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Clown-in-Charge At The Douglas House By Prof. Edward Oparaoji
In August 2011, while assessing Gov. Rochas Okorocha administration’s first 100 days in office, I wrote a widely published article titled “Rescue Mission for Rochas” in which I stated that “The euphoria that greeted the expulsion of Ikedi Ohakim from and the election of Rochas Okorocha to the Douglas House Owerri, Imo State, on May 29, 2011, has quickly fizzled out. Replaced with bewilderment, astonishment and disbelief, as Imolites watch Rochas self-destruct. I was unable to find any record of any leader that has sunk so precipitously in popularity, in so short a time - Not even by the standards of the dictatorships he appears to mimic!”
Most defenders of Gov. Okorocha cried foul saying it was too soon to judge him, even with the very early obvious blinding clueless neon-signs showing him headed in the wrong direction. Some of my observations then included, his wrong decisions to rescind those 10,000 jobs created by his predecessor intended to refresh the State’s aging civil service with young graduates; firing of those “elected” local government chairmen; brazen interference with management of educational, town unions and traditional rulers’ institutions; creation of unconstitutional administrative structures and appointing his minions “otimkpus” (Praise Singers) as advisers for everything that exists; and the daily drumbeat and unending campaign against his predecessor Gov. Ikedi Ohakim’s legacy, at a time critical for him to firmly establish a governing doctrine.
I, also, described his performance then as “visible with little substance”. Fast forward to today, has anything changed? Yes. They have not only gotten worse, but we now also know he is sadly a clown! A clueless clown! How else would you characterize a governor who governs by weekly paid advertorial on AIT television, of totally irrelevant and obscenely wasteful events, such as birthday, daughter’s wedding, social events that add no value to the quality of life of Imolites? How else would you characterize a governor whose idea of development is the nonstrategic proliferation of hotels and brothels, pronouncement of policy initiatives without follow up, such as his hollow free education, haphazard construction of roads, hospitals, and schools? How else would you characterize a governor who fraudulently recruited contractors without mobilization and payment, in violation of the Procurement Act thus financially incapacitating the contractors, and the commuters who find plying the roads now worse than ever? How else would you characterize a governor of Imo State who secretly concessioned out public hospitals in Imo State to a Kaduna based company (Lantech Solutions Ltd., reportedly run by a friend of his Dr. Ibrahim)? How else would you characterize a governor who is lawless, who despite several court verdicts directing him to allow “elected” (although flawed) local government council chairmen to run the affairs of the councils, Gov. Okorocha refused to cooperate, he continued cornering and appropriating their resources thus crippling activities of the 27 LGAs?
How else would you characterize a governor of Imo State who thinks it is a great idea to introduce a non Igbo culture of doling out free money, not earned, such as the doling out of free One Hundred Naira (N100.00) monthly to primary school pupils rather than make them earn it through various forms of competition, creative projects or other productive endeavors? How else would you characterize a governor who within one year, has changed the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University three times, thereby impeding scholarship, academic freedom and discipline? How else would you characterize a governor whose news worthiness are when he is fraudulently grabbing lands, selfishly relocating commercial and public facilities and creating confusion at local levels with his ill-advised so called 4th tier of government? How else would you characterize a governor who comingles affairs of his questionable Rochas Foundation with Imo State Affairs? How else would you characterize a governor who unilaterally declared a 2 week paid Christmas holidays for civil servants with the consequential impact on productivity? How else would you characterize a governor whose glaring accomplishments, halfway through his first term, are lack of governing vision, chaos, planlessness, bogus projects and converting the State into Rochas Inc.? Finally, how else would you characterize a governor who recently made a circus show out of a legitimate effort to probe his predecessor, by prejudicing his investigation by politically declaring his target guilty before constituting the panel of inquiry? Well you know my generous opinion already- a Clown is in charge at the Douglas House, but no one seems to be laughing. God help us!
-Edward Oparaoji, Philadelphia USA
Oparaoji, how many times did
Oparaoji, how many times did you write to asses the governance of Imo under your master, Ikiri? Did you suddenly become an activist because Rochas dealt Ikrii and your sister a deep blow in April 2011? So you are now the mouthpiece of PDP because of selfish interests? All of you who continue to promote the interests of criminals for whatever you can get it have no shame. For if you people have shame, you would have committed suicide at what Imo has achieved in one and half years when there is no single thing to name as the achievement of your master, Ohakim.
It is a great pity that
It is a great pity that someone of Oparaoji’s status has allowed himself to be recruited as a hatchet to the most hated character that ran Imo aground, Ikedi Ohakriminal and the PDP because of a morsel of food. It is really a great pity. Oparaoji should have seen the disgraceful defeat his sister and Ohakim suffered as a chance to atone for the sin of engaging a thief like Ohakim instead of coming here to write rubbish because of the interests of his sister and their evil master, Ohakim.
So this Oparaoji is the
So this Oparaoji is the brother to that so called Professor that allowed himself to be seduced by the criminal, Ohakim? Mchwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Abeg, bring another issue.
No one should be surprised
No one should be surprised about Oparaoji, gthe elder brother of Biola Onwuliri who have been recruited into the PDP to the extent that they now serve the most shameless criminal, Ikedi Ohakim. It is a shame for Oparaoji and what he is doing here is a furtherance to that service.
Oparaoji is still consumed in
Oparaoji is still consumed in self interests. His sister was Ikiri’s deputy in the last election and Oparaoji is still finding it hard living down the crunching defeat Rochas handed to his sister and her master in the historic 2011 election. He is a big disappointment. After seeing Owerri, it is strange that he still musters the shame to write such nonsense as he did here.
Why Imo State?
Imo State has been burdened by the dregs of the society since 1999...Crooks Udenwa, Ohakim and the worst Rochas. How Rochas ended in Imo State with his Hausa heritate is befuddling. Why Imo my God!
Rochas now el finito
This article is vintage Prof. Oparaoji....simple clear articulate and punchy!Rochas better wake up, now that he is in this Profs cross hairs or else his term as gov is el finito!
Rochas is truly a mad man at Douglas House
Prof. I agree you were very generous in describing this idiot of a governor, he is truly a thief and mad man! I have read a lot of your articles and know you have the most potent pen among Imolites anywhere, and you didnt disappoint with this piece!
Rochas is con man
Thank you thank you thank you Prof! I have agonized so much about this pompous worse than mediocre governor that Imo state was cursed with. He has coned our people for almost 2 yrs now, but I am glad youve called him out, and this should be just the beginning! As you can read from his brainless paid agents here who cant even make a complete ccorrect sentense, we have lots of work to do. Do not relent.
WHERE THERE IS ROCHAS THERE MUST BE ANARCHY
IN PDP IMO STATE 1999 HE FOUGHT THE MAN THAT WON THE PRIMARY-HUMPHERY ANUMUDU, WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPROMISE TO PRODUCE DRUG USER-GOV. UDENWA. ROCHAS LEFT THE STATE IN DISGRACE. IF NOT ROCHAS WAY THERE MUST BE ANARCHY. WHEN HE DIDN’T GET HIS WAY IN PDP, HE FORMED HIS OWN PARTY, NOBODY JOINED HIM. HIS PARTY COULD NOT EVEN OPERATE IN IMO STATE, WHICH HE QUICKLY DEREGISTERED IN DISGRACE AND MOVED BACK TO PDP. THERE HE DIVIDED THE SOUTH EASTERNERS WHO DECIDED TO GIVE THEIR BLOCK VOTES TO A NORTHEERN CANDIDATE INSTEAD OF HIM, BECAUSE THEY HATED HIS GUTS. HE JOINED APGA THROUGH THE HELP OF UWAZUIKE OF MASSOP, TODAY APGA IS IN DISARRAY AND UWAZURIKE HIS ARCH ENEMY WHEN UWAZURUIKE NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG TO HIM.WITHOUT UWAZURUIKE ROCHAS WOULD HAVE NEVER BECOME IMO STATE GOVERNOR. HE WANTS ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNOR, THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF APGA AND TRUE POLITICAL SON OF OJUKWU TO BOW DOWN FOR HIM.
ROCHAS IS A ONE MAN GANG-NEEDS NOBODY-A VERY SICK MAN.
ROCHAS IS FIGHTING A NON-DECLARED WAR WITH EVERY POLITICAL HEAVY WEIGHT IN IMO STATE. LATELY IWUANYANWU KNOWN FOR “GHANA MUST GO” AND OTOKOTO FACILITATOR AND UDENWA HIS TOWNS MAN KNOWN AS POLITICA AMEABA WERE SEEN AROUND GOVT. HOUSE DUE TO THE DAUGHTERS WEDDING. DURING OJUKWU’S BURIAL NO SINGLE LEADER OF IMO STATE WENT TO THE STADIUM TO JOIN ROCHAS TO BURY THEIR LEADER, DUE TO HIS STYLE OF NON-CONSULTATION-ONE MAN RULE. IMO STATE HAS THREE SENATORS AND SIX HOUSE MEMBERS, NON IS IN GOOD TERMS WITH ROCHAS. THERE IS NO QUARREL THAT ROCHAS OKOROCHA HATES. CONTROVERSY IS HIS MIDDLE , WHICH IS FEEDING HIS FATTY BODY. HIS IS FIGHTING MASSOP LEADER-UWAZURIKE THE MAN THAT MADE HIM THE GOVERNOR-FOR WHAT? EZEIGBOGBURUBGURU WHICH ROCHAS BELIEVED IS RESERVED FOR HIM.EMEKA IHEDIOHA DEPUTY SPEAKER IS IS HIS NEXT TARGET OF DESTRUCTION, WHILE OHAKIM IS TO BE IMPRISONED AND CHRISTY ANYANWU BANNED FROM ENTERING IMO STATE.
ROCHAS OKOROCHA HATES OWERRI ZONE
Rochas believed in adage decades back, even made into a song, which says all the towns/villages have opened except ORLU AND OKIGWE. While Orlu or Okigwe indigenes like Rochas invested outside the state, do not invest in the communities in any capacities, Rochas wants to correct that impression by awarding state contracts to his people. 95% of his aides are his town’s men. That feeling has resonated in his government where he is now committed to give all major contracts to his relations from Orlu or Okigwe. From Imo Transport Corporation, ADALPALM, HEROES SQUARE, COMMISSIONERS QUARTERS, OJUKWU SQUARE, ICAPS, CONCORDE HOTEL MGT, YOU NAME IT, ALL CONTROLLED BY THE ROCHAS’. LET ROCHAS PUBLISH ALL THE CONTRACTORS NAMES, THEIR TOWN/VILLAGES AND PUBLICLY DENY WHETHER THEY HAVE FRIENDSHIP OR BLLOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. HE USES LGA MONEY LIKE HIS PERSONAL MONEY.
ROCHAS OKOROCHAS IS HIDDEN MAFIA
The fearless manner Rochas is stealing is MAFIA STYLE. Free education with N50,000 and N20,000 enrollment fees to students-is that free? ALL school unions (capital flight) imported by Rochas family. Imo born students reduced to 30% while non-citizens at 70%.Executive vote reduced to N3b while all major contracts are performed by Rochas firms exceeding N100b to date-a new form or executive vote. His company Roche doing 305 schools' renovations, 340km Roads and so called 27 hospitals with no due process. He owns four hotels now in Imo state and one estate at Amakohia-Owerri with 127 buildings and 20 estates in Abuja all since he became Governor. Lands, constructions and buildings are his addiction. Rochas has 180 aides with no functions. All open lands being acquired at astronomical rates using his in-law.
loud idiot
It's easy for dat loud mouthed ignoramus to judge a Man of d people from his high horse, what d hell are u doing in philadelphia if it wasn't ur rougish nature dat made u flee d shores of Nigeria. We love Rochas & I'm proud to be amongst d mamoth crowd dat kicked d no-good,lay-about Ohakim out of Douglas house. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
pls tell d egg head
It's easy for dat loud mouthed ignoramus to judge a Man of d people from his high horse, what d hell are u doing in philadelphia if it wasn't ur rougish nature dat made u flee d shores of Nigeria. We love Rochas & I'm proud to be amongst d mamoth crowd dat kicked d no-good,lay-about Ohakim out of Douglas house. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
OPARAOJI FORGOT TO TAKE HIS MEDICATION, AGAIN
I know Edward Oparaoji very well. He was a regular out-patient at the mental hospital in Aba some years ago. He left for the USA under a USA scheme designed to help the vulnerable and mentally-challenged. He was among the group an NGO in America helped to go to school. His case was so serious that he was required to take his medication 6 times a day. And whenever he failed to take his medication, he became restless and will start halucinating. He has made some progress, but there are still worrying traces of his mental illhealth. There is no doubt that he forgot to take his medication early morning on the day he started on his article above.
I hope his will find time to read people's response
I hope dis very toxic Prof. Will hv time to read the response of readers to his paid PR job dat he calls commentary.indeed others of his likes.
Our pple don't allow the environment where dey r to hv positive influence on them.just d case of not being able to take out d pig in d pig no matter where u keep them.shame on u Prof
Edward should be executed by firing squard
I am from abia state. Edward should be executed by firing squard. Come to abia state, then you will that imo people are in heaven.
This article should not have
This article should not have been published in the first place following the antecedent of the author. If you do not know let me put it straight to you that prof. Oparaoji is brother of Prof.(mrs)Onwuliri that contested as running mate of Chief Ohakim in May 2011 election. Probably he was promised a juicy portfolio that never be.
You no be prof.
Nwata kwuo okwu, amara ka uche ya ha. From USA you want to misinform us of how home is. With all these biased and deceptive write ups you continue to tell us who you are. You have started assessing Rochas govt just 100days in office, when you know that the rot you people left would take another person that not Rochas some year to.get started.May deliver us from people like you.
You no be prof.
Nwata kwuo okwu, amara ka uche ya ha. From USA you want to misinform us of how home is. With all these biased and deceptive write ups you continue to tell us who you are. You have started assessing Rochas govt just 100days in office, when you know that the rot you people left would take another person that not Rochas some year to.get started.May deliver us from people like you.
Edward Oparaoji is a Crumbie ...not a professor anywhere!
@ Ed Oparaoji :
You must be a desperate fool to be used by the PDP in their evil permutations for 2015, my bet is you're broke! The only reason that thug Ohakim is walking free is same reason Alams is cuddled up in Aso Rock ...they're pdp thieves. You're no professor, you don't even write like a graduate, too repetitious. Which community college are you attached to in Philly? My term "Clown Prince" is reserved for Dumbo, your General Overseer in corrupt practices. Stupid touts like you, political prostitutes like Bianca Ojukwu and Ohakim should be gathered together and set on fire, they disgrace their mothers!
Owelle Rochas, Fashola and Oshiomole are the only Govs with visions and matching dedication to eleviating poverty in their states. Paid vuvuzelas like this 419 thug should be ignored dismissively. Obviously, he lacks Green Card which would've made it possible for him to visit Imo state to see things for himself that's why he's foaming from the ghetto. Chump!
Let us be construtive
This writer has clearly shown that he was paid to do this job or someone is hiding under the name. Yes, it is good to be in the opposition and criticizes to enable change of power but I advise us to do so constructively. By appreciating little of what the Rochas led government has done will even make people believe your story but accidently this writer did NOT see anything good in Imo under Gov. Rochas. Take it or leave it, Rochas is better than Ohakim in terms of development and records are there. I also agreed that Rochas pays no respect to bureaucracy in awarding contracts, and I support him for that hence in the time past it has delayed development
SERIOUSLY?
I almost took the writer serious until he mentioned the issue of 10,000 jobs:
why did Ohakim wait till it became obvious that he was not going to be reelected to employ the so called 10,000?
where were you and your stupid critics when Ohakim who was clueless and senseless was at the helm of affairs?
what is even wrong to give a 2 weeks holiday to all civil servants?Meanwhile the likes of you travel to Cross River state for carnival every Xmas yet failed to notice that their civil servants are on vacation all through the ceremonies.How many workers turn up for work during Xmas holiday even without any granted holiday?please stop this hypocrisy!
Rochas might not be all that but each time you come to owerri you will notice a new infrastructure (whether the contractor is paid or not is issue for another day)if you have failed to acknowledge that then you are blind,downright stupid or part of the PDP regular looters who are not used to being starved of the state funds!
Criticizing Rochas is not an
Criticizing Rochas is not an endorsement or support for Ohakim. We all criticized Ohakim to do better. There is nothing wrong in criticizing Rochas to stop chasing shadows and focus on tangible projects that will uplift the socio-economic wellbeing of Imo people. Giving primary school pupils N100 per month is clownish. Asking road contractors to start work without mobilization is criminal and worsened the already bad rural roads. We could only get home this Xmas due to the dry weather. I heard him boasting of building 27 general hospitals. Don't you think this is crazy and utterly unrealistic? We shall see how many will be functional in 2015. His re-election campaign is already on.
I watched the real clown on
I watched the real clown on AIT the other day lambasting his rogue predecessor and outlining his (Rochas) endless abraka wonder
'accomplishments' in less than 2 years. One keeps wondering how these characters come into Nigeria's political space, particularly in Ibo land. Imolites would have to tolerate him till 2015. It is a disaster. From frying pan to raging fire.
Na for Philadelphia You dey
Na for Philadelphia You dey dey write, i dey wonder how you how you manage get your own info, i think you should the "clueless governor what to do instead of criticizing him from afar.
Face of Igbo presidency
That is who they are gra-gra. They are only good under management by someone else, not fit as no1
Hmmmm
A Prof?hmmmm. U r all part of d problems of this country.where was dis character when his master and role model,Ohakim was raping imo state?it is quite sad dat pple of dis standing will agree to stand to truth on its head for peanuts.wot a shame
Prof Oparaoji, I am not
Prof Oparaoji, I am not surprised at your jaundiced article knowing that you were one of those that benefited from Ohakim, I wonder when last you came back home, probably you have not been to Imo State since the Roque Governor Ohakim was booted out. I am happy to inform you that no amount of hatchet write up like yours can diminish the ongoing tranformation in Imo State, I went round the state two weeks ago to see things for myself, I can confidently say that the transformation that I saw baffled me, Okorocha has done in less than one year and eight months what Previous PDP led administrations could not do in 12 years.

