.You Behave Like a Motor Park Tout, Says Obiano
.Okorocha Calls Obiano a Militant, Not Governor
By Baron Ike
The supremacy battle between Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Willie Obiano of Anambra State got messier on Wednesday, February 1 with Obiano responding to Okorocha’s earlier attack on Tuesday, January 31 through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo.
In taking Okorocha to the cleaners, Obiano described him as a motor park tout with a questionable past who should not talk where serious governors are discussing.
Obiano, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Strategic Communication and Legislative Matters, Oliver Okpala, said it was unfortunate Okorocha is the governor of Imo State because “he is an example of what a leader should not be.”
Obiano said: “Okorocha is widely known for his questionable past which has continued to trail him, despite his hogwash attempts to cover it up with a façade of his bogus but empty philanthropic activities.
“Who is he to teach the virtues of leadership, ideas and service? He talks of ideas when he cannot pay workers salaries and now tries to intimidate Imo retirees to forfeit 60% of their arrears of their sweat”.
Obiano’s full stastement entitled ‘GOV. OKOROCHA’S ATTACK ON GOV. OBIANO: LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD’ reads:
“The attention of the Media Directorate of the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has been drawn to the gratuitous diatribe by a fellow South Eastern Governor, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State against his person and the government of Anambra State.
“It is not in our tradition to respond to such issues but since silence in the face of such grave claims often amount to guilt, we are, therefore, duty bound to make our position known to properly guide the public.
“Okorocha mischievously titled his attack against Chief Obiano “Governor Willie Obiano’s Unwarranted Media Attack On Governor Rochas Okorocha Over His Innocent Claim That 3 Governors In The South-East Would Soon Join APC” and claimed that it was a fallout of a harmless statement he made at the APC Stakeholders Meeting In Owerri that three governors in the South-East would soon join APC.
“In the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Sam Onwuemeodo, Governor Rochas made a lot of spurious claims against the Person of Chief Obiano, his Office and the Government of Anambra State.
“He referred to Chief Obiano as a ‘‘clueless governor,’’ one therefore wonders what cluelessness means if Governor Obiano who has dazzled all Nigerians with his superlative style of governance is referred to as clueless.
“If a governor that has constructed countless number of roads and bridges, embarked on several rural electrification programmes, constructed uncountable number of schools, and health facilities as well as rid the entire Anambra State of crime and criminalities, is being termed clueless by Okorocha, then there must be another meaning for cluelessness.
“Okorocha’s claim that there is a general impression that Chief Willie Obiano is “an aggressive governor who should have done better as a militant than as a governor” is laughable and it is clear to Nigerians who really is a “motor park” personality between them.
“Obiano has always been known and accorded the respect of a complete gentleman, while Okorocha is widely known for his questionable past which has continued to trail him despite his hogwash attempts to cover it up with a façade of his bogus but empty philanthropic activities. Many people have over time seen through his tricks. What a pity!
“Indeed Okorocha “is an example of what a leader should not be”. Who is he to teach the virtues of leadership, ideas and service to Governor Obiano? He talks of ideas when he cannot pay workers salaries and now tries to intimidate Imo retirees to forfeit 60% of their arrears of their sweat. Are those the kind of ideas we need at this critical time? Those are destructive ideas, and a destructive idea cannot bring about constructive ends.
“Rochas challenged Obiano to publish his achievements in Anambra state. But the whole world knows of his feat in this regard. From making Anambra to attain a crime-free status, rapid industrialization by rehabilitation of roads and constructing new ones; demolition of a 30-year old mountain of refuse in Okpoko two years ago; putting public facilities in place such as the 47 solar-powered boreholes that now serve 27 communities and increasing Anambra State IGR from the N500m monthly that it inherited to N1.3bn per month, to clearing the arrears of salaries owed the state water corporation staff as well as the approximately N1bn pension that was owed local government retirees inherited by the administration. Obiano has been a superlative performer!
“But this cannot be said of Governor Okorocha whose so called popular policies like free education at all levels has been a fluke and at best an over bloated media hype. His other so-called programmes have also been discovered to be mere flash in the pan as the people of Imo State have seen through his tricks and treachery as well as other clandestine tendencies.
“Okorocha claimed that Obiano has taken Anambra State several kilometers backward, but the records are there to show who has taken his state backward.
“When serious Governors like Obiano are talking, the likes of Okorocha should keep quiet. This is a Governor who has failed woefully to pay workers salaries. He is also heavily indebted to even pensioners who have spent their youth and strength to labour for the state, in their old age Okorocha’s’s government has abandoned them at this most critical time that they need the state. What an abomination!
“While claiming a noble antecedent, Governor Okorocha questioned Obiano’s antecedent before he became Governor. What insolence and tomfoolery! The world knows Chief Willie Obiano’s antecedent as an accomplished banker of repute and a great juggernaut in the finance industry.
“But the same cannot be said of Okorocha as Nigerians truly know him for the wrong reasons, they know him as a rabble rouser, who claimed to be a politician and flew the tricky kite of contesting for the Presidency just to corner some change into his pockets and the records are there for everyone to see.
“As Nigerians ruminate on this matter the question should be asked: What was he before he became governor? What was his visible source of income? May be we should look a little bit at Okorocha’s antecedent. This is a man who managed to wangle his way into the corridors of power through intrigue and deceit.
“He was the chairman of the Nigeria Red Cross Society who railroaded gullible politicians and made many individuals and corporate organizations to donate several billions in a bogus scheme.
“In other climes, people like Okorocha cannot ascend to the high Office of Governor. This is another indication of a lacuna in our laws that should make room for the scrutiny of the antecedents of individuals who aspire to such sensitive offices. Therefore, that Rochas is a Governor today in Nigeria is indeed an insult on our collective psyche.
“This is someone who had no money to contest for governorship and had to run to a billionaire industrialist from Ukpo in Anambra State who graciously assisted him because of his Pan Igbo love for APGA on whose platform Okorocha contested. But soon afterwards, Rochas abandoned APGA thereby betraying the Igbo interest, a clear pointer that he can’t be trusted.
“On the other hand, Obiano was not just a banker but he reached the apogee of his profession and retired as Director of one of the Nation’s leading banks. It was these credentials that the people of Anambra saw that they beckoned on him to serve in a higher capacity and not the so called godfatherism narrative that Okorocha is promoting.
“But the same cannot be said of Okorocha whose life has been riddled with all forms of unclear deals. The truth is that those with such virtues in their blood cannot really change.
“Okorocha has again shown that he is a very bad leader who should not be looked up to by the Igbos. In his puerile message against governor Obiano he concluded by saying “Finally, in Imo we do not have the record or culture of insulting people, but we do not shy away from undue provocation or undue attacks.”
“By this statement, he is trying to pitch the entire good people of Imo against the noble Anambra people, a very sad path for a governor who should know the importance of working to unite the entire Igbo nation instead of trying to spark a fire among brothers where it does not exist. He should be man enough to leave both the people of Imo and Anambra out of this issue and face Governor Obiano record for record.
“But obviously, the records of Governor Obiano intimidates him and, therefore, as a weak leader he seeks to drag everyone into a needless war.
“Let it be emphasised that Governor Obiano has not only been paying and increasing workers emoluments, he has also introduced credible palliative measures to mitigate the suffering of ndi Anambra from the current economic recession, but for Okorocha, instead of facing the serious task of assisting his people to come out of poverty he specializes in erecting Christmas trees worth over ten million naira during the yuletide. His unguarded utterances have also undermined his position as governor.
“What is “analogue” about a Governor who had made it in the banking industry and retired as a Director of fledging bank? Obiano was indeed a career professional and consummate banker whose records both in the private sector cannot be rubbished.
“Good enough, Nigerians have descended on Okorocha on the social and traditional media since the insulting statement was published, one of them wrote “What achievements can a governor like Okorocha boast of?” Another one said “Okorocha from day one is an enemy to Igbo Agenda”
“And let it be clear that we are not against him as a person but we must differ on the ground of his inability to meet up with the challenges of governance.
“Rather than cast aspersion on Governor Obiano, he should borrow a leaf from his success story in good governance and from other performing governors even of APC such as Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos.
“Okorocha should key into President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight and do so sincerely. His governance of Imo State has been a catastrophic and unmitigated disaster and he should therefore be told so.
“He should strive to work hard so that the good people of Imo would also love him just as Anambra people are in love with Governor Obiano because of his sincere and people centered style of governance. This is our candid opinion”.
Okorocha to Obiano: Don’t Talk When Governors are Talking
On Tuesday, January 31, Governor Okorocha said Obiano has no visible achievement in four years but only militant mentality to show, and should take the back seat in the comity of governors.
Okorocha said Obiano was lacking in either political weight or ideas, only enjoying the handiwork of godfathers, who brought him into power and wore him shoes too big for his tiny legs.
Okorocha was reacting to Obiano’s comment at the weekend that the Imo governor had not shown exemplary leadership as to draw the type of following that would require governors of the South East to change their parties and follow the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okorocha, the only APC governor in the South East, claimed that it was only a matter of time for the party to take over the entire zone and that three of the four remaining governors, were already indicating their interest, and would soon join.
Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), through their spokesmen, Emma Anya and Eyinnaya Appolos, denied they were the governors being referred to by Okorocha. Obiano, through his spokesman, James Eze, also reacted in a manner that did not go down well with the Imo governor.
Eze’s words: “The question should be, has Rochas Okorocha provided an inspiring leadership for the people of Imo State under APC? So, why would any governor in Nigeria heed Okorocha’s call? Okorocha is an example of what a leader should not be.”
Okorocha’s man, Onwuemeodo followed suit, smoking, and causing bigger rift.
Onwuemeodo, said: “The governor of the State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has read with regret the media attack on his person by the clueless governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano over a harmless statement he made at the APC Stakeholders meeting in Owerri that three governors in the South-East would soon join APC.
“That Statement didn’t call for insult or any foul language. And two responsible governors in the zone, the Enugu and Ebonyi States governors were quoted to have reacted to Governor Okorocha’s Claim and as decent men, made their points without attacking the Imo Governor.
“But Governor Obiano of Anambra State spoke to justify or authenticate the general impression about him that he is an aggressive governor, who should have done better as a militant than as a governor.
“While reacting to Governor Okorocha’s innocuous Claim, Governor Obiano said, the Imo Governor “is an example of what a leader should not be”. That kind of motor park language was unexpected from a governor of a State who answers His Excellency, even when the Anambra Governor did not explain what he meant by that. In what way was Governor Okorocha not an example of what a leader should be?
“Governor Okorocha’s Claim was a healthy one, expected to provoke sound debates, which is the beauty of democracy. Governors with ideas and the right exposure gave their polite reactions, but the one without ideas (Obiano) took to insults. Only men with nothing to offer in terms of ideas take delight in insulting others. Men of ideas do not insult others.
“Leadership is all about ideas and service. Luckily enough, Obiano has been governor for almost four years while Okorocha has also been governor for five years now. Let Obiano publish his achievements in Anambra State even with high IGR, and let Governor Okorocha also publish his achievements in Imo. Then, we take off from there.
“As governor, Owelle Okorocha came up with ideas and popular policies like free education at all levels which has been working well in Imo, Community Government Councils (CGC), urban renewal programme, Ikuola Nkwu, Imo Air, massive road networks, building of universities, infrastructural revolution, and so many others, let Governor Obiano mention at least one programme his government in Anambra State is known for, almost four years as governor.
“We may at this point, challenge journalists from the South-East to embark on project tours of Imo and Anambra and make their findings known to the public. Obiano no doubt, has taken Anambra State several kilometers backward, while in Imo, Okorocha has raised the bar of leadership or governance. To say the least, comparing Okorocha with Obiano is like comparing Messi of Barcelona FC with the left wing player of Mberi Secondary in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State.
“In fact, beside politics, Nigerians have known Okorocha even long before now as a successful businessman, an outstanding philanthropist, an orator per excellence, but what should one say about Willie Obiano except that some godfathers brought him from nowhere and made him governor.
“Governor Okorocha made APGA tick in Imo that was predominately PDP and moved to APC and also proved his sagacity. But Obiano has made APGA a toothless Political Party in Anambra that can neither bark nor bite even in a state that should be its catchment area. He has not added any colour to the party and he seems to be stranded. Hence, his regular resorts to insults.
“Again, Anambra State that produced the first Nigeria President needs a digital governor and not an “analogue” governor or one who staggers thinking about which leg to put forward first.
“Finally, in Imo we do not have the record or culture of insulting people, but we do not shy away from undue provocation or undue attacks