Browsing: Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu

Before Imo State became the Eastern Heartland, it was the Land of Hope. How prophetic! At that time, Hope Uzodimma hadn’t become its governor. He was by the side watching the likes of Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim steer the ship of the state to their utmost best. Now, Imo, the Eastern Heartland has Hope

The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, came to power with some panache. He won election on a new wave of populism, which swept the reins of power from the All Progressives Congress, thus breaching the plan to keep all South West states within the ranks of APC. His campaign brought a different approach to the quest for leadership in Oyo State. Not once was his campaign accused of the gangsterism that attended previous quests for the governance of the pacesetter state. Understanding the desire of Oyo people for good governance, one devoid of the braggadocio of politics, Engr. Makinde defined his journey into the next four years with a few actions that translate to positive vision and, redefinition of leadership in Nigeria. By hitting the ground with action, Engr. Makinde came out of the first ten days in office as the first of his peers to constitute a due process office with the appointment of a Director General.

This is not just about Chukwuemeka. But yes, Chukwuemeka indeed. You may ask: what’s in a name? Chukwuemeka connotes gratitude. Gratitude to God for his intervention using Imolites as instruments to empower that which is pleasing to all (Ihediohamma) to begin the process of regenerating a state that had been mindlessly raped by the greed of a man whose sense of superiority imprisoned with a primitive mindset that was last seen in the medieval ages. Contemporary history threw up the likes of Mobutu Sese-Seko, Emperor Bedel Jean Bokassa, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos as best compare in his blind quest to satisfy an insatiable desire to acquire and to own even plates and spoons not needed. But again, Chukwuemeka!

Sometime in 2016, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, hosted senior journalists and editors of Imo State origin at a meeting held at Government House, Owerri. During the meeting, which was his first since he became governor, he took time to explain his vision for the state. He also took his guests on a tour of projects in Owerri.

With that effect, Nigerians fell for the lure of the centre. That lure gifted us with the system of leadership where governors do not see themselves as answerable to the people, but to Buhari. It was such that even Buhari’s body language became an understandable summon to belong with the centre, and the All Progressives Congress, for developmental benefits.

First, the matter was instituted on December 22, 2014, through an originating summon in the aftermath of the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party, conducted to elect a candidate that would stand for election in March 2015. This makes it a pre-election matter. The action followed that of the PDP in refusing to affirm Dr. Okonkwo as winner of the primary election wherein he polled 204 valid delegate votes. Two hundred and ninety-four delegates were accredited for the election, with Okechukwu Akachukwu as returning officer.

Nigerians want to know how the deductions were initially made. They want to know at what time the Paris Club realised that there were excess deductions. They want to know when their government realised that the deductions were in excess. They would like to know who supervised the deductions. They want to know how much exactly was over-drawn and how much, in all, including interest is due to Nigeria. Information in this regard is not handy; and there is suspicion that this is deliberate to keep prying eyes of the Nigerian away from the details.