I have nothing to gain from endless fights with Uzodimma, says Okorocha
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has urged the incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma and his aides to leave him alone when making public commentaries.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by Sam. Onwuemeodo, his special adviser on media, Okorocha said he did not attack his predecessors and did not see any reason why Uzodimma’s aides would not stop speaking ill about him and his administration.
“Since January 2020, when His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma took over as the Governor of lmo State, neither Owelle Rochas Okorocha nor any of his former appointees, had woken up any day and took to the media to attack governor Uzodimma or his government. Okorocha had only responded to issues or attacks against him when the 3R government came on board. And l stand to be contradicted on these innocent claims. Like I said, that was at the early stage of the 3R government,” the statement said.
“Some years back, Okorocha came and called a meeting of his former appointees and told them that whatever was the misunderstanding between him and Governor Uzodimma had been settled. And that development had warranted some former senior aides of Okorocha to begin to relate freely with the governor and his government.
“Unfortunately, some senior appointees of governor Uzodimma have continued to, unabatedly, insult or attack Okorocha unwarranted and unprovoked.
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“The latest of such needless attacks against Okorocha was the banner headline of the Bigtruth newspaper owned by Governor Uzodimma’s Special Adviser on Media, Sir Modestus Nwankpa, and quoting another Senior appointee of the governor, Barr. C.O.C Akaolisa, describing Okorocha’s government as a ‘Disastrous Outing’.
“And you could ask yourself, of what benefit was this attack on Okorocha, to the government of the day? Okorocha had done eight years as lmo Governor and left in 2019. Almost seven years after. And Imo people had taken stocks of his governorship from May 2011 to May 2019. And in due course, had assessed and scored him accordingly. And we’re delighted with the score.
“We’ve continued to resist the temptation of being dragged into comparing Okorocha’s government with that of Uzodimma. And to achieve what? Okorocha had done eight years and Uzodimma has three years outstanding. Even at that, there should be no reason or need for such comparison.”
The statement said Okorocha prays and wishes Uzodimma does better than him and that Uzodimma’s successor should do better than Uzodimma, adding “that should be the spirit”.
“For the eight years Okorocha was governor, he never berated His Excellency, Chief Achike Udenwa or his government. And none of Okorocha’s appointees had made any derogatory remark against Udenwa or the Government he had led. Ditto, His Excellency, lkedi Ohakim. Except at one instance when the former Governor made one remark against Okorocha’s government and we responded accordingly, using the same measure. I would like to be contradicted on any of these claims. You can’t be in government and be inviting people to come and fight with you or with your government. That’s a misnomer. Not healthy,” the statement continued.
“Before this latest attack and using the same newspaper, Akaolisa had been quoted to have said that anybody who didn’t participate in wrestling power from Okorocha in 2019 would not succeed Uzodimma. And when my attention was drawn to that, l reminded the person that the Military wrestled power from Chief Sam. Mbakwe in 1983. The Military also wrestled power from Evans Enwerem. Power was also wrestled from Udenwa because he could not produce the man after his heart as successor. Power was also wrestled from Ohakim because he couldn’t get second term. Power was equally wrestled from Okorocha because his choice candidate didn’t become governor in 2019. Power was wrestled from Ihedioha because he only stayed seven months out of what could have been a four -year tenure. Power could also be wrestled from Uzodimma. It had been a case of wrestling Power galore in lmo. But none was a condition for succession or for elective position. I had also published Akaolisa’s story in which he said, only a core camphope person would succeed Uzodimma. I had wanted to provoke a debate with that angle.
“Uzodimma’s appointees should stop provoking or calling for counter-attacks against him and against his government. Reason being that, someone selling red oil in the market does not cause stampede. For Okorocha’s eight years as Governor, we never initiated attacks. We were only defending or responding to somewhat serious attacks. We were only busy telling Okorocha and his government’s beautiful stories. And that’s what Uzodimma needs now. His appointees should concentrate on telling his story and that of his government. The time and energy Nwankpa and Akaolisa had used or spent in attacking Okorocha, they would have used same to decorate Uzodimma and his government. To beautify the governor and his government. That would have been more profitable. More results- Oriented. More advisable and very encouraging.
“We won’t follow the bad example of Nwankpa and Akaolisa. We wish Uzodimma and his government well. Let him achieve more than Okorocha had achieved. That’s our earnest prayer. Imo does not belong to Okorocha. It does not belong to Uzodimma. We’re helping some people here. And we shall continue to assist.
“Okorocha left as Governor in 2019 and what would he stand to lose in the event of any comparison between his government and that of Uzodimma? Nwankpa should have guided Akaolisa to know that Uzodimma does not need to engage in any attack and counter-attack with anyone at this stage of his government. That’s the duty or essence of having a media adviser. It’s not for fun.
“If Gov. Uzodimma’s appointees so wish, let them continue to attack or insult Okorocha. We won’t follow that example. Imo people, history and posterity had graded or evaluated and scored Okorocha’s government and we’re happy with the score or verdict. Very impressive to behold.”
