Okorocha asks predecessor to stop engaging in political bubuyaya

Governor wants Ohakim to embrace current trends in Imo

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has told his immediate past predecessor in office, Chief Ikedi Ohakim to embrace the current trends of development in the state instead of engaging in what he described as ‘political bubuyaya’.

Although, the governor appreciated some of the points raised by Ohakim in an open letter dated August 22, which border on ‘some anti-masses administrative policies,’ he said the government has achieved a lot for Imo in the last few years.

In a response to Ohakim’s letter the governor through the state Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public utilities, Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, said as much as Okakim’s observations were appreciated and acknowledged “his Rescue Mission government has made some achievements.”

The governor insisted that something new has happened to Imo whether Ohakim acknowledges it or not, and charged the former governor to remember that on his volition he decided to take the back seat on partisan political issues.

According to Ajumbe, “We are sorry to observe that your approach of writing an open letter to your Governor, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, whom you have unfiltered access to, is a wrong thing to teach the youths you plan to mentor. While we appreciates Ohakim’s purported ‘good’ intentions and his expose of events and developments in Imo after he left office in 2011, one may begin to wonder why you (Ohakim) have hidden under the cloak of protecting the interest of Imo People, who rejected you in 2011 to engage in furtive politics. It is really ludicrous to read an expose of a man who has seen nothing good about the government after you since 2011 you were voted out of office.”

Ajumbe who said that Ohakim’s conclusion of not seeing anything the Rescue Mission Government has done right in Imo State was a plain mischief, asserted, “It is a known fact that the Rescue Mission Government came into power when Imo citizens were fed up with the maladministration and the repugnant abuse of the sensibilities of Imo people by you, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

“The outcry and clamour for change was the major reason the Rescue Mission Government came into power to restore hope to the hopeless and offer to Ndi Imo the leadership of trust they had yearned for several years. The government on its assumption rescued the state from the political merchants and godfathers who plundered her resources leaving the State under developed.

“We are surprised, that no mention was made by you, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, about the Imo free education policy – from primary to tertiary level, with its attendant relief on the families of the less privileged and Imo citizens at large.”

The government spokesman also enumerated some of the achievements of Governor Okorocha, saying: “Do we begin to talk about the numerous achievements made by this administration – Is it the New Government House, Odenigbo Guest House, Owerri City School, 305 storey school buildings in all the electoral wards of Imo State, Befitting Imo Liaison Office in Abuja, the magnificent Heroes Square, Ikemba Ojukwu Centre, over 800 kilometers of rural roads across the 27 LGA and lots more.”

He also scored the government high on security. Said he, “Imo people may also not have forgotten the security situation in the state before 2011 when you, Chief Ikedi Ohakim was the governor, but today, the Rescue Mission Government has arrested this situation, bringing crime and criminality to its barest minimum.

“This in fact, has helped to boost the investment and Tourism industry of the State as Imo State is now the Tourism hub of the South East.”

He continued: “In the event of your misrepresented findings about the state of affairs in the state since after you exited as governor, we wish to tell you sir, that our government has achieved milestones which you have unwittingly eulogised in your letter published in the various local tabloids of 31st August, 2016 and the social media.

“A careful perusal of this letter in question would tell where you are coming from and driving at.  To say you are jealous of the feat achieved by the Rescue Mission government may be an understatement.

“If indeed, you know so much why then did you do little while in office? It would be unthinkable for anyone to adduce that the Rescue Mission Government which draws its strength from the masses would still go ahead to punish the same people it has come to rescue and serve.

“We are happy that you, Chief Ohakim acknowledged the present economic downturn in the nation, yet it beats our hearts that you have failed to commend our Governor, Dr. Rochas Anayo Okorocha’s Government for blazing the trail in opening up the socio – economic frontiers of the State.  What this government is doing is in the overall interest of the people of Imo State.”