Okorocha to fellow Igbo: Politics is serious business

Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, the Governor oflmo State, South East of Nigeria, is no stranger to the game of Nigerian politics. He came second behind the late President Umaru Yar 'Adua at the convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.for the 2007 presidential election. 

Before then, Okorocha had made political sojourns in the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP and was one of the founders of the Action Alliance, AA, where he pursued his presidential ambitions to no success. An astute businessman, Okorocha, who is widely known for his philanthropy with the Rochas Foundation, was also at one time, the Chairman of the Board of the Red Cross in Nigeria. But he took lmo by storm in 2011 when against all odd, he left the then Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim. flat on the back and snatched the governorship seat from him. 

For the past 15 months, Okorocha has soldieredon, making impacts, building institutions and also courting a lorry-load of controversies with his 'rescue mission 'style of governance. Last week in Owerri, soon after he commissioned a Centre named after the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Okorocha spoke to a select team of Senior Journalists on his programmes, party, ambition and controversies. GEOFFREY EKENNA was there

.YOU must be a very happy man today to have commissioned the Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Centre and inaugurating the Board of Directors. Can you tell us why you are so excited about the event of today?
Well, it has always been my dream to have a centre for the Igbo. The Ikemba Ojukwu Centre is a dream come through, which provide a place for our people to look into our past, our present and our ruture. So, the centre is basically to look into the Igbo past, Igbo present and Igbo future. 

There is no other person to be so honoured with such a centre than the late Ikemba Ojukwu, who actually stands for the Igbo, Igbo land and the Igbo man. Today, having inaugurated the centre with the calibre of people such as Ambassador George Obiozor and other notable personalities, it shows it has become a rallying point for Igbo renaissance, culture, history, technology and I believe very strongly that the Igbo have a lot to offer  this   country, if §iven the opportunity. o, if we have a centre like this, where our children could anchor as a take off point to discover who they are for the future; the centre will build bridges of views and development across the world. The centre will create an environment for the young Igbo in reorientation and empowerment. So, if you look at the centre, you see the administrative building, the hall, the heroes' villa, the heroes' hall of fame and the park itself. These are very serious projects that are expected to help the development of the Igbo.

Was it a deliberate decision to exclude the women, the youths and even the media from the board?
No, it is not. We have some few CVs that we are still reviewing. So, it is not a closed door appointment so far. But we want to start. Before you are appointed into the board of the centre, we must have looked at your credentials. You must be an impeccable character and a good person.

But looking at the magnificent structures ana the name of the person being conferred with the honour, it is surprising that other south east governors were not there today. Why was that?
No! You know this is a state thing. It is an Igbo thing organised by the state. It is like what Imo State is donating to the Igbo nation. So, you expect that the organisation as at this time is local. So, having inaugurated the board, probably in the future, if the board has some other programmes, they can invite some other Igbo governors. We wanted to make it a smaller event today, just to kick start it because sometimes, it is difficult to kick start things like this. But now, having started it, we are going to hit the grounds running and every Igbo man will come there. There is no doubt about it.

Who was Ojukwu to you that you used such a centre to honour him?
Ojukwu to me represented an ideal leader, a selfless leader, a man who never thought of himself but others; a man who was only powerful outside but very weak inside, a true leader. He is an icon who became poor for the sake of the people. He abandoned wealth.   So, Ojukwu to me is a great man, a very great man and greater in death.

We have been hearing of organisations like the C21 and others that are springing up. 

Since you joined APGA, there has teen a lot of regeneration in the party. What are the plans really to make the party one that can rise to the level of presenting and winning thepresidency?
APGA is a political party that is just making its mark now. So, you can call it one of the upcoming political parties. For the first time it has governors, senators, House of Representatives members and state assemblies too. So, you can call it an upcoming party, whose roots is the strongest in the south east. So, it is our intention that in 2015, APGA will take over the entire south east. That would be the first step and probably some few states elsewhere. APGA is still a party that is trying to find its feet. When parties grow in that way, it becomes stronger when it gets to the apex than parties that just woke up and became large. Their downfall is just that fast too. So, APGA is growing gradually.

That means you have backtracked from the initial position of restructuring the party in a letter you wrote to the National Chairman with the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi?
No. I believe that there is need for restructuring. Like in Imo State here, we have restructured the party here. Most of the officers that were here before are no longer there. If you actually want to move your party forward, you may need to introduce newer blood and stronger elements in the system that can cope with the challenges of the party as it grows. That is what we have done, making sure that everybody is happy. When you take an office from somebody, especially in the African context, you must find a way of pacifying him to carry everybody along. There is always the argument of we have been in this party before you came and how can you do this? So, restructuring is an ongoing thing. It is not an automatic thing. We keep restructuring and amending things gradually. It is a gradual process.

What you are saying really is that the rancour in the party is a temporary thing?
It is very, very temporal. It is normal. Where you have two persons even in a family, disagreement is inevitable. Disagreement is part of the political system but what is important is the ability to resolve them when they do occur. And I think we are on top of it. Sometimes, it could be a matter of ego,; sometimes, it could be a feeling of insecurity; sometimes, it could be for recognition. We know it is all disagreements. What we do is that those who need their ego to be massaged are massaged, those who feel insecure, we guarantee them their security and the party moves on. So far, so good; it is a problem we shall overcome.

But it appears that the crisis has divided or separated you from the Anambra Governor. Two of you are the only two APGA governors.
we have not recorded such in the past years in this state and it is all for everyone to see. Even at that, I still think that I am not where I should be with the state. I have a big dream. It depends on what you consider your dreams. For a man whose dreams is acquiring a Bettles car, whenever he gets a motorcycle, he thinks he has done Heavens. 

If your standard is a Jet, and you get a Mercedes, you still think you have not started. For me, I think people clap and speak of achievements, but I feel I should do more. I stand the risk of being asked am I crazy or where are you getting the money or what? I don't know. But that tells you the standard they left the state before. I was talking with my Information Commissioner just yesterday and we looked at over 75 projects, countable that are ongoing. When I talk of 75 projects, I mean the 305 ultra modern class rooms being constructed is as one project. 

The 27 general hospitals is one project; the Ikemba Ojukwu Centre is one project; the Heroes Square is one project; the Government House here is one project; the Odenigbo Guest House is one project; the First Lady's office is one project. There are so many projects that if you count them by the other commissionable projects, it is over a thousand. So, I think, a country a country that is not passing through a challenge system is bound to fail. 

We must create a competition in Nigeria, where every leader says what he has done for the people, both in the past and the present. People would rather celebrate failures on the pages of newspapers, televisions and radio stations than people who are hard working. What is important now is how many of the newspaper pages they have covered, rather than what they have done for the people. It is a shame.

Today, I listened Gbenga of the AIT, saying that Imo free education is a failure. Can you imagine? For the first time in Imo State, 305 ultra-modern classrooms are being built. For the first time in Imo State, education is made free; school children are entitled to school uniforms, books, lockers, sandals and shoes. For the first time in this state, headmasters are being given N200, 000 at the beginning of the term to put their schools in order, paint and buy chalk so that no student lacks anything. 

For the first time, we have made sure that every school have adequate teachers. How then could somebody be even alleging that we are taking 10 per cent of civil servants' salaries? That is not true. People expect me to go back and say it is not true. That is time wasted. So, I will rather say God bless him for his little knowledge of the state. For me, leadership is not about politics; it is about governance. Governance must start where politics ends. 

The PDP in the state are not complaining that things are not that things are not going on well in the state. He complained that there are so many projects littered all over the state which is not being given attention to. For instance, he said roads; he also said that the contractors are not being paid. Can you clarify on that?
Those things are just cheap lies. You went Ikemba Ojukwu Centre, is it complete? The Heroes Square, is it complete? This government House, is it complete? Go to several projects and see if they are not completed. Go to Young Scientists College and ifit is not completed; go to Abuja Liason office, Imo palm plantation, Oguta Motel is it being completed? Go to the Heroes Apartment near Concorde, is it being completed? This is a government that is just one year in office. What we did was to release Nib in principle to all the local governments. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a local government chairman could hold N200m in his account. It has never happened anywhere. 

That is out of the Nib meant for their roads. But usually, the roads in this part of the world we suffer seriously because of the rains. We have six months of rains and six months of dry season. You must suffer two rainy seasons before you must finish a road. Even at that, go to Orlu roads now. Go to Orlu. Even if this government can only be remembered by the roads in Orlu, we will be deemed to have performed. Go and see Orlu turned into a new city; go to Okigwe being turned into a new city. You will be marvelled. People should be asking where is this money coming from? Because the progress we have recordedin Imo State has not been done in the past 20 years. 

Why should it be few rural roads that is now a problem? Not all rural roads should be tarred. When we did DFFRI, it was grading and latarite. Do you know how much it takes to build a road? In Imo State, the total amount of money that came to the state in one year is about N90b. That's what it should be. What we collect in six months is what some states collect in one month. Compare what I have done in one year and what the previous government did m four years. It is not comparable in any way. Why can't people see? What is it?

This fourth tier government, the argument against it is that that seem to create new laws at the local government levels and politicise the traditional institutions. That the traditional rulers will end up becoming politicians.

How? Everybody on this earth is a political animal, whether you like it or not. And there is no way you can bring development to your land without politics. So, are bedfellows. Even before I did that, there were town unions. All I have done is to modernise town unions and call them community development centres, so that you can have a feeling of government at quick, supersonic speed. If you go to the communities today, you see competition, going on in every sector. Let me assure you that in the next 10 years, this will remain the most popular government in Africa. 

What is the true Iiosition now with the ocal governments and their chairmen?
The true position now is that the tenure of the local governments and their chairmen has expired- two years as provided by the law. What we are trying to handle now is the aftermath of the expiration vis-a-vis some of the funds being owed the chairmen and some councillors. There are backlog of them even with those who served before them. We have cases like that which we are trying to address. But as for their tenure, an expired tenure remains an expired tenure. 

There is nothing you can do about that. It is just like saying on the 29th of May 2015, I will go to court to extend my tenure because I was sick for one year or I could not operate for one year. It doesn't work like that. That's the best way to look at it. Tenure can never be elongated. It is like the Rock of Gibraltar. If there are other claims you can make as a result of the expiration of the tenure, everybody can do that but there is nothing like extension of their tenure.

But the opposition in the state in warming up against you, particularly the PDP and they appear to be very strong?
Do you know the truth? I don t even know if there is any opposition in this state. I can't see them and I hardly discuss it because if you are distracted, you lose focus. What I want to do in Imo State is that in the next four years, I will say look at what I have done. I promised Imo people that I am going to beat the late Sam Mbakwe's record. If I live governance and go into politics now, then it means I am going back to square one. People will come up and say i said this or that. I have left the party to play the politics while I have focused on governing the Imo people. I am not getting myself involved.

What are you looking at in terms of your Internally Generated Revenue?
Our IGR now unfortunately is not doing the way it should do. I met a much messed up system and there very many masters in that system. It is taking us some time now to arrange that area, dismantle the system and set up something better. But over the past few months now, there have been some improvements. Yet, Imo State IGR is still very
Eoor. Today, we go etween N450m to N600m, which shouldn't be really good. States like our do about N2b.

I overhead you talking about the man behind Songhai farms coming to Imo State when you were inaugurating the board of the Traditional Rulers' Parliament. What level of work have you done?
It is called community agriculture. He has spoken to our people on 100 per cent agriculture and zero waste. That is to say, use whatever you have to produce what you can m agricultural practice. We are trying to introduce that to every hamlet in Imo State so that we can impact on the national food programme. Luckily, he is from this part of the world.

What's your inspiration?
What inspires  me  is seeing people happy. I like looking at people's faces and seeing them thanking God for what has happened to them. I am happy when the masses are happy. I want to redefine the essence of creation, rather than power, power, power. It is the people that inspire me. It is the people that guide my movement, action andthoughts.

Which of your projects are you every passionate about?
I   love   ICAP-Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies-where we brought in professionals from across all over the world to teach our children some professional skills. I love Imo pal plantation. It was a dramatic turnaround. It was formerly Adapalm. I changed the name because Ada(an Insect) in  Igbo   land  doesn't grow.

You are the Director of Mobilisation of C-21. What have you done for the group in terms of mobilising the people? There are insinuations that C-21 is preparing the ground for a Rochas' presidency in 2015. How true?
That's a wrong assertion. C-21 is an attempt to bring together all Igbo who-is who economically. If you like, the wealthy Igbo young men, to champion the cause of the Igbo, without counting cost or returns. See Pat Chidolue, Chelsea Hotel; see Annie Okonkwo and many others here who are trying to help the land. Most of our people that are in politics are in politics because they are impoverished. You don't get the best out of them. Do you know we hold meetings anywhere in the world and we will not ask for transport money? So, it is very convenient to contribute money and help a cause. 

Whoever the Igbo will support for presidency in 2015; the C-21 will lead it. I mean whoever, whether an Igbo man or a non Igbo in mobilisation and financial support for that particular person. They are wealthy politicians, not poor people. C-21 is political, economical and socio-political, cultural, traditional, everything put together. It depends
on which one you want to follow. We nave been talking of making the Igbo come together. We are developing some business models on how we can work together. It is just not political.

When you came in less than two years ago, did you underestimate the problems on the ground? What were the challenges and your rudest shock?
Let me tell you, what I imagined was what I saw. I had a clear picture of the level of deceit. Have you been to this Government House before? When we came here, it was shanties all over. I knew what I was coming from the beginning. I was not shocked at all. I knew where the problem was and I went for it. I am not one of those who spend four years in power studying. That Heroes' Park started a day before I was sworn in. Imo Palm Plantation started one week before I was sworn in and I knew what I wanted to do with it. 

So, there was nothing that took me unawares and I am not shocked at all. But the one that made me laugh was how people can sit down and cook stories of what does not exist. That one, I feel, the people are mad. Just sitting down to say Imo State is like Lagos State. You know those lies that have no correlation at all. I have seen a lot in the politics of Imo State. 

Somebody said that civil servants are to pay 10 per cent of their salaries to us. I asked how? What happened was that one day, one civil servant gave us 10 per cent of her salary and I appreciated her. I said move her to the next level of her rank so that others can follow such a good gesture. Does that mean 10 per cent of the salary? How would people not go and say all sorts of things.