The Bishop emeritus of the Anglican Diocese of Mbaise, Rt. Rev. Bright Ogu has launched a scathing attack on the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s administration, describing it as a disappointment to the people of the state.
Speaking to journalists at the second synod of the Diocese of Ikeduru, Imo State recently, Bishop Ogu lamented that Governor Okorocha ‘has disappointed many Imo people, including myself’.
He pointed out that many communities in the state had no roads and that those who had roads could no longer access them the governor had torn them open without constructing them.
In his words, “we’re seeing things happening– breaking down people’s buildings, breaking down people’s comfort and traditions; taking people’s land everywhere and building structures that cannot be finished. This cannot be said to be leadership.
“I don’t know whether breaking all the structures in government house, he will finish it before he goes because he has only one more year to go?”
The emeritus bishop said the governor was running the state as a one-man business, accusing him of not carrying him of not carrying the people of the state, including members of the state House of Assembly, along.
He condemned Governor Okorocha’s policy of stifling the state economy by not giving the youths job.
“I was sitting somewhere in the market the other day. I saw lots of graduates who have no jobs sitting somewhere discussing about the government. The former governor(Ikedi Ohakim) gave them job but this one came and took it from them by sacking them and now they have no jobs. They have become truck pushers and keke riders. Is that ideal?
“Even if we were told 10 or 20 years ago that a time shall come when graduates will not have jobs in Nigeria, i would not believe it. But, it’s happening here in Imo. One was crying two days ago that after eight years of graduation, no job. My children are part of it. So, we’re all victims”, he lamented.
Speaking on the recent declaration of Governor Okorocha to run for a second term in 2015, the cleric said it would not be possible for the governor to succeed the people had known that he had a “hidden agenda”.
He advised the people of the state to beware of the kind of politicians that come to their churches to solicit for their votes because “they come to the churches to deceive the people because Imo is a Christian and praying state”.
Rev. Ogu also condemned the governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress(APC), saying the state had been unlucky with its governors.
According to him, the former governor of the state, Ohakim, dumped the Progressive Peoples Congress(PPA) which brought him to power and joined PDP and derailed.
“Now, our man(Rochas) has come in again. He came in with APGA and now he has derailed joining APC which is not the party that brought him into power. He has been thinking about the national level. If he was not able to take care of the state, how can he manage the national or federal level?”, he queried.
