Governor Hope Uzodimma’s constant reference to his younger brother and former governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is ill-advised. The impression the governor passes by constantly mentioning the Imo West Senator in his speeches and press statements by his Chief Press Secretary is that whatever the former governor is doing against him is really affecting him. Somehow, he could be making some of his loyalists see Okorocha as more influential than him. If I were the governor, I would simply give the former governor the cold treatment. I will completely ignore him and focus all my attention on governance.
With the constant reference to the former governor’s “interference” in his administration, the governor gives an impression that he is desperate to cut this younger brother of his to size. He makes it look like stopping Okorocha is a project that he must stop.
I may not quite like Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, but I think, both the current governor and the former governor have things to learn from him. The truth is that Ihedioha systematically set the grounds for everything that Owelle is passing through today, yet, he hardly responded to the Imo West Senator’s many provocative utterances against him. Sometimes, he doesn’t even allow his lowest ranking aide to join issues with the former, but I know that if Ihedioha had continued as governor, Uncle Rochas might not be enjoying himself now as much as he is doing right now. Ihedioha carried and still carries himself very well.
Owelle can cause a lot of damages to Onwa’s image, because he has nothing to lose. Owelle can never be governor of Imo State again and he can even afford to forfeit his presidential ambition to stop Onwa from getting a second term. So, if there is anything Onwa must do, it is to focus all his attention and energy on governance. This includes the recovery aspect of his mantra. He can recover everything that needs to be recovered without joining issues with the former governor. The more the governor joins issues with the former governor the more it appears he is fighting a vindictive battle against him.
*I also disagree that someone who is not a governor can distract a governor from pursuing his vision for the State.* The major job of the opposition is to distract the government in power, but it is also the duty of the government in power to refuse to be distracted.
I am Onwuasoanya FCC Jones,
Leader, Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing.
