By Harry Awurumibe
With few days left in the life of the eight years of the outgoing Governor of Imo State, Chief Ethelbert Anayo Rochas Okorocha’s regime, he has decided to embark on a curious media advertisements of his so-called projects.
Tagged “Rescue Mission Projects”, the man who ran the affairs of the Heartland State in the past eight years like an “Emperor” rather than an elected governor has taken
to the mainstream and social media to advertise what he claimed to be his ” eight years achievements” in Imo State.
A two-minute recorded ” Imo Rescue Mission Projects” video which is currently in the media and which is sponsored by the outgoing Governor is been celebrated by his government.
But to Imolites at home and diaspora Gov. Okorocha’s belated media blitz is like a man closing the gate when the sheep have bolted away from the barn.
Better still, many people have likened the latest “media show” to someone bringing out the buckets and basins to fetch water when the heavy rain had since stopped.
A critical survey of the state and indeed a visit to the 27 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state will clearly show that there is not even one mega project commissioned by the outgoing Governor in eight years of his regime. Neither in his Orlu Senatorial Zone nor Okigwe and Owerri Zones would any project that will impact on the lives of Imolites is sighted.
Unlike in other states of the federation namely Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, Lagos, etc where even One Term Governors built legacy projects that will last for generations, Okorocha’s Rescue Mission Government littered Imo with uncompleted poorly designed projects.
A trip to every corner of Imo State will leave a sour taste in the mouth following the state of the infrastructural decays. Both state and federal governments roads have become death traps. The health facilities are not even mere consulting clinics.
Worst is the poor qualities of the few inconsequential projects the “Rescue Mission Government” is claiming to have provided. The inner Owerri roads done by the government fails even while under construction.
The so-called expansion of the major streets in the Owerri metropolis left tears, sorrows and blood in its wake as many people lost their inheritance, buildings and businesses.
Public utilities backbone were not spared as the Owerri Urban Erosion and Storm water Underground chanellization built by the visionary government of late Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe was destroyed.
Imo State from origin is not an ” Emirate” and the determination of the Rescue Mission Government to transform it into one has distorted the landscapes of Owerri. The poor construction of the overhead metal canopy- like pillars along the major roads have not added anything to be proud of.
Therefore, the Rescue Mission Government should not waste more money on this needless media advertisements of its “achievements” in the wee hours of its final bow for “a good product markets itself”.
Harry Awurumibe, is a public affairs analyst.
