2019: Battle over soul of Ndigbo tears Okorocha, Obiano apart

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has taken his counterpart, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, to the cleaners over his reaction to the claim that three South East governors are on the verge of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okorocha had during a meeting of the South East leaders of the party at the weekend said that three governors of the region will soon be joining the ruling APC.

However, Obiano, in a statement through his spokesman, James Eze, decried Okorocha’s claim, describing him as a failure, unlike governors of Abia and Ebonyi states, Okezie Ikpeazu and Dave Umahi respectively, who merely denied that they were the ones the Imo governor was referring to.

Obiano had said in the statement, “The question should be, has Rochas Okorocha provided an inspiring leadership for the people of Imo State under APC? So, why would any governor in Nigeria heed Okorocha’s call? Okorocha is an example of what a leader should not be.”

But Okorocha reacting swiftly in a statement by his Spokesman, Samuel Onwuemeodo, ridiculed without reservation the government and person of Governor Obiano, describing him as clueless, irresponsible person that would have done better in life as a militant.

Part of the statement read, “The governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has read with regret the media attack on his person by the clueless governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano over a harmless statement he made at the APC Stakeholders meeting in Owerri that three governors in the South-East would soon join APC.

“That statement didn’t call for insult or any foul language. And two responsible governors in the zone, the Enugu and Ebonyi States governors were quoted to have reacted to Governor Okorocha’s Claim and as decent men, made their points without attacking the Imo Governor.

“But Governor Obiano of Anambra State spoke to justify or authenticate the general impression about him that he is an aggressive governor, who should have done better as a militant than as a governor.

“While reacting to Governor Okorocha’s innocuous Claim, Governor Obiano said, the Imo Governor “is an example of what a leader should not be”. That kind of motor park language was unexpected from a governor of a State who answers His Excellency, even when the Anambra Governor did not explain what he meant by that. In what way was Governor Okorocha not an example of what a leader should be?

Read also: Investigations… Facts, lies and how Okorocha allegedly corners state assets for self, family (I)

“Governor Okorocha’s claim was a healthy one, expected to provoke sound debates, which is the beauty of democracy. Governors with ideas and the right exposure gave their polite reactions, but the one without ideas (Obiano) took to insults. Only men with nothing to offer in terms of ideas take delight in insulting others. Men of ideas do not insult others.

“Leadership is all about ideas and service. Luckily enough, Obiano has been governor for almost four years while Okorocha has also been governor for five years now. Let Obiano publish his achievements in Anambra State even with high IGR, and let Governor Okorocha also publish his achievements in Imo. Then, we take off from there.”

He added, “We may at this point, challenge journalists from the South-East to embark on project tours of Imo and Anambra and make their findings known to the public. Obiano no doubt, has taken Anambra State several kilometers backward, while in Imo, Okorocha has raised the bar of leadership or governance. To say the least, comparing Okorocha with Obiano is like comparing Messi of Barcelona FC with the left wing player of Mbieri Secondary in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State.”

South-east pressure group, Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, has waded into the crisis rocking the South-East Governors’ Forum, SEGF, in a bid to ensure peace in the organisation.

The state chief executives have not met to articulate policies or programmes that would benefit the people as a geopolitical zone for over 18 months now.

Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) had at the weekend promised to wade into the crisis rocking the South-East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) to help restore peace.

 

 

 

 

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