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On The Sale Of
Imo State- Owned Adapalm Plc To Roche Group
Newsdiaryonline Fri Nov 4,2011
The actions of the Governor of Imo State,Owelle Rochas Okorocha
have attracted so much criticism from members of the press.
Thisday Newspaper editorial once mentioned that the Governor's
most notable achievement to date has been to make headline news
for all sorts of gaffes. The paper went ahead to say that the
Governor is giving Nigerians something to really laugh about. It
is obvious that Okorocha is making mockery of himself but the
sad thing is that he does not seem to care what people think or
say.
At a Stakeholders forum in Owerri recently, Owelle was asked
about the issue of the sale of the State owned Adapalm Plc.
After laughing and making reference to "certain" press boys (he
did not mention them by names) this is what Okorocha said :“I
detest the press boys. I don't want them to come around me. They
go out of their way against even their professional ethics and
tell lies about me and my administration. They allow themselves
to be influenced by politicians to spread falsehood against me.
Because of this I do not want to have anything to do with the
press boys.”
He said he picks up a Nigerian Newspaper only when he wants to
look for something to laugh about. What Okorocha said about his
hatred of the press isn't new. But it's new and interesting that
he said it in public.We all know that Journalists are the
whipping boys of the Governor. He has advised his Aides and
Cabinet to ignore all that are appearing in the press about his
activities. To him, members of the press are persona non grata.
Governor Okorocha is behaving like the traditional' Eze onye
agwalam'. Eze onye agwalam is a Village Chief that shuns advice.
He should blacklist the press at his own peril. This is
democracy. He should amend his ways .The bible in Romans 6 v 1
said 'What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that
grace may increase? By no means!'I believe it will not be in the
best interest of the Governor for the press to hide the truth
from him. The press is there to watch the excesses of any
government anywhere in the world. The press is the guardian of
the people as the fourth estate of the realm.
Governor Okorocha was advised by well-meaning Imolites not to
sell Adapalm Plc but he did not listen. Today the media is
filled with the news that Imo State government has sold the
multi-million naira Adapalm PLC to Roche Group, an Irish Company
.Some say Adapalm is sold for 20 years. Whether for 20years or
less, a sale is a sale. Adapalm plantation is located in Ohaji/Egbema
L.G.A of Imo State.Introducing the new owners to the people of
Ohaji/Egbema LGA,Owelle Rochas Okorocha declared that the new
owners have the full rights to hire and fire staff.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the sale of Adapalm under the
administration of Owelle Rochas is fraught with all kinds of
sharp practices, shady deals and under-the-table-practices. The
sale of Adapalm is criminal to say the least. I see this as an
act of insensitivity by the Governor to the interests of the
poor masses. The sale of Adapalm , especially at a time when
thousands of Imo people are needlessly poor and in need of
gainful employment, is nothing but an anti-poor, pro-rich
policy. Tragically this policy is taking place at a time when
statistics released by the Federal Ministry of Finance recently
rated Imo State financially strong. Imo State has constantly
received jumbo allocations since Governor Okorocha came in. He
is yet to show us what he has used the allocation money on, as
we have not witnessed any genuine project instituted by his
administration.
Okorocha behaves like a maximum ruler who will be in power
forever, but he has forgotten that, whatever has a beginning
will surely come to an end one day.Political office is for a
while, power is ephemeral. His rescue mission has now become the
reckless sale of the collective patrimony of Imo people, to his
businessmen partners. The due process, rule of law and
collective interests of Imo State was not taken into
consideration. This Roche Group has taken over all major
construction projects in Imo.
At a time when the available institutions of higher learning in
Imo turn out thousands of graduates on a yearly basis, most of
whom remain perpetually unemployed and only ceaselessly roaming
the streets in search of unavailable jobs, Okorocha is
preoccupied with the business of selling of publicly owned
properties which were built over the years with our collectively
owned wealth – a venture which in all aspect is perpetually
anti-people. The sale of Adapalm
is a pro-rich policy because it puts public wealth into
private hands and further increases poverty because it puts more
people out of employment as the new management is out to make
profit at the expense of human life. According to sources, an
estimated 2,000 Adapalm workers are to be sacked.Okorocha is
about to make so many people of Ohaji/Egbema the host community
to Adapalm jobless.
The sale of Adapalm
should be totally condemned by Imolites as it does the toiling
masses no good. But will Eze onye agwalam(Okorocha)ever listen
to the voice of reason? The truth of the matter today is that
the people's patience are snapping and very fast too despite
Okorocha's threat of dealing with unfriendly Journalists. We
worry about how Okorocha is converting Imo State and its funds
into a family enterprise while governing the State with impunity
and military fiat not minding or giving a hoot how the people
felt. Save us o' God.
-Kenneth Uwadi,
Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria
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