Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been an active politician post-democracy in 1999, when he was appointed Commissioner on Federal character commission. When he held sway as Governor of Imo State in 2011-2019, he was always in the news. He was controversial. His bag of controversy never runs dry. He is a frequent newsmaker at that time but seems times have changed now as several forces within Imo state are looking for every avenue to clip his wings politically. With his recent travails, he is currently facing in his home state, the senator representing Imo West senatorial district at the Hallowed Red Chambers, seems to have been paying dearly for his many sins while serving as Governor of Imo State.
At the time his tenure was winding up, he backed his in-law Uche Nwosu, who was his then Chief of Staff to contest as his successor but his ambition hit the rock when he lost the All Progressive Congress APC ticket to the incumbent; Governor Hope Uzodinnma. In a bid to realize his dreams, Nwosu defected to the Action Alliance AA and got the ticket but he was later white-washed at the general pools. On the issue of installing his successor by all possible means, the APC suspended Okorocha for anti-party activities. “He never supported the Party’s Flagbearer Hope Uzodinnma to win. He devoted his resources to enable Uche Nwosu to win the election. This was the beginning of his current travails. As a party man, the interest of the party comes first. He should have supported the APC flagbearer. Maybe today, he would not be in the political wilderness in the state he governed twice” A source said.
To further show he is fast losing his grip in the scheme of things in the state, he was arrested for invading and unsealing a property that was under lock keys by the Imo government who claimed the land on which the property was built was acquired illegally and remains a government property. After several altercations from the state government and Okorocha, a federal high court sitting in Imo ordered an interim forfeiture of the properties. Few days ago, a group called Imo Compatriot for Good Governance held a political summit in Owerri, Imo State with the topic; “Recovering Looted Imo Assets from Senator Rochas Okorocha, His Relatives and Cronies” . At the well-attended summit, the group urged Governor Uzodinnma to recover all alleged looted asset by Okorocha while he was governor of the state.
To further show his many sins is catching up with him, last week, he was in an Air peace flight to Abuja when he had an altercation with former Chairman Imo State Rulers Council; Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, who allegedly claimed Okorocha pulled Imo State backward. Claiming Okorocha was a demi-god when he was governor of Imo State. Sources said; “Eze Cletus never failed to vent his anger for Okorocha as he claimed that he never believed Okorocha will be this gentle and humble after leaving as Governor. Claiming Okorocha committed several atrocities as Governor.”
Another source averred that; “Okorocha’s current predicament was self-inflicted. Most things he has done when he was the Alpha and Omega of Imo State is gradually catching up with him. As an ex-Governor, he should have a cordial relationship with his successor. I pray the party leadership can wade into the crisis and help calm both parties for the upliftment of the state. When two elephant fights the grass suffers. Rochas is a great asset to the APC, with his current romance with Governor Wike of Rivers State, he might be thinking of defecting back to his former party. Settling the issues amicably between Uzodinnma and Senator Rochas will help foster and strengthen the party in Imo State. Forgiveness is quite essential when it comes to issues like this.”
