The collapsed bridge brings to the fore once more the fact that Governor Okorocha does not have respect for engineering procedure and standard, the magnitude of disaster he has been and how Imo people on daily basis live with the fear of the unknown because of the ineptitude of the Governor. While Okorocha's bridge built few years ago has collapsed, Ohakim's bridges at Old Nekede Road and Egbeada built more than ten years ago are still strong, carrying human and vehicular weights everyday.

More than 70% of the projects under Okorocha has collapsed. These projects range from collapsed pre-cast school buildings, Princess Hotel, tunnels, and include the collapse of the twin rivers Otamiri and Nworie for which Owerri was created as the capital city of Imo State, the collapse of the Orji Flyover for which the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) had alerted the whole world that it had collapsed, forcing the state government to resort to erecting supporting-beams under it. Roads built under Okorocha has also collapsed.

Apart from the collapsed physical infrastructures, the Imo State economy for the first time collapsed under Okorocha with the state government claiming it had gone insolvent. The government under Okorocha has also collapsed the middle class and small scale businesses in the state with its attendant wide spread hunger and death, with mortuary businesses in the state peaking at 84 against 11 mortuaries in 2011.  Under Okorocha, health and water infrastructures have collapsed. Education has also most embarrassingly collapsed in the midst of government's unplanned and shabbily implemented free education policy.

The Community Government Council (CGC) and the State Development Council (SDC) which were created by Okorocha have characteristically collapsed. The Ikuana Nkwu programme has collapsed with no tangible policy in the Agricultural sector. The 46 Local Government Development Centers and the 27 local government areas in the state collapsed under Okorocha seven years ago as the Governor has not conducted local government elections since he took over in 2011, in addition to running the affairs of the 27 councils from the state government house, Owerri.

Everything has collapsed and nothing is working anymore under Okorocha. The rule of law and due process has collapsed. Our religious and traditional institutions have also collapsed. The entire state is quickly collapsing under Okorocha and if nothing is done urgently to remedy the situation, Imo State might collapse completely in no time.

Ohakim notes that to halt the mad drift in the state, recover and reposition the state is a job all Imo sons and daughters, including children of voting age, must come together to achieve. He cautioned that no spoon is long enough to dine with the Devil and urged Imo people to be wiser and ensure that in 2019 nobody like Governor Okorocha or someone with questionable character is given the mandate to govern the state again.

Dr Ikedi Ohakim in his first term served Imo State selflessly and did not acquire public assets  for himself or cronies. Under his administration, he strengthened the traditional and religious institutions in the state to the extent that our traditional rulers were ranked alongside first class traditional rulers across the country. Under his administration the religious leaders had more than enough space to operate without any hindrances. Development  centers and local governments were strengthened and  allowed to serve the people.

The rule of law and due process was elevated. No court judgement or ruling was disobeyed and the judges were never intimidated or owed for months. No projects collapsed and no contractor ran away with public funds. Roads built by the Ikedi Ohakim administration still stand the test of time. Everything was working very fine until Okorocha happened like an accident and collapsed everything.

Ohakim's antecedent is beautifully impressive and shows a man that has been tested and trusted. Considering the magnitude of job that needs to be done in Imo State post Rochas Okorocha administration, Ohakim is the best choice for Imo people in 2019. He has the capacity. He is selfless. He has the institutional memory and will hit the ground running from day one.

Signed:

Collins Ughalaa, Chief Press Secretary to His Excellency Dr Ikedi Ohakim.
07/06/2018.