Governor Rochas Okorocha
Governor Who Made Sister Commissioner for Happiness Schemes to Handover to Son-in-Law
Governor of Imo State in South-East Nigeria, Rochas Okorocha, is getting popular on some reasons at the extreme left. His detractors accuse him of making his government his family affair.
But the governor told Tell Magazine that his vision is the thing driving him “crazy”.
Five days ago, Okorocha inaugurated his biological sister, Mrs. Ogechi Ololo (nee Okorocha) as the state’s Commissioner for Happiness and Couples’ Fulfillment.
He has been criticised for spending some hundredss million of Naira building a number of statues to welcome some African leaders “into Imo State hall of fame”.
Currently, crisis is brewing in the State’s House of Assembly over the alleged Governor’s endorsement of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as the ‘anointed’ governorship aspirant in 2019.
Nwosu is currently the Chief of Staff in the Government House.
Punch newspaper reported that majority of the members of the Assembly has therefore endorsed Nwosu as the best candidate for the election.
Okorocha inaugurated 28 new commissioners and 27 Transition Committee Chairmen for the 27 local government councils in the state a fortnight ago.
Ololo, was the All Progressives Congress’ candidate into the House of Representatives for the Owerri Federal Constituency seat in 2015 and she has served in various capacities since Okorocha became the state governor in 2011.
She had, before her new appointment, served as her brother’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Domestic Matters.
Charging the Commissioners, Punch reported the governor as saying, “You are the privileged group that has the opportunity to make names for yourselves. I want to remind all of you that this appointment is not business as usual. We shall not tolerate any sharp practice or corruption of any type. Neither shall we accept indolence or laziness. You have been called to duty to help us to achieve our vision in the Rescue Mission Project.
“At this moment, I charge you all to be good ambassadors of the Rescue Mission wherever you find yourselves. To the Transition Committee Chairmen, you must ensure that ongoing projects must be completed especially the schools, chapels etc.”
The commissioners sworn in and their portfolios are: Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri (Information); Lady Ugochi Nnana-Okoro (Agric and Food Security); Gertrude Oduka (Primary and Secondary Education); Dr. Jones Uzoka (Niger Delta Affairs); Uchendu Mark (Public Utilities); and Gerald Okolie (Rural Development).
Others are Dr. Cyril Okafor (Tourism); Emmanuel Ojinere (Trade and Investment); Chief Lasbery Anyanwu (Transport); Onwueyiagwu Valentine (Youth Development); Mrs. Ngozi Njoku (Gender and Social Development); Chief Josephine Udoji (Works); Achilike Nwawuike (Internal Resources and Pension Matters); Prof. Emenalo Chizoba (Tertiary Education); Nwamerenini Chukwuka (Labour); and Dr. Iyke Njoku (Planning, Budget and Statistics).
The Transition Committee Chairmen sworn in include Okechukwu Onyechere(Ideato South); Sir Anyehe Okeneme (Ikeduru); Julius Onyeneho (Isiala Mbano); Akas Paschal, (Isu); Steve Odoemena (Mbaitoli); Eke Chidi (Ngor Okpala); Aloysius Onwuegbuchulam (Njaba); and Paschal Onwukaike (Nkwerre).