Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
Two days ago, I made a post, comparing the achievements of Owelle Rochas Ethelbert Anayo Okorocha since he was sworn in for a second term in office (and thanks be to God almighty, the last), and that of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State. That post got many shares, but above all it elicited the debate of the mistake Ndi Imo made in trusting Rochas with everything they had.
In that post, I raised the issue of unpaid salaries, and pension allowances to pensioners in the State. I know because my mother, my Uncles, and even many friends are at the receiving end of Rochas mindless governance in Imo State.
It is on record that an elected governor openly castigated civil servants in the State, threatening them by saying that getting their salaries is not a right, but a privilege.I have never in my life heard such callousness not even from slave owners.Is a worker no more entitled to his wages as the Bible say?
But my good friend and brother Kelechi Jeff Eme responded in that post noting that Rochas has paid all civil servants save those of Health and Judiciary where there is an ongoing disagreement on standardization of salaries to be in line with what obtains in neighboring Rivers, Anambra and Abia States.He also wrote that retired Judges in Imo are getting benefits that even retired federal judges are not getting, making things tougher for Imo State government. I have heard of this from a very reliable source, and I believe it is one of the live snakes Ohakim handed over to Rochas after Imo people voted him out from office.
I am in agreement that there should be standardisation not in line with what obtains in Rivers but in line with what Imo State government and its workers are able to agree on. However, efforts to standadise future emoluments should not stand on the way of past and present ones. Rochas should pay off what he is owing while discussions on what the State will be able to pay in future is ongoing.
I know Kelechi Jeff Eme quite well. We agree to disagree, and we also agree on many issues. I respect his analytical mind, and his high independent mindedness. But on this case, I will say that Rochas sold a lie to him. He should dig deeper by confirming from the civil servants themselves instead of Rochas daily radio propaganda on this issue.
I come from a generation of teachers and civil servants. My grandfather was a teacher and there has never been a time we didn’t have up to two or three teachers in the family. So I have enough primary sources for my research.
Rochas claim he has paid all pensioners and according to my good friend and name sake Kelechi Jeff Eme, only those who are yet to normalise their verification are being owed. That is not true.
Retired Secondary School teachers are still being owed seven(7) months of pension allowances, while retired Primary School teachers are owed between 12, 13 and 18 months depending on how much their monthly take home is. And we are talking about N2000, N3000, and N5000 at most.
Over the last 48 hours, I have spoken to over 25 retirees from across 7 local governments of the State. The story is the same.
Related Posts
Rochas claim that he is not owing civil servants. That is not true. Some are being owned three(3) months, some two(2) months, some a month. And Health workers are being owed 10 months.
I want to make a point clear.
Many non Igbo think that this man is getting the barrage of criticisms from mostly Igbo people simply because he is in the APC. I do not think it has anything to do with that.
Though there are those who perpetually think in terms of APC versus PDP, most of the criticisms are acknowledgements, and frustrations of a people who gave everything to someone they believed has the qualities to rise to the highest leadership position in Igboland but unfortunately, has shown he lack the character traits required to ascend to that exalted ‘throne’ of Igbo leader.
It is not enough have the oratorial skills of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and or Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. It is not enough to even have a prefixed title that sounds like that of the Great Zik of Africa, the articulation of M.I Okpara, the courage to marshal out development plans with the elaborateness of Dee Sam Mbakwe’s, much more is required of anyone thinking of becoming the next Igbo leader.
A man whose soul business in government is getting all he can, and canning all he get, cannot be the next Igbo leader…….
Michael Iheonukara Okpara was Premier of Eastern Nigeria, yet without a house he could call his own………..when he returned, after the War, a house was built for him via community effort.
M.I Okpara was a true Igbo leader, yet he was in his 30s when he became Premier……..
To be a true Igbo leader, you must have ultimate respect for those you are governing. It is not easy, even Ojukwu admitted the Igbo are hard to govern, but it is a task anyone thinking of that exalted position must accomplish. RESPECT!
