Former Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, on Friday declared that he is among the best Governors that the South-East geo-political zone has ever produced. Ohakim, in a detailed statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Collins Ughalaa, released facts and figures to puncture the argument of the Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights and Good Governance (SBCHROs) which recently rated him to be among the worst state governors ever produced by the South-East. Below is the former Governor’s response:

“Our attention has been drawn to the report of the Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights and Good Governance (SBCHROs) wherein it erroneously categorized His Excellency Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor of Imo State and the incoming second term governor, as one of the worst past governors in the Southeast. Whereas His Excellency believes deeply in the role of credible civil society groups in holding government and public officers accountable and in making sure that both the government and public officers deliver on targets, it is unfortunate that the SBCHROs misrepresented the facts and falsely categorized him as one of the worst past governors in the region. The SBCHROs stood fact and logic in its head.

“By the way the Coalition chose to do their job, we are only left to conclude that the report is a hatchet job, and it is either the Coalition is ignorant of what Dr Ikedi Ohakim achieved while in office or it did not know what it was doing. Otherwise, one wonders the criteria or facts on which the Coalition based their misleading report. A group such as the Coalition should not gloss over the weightier responsibility on its shoulders to always look for and cherish only the facts and never base its report on hearsay or market place gossip. For example, while your report does not mention the criteria for rating Ikedi Ohakim, it seemed to have ignored the fact, did not know or lied that the former governor of Anmabra State, Dr Peter Obi, was the first governor in Nigeria to leave money in office, ran government without borrowing and left government with little debt overhang of N12bn. We see these as cheap lies that do not befit any well-meaning civil society group.

“It is nevertheless curious that the Coalition chose to provide the criteria for their assessment of the former governor of Anambra State while keeping mute on Dr Ikedi Ohakim, giving room to suspect unfair treatment, which also makes the report suspect. It is therefore in the best interest of the Coalition and the public to make available the criteria for their assessment of Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, who, from all available information preformed excellently well.

“It is also necessary to state that by the false propaganda report, the Coalition has shown that Dr Ikedi Ohakim is the key in Imo State politics and that he is the man every other person is running against in the 2019 governorship election. No one would sponsor a report like this if Ohakim was not the man to beat. Otherwise, when has it become the practice to evaluate past office holders in the country, let alone evaluating a governor who left office seven (7) years ago, without providing the parameters in rating him, or even rating him among his peers? If we take the parameter of his predecessor and successor, Ohakim can never in any stretch of the imagination be termed a failure. The Coalition’s report rather shows a resumed campaign of calumny against Ohakim due to his rising profile in Nigeria, Southeast and Imo State in particular, especially after he declared for the 2019 governorship election.

“To set the record straight, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim became Governor of Imo State in 2007 and left office in 2011. Dr. Peter Obi left office in 2013. While Ohakim was leaving office in 2011 he left N26.6bn for his successor. This money was acknowledged by Okorocha's former Commissioner for Finance, Chike Okafor. But the Coalition for obvious reasons thought that Peter Obi who left office in 2013 was the first to leave money in office. The Coalition did not also note that Peter Obi had more money as Governor because while he was in office the price of oil was $150 Per Barrel, whereas Ohakim was Governor when oil sold at $8 Per Barrel. Yet Ohakim was able to achieve so much and left N26.6bn. Moreover, whereas Peter Obi’s claim on the money he left in office has been contradicted by the current government in Anambra State, the current government in Imo State has since acknowledged that truly Ohakim left N26.6bn, contained in his handover note. That was actually the first time a Governor would do that despite operating under the world economic meltdown.

“Also, Ohakim’s educational policy has been attested to as one of the best in the country, to the point that the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri on February 13, 2018 gave him an Outstanding Performance Award for his achievements in Education. Before Anambra State Government returned schools to the original owners (mission) in 2011, Ikedi Ohakim had done so in 2009, returning 44 schools to the missions in the first phase, with a law to pay annual grants and continue payment of salaries in the 44 schools for 2 years.

“It is also important to point out the fact that Ohakim ran a prudent government and did not borrow. He did not also leave the state in debt but rather paid back the billions of Naira borrowed by the Sam Mbakwe government and others after him. The excess of this payment is what the current government in Imo State has been collecting from the Federal Government as Paris Club Refund. However, faced with the task of delivering on target during a period of world economic meltdown that even affected America, the Ikedi Ohakim administration chose to go to the Stock Market and secured funds through Bonds.

“Nevertheless, contrary to your wrong categorization of Dr. Ikedi Ohakim as one of the worst past governors in the Southeast, the facts on the ground show that he is an achiever and achieved a lot while he was Governor of Imo State (2007 – 2011), in the areas of: Good Governance, Human Rights, Due Process/Accountability, Zero Corruption, Economy, Environment, Health, Education, Infrastructure, Public Utility, Welfare/Security, Agriculture, etc. It is due to his sterling performance as Governor in Imo State for four years that Imo people now call on him to come back and complete his wonderful works.

“While we contend that it has not been the practice to rate past governors or even compare Ohakim’s four years tenure with others who had complete eight (8) years, especially those who operated during economic boom, we offer below a snippet of Dr. Ikedi Ohakim’s achievements, in few sectors.

“DUE PROCESS/ACCOUNTABILITY

“Dr. Ikedi Ohakim made Due Process and Accountability the watchword of his administration. Government transactions, including award of contracts and other government procurements, followed the extant laws. This was why no contract failed and no contractor ran away with government fund. In the spirit of Accountability and Due Process, the Ikedi Ohakim administration periodically gave account of government finances in several stakeholders meetings that included members of the opposition parties and published audited accounts of the state government in national dailies. The state’s budget was made available for all to see, and at the end of his tenure Ohakim published two books – THE LEGACIES THAT SPEAK, VOLUMES 1 & 2, wherein he catalogued the state’s finances and expenditure.

“Take for example the dredging of the Nwaorie River that was a case of propaganda and blackmail. The leaders from Owerri Zone, led by Innocent Nwoga, had met President Olusegun Obasanjo and begged him to dredge the Nwaorie River for them but he did not do it until he left. By the time Ohakim became governor there was a report conducted by one Acholonu from Owerri Zone who was based in the USA, about the Nwaorie River. Moreover, leaders from Owerri Zone came up with the same demand that the river should be dredged.

“Apart from that, on assumption of office as Governor in 2007, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim set up a 164 member committee led by late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa to articulate the policy direction of the new government. That committee also talked about dredging of the Nwaorie River. Following this, Ohakim approached the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and he agreed to include it in the NDDC project. It was never Ikedi Ohakim’s project and he never spent money belonging to Imo State on the project, except the study he commissioned on how to turn that place to tourist center. However, work had started on the project and parts of it completed, including the bridges at Egbeada and Nekede Old Rooad. Though not Imo State Government’s project, the project did not fail, rather the successive government did not deem it fit to continue with it.

“Considering Ohakim’s roles in getting the Federal Government to dredge the Nwaorie River, is it not proper that Imo people should rather thank him, or that civil society groups like the Coalition should rather commend him?

“INFRASTRUCTURE/HOUSING

“The Ikedi ohakim administration within a period of four years built remarkable infrastructure across the state. Within this period 420km roads were completely asphalted while 325km roads were ongoing by the time he left office in 2011. The road projects included the Judokwu Memorial Hospital Road, Ezioha, Ihioma-Umuhu Okabia-Umuduru Road, Orlu, Ife-Ovuvu-Umunama Road in Ezinihitte Mbaise, Anara-Eziama-Abba Road in Nwangele LGA, Umuaka-Amazona-Orji in Njaba LGA, Ngor-Okpala/Eche Road, Umuobom Road in Ideato South LGA, Ihube Amagu-Ozara Road, Egbu Road, Oriagu Ezeoke Anglican Church Road, Osina-Dikenafai Road in Ideato North LGA (with 6 bridges), Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Drive, Owerri, Egbeada-Amulu Mbieri Road, Dual Carriage Road, Okohia in Isiala Mbano LGA, etc.

“Ohakim also established the Imo Roads Maintenance Agency (IROMA) by law with 27 graders, 27 heavy duty tippers, 27 Hilux vans, 6 payloaders, 3 rollers, 270 headpans, 54 motorcycles, etc. IROMA was to ensure that all access roads in the rural communities were opened up and made accessible all year round and to carry out minor repair works on roads in urban centers in the operation-no-pothole.

“Ohakim built the Governor’s Office, renovated the Governor’s Lodge, built Ahiajoku Convention Center, renovated the dilapidated high court buildings and tarred the road, renovated the Judiciary High Court II in Orlu LGA, rehabilitated the Appeal Court building, facilitated the building of the Arugo Gardens Estate, designed and built the Nekede Gardens Estate, etc. Ohakim also initiated and commenced work on the Imo Freeway, the Imo Boulevards, the Outer-Outer Ring Road and the Imo flyovers.

“PUBLIC UTILITY

“Provision of water was one of the critical indexes in rating compliance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Conscious of the need for clean water, the Ikedi Ohakim administration built 1,325 water schemes across the state while 32 others were being rehabilitated and converted to solar power. The Ohakim administration also provided electricity to more than 200 communities in the state. The communities that benefitted included Ozara Community, Mgbidi, Ehime, Diakume, Umuelem Okwudor, Obudi Agwa Autonomous Community in Oguta LGA, Mbano Autonomous Community in Oguta LGA, etc.

“WELFARE/SECCURITY

“Apart from the physical security, the Ikedi Ohakim administration paid serious attention to the welfare of Imo people. He paid salaries regularly and didn’t owe pension. He lifted the 15 years embargo on employment into the public service which he inherited from his predecessors. Through the ENTRACO alone he absorbed 6,000 workers. Under IROMA 30 civil engineers were employed, in addition to 27 supervisors and 350 others, while 27 medical doctors were employed to manage the rehabilitated hospitals in the 27 LGA. The Ikedi Ohakim administration also employed 10,000 workers, comprising 5,000 teachers, while about 55,000 indirect and direct jobs were created in the hospitality sector.

“In the award of contracts, Ohakim insisted that indigenous contractors were used for contracts at the local government level. These deliberate actions brought back the middle class in Imo State and enhanced security. Interestingly, there were no politically motivated killings or kidnappings, even when neighbouring states suffered huge kidnappings.

“By the time Ikedi Ohakim became Governor LGA Councilors and Chairmen were owed Billions of Naira. He paid them all. Pensioners were also owed about N4bn. Ohakim paid them. Ohakim also inherited a Judiciary that was almost on its knees, to extent that none of the 52 magistrates in the state owned a car and none of the Judges had a car that was less than 10 years old. The Judges did not have even generators in their houses, and thus their jobs suffered. Ohakim did not only take care of the welfare of the Judges, he went ahead to provide them conducive working environment.

“HUMAN RIGHTS

“The Ikedi Ohakim administration allowed everyone to operate in the political space without any molestation. There was no political killings, kidnappings, arson, etc, under his watch, and he respected the rights of every citizen, including their right to own property and the right to freedom of expression. No wonder under his watch more than 10 new newspapers were established by private individuals in the state.

“However, Ikedi Ohakim was confronted with the allegation that he personally assaulted a Rev Father. This was the height of the propaganda that led to Ohakim losing his re-election. But this has been proved false severally and the Catholic Church has made peace with the former Governor, as the Church on February 13, 2018 gave him the Outstanding Performance Award in Education. This Award was presented to Ikedi Ohakim by Archbishop AJV Obinna himself. Moreover, Rev Father Ejike Mbaka had in 2014 confessed during a Sunday service at the Adoration Ground in Enugu State that he was deceived to play the roles he played in the saga. He said that by the time he knew the truth the damage had been done. Another was the allegation that he flogged one Samuelson Iwuoha. This too has been proved as one of the propaganda tools from the then opposition to force Ikedi Ohakim out of office.

“Nevertheless, Ikedi Ohakim holds no grudge against the Church, its leadership or anyone who played any role in that evil propaganda. In his large heart he has forgiven anyone who had offended him in any way. However, we want to place on record for the umpteenth time that the issue of beating a Rev Father has since been resolved in Ohakim’s favour.

“AGRICULTURE

“Ikedi Ohakim introduced commercial farming in Imo State under the Agro Nova concept from South Africa, and for the first time Agriculture was being treated as business. He provided high yielding seedlings to farmers in Imo State, made fertilizer and other farming inputs accessible and affordable to the farmers by subsidizing the cost. In partnership with the town unions and agricultural societies in the state, he provided credit facilities to the farmers. Ohakim also developed and distributed 3 million high-yielding palm seedlings across the state for free and created oil production nursery at Nekede. He engaged 100 Agric Extension workers to teach farmers modern farming techniques, acquired farming tractors for the 27 LGAs in the state, trained over 150 youths in various fields of Agriculture and paid the counterpart funding for IFAD, FADAMA and FAO projects for over N250M.

“For the first time in the state, Ohakim launched N2bn farmer’s loan scheme and the first tranche of N458m was disbursed to the farmers on February 21, 2011. Shockingly, the succeeding government refused to continue with these lofty programmes. The question everyone should rather be asking is: Where are the Ikedi Ohakim equipments, buses and generators for the water schemes?

“ZERO CORRUPTION/CABINET

“It is noteworthy that Dr Ikedi Ohakim ran a government that had zero tolerance for corruption. He did not abuse his office. He applied himself to the dictates of the law, and the outcome is that he ran a government that was not corrupt. Also, the Ikedi Ohakim administration had a total of 27 commissioners, among whom were financial experts, engineers, medical doctors, lawyers, etc. All of them brought something to the table. He did not appoint anybody that had nothing to bring on the table, and this led to the successes his government recorded.

“HEALTHCARE

“Like in other sectors, Dr Ikedi Ohakim performed creditably in the health sector. Coming at a time when there was high rate of both maternal and infant mortality in the state, the Ikedi Ohakim administration confronted it headlong and won the victory. He offered free medical programmes to pregnant and nursing mothers, children and the aged.

“Dr Ikedi Ohakim also rehabilitated all the primary healthcare centres in all the communities in the 27 local governments in the state and provided free drugs and other materials. He fenced the health centers and provided boreholes and incinerators. He also provided 40KVA sound-proof generators, ambulances, diagnostic equipments and 27 buses for immunization purposes to all the health institutions in the state. He also renovated the general hospitals in the state, such as the general hospital in Mbieri, Okigwe General Hospital, Umuguma General Hospital.

“Interestingly, the general hospitals have been sold by the Okorocha regime. However, the Ikedi Ohakim administration got award as one of the best in the federation in providing healthcare services.

“AWARDS/RECOGNITION

“The good policies of Governor Ikedi Ohakim did not go unnoticed as they yielded fruits. First, Imo State maintained top position in rating in WAEC and JAMB, coming ahead of all other states in the federation and Southeast in particular. The Ohakim administration was also rated to have taken 59% Imo people out of the poverty line in 2011 whereas in 2017 the Rochas Okorocha regime has been rated to have deepened poverty in the state with only 19% of Imo people out of the poverty line – a remarkable 40% difference in favour of Ikedi Ohakim. The Ikedi Ohakim administration won award as the cleanest city in Nigeria for three consecutive years, winning also MDGs award for three consecutive years.

“CONCLUSION

“We posit that the assessment of Dr. Ikedi Ohakim and categorizing him as one of the worst past governors in the Southeast by the Coalition was in bad faith and an embarrassing error. We request that the rating be revisited as there is no basis for it. We also urge the Coalition to endeavor to protect itself and ensure that politicians with vested interest in 2019 do not possess it. Doing this will be in the greatest interest of the people of the Southeast and Imo State in particular.”