BOOK REVIEW

The author, Rev. Fr. Dr. Nathaniel I. Ndiokwere is not new in contributing to the literary world, as he has to his credit some of the soundest quotable materials which are regularly used in academic parameters.

Beginning this project with a simple quote from the Book of Proverbs in the Bible highlights the author’s status as clergyman of sound intellectual standing and a good homilist, who knows his onions of the pulpit. The Quote: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Prov. 28:18) clearly encapsulates the writer’s project in the Book “ROCHAS REVOLUTION, Leadership By Example”.

Introducing the man Rochas Okorocha, the author vividly takes his readers through the line, into the political status of a man who has gone so highly political, even to the height of coming second in the bid for the presidency on the platform of his former party. Condescending to the gubernatorial race for his state – a tiny federating unit of the ‘octopus’ called the Nigerian Nation shows the obvious altruism foe which Rochas has been known since he came to the limelight as a philanthropist who has been financing the education of over 6,000 students throughout the federation through his Rochas Foundation Colleges.

The author has made far-reaching efforts to present Rochas as the popular choice of the people for that slot and who, people, painstakingly queued behind to make the difference in governance. As somebody who had a humble beginning and who never knew affluence as a child, he is in touch with the reality of what the ‘have-nots’ pass through. Identifying education as his fulcrum of success flaunted his pedigree of free education to the children of Imo state and the electorate who responded by giving him votes and guiding these votes for them to count.

Dr. Ndiokwere tries to paint Rochas in glowing flames that he has refused to countenance any possibility of the man having skeletons in his closet. Hear him “I had no qualms about my claims. I simply answered like the man born blind in the Gospel of St John (9:25). “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know that though I was blind, now I see”.

Father Ndiokwere cleverly evaded a straight answer. But such is the passion with which the Reverend gentleman sees Rochas and his rescue mission. The author made very serious efforts to liken Rochas and his mission to Christ in his salvivic mission. What is Father Ndiokwere really positing as the main crux of the Rochas Revolution? The author is so endeared to the prefix “Revolution” as captured in the book’s title, when he peruses the mesmerizing circumstances that enthroned Rochas on to the “Douglas House” Owerri.

It was clear to the author that something entirely new in Nigeria was taking place in Imo state. It has been a complete deviation from “business as usual”. People could see with their eyes. Some Imolites have confessed that ‘their eyes had seen their ears’.  The revolution to turn things ‘upside-down’, to demolish and rebuild has started and was going on with amazing speed.

Moreso here is a Revolution that a politician jettisoned his Security Votes and Monthly Salaries computed into Billions of naira so that education in Imo state can be free; so that children of the poorest of the poor can have strong future obtainable through education; so that beautiful edifices can spring up and overtake thick bushes ubiquitous in our cities of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe. This is un-African. Whereas African political leaders perpetuate themselves in office so as to grab and grab and grab to empty the coffers and vaults of their state, Rochas does the contrast. It is always “My people, My people, Oh! My people”

Father Ndiokwere referred to his earlier publications to buttress his grievances against the leadership of our country: inept leadership, unprecedented corruption, neglect of the electorate and general indolence on the part of our leaders to take cognizance of the biting plight of the masses.

Rochas Revolution appears to the author to hold the promise of good governance for the country. Fr. Ndiokwere however makes it clear that the Rochas Revolution has not yet triumphed, only that he has hopes that the revolution is on the path of success.

The author consistently indicted the previous administrations for sharing the economy of the nation among themselves – the elites and the ‘powers that be’. Fr. Ndiokwere bemoans the apparent infectious results of what corruption has caused the country in terms of good international reckoning – Nigerians are not good enough for the World Bank Presidency, not fit enough to be appointed referees in international competitions, and not even fit enough to coach the national teams. Such is the level of international skepticism about the integrity of Nigerian citizens no matter how overtly qualified for certain positions.

The author went to lengths to deliver his work in very fluid language that is comprehensible by all who can read. This 12-Chapter work can be rated as first class. The author is not implying any covert or overt support for Rochas Okorocha nor is he arrogating to himself the arbitration of administrations past and present, but as a clergyman he is, he is at war with inefficiency, corruption in high places and wanton balkanization of the integrity of Nigerian Nationals.

Father Ndiokwere had once thought of contesting the governorship seat in Imo state, citing his late priest-colleague Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu of Benue state as his mentor for such an ambition. Though his friends and colleagues dissuaded him, he still hoped that along the time, something might happen to vindicate his wishes. That, he has seen in Rochas and his Revolution.

I think the author can go in and sleep since God has sent his Angel in the likeness of Rochas.  Father Ndiokwere’s nursed ambition was the righting of wrongs as embarked upon by Owelle Rochas Okorocha. The author’s belief that Rochas is getting everything right has or appears to have made Fr. Ndiokwere abandon his own project.

The author tried to liken the change that took place in Imo state to the vision of and charisma of Pope John XXIII in convening the council of the Church in 1962 where the Church was afforded the opportunity of ‘aggiornamento ‘. Hear the Holy Father “We are not here on earth to guard a museum, but to tend a blooming garden full of life”.

Father Ndiokwere in this work appears and savors the outcome of the council’s work and sees in this “fresh air”, the new Imo state under Owelle Rochas Okorocha. The governor may have embarked on many projects at the same time, but the projects are populist and that is how leadership should be formatted.

The author’s open letters to Rochas after his election and subsequently recommended that only projects that impact positively on the lives of the people should be embarked upon. Father Ndiokwere is particularly happy that free education which he has always hoped for is now possible and simply believes that anybody coming after Governor Okorocha cannot and is not expected to lower standards or abolish this great relief to the poor masses of Imo state.

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