Recently an anonymous cell phone text message circulated in parts of Owerri, the Imo State Capital, as follows: ”Imo must be bitter… Imo is getting angry again”.

Whatever might be the intentions of those behind these cynical remarks, one thing is clear, and that is; the enthusiasm with which the masses welcomed Governor Rochas Okorochas’ administration 30 months ago is fast waning. Reasons: Government is yet to meet people’s expectations in the delivery of democracy dividends, in terms of motorable roads, healthcare, job opportunities, security of life and property and extension of the benefits of the “Free Education” policy to Imo children in non-government schools by way of Grants-In-Aid.

Many political observers doubt the wisdom of government in embarking on the so-called monumental structures that are not of urgent importance to the lives of the suffering masses, while failing to fund sufficiently those projects and services that touch directly on the lives of the people here and now.  Such glamorous projects on which the state government is spending so much resources but which are not the people’s most pressing needs include: the building of the Bongo Square, Ecumenical Centre, gigantic  roundabouts that are difficult to negotiate because of big pot holes surrounding them, found at the Imo State University and Control Post Junctions and Amakohia/Egbeada road junction.

Other pertinent questions concerning misplaced priorities of our state government include: What is the rational for embarking on many uncompleted road construction and rehabilitation works at the same time?  Why does  government fail to pay sufficient mobilization fee to the contractors concerned, resulting  in frequent abandonment of the projects?  Why not construct the roads in bits to ensure quality delivery and completion?  Government needs to bear in mind that what   matters in the long run is not the number of kilometers announced by government as completed but quality job that could stand the test of time.

Some Imolites think that Imo is getting angry again because the Okorocha administration has not done much in the health care sector, inspite of the daily announcements that government is running a health-care at your door step program and promise to build a general hospital in each of the 27 local government areas of the state.  Why embark on the 27 general hospitals at the same time?  Why not handle them piece meal;  the people are asking.  Worse still is the fact that there is a general belief that government plans to privatize these hospitals.  Why not first rehabilitate and maintain existing hospitals and health centres before embarking on new ones?  People are asking.

In the area of job creation, Imo people are yet to feel the impact of government, inspite of the “Youth-Must-Work-Programme”.  Many jobless youths still regard the programme as existing only on paper as they are yet to see those employed by this government.  Even in the area of security of life and property, the present state government needs to do more by channeling adequate resources to training and equipping of security personnel.  Up till now, Imo people sleep with one eye open despite the laudable efforts of the present Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina to reduce crime to the barest minimum.  This is shown in the refusal of dignitaries to attend late evening functions for fear of being kidnapped or losing their vehicles to car snatchers in Imo.

We have decided to highlight the above areas where the attention of the Rochas Okorocha’s administration needs to focus rather than spend Imo resources on glamorous projects that are not of urgent demand.

Therefore, we advice the government to be more constructive, while making its policies and to make wider consultations, so as not to misplace its priorities so that Imo people will be happy not angry.  It is good to remind the Imo Government that an administration which has spent two and half years of its four years tenure and still has not convinced its citizens, is playing to the gallery.  Imo needs a government that will place emphasis on real human interest projects and not on mirage.

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