By Kachi Igbo
In one of the moves to reclaim Imo state, for its people, from their recent ugly experience, Governor Emeka Ihedioha, on Monday, erased one of the worst legacies bestowed on the people by his predecessor in office, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Okorocha, now a Senator, was so enamoured with the former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, that he stamped Zuma on the face of the State.
He not only wasted the state’s money to erect Zuma’s life-size statue which he conspicuously displayed in Owerri, the state capital, he also named a prominent road after him.
At the time Okorocha was inexplicably doing these, Nigerians, especially, Okorocha’s South-easterners, living in South Africa, were being mowed down, and their businesses destroyed. Zuma raised no voice in condemnation of his people’s actions.
Imo people’s anger rose to high heaven. But they were helpless before Okorocha’s driverless moving train. Their protests meant nothing to him.
But Monday, in what the people have termed a New Year gift to the Igbo, particularly, Imo people, Governor Ihedioha stripped Zuma of the undeserved honour and, wiped the embarrassment off their faces.
With a stroke of the pen, and an executive pronouncement, he renamed the Jacob Zuma Road after an Igbo icon, Mbazulike Amaechi.
Amaechi, an unrepentant Zikist, a proud Igbo son, former parliamentarian in the first republic, former Aviation Minister, has just turned 90, and was a guest of the Imo State Government. The change gladdened Imo people who have, also been clamouring for a demolition of Zuma’s statue in Owerri.
In a statement, Chibuike Onyeukwu, Governor Ihedioha’s Chief Press Secretary, said his Principal announced the change in name to mark Amaechi’s 90th birthday in Owerri.
The CPS quoted Ihedioha as saying: “Dr Amaechi is an icon, one of the founding fathers of the Nation, whose contributions to the Nation should not be overlooked. He remains an inspiration who stood and defended those principles that remain valuable to nation building”
Not a few Imolites are looking forward to more reversals. One of them: the illegal impeachments of former Deputy Governors Sir Jude Agbaso and Prince Eze Madumere, and the restoration of their entitlements.
A couple of weeks ago, to the delight of Imo people, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya was restored to his throne, taken away from him by Okorocha, in one of the worst political persecutions ever witnessed in the State.
Every Court order to correct the illegality was disobeyed by Okorocha.
Suddenly, in Imo, the people can now count on the rule of law.
