The latest news in Imo State is that the state House of Assembly has
approved Governor Rochas Okorocha’s request for his son in-law, Uche
Nwosu, to succeed him in office in 2019. Nwosu is currently the Chief of
Staff to Okorocha.
appointment of his younger sister, Mrs. Ogechi Ololo, as the
commissioner for the newly created Ministry for Happiness and Purpose
Fulfilment in the state. Vanguard reports.
Staff, Domestic Affairs in Okorocha’s cabinet apart from being in
charge of the Christmas Decoration Project, since the inception of
Okorocha’s administration about seven years ago.
even as workers and pensioners are owed salaries and other legitimate
entitlements.
buying the tallest Christmas trees available in the market as well as
variety of ornamentals like Christmas lights that are spread across the
length and breadth of the state in addition to other materials that
could attract the attention of passersby.
Also, another of his sons-in-inlaw, Uzoma Awuka, is also an important
personality in Okorocha’s government.
Anthony Awuka. Chief Okorocha was the first governor to create the
office of Chief of Staff, Domestic Affairs, since the creation of Imo
State on February 3, 1976. Ohorocha’s wife and deputy Chief Executive
Officer, CEO, of the state, Nkechi also supervises five other ministries
and departments.
George Etche, on December 15, 2016, the key ministries include the
Ministries of Works, Health, Women Affairs and the Office of the
Secretary to the Imo State Government as well as the state Amnesty
Committee which was announced on September 26, 2016.
who denounced militancy in the oil-bearing areas of the state.
ignored by the governor, just as questions had always been raised about
the modalities used in allocating funds for the projects handled by the
governor’s sister as no official figures were mentioned for such
“special projects,” including the Christmas Decoration Project.
people of the state are worried about how a ministry which operations
were not captured in the state’s yearly budget could be run without
running into trouble with provisions of the 1999 Constitution over such
unapproved expenses.
whereby Okorocha was running key ministries with his brothers and
sisters as if the state was his private estate.
“Honestly, I am completely tired of talking about this man and his
style of administration. You can be sure that before we finish talking
about the creation of Ministry of Happiness, he will come with a more
bizarre thing. “The reactions of most Nigerians, not just Imolites, will
show you the level of frustration of people in the state. Real crisis
has engulfed the state.”
“This is a sort of abomination. How can this man continue to insult the
sensibilities of Imo citizens? “Whose happiness are they looking for
when salaries and pensions are not paid? Are we looking for the
happiness of the Okorocha family and friends?
“I have not heard about such a ministry anywhere in the world before.
It is not in Britain that gave us independence. It is not in the United
States of America whose democratic system we copied. It is not in
Canada.
It is nowhere in West Africa. “I have searched through the internet and
I am still searching to see where it was practised and I have not found
any. Honestly, this is bizarre and I won’t be surprised to see the
Governor’s aides struggling to defend this indefensible act.”
“The governor has a right to do anything he likes in the process of
governance. For him to have appointed a commissioner in charge of
Happiness, that means Imo people are not happy. Somebody should be there
to make Imo people happy. “May be, he has noticed that Imo people are
not happy, so he decided to put a commissioner that will make Imo
people happy.”