Word on the streets of Owerri, the Imo State capital, is that Governor Rochas Okorocha has depleted the state’s finances in his failed bid to emerge presidential candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC) and subsequent financial contributions to the party’s eventual candidate, Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign. Here is an analysis how it is possible that Okorocha could, albeit unintentionally, be campaigning against Buhari.

Hitherto hugely popular in the state, Governor Rochas Okorocha, who rode on the wings of this trend to defeat the then incumbent, Ikedi Ohakim, in 2011, is fast losing the love of his people as a result of recent happenings.

On February 26, hundreds of contractors in the state protested alleged non-payment of over N180 billion owed them by the state government. The jobs being owed for, according to the protesters, who formed an association known as Unpaid Imo Contractors, ranged from road construction to supplies of road construction materials.

Led by their chairman, Ugodadi Ononiwu, and Vice Chairman, Uche Madu, the contractors alleged that Governor Okorocha has failed to pay for several approved projects since 2011. Mr Ononiwu claimed that his firm is being owed N58 million, which was contentiously reduced to N45 million; adding that 19 of their members have died as a result of illness associated with the pains of the situation.

A similar situation is currently playing out in public schools across the state, as thousands of teachers engaged under the government’s ‘Youth Must Work’ initiative allege that they were last paid salaries in November 2014.

“It is so unfortunate because my wife and I relocated to the state from Port-Harcourt to take up these jobs,” said Caleb Egwu, one of the teachers. “Now, we are all stranded. How can Rochas use our money for elections? This is so unfair.

Read More: naij.com