By: Obiageri Iwuoha
Recently Imo has been faced with a lot of tensions all in the name of the bribery allegation levelled against the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso.
Having heard a lot about this whole brouhaha, one thing that has been on my mind that is how people have actually made a show of the Deputy Governor’s case while deviating from the real issues which are the fraudulent way JPROS got its contract from Governor Rochas Okorocha and why Mr Dina after admitting to have given bribe still roams about freely.
Rochas approved a contract payment to JPROS international Nigeria Ltd which was paid in excess given the fact that he (the governor) never followed due process. Rochas has been a man who never believed in due process ever since he came into power but with what has happened you can see what power can cause when it is being abused.
Now let’s reason together, Rochas awarded a road construction contract to JPROS International Nigeria Ltd owned by Mr. Joseph Dina, a close family friend and also approved a 100% payment which was made to JPROS even though the payment was made in excess. All these were going on without the knowledge of the Deputy Governor who was then in charge of the Ministry for Works.
JPROS, having received the said payment never deemed it necessary to call the attention of the governor on the excess money that was paid in error, then along the line defaulted in his delivery of the contract and was found wanting for his action.
The House of Assembly through the committee setup to look into the matter called on Mr Dina to know why he stopped the execution of the contract he was paid for and all Mr Dina could say was how he gave Jude Agbaso a bribe of N458,000, 000. What a senseless response!
For Christ sake, what has the money Mr. Dina received as a payment for the contract he had to execute got to do with his personal business with Jude Agbaso? If yes, the Deputy Governor received bribe from Mr. Dina as he claimed for whatever business they had, what has that got to do with the contract Mr. Dina had with the governor? Mr. Dina is simply playing to the gallery and thinks he can eat his cake and have it because he knows the governor has his back.
The governor, who in his bid to service his personal interest over looked all the due processes that could have saved us all this brouhaha which emanated from his selfish decision, what a fraud?
While we are here crucifying the Deputy Governor and seeking for his impeachment, have we thought of Rochas explaining to Imo people why he paid a restaurant owner who has never executed any contract of this magnitude before anywhere in the world because Imo people should know.
Meanwhile our local contractors for some time now have been crying out to Rochas for payments of the contracts they have since executed yet the same Rochas has refused to heed to their cries. Is it because they are not foreigners?
Corruption has eaten so deep into the Nigeria system that corrupt practices are even encouraged in most businesses (private or public) nowadays.
If Rochas claims to be a fighter of corruption, why should he be found wanting in corrupt practice of this magnitude and if the Imo State House of Assembly knows its onions and is not corrupt as well, why is it not questioning the governor actions and why is a self confessed criminal like Mr. Dina still walking about freely rather than been prosecuted or are there no more law enforcement agencies around?
Having observed the stand of the lawmakers in this matter it is obvious that the whole scenario was all about getting at Jude Agbaso.
It is high time we called a spade a spade. We cannot have a corrupt head and expect an incorrupt tail. Or what do you expect?
Rochas owes the Ministry of Works an apology for not giving them the opportunity to function to the best of their ability which could have averted all these issues caused by his unwise decision that has left our peaceful Imo in pieces for some weeks now. Also an apology should be rendered to Imo people, because the money in contention is Imo money.
Rochas as a governor should seek advices before taking certain actions even though he has the overall say. He should learn from his mistakes since nobody is above mistakes, henceforth; the governor should embrace the due process system because it pays after all.
On this backdrop, I pray God use Rochas to make Imo better.
Obiageri Iwuoha wrote from Lagos State.