Rochas Okorocha Makes U-Turn, Says “I will run For 2nd Term”

Posted by African Examiner Ignatius Okpara, Imo, Latest Headlines, News Monday, October 7th, 2013

By Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

…Says His projects will take more than 8 years to complete

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha

Contrary to his one tenure promise during his campaign in 2011, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has indicated interest to run for a second term in office in 2015.

He said the ongoing projects embarked upon by his administration in various parts of the state would require up to eight years for completion.

Okorocha, it would be recalled, had told Imolites in 2011, that since the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Sam Mbakwe, was able to achieve a lot just within four years of one term in office, he (Okorocha) could also do same.

He spoke then at the Assumpta Cathedral church Owerri, venue of the 2011 Imo Governorship Debate.

The Governor, had in 2011, assured that he would carry out all his programmes before four years because “today’s Imo State is smaller and richer than the old Imo where Mbakwe performed well”

But speaking Saturday at the Government House Owerri, during his Independence Party with school pupils and teachers, the Governor, said he would not leave office without completing his ongoing monumental projects.

Okorocha, said his decision changed when the people of the state gave him additional jobs to the one he had promised to do.

He explained that his administration was currently building 27 General Hospitals across the state instead of the planned nine; 305 modern school blocks instead of the planned 27.

The Governor maintained that he descended from his presidential aspiration to the governorship position of the state due to circumstances of the time, adding that it was same circumstance that would propel him to hang on for second term as the governor of the state.

Responding to question from a pupil about the constant visits of the anti-graft officials to the state, the governor admitted that the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) visit the state almost on weekly basis because of the fact that the people of the state are highly known for petition writing.

He said the regular visit of the EFCC to the state and the consequent arrest of government officials had never affected the running of his government.