A Fool At 40: The Example Of Rochas Okorocha At 55 – By Tobenna Obiano

An age long saying reads: "a fool at 40, is a fool forever". This simply implies that where one grows to adulthood and peaks to forty years, yet remains ignorant and dwells in foolishness, chances are that it may last a lifetime. This is particularly true, as testaments to the above assertion abounds. The parable of Rochas Okorocha bears eloquent testimony to same.


First, with Rochas Okorocha, anything at all is possible. This past week alone, he stole the show on social media, trending the most on the new media all over Africa, and quite characteristically, trending on bad news, abuses and heap of insults thrown his way. Does he even care? Obviously not!

What could be more; a man who spends taxpayers' monies with reckless abandon can do anything at all. If he can raise a giant hill-like Christmas tree worth millions of naira, even as the teeming employable Imo youth populace are hungry and jobless, he can do anything at all. Imo died several times over, under the watch of Rochas Okorocha.

A very close ally and confidant of the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha told me pointblank that "Owelle doesn't like dull moments. He loves controversies and wants to be in the news always. He strongly believes that no one should ever know your next move and even so, let there be something new happening at every particular point in time for people to talk about, for if you are not discussed, your relevance goes extinct".


Those may be true, Owerri under Rochas has been in the news consistently, but sadly, it's been bad news all the way. At his daughter's wedding, he used the opportunity to showcase his mansion which he built just few months after his swearing in ceremony as Governor. Even the Nigerian super rich that attended the wedding confessed that he built a castle as home. It was equated as a perfect replica of Buckingham Palace or a class of Royalty or Presidential palace found in classiest of European cities.

Then was the Imo State University free education on giant billboards accompanied with media hype, but payment of tuition in reality. There was also a case with the former Chairman State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya. There are litanies of abandoned projects. There was his tussle with Biafran apologists and IPOB members. Even when he joined the Presidential team on a visit to the White House, Mr. Okorocha returned home to mount billboards all over Imo State of him having a hand-shake with US President, Barack Obama. To him, it may be a dream come true, and perhaps, a great achievement.

The most saddening of them all, was when he turned himself in show of tyrannical tendencies, becoming a dictator of sort, with the sudden demolition and relocation of Ekeukwu market in Owerri. In a commando style, a 16years old boy was shot by trigger happy police men under the watchful supervision of Mr. Okorocha. Lately, his show of shame has gone international.

It's common knowledge that it's not actually a mad man that has shame, but he bequeaths the shame to his people, family and friends. As ndi-Igbo, Rochas Okorocha's endless shameless outing lately has continued to bequeath shame on us. A bad child is best disowned and this may befall him soon.


In the last one month or thereabout, Owerri, the Imo State capital had continued to be up in the news. The city has hosted high profile dignitaries from far and near. In what has become unprecedented, two serving Presidents of the African continent had flown straight into Owerri on the invitation of Governor. Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha.

Last month, heralding the advent of the quaking noise that was to follow, Gov. Okorocha marked his 55th Birthday anniversary in Owerri, Imo State. At the event, stood loads of giant cake specially made for the event. In what has become another ridiculous show, 27 giant cakes were made and stood to be cut by the Birthday boy supported by his wife and allies. It was said that the 27 cakes represented the 27 Local Government Areas in Imo State.

A month earlier, the Nigerian Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, a seemingly humble Pastor and academia had marked his own birthday anniversary at the Presidential villa. It was a modest family affair, which had only a single cake that was cut by the number two man in the country. If Prof. Osibanjo were to be ignorant, shameless and ostentatious like Rochas Okorocha, he would have ordered for 36 giant cakes to represent the 36 States in Nigeria.

Then if it were to be the Birthday of the President of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari, he may have ordered for 774 cakes representing the number of local Government Areas in Nigeria, but these guys choose not to dwell in vain-glory, crass ignorance and perhaps foolishness as the landlord of Douglas House often does.

Who is Rochas Okorocha and how did he come to limelight?


A man who was brought up along the streets of Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria rose to become what he is now. He began as a gala seller on the street, then grew his business using contacts at his disposal to gaining clearly not quality education, then an opportunity came calling, he stole it either by hook or crook to rise to the links of the Obasanjo Government. He did various shady deals to join the multi-millionaire status, then began his foundation and the Rochas Group of Schools.

Somehow, most people who are founders of various so called humanitarian and charity organizations or foundations actually use those medium, raking-in lots of cash and gaining favors to themselves. It seems the African and particularly, the Nigerian experience is worse. Rochas Okorocha was one of those characters who stood a foundation from which they made even more profits than they actually gave out.

The Rochas Okorocha ranks and file rose to high heavens under the administration of the grossly corrupt former Nigeria's President, Olusegun Obasanjo. It was he who gave Rochas the pedestal to even make more money at the expense of the Nigerian tax payers. He found favour under Obasanjo and got lots of contracts. It was alleged that he deceived the Presidency that some of the Presidential jets he won the contract to sevice had broken down, only for him to buy all off from the backdoor, while non of them had no serious issue. He serviced and sold them, holding one back as his private jet.

Mr. Okorocha is a champion in chameleonic movement. He began the ecumenical center, made huge financial donation and was ofcourse to recoup all he donated through the backdoor from thesame Government. Even his wife positions herself as an Evangelist, yet while she prays and fasts, her husband loots and loots. Well, in what became miraculous, Okorocha who had already bought a flight ticket and was also seated at the VIP lounge ready to board a commercial airliner to Abuja from Lagos later didn't board, the plane flew and crashed mid way.


Then in politics, Okorocha pushed so hard when he was the National Leader of Action Alliance, AA to when he contested for the Presidential Primaries under the PDP and was the first runner up. When he lost, he returned to his business. Many years later, he got back to active politics, returned back to his home state of Imo, where driven by sentiment and church politics of a tale laden with falsehood, Mr. Okorocha was able to defeat the incumbent, Ikedi Ohakim.

Okorocha has since had series of romance and carpet crossing from AA to PDP through APGA and now to APC all in a desperate move to hold unto power.

Okorocha might have been seen by many as an honest man, a philanthropist par excellence and a deeply religious man, but well, he only played a smart one on many of his fans. It's the standard of politics played upon the mentality of the Nigerian populace, and that was how he rose to where he honestly, just like many of his colleagues both past and present, were never prepared to reach.

As the saying goes: "if you want to test a man, give him power". Mr. Okorocha may have had all the wealth he wanted, done all the deals he wished for, but it was not until he rose to the corridors of power and authority that he showed self, for who he truly was. He became carried away by his height, swept off his feet with his capacity and he became power drunk, where it's intoxication was to drawn him. Total power corrupts absolutely.

In February 2013, I was in Accra, Ghana for a three weeks vacation. I had the time to understudy the politics, affairs, lifestyle, rich cultural heritage and the people of the former Gold Coast of Ghana. I interacted with them and visited places of great importance. I also keenly followed the supreme court proceedings of the then concluded Ghanaian General election.


I had studied the background of the two contestants, the winner, President John Dramani Mahama who interestingly is a writer, and the then opposition candidate that lost, Nana Akuffo-Addo a Law graduate of an Ivy League institution. Again last year, I followed affairs as Mr. Mahama who sort for a second term was defeated by his agelong rival, Nana Akuffo-Addo.

Three weeks ago, Mr. Okorocha in his characteristic style of deception hosted this new Ghanaian President to the graduation ceremony of students from Rochas Group of Schools. Well, as someone who had followed the Ghanaian government for a few years now, bringing Mr. Nana Akuffo-Addo might not be bad entirely, atleast even back home, he is currently accepted by his people and doesn't have corruption allegations dangling around his neck.

Then last week, in what became the most discussed pitiful and ridiculous outing on the African continent atleast within the social media circle, Okorocha brought the currently most corrupt President on the African continent, Jacob Zuma of South Africa. It's a grave insult to ndi-Imo, and an act of pure hate and deservice to the Igbo nation. Of all persons worldover, even within the African region, the Nigerian nation, and in our own Igboland, it became important for Okorocha to shop for none other but of all persons, Zuma!

In Owerri, the Imo State capital, in what may have become the desecration of our revered and respected rich cultural heritage as ndi-Igbo and our traditional institution, Mr. Zuma with all the allegations of corruption surrounding him was also give a chieftaincy title as "Ochiagha".


The title on its own on Zuma is not only uncalled-for, unmerited and an insult on our sensibilities as ndi-Igbo. It's a higher title on its own, which when literary translated means: "he who leads in battle" or the Commander or the General. Aside in corrupt practices, misleadership and maybe also, sexual assault, in what other way is he a Commander, a General or a Leader as Rochas and his cotravellers chose to bestow on him. Well, it is possible that Zuma has been scammed, where he may have paid for the title heavily.

As if it wasn't enough to bring Mr. Zuma to Nigeria and Imo State, the Okorocha administration with tax payers money of N.5billion erected the statue of Jacob Zuma, into what has become for him, Imo hall of Fame. He went ahead to Commision a major road naming same after Mr. Zuma. There is no excuse to cover-up this shameful outing. None at all.

Even if we choose to forgive the naming of a road after Zuma, well, afterall, while holidaying in Accra, Ghana back in 2013, my host drove pass the Olusegun Obasanjo highway in Accra, but to raise a giant statue of Jacob Zuma is what no sensible Nigerian can take. Infact, even on various social media platforms, Ghanaians have been shaming Nigerians for celebrating a man they detest as a criminal.

The South African parliamentarians have severally, within their chambers and on live television broadcast called Mr. Zuma to his face a criminal and a rapist. The opposition holding back no reservations have written severally insisting on their head of parliament not to allow Mr. Zuma into their chamber as he is grossly, and thattheir chamber was for Honorable members, a class to which Zuma isn't, going by his criminal records.

As if those weren't enough, for years now, many persons that aren't from South Africa, legal immigrants even fellow Africans and blacks, particularly Nigerians, under the watch of thesame Jacob Zuma administration have been killed in their numbers. Even three months ago, in what became the worst desecration of God's church in Igboland, gunmen alleged to be Nigerians who obviously are criminals, brought back home their killer squad from South Africa on a mission to assault, maim and murder, missing their target, they went to a Catholic Church in Ozubulu where many were killed and others in brutally wounded.

All these are sad realities that are still fresh in our heart and mind, plus various criminal activities metted upon Nigerians living in South Africa, including xenophobia, yet shameless Rochas Okorocha still had the balls to bring to Igboland his partner in crime, Zuma to be so honored and welcomed. This is a man his own people have since given up on. And within our own domain, we hail and honor him.

A South Africa friend of mine based in the States while we were discussing Zuma's visit to Nigeria and the honor, as it went viral online, she asked me, "does it mean Nigerians honor and reward criminals? Of all persons on earth, why Zuma?" I was lost of words. I had no answer. This stupid choice of Rochas Okorocha honestly gave me sleepless night. The more I tried to ignore him, the more the worries of how insensitive, how ignorant and how foolish the man has become disturbs me. He is the worst of his kind.

What was Rochas thinking? Where are elders of Imo State? Where are the intellectuals of Imo State? Where are the Religious leaders of Imo State? Where are the youth populace of Imo State?


Around the world to Africa, to Nigeria and indeed the entire Igboland, there are many men and women of distinct characters who should have made it to this hall of fame, but Rochas in his style and class of ignorance chose his kind of person, the almighty Jacob Zuma.

The first Nigerian President - Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe best known as the Zik of Africa, late Biafran warlord - Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Africa's populous author - Prof. Chinua Achebe, first Vice Chancellor of a Nigerian university - Prof. Kenneth Dike, First Saintly Nigerian Pastor - Blessed Micheal Cyprian Iwene Tansi, the first Nigerian that almost made it to the papacy - Francis Cardinal Arinze, only Vice President of Nigeria from Igboland - Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

Also, Imo State greatest son of all time who many had joked as the crying Governor yet cried home goodies for his state, Chief. Sam Mbakwe. These are only but a few within the Igbo nation who should make any serious hall of fame within the Igbo nation, and even if they are there already, as charity begins at home, they should have be unveiled first, not one man that has been ridiculed and rejected by his own people.

It is even fashionable to have veteran Nollywood Stars like: Osuofiason - Nkem Owo, Chiwetalu Agu, Patience Ozokwo, Mr. Ibu - John Okafor, Aki - Chinedu Ikedieze, Paw-paw - Osita Iheme or even our won Julius Agu and all those in that class.

The fact that Mr. Okorocha had only unveiled one out of six more statues gives me serious worries and yes, it means we are in for even deeper trouble. There is a possibility that the statues yet to be unveiled may be that of Nigeria's volatile tyrant - Sani Abacha, or Ugandan erratic dictator - Idi Amin. We may see the statue of Okorocha's son standing tall there or maybe that of the Nigerian male Barbie - Bobrisky. With a character like his, anything and indeed everything is very possible.

We have been brainwashed that a memorandum of understanding was signed by Jacob Zuma with Okorocha to help improve the lives of underprivileged in Africa and help in funding their education. A Latin adage reads: "nemo dat quod non habet" - no one gives what he has not. Gov. Okorocha has not provided the basics for those he governs within his own domain, yet he is talking about aiding Africa. The saying of right thinking often referred to as "common sense" is in truth, not common. Many either do not have it, or have saw dust replacing grey matter inside their skull.

Now or later, one thing is sure, those ridiculously mounted statues standing in Owerri at huge financial counts would surely be pulled down. It's a question of time. If Imo youth do not do the needful, then the gods of the land and the forefathers of Imo State and the entire Igboland who those statuses sits atop would rise to do the quake then down to rubbles.

In sum, it was the veteran media practitioner, Chief. Uche Ezechukwu who gave the best description of the person of Rochas Okorocha and his unholy romance with corrupt-stricken Jacob Zuma, he had likened it to what we were taught in school, "birds of thesame feather flock together". The revered writer aptly captured it, for the triplet of Obasanjo, Zuma and Okorocha makes for corruption redefined. The quote "corruptio optime, corruptio pessime", meaning: "corruption of the best, is the worst corrupt" clearly stands them out.

In Imo, the State owned university is a joke of an institution with no serious infrastructural development from the Government, workers are paid pittance where some are owed and retirees or pensioners are owed heavily, maybe awaiting that they die of hunger, malnutrition or sickness. There is nothing as terrible as people who don't live a purpose driven life, laden with vision, mission and ambition. And for once, I tend to concur with the IPOB leader - Nnamdi Kanu that Rochas is sick in the head.

At times like this, it may be right to borrow Anambra State former Governor Mr. Peter Obi's campaign philosophical and rhetoric question, "under Rochas Okorocha, is Imo State cursed or are they the cause?"

Owella Anayo Rochas Okorocha has proven beyond every reasonable doubt to be the perfect representation of failure in leadership in its rarest form. He is that character no serious-minded individual should ever look up to as a mentor or role model.


As he once used to deceive the unsuspecting Imo populace, "my people, my people", and they respond, "my Governor, my Governor". Let him go to a major market and say such nonsense again, the response will come in form of sachets of water, stone and sticks flying towards his direction.

Owelle's outing in leadership is disastrous, his works are catastrophic and everything about him rounds up for ridiculously calamitous, tufiakwa!