Okorocha’s kinsmen shut down MDG health centre project …Demand N700,000 ‘settlement’

 Okorocha’s kinsmen shut down MDG health centre project …Demand N700,000 ‘settlement’
Accused Gerald Okorocha, the governor’s brother who is building the water borehole for the health centre is merely refurbishing an existing borehole built by Governor Ikedi Ohakim while claiming to be building a new borehole for MDG in the centre


Kinsmen of Governor Rochas Okorocha , from Ogboko, Ideato South council area of Imo state have shut down ongoing work on a Millenium Development Goals (MDG) sponsored health centre project in the community.

The project which just passed roofing stage was stopped on the 16th of July, after some youths of the community believed to have the support of the town union and Community Government Council (CGC) marched to the project site and delivered a letter on the 15th of July, 2013 demanding N700,000, which must be paid on the 16th of July, 2013.

According to Crimefacts report, a copy of the letter made available in the headed paper of the Ogboko Youth Organization read: “This is to inform you that the above mentioned organization demands from you their settlement towards the ongoing contract (erection of a health centre in Afor Ogboko), which you are the executor. So you are hereby notified to keep the sum of N700,000 which goes as follows; N500,000 for the organization and N200,000 for the Community Government Council (CGC), as we shall send our delegates to collect it tomorrow being the 16th of July, 2013. ” The letter was signed by Chairman and Secretary of the group.

True to their words, on Tuesday, the 16th of July,2013, the youths again marched to the construction site to collect the money.

Incidentally, the contractor of the project was unable to raise the said sum and all efforts to reason with the youths failed, as the now angry youths ordered immediate stoppage of work.

When the construction workers visited the traditional ruler of the community, one Eze Jude Ihenefo and urged him to intervene and call his subjects to order, the Monarch merely said, it was beyond his powers to call the youths to order as all his pleas and entreaties to the youth leaders fell on deaf ears. Even the offer of N50,000 to the youths by the construction workers was turned down.

Contacted by a reporter, the MDG focal office in Owerri said they were not aware of the development but promised to check with their personnel in the area and take necessary actions.

As at press time, efforts to reach Eze Jude Ihenefo, the traditional ruler of Ogboko community proved abortive as his mobile phone was switched off on the several occasions crimefacts.org tried to reach him for comments.

Meanwhile, community sources confirm that some elders of the community were ired by the seeming neutral stance of their monarch on the matter, a situation some translate as complicity against the royal father.

According to a palace source, a meeting between the youths, elders and the traditional ruler scheduled for last Sunday where Okorocha’s brother, Gerald who is also handling the water project in the location, was expected to attend yielded no result.

Same source however hinted that another meeting at the palace of the traditional ruler this morning (Wednesday) may have achieved a comfortable compromise. The construction team allegedly parted with the sum of N100,000 before an agreement was reached for them to continue the MDG health center project.

Community leaders who pleaded anonymity are however complaining that Gerald Okorocha, the governor’s brother who is building the water borehole for the health centre is merely refurbishing an existing borehole built by Governor Ikedi Ohakim while claiming to be building a new borehole for MDG in the center. “This and other contract anomalies in the MDG project are why youths of the community think there is enough money to be ‘shared’ in the course of the contract execution.”