“Rochanomics”, “ya broda don waka”…Na Now Naira Go Make Sense…Anambra Athletes Making Nigeria Proud…5 minutes around the beautiful lady (South East Digest)…

“Rochanomics”, “ya broda don waka”

Rochas Okorocha is a very highly religious man.  I know so.  I spent a couple of weeks with him in Abuja long before he became Governor of Imo State.

Rochas had just “bought” a political party.  Or should I say, just invested in a political party.  Yes, the Action Alliance, to be precise.  Those were the early days of his preparing to have a shot at the Presidency.  He needed to rebuild the party completely. 

Mike Obiajulu Meze was “imported” from Lagos to Abuja to manage the process of the Action Alliance’s rebirth. 

Every morning, I joined Rochas at his top floor conference hall of an office in Wuse.  Then we would go down to the chapel in the basement.  Numerous worshipers, including Reverend Fathers and Reverend Sisters were usually there.  There were also some of his staff and those wishing to use the opportunity to curry one favour or the other.  After the Catholic service, he would briefly meet with first those members of the clergy who needed to see him urgently, and then dispense some quick favours to those whose challenges did not require much time to solve.

Thereafter, we proceeded to his top floor office.  He would then enter his office and be left alone to say a quick prayer or two before his handlers would start ushering in guests, turn by turn, including some of those who had joined the worship. 

After the first day, it became traditional for me to go in with him without requiring clearance from his then Chief of Staff.  Of course, this did not go down very well with his Chief of Staff.  But that was not my business as the boss man liked me.

At the close of work every evening, we would all go down back again to the basement for an evening church service.  At the end of the service Owelle Rochas would listen to a few persons, starting with the clergy, and then dispense a couple of favours (he had great respect for the clergy).  Thereafter, we would drive in a short motorcade to the Hilton, go up to his suite, and continue the next round of meetings for the day.  Visitors would continue to stream in and out as he received them in different sitting rooms.  I think it was on one such occasion that I met the late Professor Dora Akunyili for the very first time.  Very vivacious lady.  She was then, Director-General of NAFDAC.  We all had dinner together that night.  The way they warmed up to each other, you would think they were siblings.  Rochas had charm.  I believe he still does.

(The “Rochanomics” story continues at the tail end of this issue)

Na Now Naira Go Make Sense

No!  I am not talking about today’s free falling Naira.  But never mind, it won’t be long now, at least, in Anambra State, when Professor Chukwuma Soludo takes over as Governor, from March 17, 2022.  Then, maybe, we take it across Nigeria, as a good number of States have been borrowing ideas from the APGA run Anambra State in the last couple of years.

I borrowed this title from an ad which Dom Icha, one of Nigeria’s finest copywriters wrote for me and which was presented to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), when Professor Chukwuma Soludo, as the then CBN Governor and his team recommended the redenomination of the Naira.  That ad didn’t  run as the policy never quite took off.  Much later, Nigerians wished we had embraced that policy.

It is trite information that Professor Soludo is the most qualified of all the candidates vying for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 6, 2021.  The concern of most ndi Anambra now is about all manner of efforts being made to stop Soludo, including demarketing information on his perceived “aloofness and potential arrogance”.  No sooner did he make a statement about the fact that a good number of “candidates” vying on other party platforms barely could boast of possessing the West African School Certificate (WASC) than that statement was twisted.  This and other issues were the subject of our “Open Parliament” at the poolside in Awka last week.

Trust Professor Nwajiaku for shooting from the hips:  “This is Anambra State, you know!  We are the light of the nation.  Why would anybody with just school certificate be asking to be our Governor?  I don’t speak for Professor Soludo, but I have no apologies.  Some of these people, even their school certificate is doubtful.  There is one representing one of the top three political parties allegedly going about with two fake school certificates.  Even his place and date of birth is alleged to have issues.  He is on record, it is alleged, to have been born in two different places, according to records he had filed previously.  He forgets that we have memories.  This is the same man that God saved us from a few years back when he found himself in Government House and within 17 days was alleged to have tried to sell off almost all government properties to his cronies.  Only 17 days O!

“You see, that’s how little minds think.  They didn’t remember the main thrust of Soludo’s short remarks at Ekwueme Square on that day when he talked about Anambra State having the lowest poverty rate in Nigeria and his plans to further bring it down.  Abeg, second base jaree!”.

(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)

ABIA STATE

Abia SME Microfinance Bank unveiled to the Aba Business Community

The board and management of the Abia SME Microfinance Bank,  last Friday, formally unveiled the rebranded bank to the leadership of Aba business community under the auspices of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

In his opening speech, Mr. Chinenye Nwaogu informed that in 2015 when the governor took the mantle of leadership of the state, one area he ensured would form the fulcrum of his administration would be to develop the MSME ecosystem and that in doing that, identified access to finance as one of the impediments to business growth.

Mr Nwaogu said that Abia SME Microfinance Bank is a response to the challenges facing the Abia business community, noting that the bank belongs to the people, especially the business community and invited every business owner, keke rider, driver, trader, entrepreneur to leverage the platform of the bank to grow their ideas and turn them to huge platforms.

 

Ikpeazu approves restructuring of Ariaria International Market

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has approved the commencement of phased redevelopment of Ariaria International Market, Aba, from Sunday, September 5, 2021.

The development was made known in a statement released on Sunday by the Honorable Commissioner for Information, of the State, John Okiyi Kalu,

According to Kalu, the administration has made several efforts to reconstruct the 47-year old market to tackle its age-long structural issues with many of the shops as well as provide the necessary modern infrastructure to deal with the perennial flooding challenges to traders.

However, he revealed that after a final consultative meeting with stakeholders of Ariaria International Market on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, Governor Ikpeazu approved the phased redevelopment of the market.  Those affected are to temporarily relocate to Ekumi Shopping plaza or other available shops within the market. 

ANAMBRA STATE

Anambra State last Thursday held a soft launch of its 30^th anniversary with a programme tagged “Anambra@30: A Day with Education Builders”.  The one-day event featured exhibitions of crafts, arts and science by pupils and students drawn from across the State, as well a special presentations by a select “Students Parliament”, and award presentations to 58 organisations  and individuals who have been contributing to the building of education in the State.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Willie Obiano made a case for the education sector to be retooled for greater efficiency.  He re-echoed the sterling performances and milestones recorded in the sector under his administration. 

Governor Obiano stated that his administration’s vision and mission statements have education as one of the enablers, and noted that his administration has vigorously pursued infrastructure, teachers’ welfare, in terms of prompt payment of salaries, promotions, among others. 

Governor Obiano, who emphasized that the mission statements have helped education and APGA Government, starting from former Governor Peter Obi, pointed out that in addition to the schools handed back to the missions by the former administration, he returned one hundred and thirty eight schools, and have paid over three billion naira for periodic facelifts.

Earlier in a speech titled, ‘What is leadership if you cannot influence,’ the State Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Kate Omenugha, recalled that such an event had never been organized in the history of education in the State, maintaining that the present administration sees education as ideology, pursuant to the strategic mandate given by the Governor at inception, which she said is a clear cut consolidation on the gains of previous administrations.

While revealing advancements in the sector, including interventions in teachers’ and students’ welfare, Professor Omenugha pointed out that the Education Ministry has succeeded in handing out credible and quality education to all, stressing that presently, the number of students who can gain entrance into Universities has moved from sixty percent to seventy three percent in Anambra State.

In the keynote presentation, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Paul B Construction Company, Engineer Paul Enidom, canvassed a collaboration between the private sector and Government, which he said has potential to produce critical thinkers, if total mobilization of Ndi-Anambra is done. 

While pointing out that Governor Obiano has kept fate with Ndi-Anambra, Engineer Enidom noted that such an event is oxygen to the souls of the builders of education in the State, and made a case for the establishment of an agency that will reach out to active players in the private sector, to establish Education Trust Fund, adopt schools, among others, backed by law, all geared towards sustainable growth in quality education.

The event attracted various dignitaries including, members of the State Executive Council, Senator Victor Umeh, APGA standard bearer in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and his Deputy designate, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, among others.

A harvest of health facilities

Anambra State Government has commissioned a Mother and Child Referral Center situated at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka.   Governor Willie Obiano, who performed the function also commissioned dialysis center, private ward and 64 CT Scan. 

During the ceremony, the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination in Anambra State was also flagged off by the Governor. 

According to the Governor, the COVID-19 vaccine helps one’s immune system, adding that the “moderna” and “astrazeneca”, which the State now administers are harmless, urging people to be mindful of and observe all COVID-19 protocols, irrespective of whether they have taken the vaccines or not. 

While recalling many interventions of his administration in the health sector, aimed at taking healthcare to the door steps of Ndi-Anambra, the Governor thanked Chevron, calling on others to emulate the gesture because of its immeasurable benefits. 

In his remark, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala, who pointed out that Governor Obiano has matched vision with action, thanked Chevron for the multimillion naira center, noting that the present administration is committed to making Anambra a medical tourism destination, having achieved regular financial support for Primary Healthcare facilities in the State, the State Health Insurance Agency, Oxygen plant, among others.

On his part, the Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Joe Akabuike, recalled that the hospital, which started 65 years ago as a cottage Hospital, was handed over to Anambra State Government in 1985 and upgraded to a Specialist hospital in 1991, pointing out that in 2015, all necessary accreditations were secured and the first set of medical students graduated, having stayed ten years in school. 

He revealed that the institution has recorded growth in infrastructure and human resources, including a one hundred and fifty bedded student’s hostel, accreditation for training of post graduate doctors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Surgery and community medicine, among others, stressing that in line with the Governor’s call to make pregnancy and delivery safe, as well as protect the lives of new born, Chevron and their partners stepped in for women and children in Anambra State. 

Dr. Akabuike added that the center is a State-of-the-art Hospital complex equipped with theater, laboratory, pharmacy and needed pregnancy care delivery, promising that the facility will be fully utilized to serve its purpose. 

Donating the facility on behalf of Chevron, Mr Seyi Orenuga noted that the project, which was started late 2018, is meant to cater for mother and child as a referral center.

The event attracted dignitaries, including members of the State Executive Council, political appointees, traditional rulers, among others.

Anambra Athletes Making Nigeria Proud

Multiple medals winning Anambra State athlete, Chinecherem Nnamdi, last Friday won a bronze medal for Nigeria  in men’s javelin at the ongoing World Athletics U-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.  By that victory for Nnamdi meant he clinched Nigeria’s second medal at the championship.  He became the first Nigerian athlete in 19 years to win a field event medal at the championships since Esther Aghatise won a medal in long jump in 2002.

Nnamdi, who just got signed by Baylor University in the U. S. recently, put up a fine series of throw to place third with a third-round best throw of 74.48m.

In another development, Anambra State’s, Eucharia Iyiazi, won Nigeria’s 8th medal at the Tokyo Paralympics.  The 48-year-old claimed the bronze with a 10.40m throw in the women’s shot put F57 on Thursday.

Team Nigeria’s medals tally at the games has increased to three gold, one silver, and four bronze medals.  Powerlifting account for six of those medal haul while table tennis and shot put garnered one laurel each. 

Team Anambra storm Abakaliki for the 6th NYG Zonal Elimination

Athletes and officials of Team Anambra arrived in Abakaliki last Thursday  for the Zonal Elimination of the 6th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) holding from the 2nd to 5th September 2021 at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

The contingent hitherto had embarked on a three-day camping exercise to intensify preparations in a bid to secure qualification for the team sports events it entered for at the upcoming 6th NYG billed for the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) from the 10th to 19th of October 2021.

Team Anambra while in Abakaliki will feature in seven-team sports events, Basketball (Male and Female); Handball (Male); Cricket (Male and Female); Volleyball (Male and Female); Beach Volleyball (Male and Female); Basketball (Male) and on a surprising and inspiring note the game of Rugby (Female) with 8-year-old Zikora Agugo Mildred to captain her side.

A total of 115 athletes under the age of 15 and 24 team officials led by the Director of Sports at the Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC), Madam Faith Okwonna and Head Coach (Technical), Mr. Jude Nwafor in the company of support staff and coaches are in the capital city of Ebonyi State for the youth sports programme.

ANSAA to embark on full scale House Numbering in major cities

The Managing  Director of Anambra State Advertisement and Signage Agency (ANSAA), Chief Jude Emecheta, has revealed that from Monday September 6, the Agency will begin full scale house numbering in all the major cities in the State.  He stated that the exercise will commence following Governor Willie Obiano’s approval, after the pilot scheme was carried out in Awka Capital Territory. 

Chief Emecheta, said all the numbering will be uploaded on the internet for easier access to addresses and destinations in the State.

The ANSAA boss, while explaining that  the exercise will make Anambra a smart State, thereby boosting e-commerce and tourism, as well as  and enhancing security in the State, called on residents, especially property owners, to support the initiative by Government to ensure that all houses in the State are numbered.  He added that in past eight years, the Agency has built a strong institution that will stand the test of time. 

OAAN honours Emecheta, ANSAA as Best Outdoor Advertisement Agency in Nigeria

The Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), has recognized the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), as the best outdoor advertisement agency in Nigeria.  The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ANSAA, Chief Jude Emecheta, was also honoured by the association for his sterling leadership of the agency.

The Association made the recognitions when a delegation of its  national leadership led by the President, Mr Emmanuel Ajufo, visited the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba, in his office at the Jerome Udoji State Secretariat, Awka.

While speaking during the presentation of the award, Mr. Ajufo commended ANSAA for upholding high standard professionalism in their job, especially in their relationship with outdoor advertisement agencies operating in the State.  Mr. Ajufo said that unlike other States where practitioners are always in court with regulators, the association has not had any reason to write petitions, talk less of filing suit, beckoning on the States to emulate the example of Chief Emecheta and ANSAA.

Receiving the guests, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Adinuba, highly commended Chief Emecheta as a visionary leader, who has taken the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency to become an example of how a public institution should be run, stating that the agency has also  contributed in no small measure to boosting the internally generating revenue of the State.

Commissioner Adinuba highlighted that Governor Willie Obiano’s style of leadership gave his appointees the opportunity to excel in their offices, which has been visible in the number of awards, recognitions and honours received by the different agencies and parastatals under the present administration.

Later in his acceptance speech, the Managing Director of Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Chief Emecheta, thanked the apex association of outdoor advertising practitioners in the country for the honour and stated that the cordial relationship between the agency and the association has brought a new phase of progress in the industry in Anambra State. 

Chief Emecheta also pleaded with the OAAN leadership to ensure that members promote the highest standard of professionalism in their work, to sustain the relationship they have with the State Government. 

The Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, OAAN, delegation also had the General Secretary, Mr. Sola Akinsiku, and the former South East Regional Chairman of the association, Sir Soloo Akugha, while the Managing Director, Anambra State Printing and Publishing Corporation, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, and other top management staff of the Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment were in the team that received the association.

EBONYI STATE

Ebonyi votes N100m counterpart fund for workers’ scheme

The Ebonyi State Government has voted N100 million counterpart fund for health insurance scheme for civil servants.  The Executive Secretary, Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (EBSHIA), Mrs. Mary Rose Egwu, made this known during an advocacy/sensitization meeting with the organized labor and other stakeholders in health sector, in Abakaliki. The meeting was organized in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Integrated Health Programme (IHP).

The executive director explained that the state government was committed to providing basic health care for every Onye Ebonyi in the state. She said that about 14,534 enrollees from the informal sector had already been captured in the scheme which was launched in 2018.

Egwu noted that the programme was open for people of all ages, social and economic backgrounds and urged leadership of the organized labor to convince their members to enroll in order to enjoy the benefits. 

Augustine Ezeali Charity Foundation offers scholarship to undergraduates in Ebonyi

The Augustine Ali Ezeali Charity Foundation (AAECF), founded by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Chief Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali, in memory of his late father, has offered scholarship to three Ndi Ebonyi students from Afikpo North Local Government Area.

The beneficiaries include Nnali Christian Nnamdi (100 level student, Education and Economics, University of Port Harcourt), Udume Mercy Uzoma and Azubuike Anthonia Chinenyenwa, who were selected from a number of participants, after a screening exercise coordinated by a committee in St Anthonia Catholic Parish, Mgbom, Afikpo. 

While Chinenyenwa and Uzoma are yet to be offered provisional admission by the tertiary institutions they applied to, the sum of N189, 000 was paid by the Foundation to cover Nnamdi’s feeding allowance, registration, accommodation, tuition and other fees charged by the University of Port Harcourt for new students. 

The Founder of AAECF and the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Chief Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali, said that the objective for the scholarship to students of Afikpo North extraction is in order to produce numerous graduates and undergraduates, who will contribute their quota to the growth and development of Afikpo North in particular and Nigeria in general.

ENUGU STATE

Enugu Assembly passes anti-open grazing bill

Enugu State House of Assembly has passed the anti-open grazing bill brought before it.

The bill which is for a law to prohibit open grazing, regulate cattle ranching, and for connected purposes was passed during the Assembly plenary in Enugu last Thursday.  The leader of the Assembly, Mr Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, said the passage followed the consideration of the report of the public hearing, presented by the chairman of its joint committee, Mrs Amaka Ugwueze.

The Joint Committee is on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Judiciary, Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges, Youth, Sports, and Security Matters.

 

Ezeugwu said that the bill would be cited as Enugu State Prohibition of Open Grazing, Regulate Cattle Ranching, and other Connected Purposes (HB.7) 2021.  The lawmaker explained that the bill would ensure security and peace in the State.

Enugu trains additional 500 youths in Programming and Product Design

The Enugu State Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Centre has announced the decision to train additional 500 youths in Programming and Product Design as part of the concerted efforts of the state government to create employment opportunities for about 5,000 youths in the state, in various fields of innovative endeavor. 

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on SMEs Development and Director General, Enugu SMEs Centre, Hon. Arinze Chilo-Offiah, had trained 500 youths in Programming and Product Design, under the Enugu Tech Skill Project being driven by the Centre.  Hon. Chilo-Offiah explained that Enugu Tech Skill is a public-private partnership project developed and designed to train and provide a pathway to create new jobs for about 5,000 young people in Enugu State.

The SMEs Special Adviser said that the successful beneficiaries will have the opportunity to learn either Product Design (UIxUX) or Programming with respect to your application and choice of programme.  He added that the programme was structured under the Human Capital Development Loan (HCDL) Scheme which is an innovative loan programme that is intended to solely provide training for individuals who are resident in Enugu State on technical and non-technical capacities in partnership with a private sector firm called “Utiva” (www.utiva.io).

The Enugu SMEs Agency in partnership with the Utiva will then provide access to jobs (full time, part-time, contract, gig-economy jobs and entrepreneurial support). The funds are then repaid within four months (after the training).

The Programming (Web and App Development) Training Programme (PTP) runs for two months and the Product Design & Animation Programme is for one month, exclusive of the capstone project. 

Disclosing that the beneficiaries of the second batch of the 2021 Enugu Tech Skill project have graduated, Hon. Chilo-Offiah revealed that the graduation ceremony, which included presentation of challenges and solutions on making apps better, easier to use, and how they can penetrate the consumer market in other states in Nigeria, was exceptionally successful.

With digital skills being the jobs of the future, Enugu State is in line to have well skilled Techies to support startups and Tech companies in the country and the continent as a whole. To be part of the third batch, register at www.enugutech.com. 

Enugu opens coronavirus vaccination centres in markets, malls

The Enugu State Government says it has opened additional COVID-19 vaccination centres in major markets, shopping malls and public places.  These are in addition to the more than 100 conventional vaccination centres previously opened in the State.

Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, told newsmen in Enugu on Saturday that the move was to make COVID-19 vaccination centres more accessible for residents.  Ugwu said having more vaccination centres would help the state to achieve its target of getting every eligible resident vaccinated against the pandemic. 

According to him, centres have been opened in major markets like Ogbete Market and Kenyatta Market in Enugu, at Shoprite and SPAR malls as well as other designated public places notwithstanding the 100 vaccination centres already available. 

Plans have been made to officially communicate and use various grassroots leaders, traditional, religious and opinion leaders to press home the message of the need for the vaccination, its safety and efficacy.

The Executive Secretary noted that the agency had created special mobile vaccination teams that would cover groups that needed to be vaccinated.  Ugwu lauded the state government for being supportive in all programmes on COVID-19 vaccination, especially in the installation and maintenance of cold chain equipment, accessories and logistics to ensure a 24-hourly power supply. 

The Executive Secretary also called on all eligible citizens and residents of Enugu State (18 years and above) to get vaccinated.  He pointed out that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, secure and meant to protect everyone.

It should be noted that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi flagged off COVID-19 second batch vaccination at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu on August 26, 2021.

The State has received 5,012 doses of the Modena vaccine and additional 13,416 doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.  It is expecting an additional 60,000 doses of the Modena vaccine.

A total of 1,200 health workers have been specially trained to vaccinate people in the second phase of the exercise.

IMO STATE

Imo inspects projects

Imo State Commissioner for Works, Ralph Nwosu, was on joint inspection exercise with the Chief Of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, Secretary to the State Government, Sir Cosmos Iwu and the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Declan Mbadiwe Emelumba, last Monday.  The joint inspection exercise was to ascertain the level of constructions across Owerri metropolis. The roads inspected were Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze road, Balloon technology drainage system site, junction improvement works at Naze roundabout and Government House roundabout as well as Egbeada bypass road awaiting commissioning.

These projects amongst others are parts of the signature projects of the Shared Prosperity Government of Governor Hope Uzodimma that are likely to be commissioned by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in the coming weeks.

…The “Rochanomics” story…continued from page 1 

Yours sincerely was accommodated at Denis Hotel, Wuse, which had all the pretensions of a mini Hilton.  Yes, Denis Hotel had all the pretensions of the then Nicon Noga Hilton.  If you were blindfolded before getting into their rooms, you are likely to believe that you were in Hilton when the blindfold is removed.  Having spent a couple of months at the Hilton courtesy of the Presidency as part of a team that branded The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and reorganized its Communications Department, I felt quite at home at Denis Hotel. 

But why writing on Rochas and “Rochanomics” now?  I had to travel back in time last Wednesday.  I had just finished leading a discussion on Brand DNA when I bumped into two of my colleagues who had left the session before me.  The first asked me, “Oga MOM, what was happening between you and the Chairman of the session?”  Before I could answer, the second gentleman blurted out “Ya broda don waka O!” This got me as I remembered how we used to use that phrase to make jest of one popular Nollywood producer.  He had just got back from a holiday in England and was brandishing photos he took with one of the statues at Madame Tussauds in London as a photo he took with the real US public figure, not knowing that we had all been there!  Then, I remembered that the second gentleman could not have been in on the joke, as he was not a Surulere Boy.

Referring to the Chairman’s apparent hurry or lack of understanding of the basics of branding, the second gentleman rattled on:  “You don’t know the Great Obi Meze.  As a UACN Manager and Public Relations Consultant to A.J. Seward/Kingsway Chemists, at 22, he was a key member of the team that inaugurated the then Nigeria’s largest toiletries and cosmetics facility at Billingsway, Oregun, that was in 1979.  In 1980, he was also part of the team that inaugurated Tractor & Equipment at Oregun, which was then, and I believe still is today the biggest earthmoving and machinery operation in Nigeria.  As UACN’s Manager, Press Relations, he used to benchmark his outputs, outtakes, and outcomes, against those of the then Ogbuefi Alex Nwokedi, Press Secretary to General Olusegun Obasanjo as Head of State, and later against those of Charles Igoh, as Press Secretary to President Shehu Shagari.  UACN was then the biggest private sector organization and the largest employer of labour, second only to the Federal Government.  At less than 30, he was the first two-term Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Lagos State Chapter, and is said to have during that two-term tenure launched the longest running PR programme in Nigeria, the PR Clinic, which continues to run till today.

“I still remember Thisday’s full page story on him when he clocked 50 a little over a decade ago.  He was a member of the four-person team that gave Nigeria its first modern quick service restaurant, Mr. Bigg’s.  He was also the MC and wrote the speech that Chief Ernest Shonekan, then UACN Chairman and Managing Director read, on that occasion as the Chief Guest of Honour.  I remember his quip that if he had known that his Chairman was not going to read the speech before that occasion, he would have just written ‘Mr Chairman, you are on your own, after the salutations!’  Mike is a veteran of many branding wars including in the political arena.  He was a leader of the team that launched Owa Enugu, Chief Ken Nnamani, who later became Senate President, among several other political brands.  Before then, he had helped launch a couple of outstanding brands while at Insight Communications.  He also played a key role in MTN’s commercial launch of GSM.  There aren’t many like him who have worked at such quality levels in blue chip client and agency organisations.  They used to call him ‘Master Rapper’ in Lagos Marketing Communications circles.  He can sell ice to the Eskimos!!” 

In these Covid-19 days, I just managed to bump knuckles (did I hear you say “chop knuckles”?) with the two gentlemen as I hurried to my next appointment.  So, that little banter set me thinking.  That was how I remembered Rochas.

I had my way in almost everything on that assignment, except for two things.  Within a few days, my recommendation to change the colours of Action Alliance was approved without much debate.  So too, was my recommendation to change the party’s logo.  My recommendation that the party be modeled after the British Labour party was also approved, except as it concerned the clause of “equal founders and joiners”.  The idea was for the party to be a grassroots movement with members pooling funds right through the ward and street levels, thus giving everyone a stake.  

While most members of the “National Executive Committee” (I have that in quotation marks, because there was nothing Executive about that gathering.  I saw them as a bunch of “yes members” most of whom were after what they could get from Rochas’ perceived deep pockets) agreed with me in the plenary, Rochas directed me to expunge that clause during our next private session (we usually met every time in between NEC plenary sessions, as Rochas insisted that I share his office with him).  He usually seated me at the far end of the office (backing the window) directly opposite him.  He made sure that I was close enough to listen in on all his conversations either on telephone or direct physical discussions with his guests and staff as they met with him.  He made great efforts to engender a positive impression of himself on me.

As part of our plan to embark on marketing the party and attracting new members at all levels, I sold the idea to the plenary that we needed to attract intellectuals who would help give verve to our pro-socialist inclinations.  Again, this was agreed in the plenary, and I and a small committee were charged with the responsibility of drawing up a list of these intellectuals.  We presented our list and it was approved.  The idea was we would invite these individuals, sell the party manifesto to them, and enlist them as champions.  We would also begin to organize regular public events where these individuals would speak while at the same time propagating the ideals of AA.  This was approved in the plenary.  I successfully introduced the idea of buttons and other memorabilia to be sold to members on a cost recovery basis as part of AA’s massive membership push.  That too passed initially but was over-turned later so that Rochas would single-handedly fund the productions and give out to potential members (I don’t remember whether he eventually got to funding anything!).  We were gradually moving to a situation where the investor owned everything!!

The next day, Rochas came with his idea of “Rochanomics” during our private meeting.  He was apparently impressed with Reaganomics.  I told him that it was a good word which could sell, but I needed to be educated on what would constitute “Rochanomics”.  He mumbled some mumbo jumbo along the lines of his philanthropy.  I told him that while sections of the public were beginning to admire him for his self-less contributions to society, including funding of education, I didn’t see how that could lead us to “Rochanomics”.  That afternoon didn’t end well as he became withdrawn.  I tried to encourage him that while it would seem that I wasn’t buying his idea, but it could still be worked on, as he felt strongly about it, but we must not go public with it until we had thought it through.  I was in for a surprise at that evening’s NEC plenary session.  Rochas announced that we were going ahead with “Rochanomics” and it would replace the originally approved public marketing of AA.  We would invite the public, with particular emphasis on intellectuals, to regular events, and he Rochas would talk to them on Rochanomics.  The generality of members of NEC echoed “aye”.

I knew it was time to go.  My client was more interested in seeking and gaining undeserved attention.  While there was nothing seriously wrong with that, I didn’t see how it would tie up with our idea of building AA as a grassroots movement and how it was going to help us towards building the Rochas brand as a Presidential prospect.  I was back to Lagos the very next day without a handover note!

Next thing I heard, Rochas had joined ANPP.  Next news, he was one of those jostling for Presidential candidacy, then, Vice Presidential candidacy.  Ah! Rochas is now in Imo running for Governorship, and through some deal with Agbaso, he became APGA governorship candidate, while Agbaso became his deputy.  Before you knew it, Agbaso was out of the window!

To cut a long story short, I think “Iberiberism” ended up selling more than “Rochanomics” could have sold.

Rochas dey waka.  The only thing be say we no know weda na to Aso Rock or dat oda place we dem change dia name to sometin service.