I had no regret as Imo First Lady - Okorocha's wife

Introduction 

Nneoma Nkechinyere Rochas Okorocha is a household name in Imo State and beyond. She is the wife of the former Governor of Imo State, Sen. Rochas Anayo Okorocha. 

She is the Founder of WODDI Summit, who also user her pet project, "She Needs A Roof" to impact on several lives especially women, indigents and orphans across the country. 

In this interview, the former Imo State First Lady speaks on several issues regarding her days in office and her activities as the wife of a governor and on how best to move the nation forward.

She also used the opportunity to offer advice to other First Ladies both present and past as well as other women and wives on how to build and sustain a peaceful homes and to support their husbands to achieve their goals for the good of their families and society at large. Excerpts.

May we know you officially Ma?

My name is Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha. By the special grace of God, I am a former First Lady of Imo State. 

Your Excellency, I am quite aware that this is over 5 years since you left office as the wife of the Executive Governor of Imo state, can you share with us how life has been since then?

I would say a roller coaster but at the same time, glory to God because that is what life is all about. For the past five years that I left Imo state as the First Lady, I would say that the work load has drastically reduced against when I was in office. Then, almost every day, we were moving from one local government to another; from one ward to the other doing, what I believed that God has called me to do in my own little way. So leaving office, I want to say its been a mixed feeling in the sense that I don’t have such opportunity again to engage with orphans and of course Imo women. They were soo amazing to me. But at the same time, it is also a period of rest and I must say I am grateful that its been a good journey so far.

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We discovered that while you were in office, you tried as much as possible to encourage women participation in governance. Hence, a good number of them were part of the government of your husband. How do you feel about that?

Like you said while we were in office, by the special grace of God, women were given the opportunity to be involved in the governance of the state and I am sure you can testify to the fact that they did very very well. No wonder, even beyond Imo State, you can see that women are coming up because those that have been given the opportunity to seat in one position or the other actually did a very very good job. So women are coming up and of course, you know I am passionate about women, and I always say when a woman gets it right, her family, community, the nation and the world at large will get it right. Women are doing amazing things, and they are doing well.

Your Excellency Ma, do you have any regret leaving the office or is there anything you wish if given another opportunity, you could do better than you did?

No regrets whatsoever. I believed that I gave my all. God helped me to give my all. No regret for me instead its all about thanking God for what He was able to trust in my hands and for what I was able to do and achieve. The relationship I had with women, the work I was able to do then, putting a roof over the heads of widows and orphans, I cannot thank God enough. So while it lasted, I must say am grateful and no regrets.

Ugonneoma, there was a project called SNAP which you floated while in office. How has it been and is the project still ongoing? 

Yes by the grace of God, it would never be abandoned. I am happy to also say that for 205 bungalows that we built, (two bedroom fully furnished) and given to widows and orphans, we also keep in touch with the beneficiaries even after. I send my team and we try to reach out to them to see how they are fairing. But because of the present economy, I will say that we are not doing soo much after I left office but we still try to also see how we can maintain their homes; just to make sure that it is still habitable for them. So I will say that the SNAP project is still very much alive.

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Ugonneoma, has there being any time during your reign as the Imo First Lady, you probably wanted your husband to reconsider any of his government's policies, maybe because you felt it was not people oriented or not in the best interest of the common citizens?

Well, one thing that I can tell you is that while I was in office as the First Lady for the period of eight years, I tried as much as possible to focus on the programmes of what the office of the First Lady is supposed to do. I don’t really like to get involved; knowing fully well that his Excellency, my husband, is a people oriented person and as such, I know that at all times he has the interest of the people at heart. So there was no need for worries or a situation, where I need to bother myself to even weigh in to the governance of Imo State because I know that my husband’s heart beat for Imo people. So I tried to maintain within my jurisdiction as a First Lady.

Ma, the impression some Imolites had before this time, is that you weighed a lot of influence to what happens in the government of Rochas Okorocha. People believe that then you determine who gets what and who does what. So are you saying now that you never interfered then?

Of course, I would say I never interfered. Like I said, what is key is knowing my husband’s heart beat for his people and for that reason, I need not to, even though as a wife I wrote a book called PASSWORD. In that book, I said every wife must have a password to her husband's heart. So but getting involved, into issues that has to do with governance, I don’t need to because I know that God called Rochas for that period of time, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do and that he did with all his heart. So there was no need for me or anybody to interfere, to say do this or that. And of course, Rochas is somebody that is led by God in what ever he was doing. So there was no need for me to get involved, and I never really get involved, when it comes to the governance of Imo State. I must say.

Ugonneoma, you elevated the office of the first lady to a greater height while in office. What advice do you have to give to the current first lady across the country and beyond in order to achieve that feat too?

Well, before I became the first lady of Imo State, I’ve never been an outgoing person. I have always loved my circle so much that when we won in 2011, I remember a friend, saying to somebody “are you sure Mrs Rochas would be able to be in that kind of office, and do what is needed?” But one thing that saw me through was one of my favorite scriptures in the bible that says, "he that he called, he equips.” And that was my anchor, a strong verse for me. For whoever that finds herself or would find herself in that office, I want to advice that should also be her favorite scripture because to be the first lady, is not an easy task. A lot is required and the truth is that there is no way you can actually do it by yourself. You need to trust God to do it. Because often times, if you do not rely on such scripture, you probably would not know how to navigate or go about it. So with that scripture, you would always remember that he that calls you, has already equipped and strengthened you to do the job well. So for every First Lady, such scripture should be your watchword.

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Your Excellency, while in office, you enjoyed a lot of good will and attracted to yourself so many followers. How is it now?

Well, like you said, I love Imo people. I love Imo women so much they are all so dear to my heart. Any time I have opportunity to be in Imo State and we meet in functions or meetings, it has always been a time for re-union. What am doing to make sure that the flame is still burning is that there are some programmes that I am doing under my NGO that is still on. The monthly prayer meeting is still on but we do it now in Abuja. Most of them are in Imo State and won’t be able to come to Abuja, but it is an online programme and majority of them also hook online to keep hearing those words that we need to help us keep alive and do what God has called us to do. As it is now, there is another programme that we are doing. Last year it was awesome and it is called WIWS (WODDI Inspiring Women Summit). Like I said I am a woman-woman person. I am passionate about women. So Imo women, are also part of that programme. Most of them would join physically; most of them would join online and to the glory of God, this year, 2024 which is our second edition, as far as that particular programme is concerned, God laid it in our heart to bring it back to Imo and as we speak, that is why I am home, trying to make sure things are put in place. It going to be a five day programme inclusive of arrival and departure and 50% of the women that would be in attendance are women from Imo State. While about 50% are women from across Nigeria. So it is going to be amazing. Accommodation is free; feeding is free and all that. It is going to be a programme that will empower the participants mentally, physically, spiritually and otherwise and of course the Theme for this years programme is “Illuminating the Power of an Inspired Woman”. The first edition was, "Inspired to be a Complete Woman." We believe that when a woman is complete, then you are good to go. Everything around you will make sense.

Your Excellency, do you have estimate of the number of people you are expecting to participate in the programme? Do you have sponsors or is this espense entirely yours?

As far as WODDI programme is concerned, we are open for sponsorship but I have always believed that whatever God has put in my hands, He always makes a way for it. I don’t know how He does it. I don’t depend on anybody to do anything but we also welcome partners and sponsors. And concerning the number of people we are expecting, we are looking at 350 women that would be coming for that five days. During the programme, we will do the best we can do to make sure that we reorientate the each participant to be the women that God has called her to be.

Do you mind explaining further what would be happening this five days?

In the morning, we expect that the women will come out and do some exercise because we know the importance of exercise to the human body. We also want to throw more light on the importance of exercise and health. We have sections of plenaries and lectures. In fact, the programme is fully packed with good things to give the participants awesome experience. 

So is the program open to every woman in Imo State?

Yes, it is open to every woman through online registration.

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Ok Ma. As the First Lady then, can you describe how you felt with the travelling, meetings and absence of your husband as the governor. Did they affect your family, your relationship with him and your marriage?

It wasn’t easy but the understanding was there. Thank God for technology. I understand that he is a man on a mission and when as a wife, you understand that your husband is on a mission, the only thing left for you, is to embrace it, support, encourage him. Then talking about the effect on my children or family, that is where praying to God to also be able to have the grace within that period, not just to be a mother, but also a father at the same time so there is no vacuum there for your children.

Ugonneoma, you are looking younger, what is the secret?

God. It is God, God and being married to an awesome, amazing friend, mentor and I call him my boyfriend. So what you see is a product of what God has done and having a man like Rochas as my husband, my children, my grandchildren and people like you, Imo people that loves me, so this is evidence of what you are seeing

As a First Lady, how do you feel then seeing your husband being surrounded with female appointees?

No worries absolutely, No because I know who I am married to and being uncomfortable about is does not help, rather it causes problem for you. So that trust, making him know that I have faith in you, is part of what will strengthen the man to be able to conduct himself. It is not only while he was in office, but I always will tell people, even a man that is nobody, a lot of people would be interested in him. So it is not until he is in office. So I tell people that the summary of this life is “how do you see it?; how do you take it”. You see it as something, you take it as something. But if you see it as nothing, and take it as nothing, that is how it is going to present itself to you.So the truth is that it has never been a problem, and Imo women will testify to that. It shouldn’t be an issue, and is not an issue. Again, one thing I would say is that, whatever you hold too dear, you will loose but what give out is still yours. Its not in the fighting. Its not in the face you are going to build around your husband. There are certain things that as woman, the way you conduct yourself like I said, having faith in somebody makes the person carry himself the way he is supposed to carry himself. I tell Imo women, nobody has the qualification to interfer in things that concern my husband and I. Through out the period of eight years, I can’t remember any Imo woman coming to tell me “I saw His Excellency here or there”. So to the First Ladies out there, I want to say the God that called your husband to be governor and you, out of millions of women out there to be the First Lady know that you can handle it.

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Your Excellency, who and who are we expecting in this your five days retreat?

Ok, the WIWS has already started in 2023 and was done in Abuja and to the glory of God, the wife of the former vice president of the federal republic of Nigeria Her Excellency, Mrs. Oluremi Osibanjo was the one that flagged if off and in attendance. We had a lot of First Ladies both former and present. So this is the second edition, and we are bringing it to Imo State. That was how God led me to do it and am also trusting God that we are having people that would be in attendance, both former and present governors wives, people in the national assembly, some of our women leaders and of course president of women associations would be in attendance. In fact, women from all works of life would be in attendance. 

Ok ma, do you have any political ambition or are you done work politics?

I don’t think I’ve ever had, and I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. But presently, as you know I am not a politician. I am just a wife to a politician. (Laughs)

Ugonneoma, to some persons, politics is a dirty game. So how did you navigate the said dirty game?

To start with life itself is politics. So when you say it is a dirty game, that statement is very wrong. So I don’t think I am a party to those people that say politics is a dirty game. Even as we speak, it is politics. So it depends on what you mean, and your perception to why you are asking that question. So for me, politics is about people, and knowing that even after politics, there is life.

Your husband ran an open door policy while in government and he gave a lot of people the opportunity to partake and benefit from the government. We also learnt that a number of them were said to betrayal him at last. How did you feel about that? Do you see that as normal or part of human nature?

Well, you asked, "do I think if that is part of human nature?" I will like to say humans are humans, and what is more important is that for me is to just do what God puts in you hand to do. The reaction you get back, shouldn’t be your problem. I remember one day when I was in office and as a wife, you know there is something about a woman; what a woman see at times, men because of how they are structured don’t see it. There was a time I said to my husband, I wish God will open your eyes to see people for who they truly are because there are a lot of things I see. Guess what Rochas told me. He said “ No I don’t want God to open my eyes oooo. Do you want me to wake up in the morning, open the door, and the first person I will see, I will start running” It made sense and that was a big lesson to me. So what am I saying? I don’t think as human being, we should really bother ourselves with the reaction of people we have helped. Do your own, and leave the rest to God. That is my answer for that.

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Your Excellency, one thing Imolites would never forget is your August meeting. The organization, the massive turnout, the glamour, every thing was magical during your 8 years reign as First Lady. How did you achieve that?

It was God. I did nothing. I must say, I just yielded myself as a vessel in his hands and he took over. That is only what I can tell you and I am grateful to God to be used. To God be all the glory. So I can’t tell you I did that all by myself or power.

Finally, what is your advice to Imo women and Nigerians generally?

Let them love each other. We don’t have any other state except Imo and like I was telling someone a while ago, the only thing that can right a wrong is love. Hate can not right a wrong. So let love lead. I tell people that there are people in my life that I sat and imagine what is it that they will do to me, that would make me loose it. I go two steps ahead even before they do it, to forgive them. For your own sake forgive always because you require energy, you require whatever, if you don’t allow love dominate. So let them just love not only for our collective good, but for the sake of what we cannot be able to navigate. Thank you. 

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