By Comfort Obi
If you have been following the bitter, hate-filled politics in Imo State, then you would appreciate how huge the simple, short, speech made by Honourable Philip Ejiogu, Member, representing Owerri North State Constituency in the Imo House of Assembly is.
It rubbished the norm, and broke the jinx. There are reasons Ejiogu is a breath of fresh air.
Politics in Imo State is filled with lies. Brazen lies. It is filled with fabrications. Eye popping fabrications. It is filled with bitterness. Suffocating bitterness. It is filled with hatred. Murderous hatred. And, it is filled with childish utterances and reasoning some of which would make a two-year old baby blush in embarrassment.
Of course, politics is made up of all those ingredients, and shsmelessness and disloyalty, but that of Imo State has boiled over, especially, since the months leading to the 2019 Governorship election. It is smells to high heavens.
The aspirants, then, in 2019, fabricated all kinds of stories against one another. They told all kinds of dishonorable lies.
One of them, publicly, told an audience that one of his main opponents had a full blown HIV/AIDS. Not that it matters as such. The once dreaded disease is no longer killing anybody, now, except careless ones who wouldn’t take their medication, and/or eat healthy. But it was a lie from the pit of hell. And, coming from one at that level, it stank. And the utterances and mischief of these politicians still stink.
If anybody thought the season of shamelessness and indecency would be over after the elections, that was quickly perished. It has, instead, worsened, especially, since January 2020, when the Supreme Court removed the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as Governor, barely seven months in office, and installed Senator Hope Uzodinma as his replacement. Since then Imo State and its people have not had a breathing space. Every aspect of life is polluted and corrupted.
It has been one lie after the other. One fabrication after the other. One incitement after the other. One embarrassing story after the other. And for all that, blood has been flowing, as bullets rain. It is so bad that Imo State has been shamed, and stripped naked before other States – by its own indigenes. It has been stripped of all dignity. Shame reigns. And, some Imo people are happy. They celebrate the State’s nakedness, planned and executed by them.
They are happy to run down their State. They are happy to put other States before their State. Or, didn’t you hear of “Anambra is not Imo?” Yet, let’s face it, politically, that expression should be the other way round. What happened in Anambra State, politically, cannot happen in Imo.
Some examples:
As a Governor, Minister for Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, was kidnapped by a business man/ politician. He was put, in a most humiliating manner, in a hotel toilet, some allege, and forced to read his resignation letter from office. In the company of a colleague-Governor of his, at the time, I watched, in embarrassment, the video where Dr Ngige, voice shaky, fear written all over his face, read his resignation letter. Before then, he had been taken to a scary shrine in Okija where he was forced to swear to an oath of allegiance to his then political godfathers.
Would something this degrading happen in Imo? Who “born” that godfather? Stories were told how his convoy were ran out of the road once in a while by the long convoys of godfathers. Would that happen in Imo?
It was in Anambra State that the Government House was razed down by political thugs, sent by godfathers. Who could have tried that in Imo?
Even then, Ngige did not last in office. Three years into his tenure, the Courts declared Ngige an illegal Governor, and sacked him in favour of Peter Obi. So, Imo set no precedence in that area. Before the sacking of a Governor in Imo State, it had happened in Anambra – not once, but twice. Senator Andy Uba, as an elected Governor, lasted for only two weeks, shorter than Ihedioha. He holds the record for the shortest serving Governor in Nigeria.
And, I go back a little.
Before Ngige, Anambra had a Governor called Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju. In the only one term Anambra political godfathers allowed him to serve, it was hell on earth for him. He was effectively rendered ineffective as a Governor. For two years and counting, schools in Anambra were closed down because the godfathers ran the show.
Like Ngige’s, the godfathers were, also, in the habit of running Mbadinuju’s convoy out of the road. Obi suffered same fate. The difference: Obi did not allow them run him out of the road. He respected their indecent, showy, lifestyle. Once he heared their ear-splitting siren, and see their long convoy, he would gently ask his convoy to make way. As a Governor, Obi never had a convoy of more than three cars. Which godfather in Imo would have dared do that to Rochas Okorocha, or Emeka Ihedioha while they were in office? Or, dare do that, now, to Governor Uzodinma’s convoy. Again, I ask, “Who born that godfather?” And, Anambra has just set a record in a new show of shame.
The “slapping” incident in Anambra State on the day Professor Charles Soludo was sworn- in as a Governor remains unprecedented. Would any of Imo’s former First Ladies – Professor Udenwa, Barrister Ohakim, Nneoma Okorocha, Lady Ihedioha – dare, publicly, at a high profile ceremony, or anywhere, for that matter, confront, for example, a Dr Kema Chikwe, a Senator Chris Anyanwu, or a Professor Viola Onwuliri – like Mrs Obiano did to Iyom Bianca Odimegwu -Ojukwu?
Never! Imo has always had polished, serious-minded First Ladies.
Yet, some Imo people would condescendingly say: “Anambra is not Imo.” On what grounds?
Sure, I agree, Anambra has been lucky with a couple of their Governors, beginning with Ngige, Peter Obi, Obiano (sure, he built an International Airport without borrowing a kobo, he said), and now, Soludo. But Imo has not done badly as such.
Forget about Okorocha’s famed and pathological “grab-grab” habit, he had great ideas. But he destroyed them by very shabby finishing and deliveries. He opened up Owerri, the Capital City. Until him, Owerri looked like a neglected Local Government Headquarters. But again, he destroyed it by shabby jobs, and cheap deliveries. And, Ihedioha?
For the about seven months Ihedioha was in office, the impact of his Government was positively felt. When Soludo, then a Governor-elect, inaugurated members of his Transitional Committee, it became a peg to “yab” Imo by Imo people. Of course, Uzodinma had none because of the circumstances of his mandate, but Ihedioha assembled a solid Transitional Committee, made up of Technocrats and high flying professionals from different fields. Stripped of malicious propaganda and deadly obstacles, Uzodinma has not done badly either.
So, you then wonder why Imolites carry themselves low? You wonder why they present themselves and their State as second class.
Here’s the answer.
Politics of bitterness. Politics of hatred. It has blinded them to a frightening point.
Some Imolites so hate their State, and have a low opinion of it that when anything negative happens in Anambra State, especially, the neighboring communities to Imo, they would pass it on to Imo. And, for their bitterness and lies and hatred for one another, Politicians of Imo State origin are ranked the worst in the country. The choice, negative labels Imolites tag on them sealed that, and have stripped them of respect.
No Politician in Imo State has been spared. They have all been tarred. From Ikedi Ohakim, Rochas Okorocha, Ihedioha, Uzodinma, Araraume, etc. they have all be tarred. Murderers. 419ners. Fraudulent. Thieves. Looters. Sponsors of killings in the State and beyond. Adulterers. Killers of their own people.
This other day when the by-election for the Ngor Okpala State Constituency was held, both the APC and the PDP, accused each other’s leadership of carrying guns around. Not Uzodinma, not Ihedioha was spared from this baseless, reckless allegation. Both were alleged of leading their supporters and security operatives, as in war, going from one community to the other, from one polling booth to the other, carrying guns.
A couple of months ago when a couple of Traditional Rulers were kidnapped, and cruelly killed, the atrocity was quickly placed at the feet of Uzodinma and Okorocha. Supporters and associates of both men accused each other of being responsible for the killings, without evidence. The Government was on National Television firing the allegations, just like Okorocha did. Okorocha pointedly accused the Governor of the atrocity. How can a Governor order the killings of his own innocent subjects? For the records, it is different from asking for help to rid his State of confirmed criminal elements. Every Governor does that. No Governor wants his State run by criminals. Why is that of Imo State different? Is it a crime to ask for help against confirmed criminals?
How will other people respect Imo when our Leaders, without exception, have been painted and presented in terrible colors?
Any good done is turned upside down and inside out. The insecurity in the State is, behind closed doors, celebrated to high heavens – directly and indirectly. Why? In Imo, they are paranoid in the name of playing politics.
When Ihedioha attended the funeral rites of the elder brother of Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, he was quickly dubbed a Muslim. He was said to have converted to the Islamic religion. How childish and low can a people be? Before Ihedioha, Uzodinma had suffered the same fate.
When Abba Kyari, the pioneer Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari died, the lie from the pit of hell was that Uzodinma, “a Fulani stooge”, has renamed Imo State University after the late Chief of Staff, for helping him to the Governorship seat of Imo. Then followed another lie of Uzodinma appointing five Emirs in the State. Then followed the lie of Uzodinma building schools and settlements for the Almajiris, and then donating farmlands in Imo for RUGA. Ridiculously, it is a couple of those guys used to make the false allegations against Uzodinma, that have turned 360 degrees, and are making same allegations now against Ihedioha. Why can’t Imolites see through these lies?
One can go on and on.
When Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and a couple of other PDP members attended Imo Stakeholders meeting held by Uzodinma to find a solution to Imo’s problems, especially, insecurity, they were vilified and called saboteurs. In same way, when some House of Assembly members attended the funeral ceremony of Uche Nwosu’s mother, they were punished by the House leadership under the cover of frivolous excuses. And then, of course, anything, everything done by Government, no matter how good is twisted and criticized.
None could have been as terrible as that of the Christmas of 2021 when Uzodinma asked those in the Diaspora who wanted to come home to do so, as the State was secure. It was quickly interpreted that he was asking them to come home so as to be slaughtered. Who says things like that? Only in Imo State, a State full of bitterness and hatred.
In Imo State, it is a crime for an APC member to praise, for example, any good done by the immediate past Ihedioha Government. Just as it is a crime for any opposition member to appreciate anything good done by the Uzodinma Government( including roads), or sympathise with the Government during tragedies. Which is why, instead of collectively condemning the insecurity in the State, it is treated as if it is an APC/Uzodinma affair. It is, almost celebrated as a referendum on the Uzodinma Government. Why?
It is based on these verifiable facts that I am so proud of my representative in the Imo House of Assembly, Honourable Philip Ejiogu.
Ejiogu is of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP. He is one of those strong characters who refused to jump ship when Ihedioha was removed from office as Governor. At some point, he was punished and suspended from the Assembly. A young man with pedigree, that did not shake him. He stuck to his beliefs. And this other day, his strong character, his admirable principles of politics without bitterness shone like diamonds. He stuck to the truth, and confirmed what a good and sensitive representative of his Owerri North State Constituency, he is.
Governor Uzodinma had gone to Honourable Ejiogu’s Constituency to Commission, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Acharaubo Farm Estate (Settlement). It is a huge project, a baby of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
Located at Emekuku, it would offer employment opportunities to hundreds of the Indigenes, aside from opening up the community.
Acharaubo has been moribund for about 30 years. But luck shone on it with the Uzodinma administration. When it was chosen as one of the pilot schemes to be revived and developed, some people went on their usual propaganda.
They said Uzodinma has donated it for RUGA. Brainwashed, and not knowing exactly what to believe, some natives went on protest, carrying placards, saying they would never allow it.
Now, they have seen the outcome. They now know the truth. They now know those who didn’t want their community to be developed, or their children given employment opportunities at Acharaubo.
Given the politics of bitterness in Imo State, Honourable Ejiogu was not supposed to be at the commissioning ceremony. But he rose above bitter and petty politics. He rose above selfish and deceitful politics. His father, Chief Ambrose Ejiogu, an accomplished elder statesman, and Chairman, Imo PDP Elders’ Forum was also there. They were there because one of the main concerns of a representative is to attract and support good projects to his people, to his Constituency. Honourable Ejiogu saw this, grabbed the opportunity with two hands, and supported it. He did not bad-mouth it. In appreciation, he made a short speech which was heart-warming, but surprising given the State of politics in Imo State.
He praised Governor Uzodinma. He poured encomium on him for attracting such a project to Imo State, and especially, to his constituency. He called him a Governor with capacity for attracting projects to Imo, especially, from the Presidency.
Ejiogu: “I’m pushed to thank you immensely for this wonderful project His Excellency.
“His Excellency, since I was born into this community, Acharaubo has been a farmland that has been deserted for years, and I have always wished, and part of my campaign promises to our people was to find a way to revive this place. And today, His Excellency, your Government has brought revival to this farm.
“Our Governor has shown capacity in his various ways of attracting projects to Imo State, especially from the Presidency.
“I am aware that NALDA is not operating in the 36 States of Nigeria, and just now, you have made this State to become one of the Pilot States of this project.
“Imo State is one of the States out of the 36 states, and I am happy that out of the 36 States, Imo State was chosen and not just that, my Community was chosen. His Excellency I must commend you for this”
In response, the Governor was not less effusive with his praise for Honourable Ejiogu, for his courage, for his open mindedness, for supporting the development of his Constituency. He also recognized his pedigree, appreciating his father, Chief Ambrose Ejiogu, for being present. That’s how it should be.
I have since heard of negative murmuring against Honourable Ejiogu. They should be ignored. He did right. Commend when the Government has done right. And condemn when it has done wrong. That is the only way criticisms would be believable. When it is always “gbam, gbam”, condemn, condemn, it becomes boring, it becomes unbelievable. The tendency is to dismiss them as “nonsense, the usual.”
I recommend to all Imo politicians, and those they hired as Media Aides to write for them, Ejiogu’s maturity, his openness, his courage, and honesty, his non-bitterness. When the chips are down, the State belongs to all Imolites. It is not an exclusive, or property, of a few Politicians.
Finally, let me put on record, how proud I am that Honourable Ejiogu is my representative.
Obi is the Editor-in-Chief/CEO of The Source (Magazine), https://thesourceng.com. Email: [email protected], [email protected]
