Ondo State Chapter of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has passed a vote of confidence on the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola saying the Council believes in her integrity.
The confidence vote is coming as the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is insisting that Babalola is not competent to conduct November governorship election, alleging her of romancing leaders of the All Progressives Congress(APC).
Some placard carrying youths on Monday stormed the INEC office in Akure demanding that Babalola must step aside for the election.
IPAC’s assertion was made on Wednesday at a Press conference organized by the leaders of the highest political parties body and addressed by the chairman, Adesanya Olaoluwa.
IPAC noted that comprehensive finding on the REC, has shown that she is capable and has no skeleton in her cupboard over the allegation levied against her.
“We hereby make this press release on the protest rocking Ondo State, concerning the integrity of Ondo State INEC resident electoral Commissioner.
“IPAC Ondo State Chapter has carried out its comprehensive findings on the said matters and come out with the followings submissions.
“That IPAC equivocally stated that INEC Ondo State under the watch of the state resident electoral commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola has carried IPAC along in all the commission’s activities, as regard the forthcoming November 16th 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.
“That the alleged connivance of the state REC with any political party to subvert the coming November 16th 2024 governorship election is false and can not be substantiated whatsoever.
“IPAC Ondo State has absolute confidence in the ability of the state resident electoral commissioner Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola to conduct free, fair and credible election in the forthcoming November 16th 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.
“IPAC Ondo State Chapter hereby call on security agents to monitor and call for arrest hired political thugs that may disrupt peace, before, during and after the governorship election in Ondo State.
“IPAC Ondo State chapter, the umbrella of all political parties hereby unanimously passed votes of confidence on the INEC Ondo State Resident electoral Commissioner Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola to carry out her statutory obligations concerning the forthcoming November 16th 2024 Governorship election in Ondo State.”
Following complaints from students of brutality by security agents in the state, Ekiti State Government has brokered peace, urging synergy between them.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji called for a robust synergy between security agencies operating in the State and youths, describing this as a panacea to simmering crises emanating from alleged brutality.
Oyebanji spoke in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, during a Youth, Students and Security Stakeholders’ Engagement convened by the Ministry of Youth Development to foster synergy among stakeholders on security.
Specifically, the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to brainstorm and nip in the bud, some of the alleged harassments of youths and students in Ekiti in recent time, as catalogued by a former student leader, Felix Olanrewaju and other representatives, before it snowballs to anarchy.
To prevent incidence of protest against security agencies in Ekiti as threatened by students and youths, Oyebanji, represented by the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brig. Gen Ebenezer Ogundana, urged the students to perceive the security agencies as friends and partners and help to expose criminals among their ranks to safeguard the state.
The governor urged the representatives of the youths and students to review activities on the streets and campuses, to ensure that those posing as security threats are exposed and treated with the long arm of the law.
Applauding the security for being zealous about maintenance of relative peace being enjoyed in Ekiti, Oyebanji, however, assured that his government won’t look on and allow youth and students to be harassed under any guise.
“Let the students and youths leaders go and tell their colleagues to always respect the law, this is the only way to build a just and violence free society. Let us live together as family members. We all know the criminals among us, try and expose them.
“We know that not all the students and youth in Ekiti are criminals, but if the bad ones are not pointed out and used as scapegoats, then you will continue to suffer unduly. It is not right for you to shield criminals.”
Giving an assurance of partnership among stakeholders to rid Ekiti of criminals, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeniran Akinwale, said his personnel have a statutory duty to protect lives and property and ward off criminals from the state, saying they shall discharge the duty dispassionately.
“Let us be law abiding wherever we are. Let us train some of our students and youths to be really good future leaders.
“Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. I am giving you an assurance, any of my personnel who misbehaves would not be spared. Don’t condemn the police, but try and understand us.
“Be bold enough to resolve grievances. If you confront the police, you are not helping yourselves. I came here with a purpose, which is to ensure security of lives and property. If you notice any infraction, try and tell us and justice shall be done”.
The Director, Department of State Services, (DSS) in Ekiti State, Dr. Bolatito Olufemi, urged the youths to form a united front with security stakeholders to expose criminals among them, expressing sadness that many of the productive population are involved in drug peddling, internet fraud, cultism, robbery and banditry.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has assured that electricity would be restored to some parts of the north currently experiencing power blackout.
The minister gave the assurance when he was being grilled by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday.
No fewer than 17 northern states have been experiencing power cut for days due to vandalism of power infrastructure by suspected terrorists.
Only two states in the northern Nigerian, Kwara and Niger are not affected by the blackout.
The magazine reported that the Senate Deputy President, Barau Jibrin blamed the problem on terrorists who vandalised power infrastructure in the affected areas.
Efforts, Jibrin said, are ongoing to restore power to the affected areas with the assistance of the military and other critical stakeholders such as the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Office of the National Security Adviser,,NSA, and the Ministry of Power.
Speaking yesterday, Adelabu said it will take at least 14 days for the destroyed vandalised infrastructure to be repaired so that electricity can be fully restored.
Recall that TCN had earlier said the problem can be fixed within five days.
According to the minister, the affected 17 states will remain in blackout till Tuesday, November 12, 2024, saying the ministry is on top of the situation to ensure that the problem is fixed within the stipulated time.
Adelabu said, “We are working with security agencies to access the grid would currently occupied by vandals.
“I assure you that within the next 14 days, the repairs will be completed, and power will be fully restored to the North.”
The magazine reported that the blackout has seriously affected economic activities in the affected states, amidst worries among northern leaders that the situation will further exacerbate the suffering of their people, thereby raising tension among them.
On Monday the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen Christopher Musa met the 19 northern governors on how to fix the problem as well as insecurity in the region.
Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians have called on the federal government to ensure that electricity is quickly restored to the affected areas as promised to bring succour to the suffering masses.
Africa’s Richest Man Aliko Dangote has cried out that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL and petroleum marketers are trying to kill his petroleum business after they failed to buy petrol from Dangote Refinery, his company.
The business man made the remark on Tuesday after his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu alongside Dr. Benedict Okey Oramah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank, Afreximbank, in Aso Rock Presidential villa, Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The development comes amidst complaints of ‘ghost buying’ by petroleum marketers in the country.
Petrol stations owners in the country have complained of serious sales glut citing the high price of the product. A litre of Petrol is now being sold for at least N1,100 after the price was increased at least three times in the last two months.
Sales glut is a situation where there is an excess of a product or service on the market, causing supply to exceed demand.
Analysts insist that the problem Dangote Refinery is facing, as regard sales, may not be unconnected with the decision by petrol consumers to reduce their purchase due to its high cost, while some consumers have embraced other low cost substitutes such as the Compress Natural Gas, CNG.
President Tinubu had during the week urged Nigerians to embrace CNG instead of buying petrol as high cost.
Speaking to state house correspondence after the meeting, Dangote said the NNPCL and local petroleum marketers frustrating his business after they abandoned the petrol produced from the refinery for import.
He explained that the development has forced the company to store 500 million litres unsold petrol stock in its storage facility, saying this is not good for his business.
Dangote owns the $20 billion Petrochemical Refinery in Lagos which in August this year began the production of petrol also known as Premium Motor Spirit, PMS following months of delay.
The company and the NNPCL had engaged in a serious spat over operational modalities, a situation analysts said hampered the company to postponed its production date several times.
It took the intervention of President Tinubu before the parties agreed to shelve their sword, even though those watching the saga said there is still a deep seated disgreement between them, one of which has to do with the purchase of petrol produced from the refinery.
Recall that the NNPCL had recently dumped its off-taker role which allowed petroleum marketers to purchase the product from Dangote Refinery directly without any intermediary.
But, weeks after the NNPLC said it was no longer performing the middle man role between Dangote Refinery and marketers, Dangote said nobody is buying from him, stressing that the government-controlled oil company and marketers preferred to import the product into the country.
He said if the situation continues, his business may run into trouble, lamenting that “as we speak today, we have 500 million litres, you know, in our tanks” because the refinery has been abandoned by the NNPCL and marketers.
He debunked an earlier claim by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, that the refinery lacked the capacity to meet local needs.
Dangote stated that the scarcity being experienced in some parts of the country is no fault of the company, saying “I’m not in the business of retail” NNPCL and marketers are supposed to fill that gap, he said.
Lamenting his frustration, Dangote said yesterday: “I don’t know if you understand what it means to keep half a billion litres in our tanks; it is costing me money.
“Yes, we have enough supply of crude; we can actually produce much more than 30 million litres every day. At full capacity, we can even supply whatever is being consumed. As we speak today, we have 500 million litres, you know, in our tanks. So, with 500 million litres in our tanks, even if there’s no production from anywhere or no imports, this will take the country more than 12 days, you know, with no imports, with no production, nothing.
“So we are very ready. We are more than ready. And you know, I’m also putting my own name on line by giving Mr President my word that, yes, we will be able to supply the market a minimum of 30 million per day, and we’ll be ramping up production. So, we’re ready. We’re more than ready.
“Well, one thing that you have to understand is that we are producers. I have a refinery. I’m not in the business of retail. If I’m in the business of retail then you hold me responsible.
“But what I’m saying is that the retailers should please come forward and pick, if they don’t, come forward and pick, what do you want me to do? So I don’t expect either NNPC or the marketers to be importing, they should come and pick because we have what they need. And you know, as they remove, I will be pumping.
“I don’t know whether you understand what it takes to keep half a billion litres inside our tank. It’s costing me money every day. If I will be able to collect the naira, I can actually charge somebody 32 per cent in interest. So right now, that’s what I’m losing. And you are talking about 500 million, you know, I mean, we don’t print money. But the issue is that if they come and collect then you will not see any queues in the filling stations.
“We have what it takes for them to come and collect. We are not retailers. We also don’t have trucks to send. We have a factory, we have where they can load. If they come and pick the ones…and they have been doing that with importation. So if they’ve been doing that with importation, if it’s true, they are doing 55 million, I see no reason why they won’t come and collect our own and distribute,” he stated.
The multi-billion dollar refinery had last month stated that it would be forced to export petrol and other products from the refinery if there is no local market for them.
A Federal High Court has stopped the release of all Federal Allocations to Rivers State.
The ruling by the Honourable
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court in Abuja, given on Wednesday, will literally ground the State.
Justifying her order for the stoppage of the monthly allocation to the State, the Judge said the State is in breach of the Constitution as it concerns State expenditures.
The Judge was of the opinion that the 2024 budget being operated by the State was not passed by a lawful arm of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
She said: “There is nothing to prove that the governor complied with the law in submitting the 2024 appropriation before a proper parliament.
“The questions raised by the plaintiffs are meritorious to warrant the grant of the injunctive and declarative reliefs sought”,
Justice Abdulmalik said.
The Court noted that the Rivers State government was in breach when it “failed to accept the fact that the state budget had been invalidated by a Federal High Court.”
The Court noted that “the same judgment which the budget was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja recently.
Recall that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had nullified the State budget as deliberated upon and passed by the pro-Governor Siminalayi Fubara led by the Rt. Hon Edison Ehie -four member House of Assembly.
Ekiti State, the leading rice producer in Southwest Nigeria for 2023, is deepening its engagement with rice farmers across the state to enhance production.
Major towns where rice production is taking the centre stage, are Okemesi, Ido Ile, Ikoro, Ijero, Orin, Aisegba, and Ijan.
A recent series of meetings with farmers have brought to light challenges and set pathways for enhancing production through targeted state interventions.
According to the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ekiti produced between 150,000mt to 175,000mt of rice this year, which has positioned it as a critical supplier for major rice mills that source their paddy directly from the state.
Sharing his thought on this development, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts.
“Lowland rice thrives in Ekiti, and we’re committed to building on this strength by supporting our farmers every step of the way.
“To back this commitment, Ekiti state has supplied rice farmers with FARO 44 seeds, known for their resilience and high yield, sourced from Premier Seeds.
“The state also provided Urea and NPK fertilizers at no cost, and just today, another substantial round of fertilizer was approved for distribution, particularly benefiting late-season planters.
“The government’s comprehensive support aims to close the production loop, ensuring a buy-back arrangement where harvested rice paddy is processed within Ekiti.
“Our food security plan is designed to subsidize production as much as possible and to be the final buyer for these products, directly supporting our farmers.
“With promising rainfall patterns expected to continue through mid-November, Ekiti’s rice farmers are anticipating a bountiful harvest.”
Boluwade, reflecting on the work done so far, emphasized that “food security demands deliberate actions.”
The Commissioner expressed excitement over monitoring reports from farmsteads, noting the positive impact of these initiatives on the ground.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described as suspicious and irresponsible, the rumoured death of the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammad Abubakar and called on the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the source of the rumour.
The group also wants those behind the rumoured death prosecuted describing their action as diabolical mission.
The call was made in a statement on Wednesday, by the Founder and Executive Director of the organization, Prof Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a false rumour of the death of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, which broke out yesterday, Tuesday, 29th October, 2024.
“The rumour spread like wild fire, creating tension, fear and suspicion in the hearts of millions of Muslims in the country as well as those of the Sultan’s friends and well-wishers.
Abubakar Sa’ad III, Sultan of Sokoto
*”We strongly condemn this development. It is saddistic, diabolical, malicious and luciferous. The enormity of the false rumour is better realized when viewed against the backdrop of the twin status of the Sultan and his revered position in the society.
“Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar is not only the Sultan of Sokoto, he is also the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), which is the umbrella organization for all Islamic associations in Nigeria. Whatever is said about him does not affect Sokoto State alone. It affects all Muslims in Nigeria.
“That is why those who spread news about people like him should weigh the gravity of their information and exercise caution.
“It is crystal clear, however, that those behind this satanic rumour have thrown caution to the winds. It is reckless, thoughtless and absolutely irresponsible.
“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the source of the false rumour of the death of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. Those found culpable should be made to face the law.
“This is necessary in the interest of law, order and good governance. Innocent Nigerians will continue to fall victims of cyber stalking until the security agencies start holding culprits accountable for their criminal activities.”
The Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Anglican Communion, His Grace, The Most Rev’d Dr David Onuoha, has called for the immediate, and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu is the detained Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB. He has been in detention since 2021 when he was renditioned from Nairobi, Kenya, and kept under the custody of the Directorate of State Services, DSS. The Federal Government which proscribed IPOB, is prosecuting Kanu for sundry issues including treasonable felony. Most of the charges have been dismissed and Kanu had been discharged and acquitted by at least two Courts, but the prosecution continues as the FG insists on some other charges.
But in his Homily at the Service of Songs/Day of Tributes in honour of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide who passed, recently, at the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of our Lord, CATOL, Owerri, by the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Onuoha urged the Federal Government to release Kanu unconditionally in honour of Iwuanyanwu.
The Most Rev’d Dr David Onuoha
According to the Archbishop, in his Homily which was, at once, fiery, emotional and heart -lifting, the release of Kanu will de-escalate the tension in the South-east, and drastically reduce the insecurity which has bedeviled it.
He called on the Igbo from all works of life, including the Clergy, Politicians, Traditional Rulers, Businessmen and women, Youths, Journalists, all Stakeholders, to speak out with one voice and insist on the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Iwuanyanwu’s last outing, the Archbishop reminded the hundreds present, was a visit to Kanu at the DSS detention centre. The release of Kanu was very important to Iwuanyanwu, the Archbishop added.
Earlier, Archbishop Onuoha had urged Igbo youths to stop the killings and destruction in the South-east.
Chief Iwuanyanwu, who died at the age of 82, will be laid to rest at his residence, Atta Community, Imo State, on Friday, November 1, 2024.
As efforts are ongoing to restore electricity to the northern parts of the country, Nigeria’s Senate President Barau Jibrin has disclosed that terrorists are responsible for the problem.
The magazine reports that the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, announced last week that the Shiroro-Mando transmission line had been vandalised, leaving 17 of the 19 states in northern part of the country without power for days.
The damage has paralysed economic paralyses in affected states, those familiar with the matter said.
The deputy senate president said on Tuesday during plenary that terrorists had not only destroyed transmission cables and other electricity infrastructure, they have also taken over the areas where these damage have been done to ensure that repairs are made impossible.
Jibrin spoke after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu to ensure that power is restored as fast as possible.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa had also met with the 19 northern governors as part of the ongoing efforts to restore electricity, and protection of electricity infrastructure going forward.
Briefing the Senate yesterday, on what is being done to fix the problem, Jibin said the military must first clear the affected areas of terrorists before the repairs can be done.
He said he has met with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu on how this would be achieved, stressing that security forces are prepared to move in any moment from now to displace the criminals.
According to him, the NSA is coordinating with the TCN and Ministry of Power on how to displace the terrorists who he said “are well-armed, well-armed to the teeth” from their hideouts.
“The National Security Adviser is on top of the issue. We have been discussing it with him personally. I have been talking with the National Security Adviser. I have been talking with the TCN Managing Director,” Jibrin said.
He stated further, “They are very ready to go there, but the fact is that the place has been occupied by terrorists that are well-armed, well-armed to the teeth. And so the security agencies are preparing to strike the area and get that threat off that place.
“But it’s not something we need to say because that would compromise their preparation to deal with the threat. So as we speak, all hands are on deck to deal with the situation. I just feel it’s proper I inform this whole sitting of what is happening.
“We’re in contact with them. We’re in touch with them, and we’re discussing with both the TCN and the NSA office.
“Now what has been done now is that the security agencies are putting their hands together to get to that spot and try to eradicate or take away the threat that has been there for quite a while.
“And it’s an arrangement that is not something that will be said to the public because that would compromise the arrangement or the preparation the security agencies are going to deal with the matter. So as we speak, the president has ordered and directed that the security agencies should do all within their powers to make sure that they deal with that threat,” Jibrin said.
I was not particularly keen about intervening in some of the things I read of late that were credited to the former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs to Governor Hope Uzodimma, Dr. Fabian Ihekweme until I left the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (CATOL) on Tuesday for the Service of Songs held in honour of the passing of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, one of Imo’s greatest mortals. May his soul rest in peace!
During the Homily delivered by the Most Reverend (Dr.) David Onuoha, the Anglican Archbishop of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, the vanity of life was once more brought to the fore, and what struck more was the reminder that judgement awaits every flesh who goes the way of our dearly beloved Chief Iwuanyanwu regardless of who we are or what we are.
The tributes on Chief Iwuanyanwu from all and sundry were encouraging. The Church, the business community, the political class, the traditional institution, the youths, name it, all had kind words to share on the deceased.
While the sermon was going on, the small still voice in me reminded me about the law of sowing and reaping. Some call it karma while others refer to it as the law of retributive justice.
Therefore, given what was said by the cross session of guests during the Service, I was convinced Chief Iwuanyanwu sowed properly while still on this side of the divide and could as well be on his way to wear the much expected “Crown of Glory” that is the desire of every good Christian.
By the way, this intervention is not on Chief Iwuanyanwu, but about Dr. Fabian Ihekweme who, I have measured respect for.
The things I have read of late that were linked to him are, to say the least, unbecoming of someone of his calibre, and worthy of yours sincerely’s respect. They ooze blackmail, sabotage, betrayal, infantile pettiness, diabolism, et al. Dr. Ihekweme’s (alias Omu) persona, should not be associated with such, even by stroke of imagination any time, any day.
We shall return to that shortly.
The word of God in the New Testament concerning betrayal is deep. Very deep.
The Lord Jesus Christ knew he would be betrayed for the Scripture to be fulfilled.
But what pained Him so much was that the betrayal came from within. From
a trusted one among the 12 persons He chose to be His apostles.
Oguwike Nwachuku, Governor Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary/ Special Adviser Media
As recorded in the book of Matthew 26: 23-24, Jesus Christ said: “He who dipped his hands with me in the dish will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he has not been born.”
There is a thin line between betrayal, sabotage and blackmail. Suffice it to say that he who has the potentials to betray can also sabotage or blackmail. The fellow can as well subscribe to diabolism.
If you have read Phillip C. McGraw, author of Self Matters: Creating Your Life from the Inside Out, particularly the chapter on Sabotage, you will appreciate where yours sincerely is headed.
McGraw wrote: “People just aren’t always really happy for your successes. If you let them control you with their jealousy, if you let them drag you down and define who you are, they will define you in a way that is convenient and nonthreatening to them. That’s what I mean by leveling: the attempt that others make to compromise you, to bring you to a level lower than the one they see themselves occupying.
“Subtly, so subtly, and consciously or not, jealous people are going to sabotage you for reaching a higher level than they have. This can be major league fusing, because jealous people flip-flop on you: They work for you when you are failing and against you when you are succeeding.”
Like I said earlier, the pieces I have read recently on the social media linked to the former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs ooze betrayal, jealousy, blackmail, diabolism and sabotage whether he wants to believe it or not.
My initial hunch after perusing through some of the copies was to wonder if Dr. Ihekweme had lost his memory or probably on admission for a particular ailment the doctors were not in a hurry to make public. But I was wrong.
It was not until I went further to share my thought with certain persons I consider Dr. Ihekweme’s allies with regard to his utterances on the Governor and his government, that it dawned on me he was intentional in his recent unbecoming demeanor.
Unfortunately, the feelers I got from those associates of his suggested that they are as embarrassed as any other well meaning, responsible friend or political associate of the Governor could have been. It was on that score that I felt Omu should be helped from himself.
But how do you assist a properly read adult, an academic for that matter who has a doctorate degree, very sociable, from further degenerating into the abyss of orchestrated or willful mischief making, betrayal, sabotage and blackmail?
Why would Dr. Ihekweme be the one to willingly elect to betray the man he dips his hands in the same dish with? What has become of him? Who did this to him? Who is blinding Omu’s eyes negatively to the law of reaping and sowing and consequently hindering him from wearing the much desired Crown of Glory on the judgement day? Questions and more questions saturated my mind.
Let me be clear, the matters Omu raised could not add up when you juxtapose them with all he said not long ago concerning what the governor, with his government of Imo State, has done in terms of infrastructure renewal, payment of salaries and pensions, restoration of public confidence in the conduct of government business, security of lives and property despite all odds, youth and women empowerment, to name but a few.
Could it be that Omu had been recruited by unseen hands the way the son of Simon, who is called Judas Iscariot, was recruited to betray his master, Jesus Christ for pittance for politics? 2027 is still far, I reasoned, but do politicians care about timing?
Yes, pittance because in one of the pieces credited to Dr. Ihekweme he sounded like someone whose vulnerability has got to a feverish level due to lack of money even though he tried to weave his frustration around the populace as their voice.
Let me be clear again. If Omu claims to be a political associate of Uzodimma and was part of those who brought his government in place, why would he destroy the same house he took part in it’s construction because of the idiosyncrasies of the flesh or what I call, the desire for what to eat and drink? Why would he be at the forefront of hazy tales designed to smear the credibility of the man he delights to call his friend?
There are people who believe that Omu lacks integrity and the ingredients of trust due to his style of politics. I haven’t really carried out a research on his politics to draw similar inference, but some of the things I have stumbled on, and were credited to him recently, are beginning to challenge my thought line.
I don’t want to believe that Omu’s second name is blackmail and that he delights in willing and dealing as people allege.
Mine is that if Omu has not seen the negative characterisation of his person as constituting a huge deficit to his public image, family image and by bigger implications, a minus to his lineage and those who look up to him for mentorship on integrity, loyalty, obedience and trust, then I give in on him.
As the American historian and philosopher, Will Durant rightly pointed out, “to speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves.”
By speaking condescendingly against Uzodimma and his government, knowing full well he was not speaking the truth, Omu agrees completely with McGraw that he means no well for the Governor. It means he must have been wired with the same mindset like Judas Iscariot who betrayed his master for pittance.
I read on a social media platform where Omu boldly said, “I’m up in arms against the governor. Imo government is very, very poor because the wealth of the State is with one person, Hope Uzodimma and I don’t need anything from him because what he has stolen is still not enough for him.” Did I hear Omu say “stolen?”
There are other claims that border on executive rascality and recklessness, allegations of link to occultism, all of which coalesce into intentional blackmail and preparedness to undermine the person of the Governor and his office.
I do hope Omu will be fully prepared, mentally and psychologically, to substantiate these his wild claims, and that those goading him to rant in this manner for whatever reason(s) will not desert him when he needs them badly? I have not seen any laurel the characters cheering Omu up have handed over to him before or would want to hand over to him now, other than guiding him to an irretrievable and irreversible perdition. God forbid bad thing!
I hope Omu’s cheer leaders have not inflicted on him the notion of an all knowing potentate, thereby making him forget what Julius Caesar told Brutus in Shakespeare’s play, “the fault, dear Brutus, is not in the stars, but in ourselves.”
The worst thing that can happen to a person who is pejoratively regarded as a lover of okro soup is for the person to come to a public gathering and still demand for the same okro soup.
Dr. Ihekweme must ensure that what appears like a huge baggage, akin to the okro soup scenario, should not be allowed to hang precariously on his neck.
He needs to work so hard to correct such an impression already created in some circles over his political behaviour.
My late mum used to tell me that the plan to kill someone is never hatched once.
Suffice it therefore to say that for Omu’s lips to drip what has recently fouled the environment, he must have been hatching the plan for years from within, taking advantage of his hitherto membership of the inner circle of the Uzodimma apostles to betray him. Did I hear you say enemy within? I think the onus is on Omu to deny he was an enemy within, not a spy and an Uzodimma hater.
Yes, the imperfections of man makes it imperative that Omu, like every mortal, can err. But given his age, social standing and academic attainments, does he need to be reminded about the dangers of deliberate incitement of the people against their government or their governor? I thought the mark of leadership includes the ability of the so-called leaders to always err on the side of caution, be painstaking in doing things, be considerate, and above all, strive to lead by example? What type of leader does Omu want to be classified? Or is he not one?
That Omu called the governor Anti- Christ, and insinuated incomprehensible tales is the apogee of pettiness and a deliberate ploy to make a jest of a man, who by all standards, has better understanding of Christianity and the Trinity as encapsulated in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit than he thinks he has.
Uzodimma, like Omu is mortal. But unlike the latter, the governor is one man who is not given to pretences. Omu cannot deny that Uzodimma has this unusual gift of meticulousness, focused, never ever confused or overwhelmed by situations regardless of the pressure, distractions and circumstances he finds himself. So, why conjure things to incite the public against the man?
Why have people like Omu failed to see through Uzodimma’s line of thought and his intention in government? How are they helping him to fulfil his promise to God, via a covenant, to serve Imo people sincerely and with commitment?
Why choose to label your boss via sabotage, betrayal, blackmail, threat, and distorted information by deliberately being a hellion? Absurd, isn’t it?
The tendency for people to be fixated in their beliefs that things must be done in a particular way beats the imagination of those with creative minds. Or do we not know that fixed beliefs reflect one’s only understanding of one’s place in the world?
It is high time Omu thought deeply about what I call fixed beliefs syndrome which I am sure is ailing, not only him, but many a politicians in our dear State when matters of dispensation of political patronage and the hunger for pillage of the people’s common patrimony are involved.
Methinks the best way for one to predict one’s future behaviour is for one to peep into one’s past behaviour. Nothing says we cannot break the chain of the things that erred us in the past to restart our future. Nothing is late in doing if there is genuine zeal and repentance in us. As Carlos Castaneda, American anthropologist said, “we either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”
I think Omu is one of those who owe Uzodimma gratitude regardless of whether they are still part of those running the government today with him or not. As one who professes a pro-Christ, I expect that Omu should rather count his blessings and name them one by one instead of the recourse to the often lamentation that is in sync with one of the observations of the famous U.S. humourist, Samuel Langhorne Clemence (popularly called Mark Twain) who said, “I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had seized to be one.”
Those who claim they mean well for our dear State should equally mean well for the man who is on the driving seat of the State and who wears the shoe and knows where it hurts. It amounts to callousness to deliberately plot to undermine the captain of the ship without taking into cognisance those on board the ship and it’s capsizing potential.
If the essence of politics is to cater to the needs of the people how then does undermining the man providing the leadership help the course of the people?
The situation of things today, nationally and globally, is too critical for reasonable fellows to compound things for either the leadership or the follower ship, and under any guise.
Hope Uzodimma has acquitted himself properly these four years and 10 months of being in charge of affairs in Imo State. He has demonstrated leadership despite all provocations and distractions and has proven what Anglo-Irish writer, and Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Jonathan Swift has always said to be right, “vision is seeing what others don’t see.”
If anything, Uzodimma keeps projecting, unpretentiously, who he is and what he is, and that to me is what today’s Imo State requires. Like him or hate him, nothing will stop him from removing his eyes from what the future Imo State should look like.
Luckily enough, his style seems to align with the thinking of the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjold.
Hammarskjold once reasoned: “Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then, you will see how low it is.”
Omu, please wise up.
Oguwike Nwachuku is Governor Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary/ Special Adviser Media
