By Kelechi Mejuobi, 08037709277 email: babanababa2@yahoo.com
In the evening of Thursday, 19th December 2013, my phone message beeped. When I checked, it was a message from Mrs Shirley Munonye. Mrs Munonye is the Publisher of Frontline Newspapers and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Independent Newspapers Publishers Association, INPA, an organization for Imo-based newspaper publishers. In the message was an invitation that all Publishers are expected to be at the Government House, Owerri, 7 am for a breakfast interactive session with the Governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. My partners Henry Ekpe, Gerry Ogu are also qualified to attend the session as Co-publishers of Trumpeta newspaper.
Almost all the named publishers numbering more than 18 arrived Government House, at 7am prompt for the breakfast meeting, since there was a proviso in the invitation signaling that His Excellency would travel later, half hour after seven, Governor Okorocha surprised the media Chief executives including early morning visitors to the place, who had already thronged the Govt House gate for other engagements, when he rode a bicycle and past. In his usual manner of acknowledging cheers and style of associating with pedestrian personalities, the governor slowed to share pleasantries with the waiting newsmen and other visitors still standing in front of the gate. Few minutes later, the governor was on the driver’s seat piloting his convoy when he zoomed out of the compound to an unknown destination while the Publishers stood outside without getting adequate attention with other eager visitors to the Govt House, fondly referred to “Douglas House.
At that juncture, a visibly worried Nigerian Horn Publisher, High Chief Bright Chimezie Njoku and chairman of INPA tried in vain to reach the Senior Special Assistant, (media) to the Governor, Sam Onwuamedo, who was yet to arrive the Government House, even as the invitation for the 7am event came from him. Having waited for about an hour without any attention, the Publishers pulled out from the gate and withdrew to nearby Rockview Hotel, to play the “waiting game” until the Governor returns and is ready for the show.
However, Onwuamedo who arrived immediately we pulled out later put a call to Njoku asking us to proceed back to Douglas House for the interactive session. I must confess that I almost forgot myself inside the glittering complex because of the structural and magnifying changes at the Govt House. Though, I visited Douglas House August last year for similar interaction with the governor which was also hinged on Okorocha’s request for Publishers partnership ahead his golden birthday. That interactive session was one of such held to herald the 50th birthday celebrated October last year.
Most of the structures were undergoing renovation and re-construction at that moment. My visit this December was eye-popping. I am impressed with what I saw because the trick of the Govt House people against publishers proved fertile. May be my colleague and friend Onwuaemedo did not know but was used to execute the psychological war fare of dragging the publishers around Government House for purposes of viewing the tremendous job done in the famous Douglas House. From the main gate, we moved to another gate that is in front of the Chief of Staff office. I believe that the COS office was formerly that of the SSG.
We were turned back when security challenges arose. Our friend Onwuamedo paced up and down until we were given security clearance and had to follow a pathway leading to another big hall, I can recollect that the first hall we sat down was the old Multi-Purpose hall.
It has been put in proper shape with attendant state of the art facilities for comfortable gatherings unlike in the past. Though the sitting size has been reduced but it is better now and cozy. There is no gain saying the fact that the old multi purpose Hall has truly been rescued. An information came that we are moving to another location for the breakfast meetings. We marched again to another place near the main Governor’s Lodge. After taking our seats at the waiting chamber of the seat of power where we met the almighty Obi Ukwu” of Douglas House. Yes, I call it almighty Obi Ukwu because it is the place that Imo is governed from.
And anybody who finds his or her way to that powerful Obi Ukwu should be counted lucky. I knew that the event will not hold at the Obi Ukwu that is more designed like a bush bar near the Governor’s lodge that was renovated during Ohakim’s era. I can picture that bush-bar like-office of the Governor is situated at the old car park of the Governor’s lodge. We marched in and were meant to take our seats. I saw many faces and there is no doubt that those seated and milling around could be that “Nde nwe Obodo” (Those who are in charge) in Igbo language.
After relaxing for few minutes, an order came again that we should be moved to Exco Chamber, named after Ndubuisi Kanu a former Military governor. Trust my colleagues, murmuring began within our ranks. While many complained that we have been brought to do road walk or exercises in Douglas House instead of the expected breakfast, my walking partner, Mrs Munonye found it difficult to move with her high heeled shoe.
When I laughed at her for self-inflicted stress of putting on a heel shoe, she informed me that her own is wedge shoe. What that means I don’t know because I noticed pains and discomfort on her face during the infamous great trekk at Douglas House. Finally, we berthed at the Exco chamber, the eventual place we had the event, Initially, I expressed fear that it may not hold at the Exco chamber because the place was a bit hot and choky despite being in a good taste the air condition was not working. My fear was confirmed when others chorused that in the process of finding a suitable place, our hosts are trying to show us what they have done and we shall not be surprised if the next bus stop would be Okorocha’s official bedroom in Govt House. That view elicited laughter among us irrespective of the biting hunger that had taken over our mental state.
Not too long, our radiant governor beaming with cheerful looks came in through a special door to the elevated position. Before his arrival, the Chief of staff, Chief Jude Ejiogu, and Deputy Chief of staff, Chinedu Offor took their seats as well Onwuamedo. Earlier, Ejiogu was uncomfortable with Ekpe’s posture during handshake ritual at the Obi Ukwu Government House. Though a friendly incident, Ndaa Jude was not too conformable with Ekpe’s hard posture. The Chief of staff forgot in a hurry that Hot FM acc broadcaster and “Peoples Assembly” presenter, Oge Iwu while reviewing Ekpe’s Lastline column at the back page Of Weekend Trumpeta, always dubbed him the “resolute-looking” Henry Ekpe. Therefore, Ekpe’s looks at the interaction was normal.
Okorocha came in spotting a black plain trouser and white T-shirt with his red cap. INPA chairman, Njoku said opening prayers, Onwuamedo moderated and the interaction began with empty belle. Roll call has Njoku (Horn) Chima Okereafor (Nationwide) Andy Adibemma, Casmir Njoku (Oriental life) Munonye (Frontline) Tricia Iwuoha (National Question) Gele Agba, Lambert Ojukwu (Newspoint) Diala (Stone) Eastern News, Mejuobi, Ekpe, Ogu (Trumpeta) Joe Enyama (Announcer) Chidi Emeagi (Nigeria News guide) Ndubuaku (Verbatim Express) publishers of Vessel Express and the moment including the governor’s media aide, Onwuaemedo of White paper.
After introduction, the governor took over and spoke on wide range of issues where he made relevant disclosures about his person, government and service to Imo people. I may need not less than five pages in Trumpeta to disclose details of our interaction but there is no space for it. Okorocha started by acclaiming the giant strides the local media has recorded pointing out that Imo is the only state in the federation where the state based tabloids rank higher than national dailies. He thumbed up for the publishers without hitting back that it is also only in the state, that screaming and sensational headlines adorn the Owerri-based papers. As a comic relief, Okorocha branded the home print media as “nde ala adi mma” (the bad ones) in Imo adding that he is open to newsmen and admires constructive criticisms. The governor who was elated by the meeting as he voiced out his complaints against the media, however enjoined journalists to engage in investigative journalism and proper verification of their facts about his administration than feeding the public with falsehood.
While recognizing the dynamism of the journalism trade, Okorocha who said that he has no skeleton in his cupboard to shun newsmen noted that he deserves a fair deal from the publishers who should also do more to highlight his achievements while authoring negative stories about him. Said he “I am not asking you not to write anything you like about my government. I don’t want it to look like I have bribed or wooed you to write for or praised my administration, but I will request you to do more investigation in the state and find out where I have excelled. I don’t think it is bad if you critise me and at the same time showcase my achievements too. I don’t have any skeleton in my cupboard. There is nothing to hide, please lets partner to build Imo of our dream”
Okorocha went further to highlight some of his cardinal programmes that ranges from free education to roads, including the CGC he accused the media of kicking against at its formation.
However, the highpoint of the one hour plus interaction where we glued to our seats without even a bottled water to clear our throat was Okorocha’s penchant for mentioning Trumpeta newspapers during any remark or explanation.
Despite the presence of publishers of fourteen outfits Trumpeta was at the front burner receiving frequet mention from Okorocha’s lips. The governor hardly spoke for five minutes or ten sentences without mentioning Trumpeta. It was like the event was held by the governor to indirectly express displeasure and reservation about the medium operated by the triumvirate of Ekpe, Ogu and me. At a time, he falsely tried to link Trumpeta to the his predecessor, Ohakim, who he poured venoms and described in unprintable language. While bombing the Isiala Mbano-born politician with allegations of fraud, administrative incompetence etc Senators Ifeanyi Ararume, and Hope Uzodimma and to an extent, Ex Governor Achike Udenwa also received a dose of Okorocha’s backlash. Since it was more of a private discussion, I will keep the ingredient of the gist to my chest. But one fact is obvious, I stand to be corrected that my dear governor undoutably is suffering from Ohakim-phobia, and hunted by Ararume ghost, while Uzodimma and Udenwa, his Orlu zone brothers could be threats to his political career. The way he swooped on the aforementioned persons during the show was an indication that the head of Rescue Mission in Imo is experiencing sleepless nights over the continued existence of those high ranking co-politicians. I see it as a class struggle for power. Na dem sabi Wetin be their problem. I reserve my comment
Before I conclude this gospel that came as a result of my Douglas House visit, let me commend the governor for the timely interactive session with the publishers. I wish it will be periodic for the strategic partnership he pleaded for. It could be the needed synergy to give Imo people undiluted information about workings of his administration I have always proposed that politics is a media game and newsmen can not be divorced from the act of governance.
A government without media is more like an enterprising soccer game without spectators. Okorocha should erase communication gap and build bridges across to the major players in the local media industry for easy flow of information. The absence of government house correspondents of the respective media is an anathema, even as the monstrous sectional divide houses and rule tactics employed by the governor’s media aides have ended up becoming self-destructive tendencies which inadvertently attracts negative publicity for the administration. The three owners of Trumpeta have rich journalistic pedigree, financial muscle and tremendous out-reach to float and fund a flourishing medium like Trumpeta .
It is therefore not only a theatre of absurd but a figment of skewed imagination of rabble rousers, especially Rescue Mission sympathizers to always claim that Trumpeta belongs to Ohakim. We have reflected on this issue on several occasions and to highly placed persons in Okorocha government about our ownership of Trumpeta and role as unbiased umpire in playing the role of watchdog of the society. Trumpeta is like a mini-shop open to all customers and only those who come in to do business are captured in the scheme of things. Irrespective of warped expression bandied about by uninformed traducers in some quarters there is no editorial bias whatsoever to any camp when handling news and information available to our newsroom.
For instance, since Okorocha came into power, successive persons handling the information and media arm have never considered it necessary to send ordinary press releases of government activities freely given to newsmen in the state. Apart from Government House activities and that of Okorocha, stories are abound on the streets of Owerri and in the hinterland to take over Trumpeta pages.
The Governor went further to raise a sensitive issue that touches on defamation of character. What however pained Okorocha was a report about his administration borrowing more than N100 billion. The Governor intimated the media executives that he would have dragged the concerned medium (not Trumpeta) to court for civil and criminal related offences. Ironically, while the governor warned against libelous conducts, he was even defaming some characters at the interactive session. I am not sure that Ohakim had used any medium or publicly made disparaging remarks about Okorocha but the incumbent governor at the interactive session labeled his immediate predecessor as a thief, rogue and criminal who stole the state’s money even when no court of competent jurisdiction or investigative panel found him guilty of any fraudulent activity.
May be the governor did not know it is a libel to call an noneconvicted person criminal in the public. To him, libel could mean when he was accused and not when he uses uncouth language to describe his perceived political foes. From his Ideato South locality, he told the pressmen present that some persons who I will not mention their names are political thugs that shot at people and used sticks to whip men in the past dispensation. Can he defend the claims of his allegations if quoted verbatim and published in the newspaper should the people rush to court to seek redress?
Moreso, is it not mere mudslinging and campaign of calumny on the part of the governor to express that the empowerment items and packages recently released to constituents by a PDP top office holder (names withed) are Sure-P projects?. According to the governor “if you look at those
items he gave out very well, you will see Sure-P inscriptions on them”. Since I promised not to open up on what transpired in Govt House, my mouth shut up, ink block before I develop mouth diahorea and turn to ameebo.
I want to use this opportunity to appreciate how Okorocha has so far transformed the Government House complex. But there are poor finishings remarkably, both civilian and military governors who ruled Imo in the past have no space in the revamped Multi Purpose Hall and Exco Chamber. It is a big minus and embarrassment to the state that the traditional Multi Purpose Hall and Exco Chamber where pictures of Imo former Leaders a place is no where to be found.
Except he wants his history be deleted in the state at the end of his tenure, natural justice demands Okorocha restore the pictures of our past governors for posterity sake as it has been the practice in the past.
On Ohakim phobia, I want to ask the governor if his predecessor was behind the signing of the Abortion law which he repealed and apologized for given assent, induced the infamous convoy clash with senator Christy Anyanwu at Azaraegbelu Owerri road a year age, the seat-dragging brouhaha with Gov Peter Obi’s aide in Enugu state during Ekwueme’s eighty birthday celebration, and invoked the spirits to cause altercation between him and the Agbasos as result of the N458m JPros bribe scandal?
Finally, the event ended well with everybody happy. INPA chairman, Njoku in a brief response enumerated few points that have encumbered smooth relationship between the home media and Okorcha government before informing the governor that no media in the state can be against him as the publishers are undertaking their professional duties of informing and educating the masses. The Horn publisher added that the Trumpeta trio he saw and present at the event are the real owners of the newspaper.
At the end of the interactions, we dismissed peacefully. Somebody who proof reads this work and others nearby listening to my story asked “if we dismissed just like that without the promised ‘Mission’ arm of the Rescue Mission touching us” I still de laugh o, Until next year, when I will be in a -better position to explain.
