By Okey Alozie
Reminiscent of his traditional irascible mentality, the Chief Press Secretary, CPS to the Governor of Imo State, Sam Onwuemeodo was in his best element on Thursday when he showcased brutish acts in a vain glory effort to once again pursue a correspondent of Trumpeta out of Government House, Owerri.
In the full glare of the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Commissioner for Information, Prof Nnamdi Obiareri, government officials, Officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State and gentlemen of the Press, Onwuemedo forcibly attempted to ask the Trumpeta staff, Okey Alozie out of the venue before resistance kept him at bay.
It would be recalled that on repeated occasions, Onwuemeodo had been quitting any Trumpeta staff from Government House since he became the CPS to Okorocha. Apart from trying to create bad blood between the Owerri based medium and the state government under Okorocha, the publisher of another Owerri based newspaper, Whitepaper has showcased unbridled hatred for Trumpeta.
The management of Trumpeta however is of the view that no amount of Onwuemeodo’s chicanery can stop the newspaper from keeping its trademark of “Voice of the People. The newspaper further needs to remind the present CPS to Okorocha that no journalist owns the seat of media office in Governor’s Office as it is a ” Barrack” where “Soldier Go, Soldier Come” And no matter how long he keeps the position, it won’t last forever.
Meanwhile, according to Alozie’s encounter with Onwuemeodo, he narrated that immediately the governor’s Chief Press Secretary noticed that the Trumpeta reporter was among those inside the hall, he became very angry and moved to bounce him out, as it has became his norm for such gathering.
Unfortunately, he did not succeed as governor Okorocha, Commissioner for Information and top ranked journalists intervened, and pleaded that the Trumpeta reporter should be allow to stay. At that juncture, the governor directed that Okey Alozie should be given the microphone to talk and the matter was settled by the governor who later turned everything as a joke.
Immediately after the media chat with governor, Onwuemedo went back to the issue and this time around, he attempted to force Trumpeta reporter (Okey Alozie) from the press crew bus but other senior journalist who were inside the press bus resisted him and stopped the matter from escalating beyond what it was.
The C.P.S raised eyebrows and vowed that he will never welcome Trumpeta in any of his upcoming functions and event, while those who heard him frowned at his statement.
“Governor Okorocha must be told of this embarrassment on Imo Journalists by his C.P.S, Sam Onwuemeodo” the group shouted.
