It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt” Abraham Lincoln. The Bible also says that “It is not what goes into a man that defiles a man but what comes out of him”.
We must be conscious at all times how we put across our statements especially when one is in a position of authority.
This brings me to the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, Rt Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu and many of the Press releases, either in Print or Electronic Media, credited to him.
While I do not begrudge the Speaker his right of speech, especially in a democratic environment, it will be quite apt if he recognizes that there is a difference now between a Chief Benji Uwajumogu from Ihitte/Uboma LGA and Rt Hon Benji Uwajumogu, the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly. In this case, the exalted office of the Speaker makes Chief Uwajumogu the third citizen of Imo State, and therefore controls “political power” which ordinarily, as a private citizen he cannot wield.
In any event, every word that comes out from the mouth of Chief Uwajumogu today is news. All his actions are put under scrutiny because he is being sustained with Imo Tax payers’ money and therefore a public servant. He can be queried on his activities because he holds his office in trust of the masses.
But recently, a lot of unsavoury news stories have been ascribed to the Speaker, which many people had expected his office to deny, but to no avail.
The first was the story credited to the Speaker, where he said that a certain politician from Anambra State, in collaboration with Chief Martin Agbaso, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP offered him Billions of Naira to unseat His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
For experienced minds, that news was uncalled for because of the time it came out, and the tension in Imo State then.
One, if Hon Uwajumogu was so offered that amount, why did he wait for too long before telling Imo people of the plot to remove their Governor. Two, he made this open after the impeachment process of the former Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso had been concluded.
Does it mean that it was for the “plot” to impeach Okorocha that Jude Agbaso was removed from office and roped into a fictitious accusation that he embezzled (N458m) four hundred and fifty eight million naira?
Was it proper for the Speaker to have made this story open, even after he presided over the Imo Assembly that indicted and sacked Jude Agbaso?
In this case, was Uwajumogu privy all the while that Jude Agbaso would be brought to his slaughter house where (he) Uwajumogu will brandish the knife?
In a normal clime, what the Speaker did with the Billion Naira allegation story of plot to unseat Okorocha, was to indict the entire Imo legislature of compromise and complicity with the Executive in the removal of Agbaso which is an aberration in Democracy.
I am here not speaking for Jude Agbaso, after all he was in office when APGA thugs attacked me, and never bothered to ask how I survived. I am only trying to let the Speaker know that most times his activities put him on the spot.
Even if the impeachment story against Owelle Okorocha was true, it was not in the place of Uwajumogu (Legislature) to be the mouth piece of Okorocha (Executive) when the Governor has his own media team who should have broken the news; and may be Uwajumogu interviewed by Press to confirm.
Some months ago, Uwajumogu bought a full page interview in The Nation Newspaper, where he alleged of Billions of Naira stolen by the past administration led by Chief Ikedi Ohakim.
I was confused how it became the duty of a Speaker of the House of Assembly to grant interview and furnish the Press about financial transactions of past Executive. Is it the responsibility of the Speaker? Or the Executive to break that allegation? Or has the present Imo Legislature conducted any investigation against the past Executive? Where did Uwajumogu get the figures he was brandishing in the Press?
How many times has the State Commissioner for Information announced the list of Committees in the House of Assembly for the Legislature?
For starters, in a Democracy, we have three arms of Government; The Executive, Judiciary and Legislature. Each is independent of the other. It was for the relationship of the trio in governance that we have separation of powers.
In Imo State, the office of the Speaker has made a mockery of this ritual in democracy, where it is expedient for the almighty Legislature to oversee the functions of the Executive and the Judiciary for checks and balances.
Speaker Uwajumogu has made it difficult for Imo people to decipher exactly when the Legislature is Speaking or the Executive, as Uwajumogu seems to represent both. There is no more gap between Imo Legislature and the Executive.
This is not the first time we are having a Speaker in the Imo Assembly. During the regime of Chief Achike Udenwa, the Legislature was treated with awe by the Executive, even though the PDP was in majority then in the House, with a Governor of PDP stock.
Then, Barr Noel Agwuocha Chukwukadibia could sneeze and Udenwa catches cold. Members of Imo House of Assembly had respect and were not treated like school Boys, who could be instructed on what to do by the Executive.
When Godfrey Dikeocha took over, the same mutual respect existed between the Assembly and the legislature. It was same during Kelechi Nwagwu’s era. Not a master servant relationship.
Infact, in 2007 then Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim was of Peoples Progressive Party, PPA, with only one member in the Assembly and PDP in the majority.
The Governor neither poached PDP members to PPA, nor was he apprehensive of impeachment, but treated the members with respect, by giving them their dues. Because of this mutual respect, Ohakim lasted in PPA for two years without any trouble from the Legislators until he “voluntarily” went back to PDP.
Within this period under review, I did not read or heard any where Goodluck Opiah mentioned Udenwa’s regime as he focused himself with the business of Lawmaking, and fighting for the right of his colleagues from the Executive. If there was such news it came from the Executive arm, not from the Legislature.
Never did any one hear Dikeocha or Agwuocha make policy pronouncements, which is the responsibility of the Executive, but concentrated on Legislation.
A few days ago, Uwajumogu told the Press why a former Governor of Imo State will never “rule” Imo State again. I saw the story and shuddered that Mr Speaker has again left his job and became the Commissioner for Information, or the Special Adviser on politics to the Governor.
No matter how good the Executive may be to the Legislature the former should try at all times to keep that arm of Government from being tagged the appendage of the latter.
Let me say here that the only way the Legislature can gain respect from the populace is to make the masses know that the (Legislature) is independent and not a servant to the Executive. Infact, the Legislature is the real representative of the masses in a democracy.
Therefore, if Uwajumogu thinks what will endear him into the heart of Governor Okorocha is to preach Okorocha’s name to every crowd, he is only diminishing himself and his office. Okorocha has those Government is paying to do such jobs.
In a democracy, whether the Governor or President likes it, the Legislature must perform their duties. Therefore, it is more rewarding for the Legislature to exert its authority over the Executive and garner recognition, than being subservient to Executive.
Uwajumogu should not believe that his stay in office as Speaker is dictated by Okorocha. It ought to be on his leadership qualities and confidence of his colleagues. That is why no Group from within or without, can remove Tambuwal as the Speaker of House of Representatives because it was his colleagues that voted him in.
Anyway, no one should blame Uwajumogu for being afraid and showing more loyalty to Okorocha than his colleagues because it was Okorocha that appointed him Speaker.
Even at that, Uwajumogu has placed Imo people in a quagmire with his leadership qualities and character as to which political party he belongs to. This is the first time in the history of Imo State, that the people, including members of the House, does not know which party their Speaker belongs to, yet Uwajumogu is busy berating other people on their moral bankruptcy. The Speaker carries a moral burden to educate even a child.
Uwajumogu at the inception of the present House moved to APGA, for easy lucre and Speakership position. It was recorded in the News, yet such a person of such high office still swears he is a member of PDP and even in court substantiating his claim, and yet at each opportunity carpets same party he claims to be a member. Uwajumogu is a contradiction in character and person.
What many people had expected of Rt Hon Benji Uwajumogu is to quietly enjoy himself and should stop insulting the sensibility of Imo populace.
Whoever does not want heat should stay away from the Kitchen. Uwajumogu is the Speaker today because of zoning formular and intrigues, because if not, there are other capable hands that can hold that office and give it spice and mien.
Let me also advise Chief Uwajumogu that he who rides a Tiger must end inside its stomach. When Sir Jude Agbaso was “swaggering” about appearing in Televisions accusing some Imo politicians of stealing Billions of Naira, we never thought that “only Millions” of Naira will make him kiss the dust. Those he was accusing are still moving around freely, while he is now wanted.
Jude Agbaso has to go despite all that his Elder brother, Martin did to install the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Here, there is no taking of prisoners.
Mark my word, Uwajumogu may be another casualty. He contested the election under PDP, and was only invited to “Come-chop”. Is he more important and strategic to Owelle Okorocha, before and after the 2011 Imo Guber election than Jude Agbaso was, yet he was thrown out in ignominy? So, what makes Uwajumogu think he is indispensible to Okorocha? He would have been if he can control his colleagues in the House. But he has confused his colleagues because he does not see them as the protection he has, and again they don’t even know which political party he belongs to.
It will be unfortunate if Gov Okorocha trusts Uwajumogu. Okorocha is too experienced to know that if Uwajumogu can betray PDP, Ohakim and Ozichukwu who made him pick his party ticket and win election, who then can he not discard for his personal pursuits.
I learnt that Uwajumogu is nursing the ambition to run for Okigwe Senatorial Seat in 2015, and therefore out to discredit those he sees as perceived obstacles to his tall dream.
Following his political antecedents lately, I would advise that Uwajumogu prays that he finishes his tenure as Speaker, or even as member of Imo House of Assembly for one term, than embarking on wild goose chase.
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. And those whose grandparents cracked their carnels should not insult others. Uwajumogu’s star is shining now, but he should not dim it by making wild statements that may haunt, and hunt him in the future or even attract him enemies. Remember that whoever has honey in his cupboard must expect ants as visitors. As a politician, it is better to play the game with all its conspiracies and horse tradings than leaving words that may take ages to delete.
