Today’s piece will take a multi dimensional approach. I wanted to make a comparative analysis of political dispensations orchestrated by the three civilian administrations we have had in the State since 1999. But I had to change topic on the basis of the submission of a regular reader of this colunm, whose identity I will not disclose, who drew my attention to the biting hunger and cash squeeze in Imo.
“My broda, imakwa na ihesiri ike na Obodo a” (do you know that times are hard in this town),was the sharp voice from him without allowing yours sincerely to exchange usual telephone banters .
Before I could interject to say hello and ask, how do you mean, he continued with his complain “Are you hearing me, why is Imo State unfortunate in choosing its leaders. Must we go through all this before we live happily” he complained with a tinge of frustration in his voice.
At this point I had to stop him, and asked why he felt I was the right person he will tell his grievances and why he would not channel his complains by either writing to the governor or seek audience with one of his lieutenants to pass across his submission.
My interjection did slow down his pace. He went on “Please my brother, I read you on Trumpeta every Tuesday, please write something on this issue who knows they may listen”
He went on to point out that what we see in the State now is totally different during the time of Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim. When I prodded him further to explain, he said the cash squeeze or the austere measures introduced by the Owelle administration is really biting on the populace. “ We are losing it my brother, it is getting to a breaking point” he stated
I agreed with him and sympathasized with his cries , but I refused to say much since I am not Owelle’s spokesman and not in a position to defend some of his actions and policies . I only managed to tell him that we have no option than to pray that Rochas fulfills his promise by allowing cash to flow in the State since he has promised severally that soon, Imo populace will have cause to smile.
With barely two months to this year’s yuletide season, it is important that we have cause to smile and enjoy a good Christmas.
I have this conviction that the cashless policy of the present administration may have some political undertones or simply put, might be deliberate.
I have not been unable to decipher what strategy it might be, but I am convinced that there is a reason for this. Whatever reason it is, the people’s patience is running out. I will not fail to add that the massive projects Okorocha has embarked upon might just be the reason why there is no cash flow in the State.
However, since the Governor says he is aware of this sorry situation, we can only hope that these complains of no money ends in Imo as soon as possible. I only managed to console my caller assuring him that one day, i go beta
This is not only applicable to the masses of Imo State but also to some government ministries and parastatals. I have closely interacted with some Rescue Missions disciples who say that most of their agencies are underfunded. Again, I say to them with God all things are possible. Imo will be better, I tell them.
This brings me to the second part of today’s essay which borders on issues pertaining to this column. There is this erroneous impression bandied about by some naysayers over my views and opinions on this column lately.
Some say I am now an APC agent that has been offered goodies to support the Rescue Mission. Ordinarily, I ignore such rantings because I have come to observe that there are too many busy bodies in the State who get offended when you tell them the bitter and naked truth.
An influential politician of the State of the PDP stock had accused me that I have bared my fangs against his party in the State. Not done yet, he went on to express his furry on a recent write up I did on this colunm on the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
The piece titled “Emeka Ihedioha And The River To Cross” which appeared on this page on October 1, 2013 really offended his sensibilities judging from his utterances. I never bothered to reply him because I felt that either he did not digest very well the contents contained in that piece or wanted to raise dust when there is no basis for such. Because if he did read that article, he would have been surprised with the deluge of commendations and accolades that trailed that publication from those who are learned enough to know a good write-up.
Another PDP stalwart also had the temerity to say I decided to change style because he was reliably informed that I was in the race to become Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary but eventually lost out to my senior colleague, Sam Onwuemedo of White paper Newspaper. O di egwu, I said to myself. Me, Okorocha’s CPS. When last did I visit Government House, talkless of seeking for appointment in Rochas Rescue boat. Again, I laughed off such allegations on the basis that the accuser was either hallucinating or simply wanted to be mischivieous.
I resolved not to respond to such allegations on the basis that as a columnist and editor. I am bound to receive or accept every criticism or commendation. And that has been my position since I began to edit this newspaper since September 2011.
However, I had to drop the no reply strategy when I noticed that the pattern of reactions was one sided, as those who complained are mainly PDP stalwarts or those who have an axe to grind with the present administration. The usual response and constructive criticisms on this colunm suddenly began to come in the form of abuse and insults. Still, I persevered and endured.
Some went the extra mile to tell my bosses in Trumpeta to watch what Mr. Onyeukwu or what that boy writes on his colunm on Tuesdays. For me that was the breaking point. Nonsense, I said to myself. At this point, I resolved not to keep mute anymore and allow political misfits to influence what I write or say.
And because they are ignorant of the ethics of journalism, they forget that Trumpeta is not a PDP newsletter or the mouthpiece of any political party for that matter. I remember my bosses have written extensively and informed those who have such erroneous belief that Trumpeta newspaper is soley established for the purpose of informing the Imo populace. It is the peoples newspaper.
Besides, opinions expressed by any columnist on this newspaper is not the position of the newspaper, but that of the writer. For those who hold on tenaciously to such porous and self designed assumptions that I am Rochas Okorocha’s latest disciple, I only pity them for harbouring such belief. And I say so because they are ignorant or delibrately stoking up such sentiments just to suit their shallow understanding of issues propounded on this colunm.
For the umpteenth time, I will say I am nobody’s boy or agent and I do not intend to be one. I will only align myself to those who place the interest of the masses above selfish and primordial interests. I am a journalist and not a politician, though every man born by a woman is a politician. Man they say is a political animal, abi
I can only have sympathy for my fellow Imolites who go down on their knees begging Almighty God to give them leaders with vision and focus. This is the group or party I belong to. Those who have followed my write ups since my days at Red Parrot Newspaper and defunct Democrat will attest to the fact that I do not respond to selfish political jabs from politicians, though majority of my friends are politicians.
For me, I believe no man is another man’s God. And because that is the way God has ordained it to be, no man, no mortal can assume to be God unto any Man. And it is only those that depend on fellow man for survival that will be afraid to say the truth or compromise it for a pot of porridge.
This has been my guiding philosophy. I will not compromise standards simply to satisfy the inordinate desires of some self serving politicians. It is the stock in trade of some politicians to compel jounalists to do their bidding, when you refuse to oblige you are branded an enemy and labeled with uncomplimentary remarks.
For those who do not know, I am nobody’s agent. And I do not intend to be one. I have no sympaythy for Rochas. I will praise any policy of his administration that is suitable for the people of the State and criticize constructively those policies considered to be anti people. The same goes for other institutions of authority. Constructive criticism is the hallmark of modern Journalism.
This does not eliminate the fact that if any administration consider me worthy to serve the people of the State in whatever capacity, I will not hesitate to do so. Service to the people does not come from the blues, it comes from God.
So, I will not despise or deconstruct him (Rochas) simply because some politicians want me not to like his face. As governor of the state, I can only criticize his government’s policies, not his person. Politicians cannot dictate to journalists what to write or say. If there are some journalists who easily fall prey to such temptations, I am not one of them. I do not belong to that category. And God willing, I will not.
During the era of Ikedi Ohakim, I was not an avid supporter of that administration. I was objective in my criticisms of that government. I hailed some good policies of his New Face Initiative such as the Clean and Green programme. This did not deter yours sincerely from opposing the demolition exercise of that government because Willie Amadi to some extent, applied vendetta in carrying out his assignment. But I still enjoyed tremendous relationship with key officials of that administration such as Chief I.D Nwoga, Chief Kelvin Agbaegbu and Ohakim’s CPS and now my Editor-in-chief at Trumpeta, Mr. Henry Ekpe.
Journalists who know their onion do not compromise the ethics of the profession which places emphasis on balance, objectivity and truth just to satisfy the desires of those who are unhappy over what you write.
I have no political leanings either. I have sympathy for all political parties and for all politicians in Imo State and beyond. Yes, I have written much on the APC on this column. And I have good reasons for doing so. The APC has featured prominently on this page because the strength and size of that party puts a check on the ruling PDP. This is good for our democracy. Every selfless Nigerian will agree with me that one party state has not helped our democratic development.
I have always been a strong advocate of two strong political parties. It is healthy for our democratic growth and progress. A situation where one political party has monopoly of the political landscape does not deepen democracy but shortcuts the ability of the people to make informed choices during elections. Good governance cannot be achieved in our society when the people have limited political platforms to choose whom to vote for.
If the PDP is having sleepless nights because the APC is now on board, that is good for Nigerians, nay Imolites. If the APC is afraid to confront the sinous political tentacles of the ruling party in the coming elections, it is also good for our democracy. The ultimate benefactor of the exchange of political crossfire by political parties is the people. Men with good conscience will always align with the people. This is what I have done. This is where I stand.
Over the years in the course of discharging my profession as a journalist, I have maintained this conviction and position. This is why I relate freely with every politician in the State, irrespective of political party affiliation.
Before I rose to become editor of The Red Parrot Newspaper, I headed the political unit of that newspaper which gave me ample opportunity to interact with so many politicians within and outside the State. Name them: Dr.Ogbonnaya Onu, Humphrey Anumudu, Alex Obi, Ifeanyi Araraume, Martin Agbaso, Tony Ezenna, Festus Odumegwu, Kema Chikwe,Willie Amadi, Gibson Njemanze (Oyiga), Vitalis Ajumbe, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Hon Ernest Ibejiako, Lady Love Innih, Chief Sam Aka, et al.
Many of them were in the PDP then. Some are still glued to the party, while a good number of them have quit for one reason or the other. Some of them even encouraged me to run for elective office on the party’s platform. This does not compel me not to tell them the truth when they err.
In all that we do, men with good conscience fear no evil. The truth can never be overshadowed by darkness. If a government goofs, it calls for criticisms, . That is my take. This is my style
