By ; Chinyochaobi Isreal Uhuegbu 
Governor Peter Obi’s protocol officer and all the protocol personnels detailed to organize the 80th Birthday of His Excellency; Dr. Alex Ekwueme should without delay tender an unreserved apology to His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha and to the good people ofImoStatefor attempting to bring to public ridicule their Governor. That is how I can describe the saidEnuguunfortunate episode. The Governor of a state bears the image of that state. I stand on principle of public order and decency to demand to know the kind of sitting arrangement atEnugubefore the arrival of dignitaries? Whatever may have arisen there after is caused by poor sitting arrangements especially Governors attending such all important ceremony of one of the Igbo illustrious sons and one time Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I do not believe there was any seat reservation for Imo Governor pure and simple. It is as simple as ABCD. If the alleged way and manner His Excellency, Peter Obi, Governor of Anambra State squeezed himself to the seat, it looked ridiculous.
Who were the handlers of this ceremony? Where were Governor Chime’s protocol to have not painstakingly saw to it that all coming Excellencies were seated comfortably or were at least given the most decent Governorship treatment. Perhaps am yet to be tutored or lectured what actually went amiss. Can any body please inform me or detail me properly. Whatever may be the tag removal, the push-me- and-I-push-you syndrome, should not arise and should not be mentioned because it sounds funny enough.
Imo state was not in that picture at all. How do the outsiders-especially members of diplomatic corps view this ugly incident? Have decency and protocality gone to the winds? Imo was presented in bad light. Imo was not well treated by the ceremony handlers. If what is reported in various papers-local and National dallies is true, then a lot of meanings are to be read into the whole saga. How can a protocol officer dominate the seat or the space meant for Governors, even if that is reserved for his boss. Doesn’t he know that the South East Governors have some level of respect and dignity that must be accorded to them? Doesn’t he know that the image of a state like Imo is at stake for not standing up for “ImoState” Chief Executive or its number one citizen? They say no smoke without fire. My concern here is the attitude of the Governor Obi’s protocol officer towards the Imo image bearer Owelle Rochas Okorocha. The Alex Ekwueme’s 80th Birthday Bash attracted Nigerians and international who is who. Journalists, thirsty of News to break must have pounced on this Episode plus or minus to strike their “BREAKING NEWS. PUNCH NEWSPAPERS fired the salvo: Sunday punch captioned it” “PUNCHED” Governor
Peter Obi’s protocol officer. The Imo Trumpeta, this emerging Newspaper brand tagged it” How Rochas turned boxer at Ekwueme’s Birthday” Other papers followed suit… On my honour as a private citizen, I condemn this clear assault and embarrassment to the Imo State Governor and number one citizen. You and I may be in that shoe tomorrow, politics apart Owelle deserves a respectable place in that Ekwueme’s Big Show. That place is not reserved for protocol officers but to His Excellencies and Her Excellencies, but plus the poor, the needy, the protocol officers who know their onions. As for meImoStatewas terribly humiliated. I am protecting His Excellency Governor Chime ofEnuguand His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi ofAnambraState.
This time around the Imo protocol officers did their best to defend their own boss and the image bearer of their State. It was good it did not degenerate to a big fight. ThatEnuguouting for Alex Ekwueme is not for “small boys” it was meant for the Big Bays” Reserved for Diplomats only diplomacy could win the day. It was diplomacy that won. The Owelle’s handlers now woke up from deep slumber to quickly dispel this ugly “Rumour” that spread to town like wildfire. The Chinedu Offors of Washington-fame” took up the guntlet as an information officer ofImoStateand did go no-line. He denied reports that Owelle Okorochas did not Punch Obi’s “Protocol Officer” Owelle special assistant media, Ebere Uzoukwa reacted instantly. Offor’s statement read”
The attention of Imo State Government has been drawn to a malicious report on Sunday Punch which portrayed His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha (CON) fought Governor Peter Obi’s protocol officer over seat”… Nigerian Horn midweek front page “Okorocha Breaks Silence: I didn’t fight over sear. Denies plot to remove speaker.” (Oct 24-25: 2012)”
Whatever may be the case, I stand to say that Governors are image bearers of their respective states, protocol officers should be careful. Our dear Owelle, I hereby move this motion from the court of Public opinion for you to forgive and forget whatever may be the embarrassing situation at the Alex Ekwueme’s Birthday Bash. To err is human to forgive is divine. I denounce that embarrassing outing of that Governor Peter Obi’s protocol officer on Imo image Please forgive the PUNCH!!
