Having exhausted this issue which commenced two weeks ago, I had concluded arrangements to engage in a fresh interesting topic on Agwo-di-nuju column before another reaction necessitated a re-touch of the seeming vexed issue.
It is important to note that when the topic “Rochas and the Balkanization of Imo State Polytechnic” got first attention on this back page, at no time did I mention the name of the immediate past Governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim or other active politicians and office holders who played prominent role during that era. I only concentrated on the fragmentation of Imo Poly campuses and the fate of the host LGA; Ohaji/Egbema in the scheme of things. I never tried to make any form of comparism between the Okorocha government and that of his predecessors than the disclosure of how past governments from the military to civilian era contributed to the growth of Imopoly but never comptemplated relocating the courses outside the main campus at Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema LGA.
However, one of those who sent in a feed back as part of comments trailing the series unarguably exhibited uncommon approach by throwing invenctives at me. The fellow simply identified as Emma who claims to be from Assah/Obile area of Ohaji used a phone number 07035370972 to fire jibes at me. Despite my explanations in last week’s edition, the so-called Emma fresh salvo that I avoided the issues he raised in that particular commentary stating; “That is why God is God and not man. Rather than treat ur issue the way I put it, you deviated so dat it will suit urself wel. (1) Did you inform ur reader that u have agreed dat Ohakim did not tared any road in Ohaji/Egbema even when your Oga was Speaker, (2) did you inform dem that de Waltersmith scholarship of Opia was Abracadabra, u did not …
When I mentioned Emma’s ranting during last week edition, I did not discuss matter raised about Ohakim et al, because it was not the subject of discussion. It was deliberate because I would not only be derailing but also lose focus of Imopoly related issues by dissipating energy on those who no longer have any political force to reckon within government of the day. Since I have proved my Imo Poly balkanization case, the coast is now clearer to respond to Emma’s diatribe. And after my explanation today and next edition, we shall know who should be ashamed.
Emma’s text messages arose from my first postulations that unlike other LGAs in the State where Governor Okorocha’s Rural Road Revolution, RRR, is taking, place, no kilometre of a road has been asphalted in Ohaji Egbema. I went further to disclose that the Roche-type of school building has no space in the major oil producing area and these are part of the calculated agenda to ostracize the good people of Ohaji/Egbema.
As a suspected Okorocha apostle and one of his renowned praise-singers, Emma instead of confirming issues raised responded with the Ohakim poser, which probably inquires about the former Governor’s legacy to Ohaji/Egbema.
I am a crusader of the common journalistic believe that “comments are free but facts are sacred in journalism. Therefore, my responses will bear elements of professionalism than sheer political cleavages while answering his questions .
Even as I am not holding brief for Ohakim, et al, it is worthy to note that unlike Gov Okorocha who made road construction part of his cardinal project, Ohakim was modest in his approach to road construction hence Ohaji/Egbema had a fair share of the ex-Govervor’s gestures. Between 2007 2011 four different roads running into several kilometers were constructed in Ohaji/Egbema. Emma’s expression cannot be divorced from the continuous belief and verbal expressions of Rescue Missioners in Imo State about the activities of the former government. Contrary to reports from captains of the present government that no road project was done by Ohakim, the Okorocha government ironically made available to a panel investigating contracts awarded by Ohakim administration names of 44 road projects handled by different firms. Of the 44 road projects, Ohaji/Egbema benefitted immensely. Because Emma’s sense of reasoning has been beclouded with irrationality, he forgot that the Obosima-Ohuba road measuring more than 4 kilometres was constructed during Ohakim era. Achike Udenwa government started it from Obosima end but could not go beyond a kilometre before Ohakim re-awarded the contract and completed the project. It was handled by Frank and Gene Nig Ltd. Another road is the Abacheke-Ugwujiagu Road. It is a ring road that leads from Abacheke through the Omoku-Egbema road to Ugwujagu (near Nzeobi house).
The first phase of the road is more than 2 kilometres with the second part to have a bridge connecting the Abacheke Secondary School area that is near the River. The contract was handled by Chris Brown International.
Emma should have also known that the asphalted Awarra Ikwerrede Road which is near his Obille/Assah locality is a product of the Ohakim administration as well as the Umuorji-Obeakpu road that connects two important towns in Egbema. These roads were handled by Chris Brown International, an International Construction firm owned by a proud son of Ohaji/Egbema whose firm is a renowned road maker in the Niger Delta region.
Apart from the aforementioned roads, the state government was strategic partners with political figures from the area from 2007 to 2011 as they engaged in an interface with federal agencies like Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to attract vital road projects to the area. The Obinze- Umuokane- Mgbuisi road project contract covered several kilometers before the present administration came in and the project were stopped in unceremonious manner. What of the Umuapu-Ihie-Obitti Assah to Egbema communities being handled by ENERCO. These road projects were attracted by the immediate past administration. Work has reached advanced stages at different locations before the present administration came into power. However, those incharge have jettisoned the rosy working relationship between the state and Niger Delta Affairs Ministry in Abuja resulting to abandonment of some of the roads like the Umuokanne Mgbuisi Umuapu bye-pass.
The next issue raised was an unfounded Waltersmith scholarship which he allegedly roped in the Speaker Emeritus of Imo Assembly, Rt Hon Goodluck Nanah Opia.
I have tried my best to stop discussing Opiah in the public domain or Trumpeta medium since I ceased to function as Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. But this challenge is forcing me to make a volte-face. I can vividly talk about the blissful and wonderful four years we spent together in the state legislature. And as his spokesman, the seasoned lawmaker has nothing to do with Waltersmith not to talk of the company scholarship. Except Emma is not well informed about Waltersmith, I am privileged to know that it is a mere oil servicing company engaged in seismic work within Awarra/Ikwerrede area, which is neigbour to his (Emma) Assah/Obille home in Ohaji/Egbema LGA. I begin to wander what is the relationship between Rt Hon Opiah and Waltersmith scholarship. Does Opiah work for Waltersmith or acts as their scholarship agent as a Speaker or member of the House? I am aware that Waltersmith has a Community Relations Officer who today is the traditional ruler of troubled Ochia Autonomous Community of Ohaji/Egbema, Eze Ekwueme Paulinus Ekwueme. Opiah has no business of any kind whatsoever with the Waltersmith Company as the name or impact of the oil servicing company was not felt beyond Awarra Community. It would be an infradig for a state lawmaker and Speaker of the House to be involved in a pedestrian issue like Waltersmith Scholarship than business of law-making, necessary oversight functions and effective constituency representation at the state level. The involvement of Opiah in the Waltersmith issue still remains part of the orchestrated cheap blackmail, unprecedented falsehood bandied about by the likes of Emma and co to demean and ridicule the integrity of the Speaker emeritus during the 2011 political debacle.
I am aware that if Emma is not one of the seasoned purveyors of falsehood in Ohaji/Egbema, he would have known that Rt Hon Opiah ran one of the scintillating private scholarship programmes during his days in Imo House. The former Speaker’s philanthropic gestures were latter emulated by his colleagues. It is on record that Opiah Scholarship Foundation facilitated the tertiary education of not less than 370 Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta sons and daughters in various higher institutions, under his Divine Mandate Organization platform. The late Prof Gabriel Umezurike chaired the board where notable Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta personalities were part of.
Written interviews for applicants were conducted and recipients picked on merit and not on filial or party sentiments. At a well attended public function in the Ohaji/Egbema Council Secretariat, Mmahu, Egbema, a living witness, Chief Chuma Nnaji who was Commissioner for Information, Imo State chaired the occasion. In the full glare of dignitaries at the council pavilion, Chief Nnaji also doled out the first set of cheques to the beneficiaries. Apart from those from Ohaji/Egbema, my humble self with Chief Luke Dike who was Special Adviser (Protocol) to the Speaker alongside the Director General of Divine Mandate Organization, Chief Benny Umah (Enyi-Ohaji) now traditional ruler of Ilile Autonomous Community in Ohaji, formalized the scholarship granted to two nominees of the remaining 26 lawmakers of Imo House who Opiah considered for the scholarship programme. Emma could be one of those who failed the written selection exercise and was not eventually selected for the scholarship. Instead of bemoaning his fate of failure, Emma continued to express crass ignorance by casting aspersion on Opiah for the misfortune that befell him. One of the pictures recorded during the public event in 2008 and shown below testifies to my claims of solemn believe that facts are sacred in journalism.
By next week, I will move away from the scholarship issue to other sundry matters due to lack of space to continue
