By: Sam. Onwuemeodo.
Imo State Honourable Commissioner for lnformation and Strategy, Declan Mbadiwe Emelumba, a highly respected and experienced media guru and the entire Media crew of the 3R Government in the State had, on their own, chosen to make Mr. Matthew Chima Amadi, an Ngor Okpala man, the guber aspirant to watch for the 2027 governorship contest. They had made the guy a very serious aspirant to behold. A front seat contender. The aspirant to beat. And they had done all these, perhaps, unconsciously. Unknown to them. And now, all eyes seem to be on the man, courtesy of Emelumba and Co.
Having presented or introduced the Ngor Okpala man to Imo people and of course, to other onlookers in grandstyle, as the guy on the high table, I began to follow the man’s activities and speeches closely. And if you interview me, I would say on a very serious note that, the man has neither “sinned” nor defaulted. Both in action and in words. He has not defaecated na ulo uka. Do you understand now? . He has not defaecated either at Assumpta Cathedral or at CATOL or at any other Church as the case may be.
In all his speeches, he had neither attacked the governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, nor berated his government. The man had only criticised certain programmes or activities or policies of the 3R Government. And in doing so, he had been painstaking. He hadn’t declared war. Not aggressive. He had been civil. And criticism is a sine- qua-non in a democracy. It’s unavoidable in every democratic setting. Somewhat red oil with which democracy is eaten. So, his criticizing certain actions of the government of the day, can’t be imputed for him as sin. As unrighteouness. He should rather been baptised with water from Nweorie River as a patriotic Imo citizen . No love lost. One love. In lieu of all these unnecessary anxieties .
Ask me, I would equally allude that, Amadi’s only problem with Emelumba and his lieutenants was his criticising some policies of the government of the day, instead of singing the praises of His Excellency or Your Excellency and his government . That’s his choice. He had chosen the part of not eulogizing the governor or his government and he should be obliged. Then, the best approach would have been to ignore him, especially when he has not been associated with any political party and the campaigns haven’t begun. He hasn’t become the candidate of any particular party. For now, he’s on his own. Doing his things, his own way. Why then, would the government’s media apostles deploy all media arsenals against a man on private exercises, spending from his private purse. From the back pocket of his trousers. Ewere enye. No government’s voucher or draft or promissory note or cheque. I do not understand the reason for the uneasiness . At all; At all, at all.
When the Imo State Commissioner For Information and Strategy issued a Press Statement talking about Amadi, he was only telling the world that, the man has the recognition and the attention of the whole of Imo people and the Imo State Government. That the man is a heavy weight. Mike Tyson. Or, kill-we Nwachukwu. He succeeded in making the man a subject matter with the government’s seal on top. Some of these things must be understood. Must be brought home.
In chasing the man, they had equally talked about his style. How does his style of politics concern anybody? . No two politicians have same style. Achike Udenwa’s style in 1999 was different from Rochas Okorocha’s style in 2011. Evans Enwerem’s style could not have been the same or alike with that of Hope Uzodimma. Style varies depending on one’s perspective or choice . Samuel Anyanwu’s approach when he ran for Senate was not the approach of Amah Iwuagwu who also ran for Senate in 2003 and they all won. Let Chima Amadi’s style or approach be with him and for him. It shouldn’t be anybody’s headache .
Again, if Amadi had chosen to aspire for the governorship of the State without expecting the incumbent governor to support him, would he be clapping for the same governor? The answer is no. The reason his criticism of the government of the day should be understood. He does not depend on the governor on seat to make him governor in 2027 and the reason he has gone solo. Not expecting any leverage from the governor and his government, he has chosen to engage those he feels can help him out . That can be of help to him. What’s wrong with that?. If it works out for him, fine. But if it doesn’t work out for him, he bears the pain. The sorry or ndo will be for him alone.
Contrary to Amadi’s path, there are also known guber aspirants in the State for 2027 who strongly believed that, with the governor , they will make it. And such aspirants have never left any stone unturned in singing the praises of the governor. Some of them, doing so with amplified bass or tenor. Aspirants like Ikedi Ohakim, Success Obioma Akagburuonye, Ezenwa Onyewuchi, and so on, hardly say anything at any given forum or fora without singing Governor Uzodimma’s praises. Telling their audience about the governor and his achievements. And if you have these number of aspirants on the side of the Imo governor and his government, why losing sleep over one guy who has chosen to do otherwise?. To do the opposite?. Emelumba and co should make do with what they have. Many voices against one voice. I am talking about aspirants looking upto the governor or depending on the governor to fly or navigate in 2027. To land safely . And one man who thinks differently is being made an issue of the State .
If the voices or the praises or the eulogies of these pro-governor or pro-3R government’s guber aspirants are not enough or are deemed not satisfactory, what of the praises of the thirty two Commissioners and more than one hundred Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Members and Chairmen of Boards and Parastatals, who, on daily basis decorate the governor and his government with praises or eulogies?. Why should Amadi’s single release or single track be the issue to those who should know better?.
Finally, I crave your indulgence to end this essay by telling the 3R government’s media personnel to appreciate what Amadi has been doing, since good music only comes from the piano, when both the white and black keys are played. Those who came up with the idea of balanced diet or varieties didn’t do so for the sake of doing so or for the fun of doing so. All Things Bright and Beautiful, GOD made them all. Do you understand?
Nevertheless, we shall continue to clap for Jesus.
