NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA
I have read rather with keen interest and mixed feelings, an article with the above caption written by a certain Chinemerem Obiukwu; whether real name or pseudo-name, I wouldn’t tell since such name sounds quite unfamiliar if not strange in the Imo media space.
Ironically, more than four of such alleged sponsored stories have been written against Dr. Chima Amadi (Mazi Gburugburu ), barley 24 hours since the trio of Okenze Blyden Amajirionwu; a former lawmaker who represented Ngor Okpala in the 9th Imo State House of Assembly alongside the State Publicity Secretary; Cajetan Duke, and Uchechukwu Nelson Nwosu, Ph.D; State Legal Adviser, resigned their positions and membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, to join The Mazi Gburugburu Organization, a political movement that serves as a catalyst to reaching out to thousands of less privileged and also as a lunch pad into his guber ambition.
In his hurriedly written piece and poor analysis, the hack writer reported that political tension and storms are brewing up within Owerri zone since the emergence of Dr. Matthew Chima Amadi on the scene while alleging that he is being sponsored by Abuja power brokers and a former Rivers State Governor to stop the return of Chief Emeka Ihedioha as Imo State govenror.
This infantile and atavistic effort made by the paid media hireling using incitement, raising unnecessary alarm and divisive tendencies to get audience as well as cause political jigsaw and leadership crisis in Owerri zone, is not only unhealthy and outdated, but also dead on arrival since Dr. Chima Amadi in his interventionist approach as a powerful bridge builder, a man with wider reach, social capital, grassroots appeal and strong political goodwill, has come through for a number of these gladiators and key players in the Imo political space without noise; including his brother, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON.
In his third paragraph, where Obiukwu alleged that: “The tactical introduction of Dr. Chima Amadi into the race is therefore, seen as not a genuine attempt to secure the governorship but also a deliberate effort to sabotage Ihedioha’s political ambitions”.
While it is not in my character to join issues with people in the pen profession, an urgent response to the above divisive, incitive, inflammatory and rabble -rousing piece became very expedient given the weighty allegations of tension and crisis raised therein.
To the conservative and keen observers of the productive engagements and socio-political activities of Dr. Matthew Chima Amadi; a seeming new enterant into the Imo leadership discourse; “It’s a clear case of political masturbation and jittery as his fast growing popularity through The Mazi Gburugburu Organization has given interested parties some sleepless nights, thus, their resort to paid media hirelings and hack writers to whittle down an idea whose time has come”.
Is the sky not too big enough for two birds to collide?
Is Dr. Chima Amadi blocking space for anyone to actualize their political ambitions?
Why fan the ember of division, tension, and commotion within Owerri zone to press home your message and impress your sponsors?
Why incite Dr. Chima Amadi against Chief Emeka Ihedioha, in an attempt to create enemity between the two illustrious sons of Imo State from Aboh-Mbaise|Ngor- Okpala Federal Constituency?
As someone had asked questions and directed same to reasonable homosapiens for answers:
Are there storms brewing up in Owerri zone political leadership simply because a new enterant although a strong contender allegedly expressed ambition to join the Imo guber race?
Is the Imo State Government House the birthright of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha?
Is he the only eligible contender from Owerri zone that has the political magic wand to fix Imo State?
In his blind analysis, Obiukwu also alleged that the rivalry between Ihedioha and Amadi traces back to 2022, when Dr. Chima Amadi reportedly sought Emeka Ihedioha’s support to allow his (Mazi Gburugburu)’s kinsman from Ngor- Okpala to retain the House of Representatives seat. Ihedioha, howbeit, backed his Aboh-Mbaise kinsman , arguing that Ngor-Okpala had already occupied the position for 8 uninterrupted years through Rt. Hon. Bede Ekeh.
According to Obiukwu; while Chief Emeka Ihedioha backed Albert Chibuzo Agulanna from the People’s Democratic Party, Dr. Chima Amadi supported his kinsman, Matthew Nwogu, of the Labour Party. The ensuing power play saw Mazi Gburugburu leveraging his influence within INEC to frustrate Ihedioha’s candidate, paving the way for Amadi’s Labour Party candidate, Matthew Nwogu, to win the election.
The above cock and bull story could only be taken hook, line and sinker by the uninformed, and not those who know Dr. Chima Amadi’s leadership dexterity, political sagacity, strong grassroots appeal and unquantifiable goodwill he enjoys among his people having given a lot of them Federal jobs, donated millions as business seed capital, awarded educational scholarships to many indigent but intelligent students, and attracted government projects to the benefit of his people.
In the last three decades or so, Dr. Matthew Chima Amadi, a silent achiever, has concentrated in building his business conglomerate, built capacity in leadership, expanded his political network, contacts horizon across sectors, raised men, empowered the youths, and also enriched his enviable academic profile to an international height. And we are not surprised, because it is only when a tree begins to produce fruits that it attracts stones.
Dr. Chima Amadi (Mazi Gburugburu) is adopting a paradigm shift in governance; one that advocates for social welfare of Imo people, productive youth engagement through functional skills, infrastructural development across the LGAs with the help of public-private partnership, foreign direct investment, and not relying on excessive borrowing and bleeding the state to death.
The speculated and imaginary tension within Owerri zone as a result of his entrance into the Imo gubernatorial race is quite laughable, just like the alleged rift between him and Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, as both men were seen together during the festive season enjoying friendship and brotherhood in an atmosphere of social conviviality and camaraderie.
If there are lucky politicians in Imo State; Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha is among them, judging by his rich political profile, not allowing others to make attempts will only sell him out as being too selfish, a proverbial Iroko tree who stands in the way of other people’s progress and growth since the Imo gubernatorial seat is not anyone’s personal property.
Therefore, the writer should look for another story to cook up as the incitive one he mischievously wrote wouldn’t fly!
Njoku Macdonald Obinna
Media Consultant|Newspaper Columnist|Public Analyst|PR- Expert
Publisher, 4th Estate Reporters.
