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On Willie Obiano’s Damaging Video
By EBERE WABAR A [email protected] 08055001948
The first and only time I came in contact with the governor of Anambra State, Dr. Willie Obiano, was shortly before his election when his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, introduced him to the best crop of senior journalists, mostly emeritus and serving editors, from the South East based in Lagos. It was a strategic session that culminated in what is now electoral history.
Not quite one year after that brotherly encounter, I began to hear and read stupefying stories about the political disaffection between the two Obis! The serials hit me like a thunderbolt. I could not have imagined it happening at all and not so soon even if it was inevitable. I am yet to come to terms with the transpirations that led to the estrangement.
I had thought that the face-off between the two-time governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and his succesor, Gov. Theodore Ahamefula Orji (Ochendo Global), would be the last in this dispensation in the South East geopolitical extraction. Alas, I was dreaming, not imagining that a summit spectacle was under way. This unfolding episode if not maturedly handled would reduce the Abia tragedy to boyish theatricals!
Last week, I watched a vicious 15-minute documentary on Africa Independent Television (AIT) which dwelt on the avowals of Mr. Obi in condemnatary flourish of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he was the champion and pillar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) long before his recent defection to the PDP.
I discussed with a friend of mine based in Awka after watching the childish documentary and he informed me that the stuff had been running on the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) channels and stations for some time. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing new in the development. He authoritatively intimated me to the fact that the malicious documentary was produced by the staff of ABS through a contractual arrangement.
The thing that amazes me is how professionals allow themselves to be subjected to ignominable acts because they need to keep the wolf from the door. Therefore, any pedestrian matter is packaged and broadcast to the public in vaulting satisfaction of the governor! Nobody among the management of government media looks the governor in the eye to civilize him on the tenets of journalism and codes of conduct for professional practice for fear of losing job. In virtually all the states that is the pattern—both for the print and electronic media. It is worse in states where the governors are peforming abysmally like the leader in that category, my own Abia State.
What baffles me in the instant case is the self-effacing disposition of Gov. Obiano. His gentlemanliness, mien and antecedents are antithetical to present evolutions. He cannot deny that he is not aware of the current media mischief against his benefactor. Such a damning documentary could not have been possible without the authorization of the governor. And if for purposes of argument, the governor’s busy schedule did not allow him time to preview the chalatanistic ABS output, what steps has he taken to stop the deviancy pronto?
For me, all workers in government media houses are glorified messengers of the governor who are ready to do anything informational for their employer even if it offends the sensibilities of members of the society. Professionalism is sacrified on the podium of survival as if there was no life before the emergence of the governor or there would be none after his transient tenure.
Even if you have to disagree with your benefactor or indeed any other person for reasons exclusive to you, there are dignified and responsible ways of doing it. It should not be a kamikeze affair where decorum and civility are thrown to the dogs. Such recklessness diminishes the protagonist more than it does to the victim. If, for instance, I were the governor in this matter, I would advise my media functionaries to do a professional presentation of holistic issues associated with defections, defectors’ pedigrees, circumstances and the implications for individuals and parties. Ultimately, you could still zero in on your target after the rigmarole! That way, a measure of credibility, objectivity and fairness would have been established.
I do not understand why some politicians get disturbed when a few of their colleagues defect. Defection is a globally accepted practice for party members who have cogent or lousy reasons to move to another party in pursuit of their ambitions and satisfaction. Why should anyone begrudge such movements that are further enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended)?
For anyone to say that Mr. Obi defected because he wants an appointment from President Goodluck Jonathan is the most uncharitable thing I have ever heard. If he wanted desperately to be the country’s Aviation Minister, for instance, he had it in his hands provided he defected before the choice of the current minister. Anyone who knows Mr. Obi full well should be aware that he places collective interest above his personal idiosyncracies.
It is regrettable and too early in the day for Gov. Obiano to toe the steps of his counterpart in Abia. It does not fit him at all. For Gov. Orji, nobody is taken aback anymore by his endless dymystification, demonization and futile humiliation of Dr. Kalu, who inadvertently foisted him on Abians without knowing that he was digging his own grave, and by extrapolation, the graves of other well-meaning Abians. Gov. Obiano cannot be associated with such personality bringandage and character assassination. For most of eight years, Abia was left to rot away systemically why Dr. Kalu was the butt and explanation for serial and unprecedented incompetence, incapacity and daftness of his annointee.
Gov. Obiano should not go the way of T. A. Orji at all. He is too clean for such travesty. He should retrace his steps and let the Ochendo unfortunate and despicable incident be the last in the history of mankind. Such biting of the hand that fed one is something that cannot escape karmic justice presently or in the future either for the actors or their clan and lineage. It is always a generational thing that must take place—no amount of atonement, wishful thinking and spiritual warfare can stop it.
If there are issues to be sorted out, Gov. Obiano should not be misled by his controversial party chairman and senatorial candidate, Chief Victor Umeh, who has a perpetual tiff with Mr. Obi. The traditional ruler of Onitsha, HRM Obi Alfred Achebe, should be Gov. Obiano’s counsellor. Willie, flee from Ochendo’s Golgotha: it is the perilous sesame to self-destruct.
Immediately Mr, Obi joined the PDP, Anambra State Government and the APGA leadership procured one Mr. Egbuna Amuta of ABS to produce a very damaging video on him. Gov. Obiano, invited many groups to Government House and played the video to them. Over N250m was said to be budgeted for its massive production and distribution.
Last Monday, another film from the same source entitled The Inconsistency of a Man was similarly broadcast on AIT, vilifying Mr Obi for joining the PDP. I understand that some people in ABS were threatened with sack when they advised against its being aired, and that acting on directives, the station airs it six times daily as a way of persuading the people not to vote for President Jonathan. I am only worried that those doing this are those Obi did everything to put in power, including taking the trouble of selling them among many groups, including we journslists/writers. I am more worried that over N350m was said to have been budgeted for its mass production/free distribution and airing on different media houses. This is certainly demeaning of a godson!
