By Ethelbert Okere
The positioning of two reports in an Owerri-based newspaper on the July 17, 2022 incident in Otulu in the Oru East local government area of Imo state was quite striking. Even though it must have been a coincidence, the way the two reports appeared, just vertically to one another, enabled discerning readers to once again see the abysmal level to which public commentary has descended to in our dear state.
On page three of the Wednesday, July 20, 2022 edition of the Daily Nigerian Horn, the newspaper carried reports on the reactions by Hon. Uche Onyeagucha, former secretary to the government of Imo state, and now a senatorial aspirant – if you like, candidate – and that of Ezenwa Onyewuchi, the senator currently representing Imo East Senatorial District in the national assembly, on the incident.
Even though the two reports appeared quite closely to each other, they were presented differently. While Onyeagucha was quoted directly, apparently from an earlier press statement issued by him or his handlers, Onyewuchi was paraphrased.
For clarity, however, the two reports are reproduced here.
Said Onyeagucha: “The mindless killing spree has continued unremittingly. It is heart breaking to note that since the unfortunate imposition of Hope Uzodimma by Justice Tanko’s Supreme Court in January 2020, more than three thousand innocent Imolites have been butchered by government sponsored gunmen. Governor Uzodimma has never shown any modicum of concern but instead has remained nonchalant and arrogant in the face of deafening public outcry. This indifference is an assault on the collective insensibility (sic) of Imo people and a height of wickedness and heartlessness.
Government has as its primary responsibility the protection of lives and property of its citizens. Obviously, this duty is lost on Governor Uzodimma who has remained obstinate in his resolve to wipe out Imo youths …”
Now to the paraphrased report on Senator Onyewuchi’s reaction: “The Senator representing Imo East Senatorial District, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, has called for investigation into the killing of several wedding guests/youths from Otulu community by suspected members of the Ebubeagu Security Network. Senator Onyewuchi notes with grave concern that the wanton killing of unarmed youths by security operatives of any guise is totally unacceptable and a violation of the rule of law as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (s). He therefore calls for an urgent investigation into the matter with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice. He also urged Imolites to continue to be law abiding even in the face of provocation and await the outcome of investigation into the matter”.
A juxtaposition of the two reports would reveal that one is about a matured, civilized and law abiding citizen and the other about a hasty, uncouth and lawless fellow. Let’s take a look at some of the expressions employed by Onyeagucha in his statement: “ Uzodimma has …. resolved to wipe out Imo youths”; “innocent Imolites have been butchered by government sponsored gunmen”; “a height of wickedness and heartlessness”. These are extreme hyperboles that depict an abysmal lack of understanding of lexicological rules even in political showmanship. The word, “butchered”, is obscene and amounts to an assault on both the collective psyche and esteem of the people he purports to protect. To claim that people are “being butchered…” is to liken them to animals which are routinely forced to the slaughter and dismembered. This imagery is quite unedifying for a people as highly sophisticated as Ndi Imo.
Or, take “Uzodimma’s … resolve to wipe out Imo youths”. This is extremely pedestrian, to say nothing of the fact that it is an actionable assault on the personality of Governor Uzodimma. It again portrays the people, themselves, as foolishly docile and so incapacitated that they merely stand as trees waiting to be mowed down.
To claim that one single person has the capacity, either real or imaginary, to “wipe out” Imo youths is to subject the latter to a psychological torture that may lead them to despondency and grim resignation to fate. That certainly is not the type of pep talk the youths need currently. Such an obscene and indecent characterization of Imo youths depicts a mind set, on the part of Hon. Onyeagucha, that they are worthless entities whose existence depends on the whims of one individual.
In spite of the unfortunate incident at Otulu, I am of the sincere opinion that Imo youths should reject such sympathies more coming from a fellow who has no pedigree of any demeanor worthy of emulation by the younger people.
Hon. Onyeagucha is gifted with a reasonable measure of eloquence but what oozes out from him most of the time are mere platitudes which any street fellow can spill on his opponent at a corner near the Ekeonunwa market; certainly not from a fellow who purports to belong to the political intelligentsia.
In at least two previous articles, I draw Onyeagucha’s attention to the fact that he deceives himself by believing that people see him as a radical. The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary meaning of “radical” is “new, different and likely to have a great effect”. But this is a direct opposite of what Hon Onyeagucha is.
He hardly gives fresh insights into any issue because he is fixated on nearly everything, which makes him easily predictable on the position he will take on any issue. That makes him a tactless politician but in a forest where there is a dearth of grasshoppers, Ota Aki – the tiniest specie of grasshoppers – is king. Onyeagucha is only effusive and lacks the hesitance of age and exposure. He passes off more as a rascal but Okenye Na Agwo Ofe is not a rascal. He is something else.
Now compare his effusive remarks with the senatorial ambience with which Onyewuchi reacted to that unfortunate incident. First he calls for an” investigation”. He talks about “rule of law” about “justice” and “law abiding…”. Then juxtapose these with Onyeagucha’s “butchered”, “wipe out” “wickedness”, heartlessness” and you will see the difference.
Talking about law or the rule of it, Barr. Uche Onyeagucha is lawless. It is a well known story but let’s repeat it here. On the night the results of the 2019 governorship election were being collated, Hon. Onyeagucha, in a primitive show of bravery, grabbed the result sheet from a certain local government area in Orlu zone and tore it to pieces, against the instant rules on electoral demeanor. He was beaten to stupor by security operatives present but although that earned him the position of secretary to government, his appointment turned out to be a nightmare for Governor Emeka Ihedioha; as Hon. Onyeagucha was to engage in even more acts of lawlessness.
Ihedioha’s seven-month long administration had been running battle with his predecessor as was bound to be but at a point, his secretary to government could no longer hold himself and decided to take laws into his hands.
Without recourse to the governor, Onyeaguch declared Okorocha a personae non grata in the state, an action embarrassed the governor to no end. One day, upon a hint that Okorocha was on his way to the state, Hon. Onyeagucha took a group of hoodlums to the Sam Mbakwe airport to ambush Okorocha, the intention being to psychically prevent him from entering the state.
After waiting for over eight hours and Okorocha did not show up, he herded the hoodlums into buses and headed towards the Port Harcourt International Airport believing that Okorocha might have made a decoy. More than three years after, Hon. Onyeagucha still exhibits the same desperation and lawlessness on every issue.
Interestingly, Hon Onyeagucha is aspiring for the seat Onyewuchi is currently occupying on behalf of the people of Imo East. I am aware that Senator Onyewuchi also wants to return to the upper legislative chamber come 2023 and that they are at least two other gentlemen – not cantankerous like Hon. Onyeagucha – also eying the same seat. We keep our fingers crossed but there is the danger that the good people of Imo East risk sending to the red chambers a fellow who may one day wrest the Order Paper from the senate president and tear it into pieces.
● Okere is the Director-General of Imo State Orientation Agency