Onwuemeodo May Tumble Ihedioha's Government

By: Ifeanyi Onyekachi

The title of this piece may sound incredibly nonsensical to those who have some attachment to the government of His Excellency, Rt. Hon.  Emeka Ihedioha.

It will disenchant them because of their inability  to read in- between-the -lines and decipher the hidden points.

The title may be so  vexatious to  fray their nerves such that the inherent lessons may be lost in emotional outburst propelled by selfishness rathar  than  altruistic reason.

But the fact is  "Onwuemeodo may tumble Ihedioha's government" is a statement of high probability and strong possibility going by the unfolding events in Imo political space.

I dare say that the looming "tumble"  I reffered will be surreptitious, as it was with Rochas' government, (Rochas tenure ended in the public space long before election).

It  may be fast forwarded by overzealous followers,   flippart writers and even some government media handlers by their miscalculated approach in defending the government.

This is so because evidence has shown that these overzealous defenders of this administration  lack the wherewithal to know that writing is an art while mass communication is a social science.

To write for, or, against the government requires proper scientific knowledge of  interpreting  the societal mood at every prevailing circumstance in order to be  guilded on whether to write, what to write, how to write and where to write.

Governor Emeka Ihedioha

 But what I see mostly in this  government are copius writers
 who exppress themselves flawlessly in fanciful words with little or no understanding of how their writings  will cast the image of the government they assumed to protect.

I provided  this background having read responses from those who claimed to defend the governor on the inbroglio between the former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to governor Rochas Okorocha, Sam Onwuemeodo and some Mbaise traditional rulers.

This issue has been trending on social media.

 From monitored accounts, some traditional rulers from Aboh Mbaise, the Transition Management Committee Chairman of the local government and some politicians held a meeting where the traditional rulers passed a strong resolution attempting to clip the journalistic wings of the former CPS.

The report had it that the  traditional rulers observed that Onwuemeodo has consistently written against the governor hence they  issued a stern warning to him.

 Onwuemeodo is from the same Mbutu clan as  governor, Emeka Ihedioha.

He was told  to stop any form of media attack on the governor, their son.

One FCC Jones, who served as the Publicity Secretary to Uche Nwosu' Action Alliance (AA),  in his own account, said the traditional rulers banished Onwuemeodo for opposing the governor.

FCC Jones fingered governor Ihedioha in instigating the traditional rulers to act against the CPS.

Part of the available report on social media also said that White Paper Newspaper, a local tabloid, published by the CPS was also banned from circulating in Mbaise  nation.

Though I am not particularly worried about the veracity or  otherwise of the content or outcome of the purported meeting, but I am concern about how the government was defended by those who claimed to write for her.

How did they  show that the CPS is not actually been gag by the government using the traditional rulers as alleged?

The witch cried last night, the baby died in the morning, I wonder who could have killed the baby.

Much as I hate to discuss Sam Onwuemeodo and the intuitive cosmetic government of past administration that plunged Imo people into abyss of misery, it is foundamentally wrong to attempt to strip off  a man his right of expression.

Here lies the bane of Ihedioha's government and the flaw of his image makers.

Onwuemeodo has responded to the  issues and painted strong imagery of victimization and oppression.

He has weep-up sentiments and attracted sympathy across divide.

He has created a perception. As the saying goes, 'perception is stronger than reality'.

It was believed  that governor Ihedioha hid under a cloak an acted on proxy.

Onwuemeodo has repeatedly said that he does not belong to PDP and cannot be singing praises of the ruling party.

He has made it clear that he cannot work with, or, for this government.

 In other words, he has chosen the side of opposition and should be allowed to operate.

As a result he owes it a duty to probe the policies and programs of this government and criticise them if need for.

True democracy is hinged on the exercise of foudamental human rights of which freedom of expression is one.

Much as there is no excuse for image  tarnishing in the guise of  freedom of exppression but, legally acceptable means should be sought for against such misscariage of professional ethics.

Though I was among those who described Onwuemeodo's writing style while he was  CPS as 'pen terrorism' but, in this particular ccircumtance he is a trap!

Onwuemeodo is a bait that may hook the throat of this government. 

President Buhari fell to a similar trap when he unleashed the almighty security arsenals on the harmless Nnamdi Kalu of IPOB.

Immediately he did  that  he created an impression on  himself  and his government before the international community.

 Nnamdi Kalu garnered more continental and intercontinental acceptance.

This same Nnamdi Kalu and his IPOB  were around during President Obasanjo and Jonathan administrations.

 How come they did not fall to the trap?

For those who will be quick to dismiss  the ongoing discussion as mere propaganda,  they should know that propaganda is a veritable instrument of war.
And in our clime politics is war.

 It follows that what ever this government makes out of propaganda will either tumbles or stables  it.



Ifeanyi Onyekachi is a journalist and public affairs analyst based in Owerri.
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