The 7 Officers of Imo PDP: Gov. Uzodimma Still Recruiting “Star Players” (Goliaths) For November 11, 2023: A Rejoinder

Sam, without doubt is a smart and intelligent colleague, who has distinguished himself in the field of journalism and has my utmost respect.

However, I got compelled to examine critically, but positively, the issues raised by him in the article so as to put the record straight.

First , Onwuemeodo,  apparently lost sight of the fact that party politics is guided by strict adherence to the interests of a political party or what is called partisan loyalism.

Equally, the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, has guaranteed  Nigerians, certain fundamental human rights, of which the right to association forms a critical part. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution provides that every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and he may in particular form or join any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interest.

It is therefore pertinent to state that the seven former principal officers of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) recently did not commit any crime but only exercised their constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human right and should not be castigated for doing so while the APC did the right thing too by receiving them.

That this is paining Sam Onwuemeodo so much to the extent that he rushed to denigrate and cast aspersions on the integrity of the seven principal officers or so-called star players according to him, is strange to logical thinking. His angry outburst is unjustified and tantamount to unnecessary meddlesomeness.

The seven former principal officers left the PDP and joined the APC on their own volition and without any inducement or coercion from anyone in the APC, though detractors might think otherwise.

Moreso, the allegation that Gov Uzodimma is recruiting ‘star players’ is a provocative sly innuendo and gross misrepresentation of facts.

The truth is that many Imo people and Nigerians are happy with the glaring achievements of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma just within three years as Governor and which has become main reason/attraction for progressive Imo people, who love good things and want the best for the State to join the winning and unbeatable team.

Indeed, it is obvious that Onwuemeodo is not happy about the defection that dealt a decisive blow to the ability of the PDP to cohere and mount a real challenge for the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.

One thing certain is that party politics is dynamic and guided by interest as there are no permanent friends or foes hence there will always be movements and defections.

What Sam failed to realize is that Gov. Uzodimma is a team player. He is neither a snob nor an island to himself. He believes that a tree cannot make a forest and that in politics faithful allegiance is crucial, hence he labours to carry everyone along including his repentant political foes and prodigal “sons.”

Uzodimma is equally a master of the game of politics and does not need any unsolicited advice from anyone including Onwuemeodo.

Those that worked diligently for Uzodimma are neither forsaken nor abandoned because he is a proven rewarder of loyalty and faithfulness.

Meantime, Gov. Uzodimma knows and meets regularly with his appointees pursuant to maximizing their capabilities for effective service delivery to Imo people.

However, it must be pointed out that there could be some ‘Judases’ and ungrateful wretches in the fold. They are among the murmurers that cannot be pleased even by our Lord Jesus Christ. They are the informants feeding the opposition with false information about the government, they are not happy about the defections to the APC as they feel threatened and I advise such appointees to repent and turn over a new leaf as the house is big enough to accommodate everyone.

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Sam Onwuemeodo also described the victory of Distinguished Senator Hope in the 2019 gubernatorial election as miracle – which is a wicked, mischievous and vicious distortion of fact.

The plain truth is that Uzodimma – candidate of the APC then, won the 2019 gubernatorial election in Imo State – not a miracle but was denied his mandate though temporarily by daylight rigging of election results orchestrated by Emeka Ihedioha and his hirelings at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, including the partisan and corrupt Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC.

In addition, Emeka Ihedioha did not win the election because he failed to meet the constitutional requirements and therefore should not have been declared the winner to say the least.

More annoying is the dig at Prince Marcelinus Nlemigbo and Prince Lemmy Akakem, whom he equally described as “star players” or “Goliaths” recruited by Ohakim, who at different fora, vowed to go on exile if Ohakim did not win that election.

According to Sam: “They had taken the vow based on the quantum of Star Players Ohakim had engaged or recruited.  At the end of the day,  Ohakim lost that election. The Star Players or the Goliaths  could not secure Victory for the man. The  PDP Candidate. Ikiri didn’t win.

“But neither Nlemigbo,  nor Akakem went on exile as they had vowed. They stayed put in Owerri. They could not  go out of sight even for a day. They behaved as if nothing happened.  They failed to  live up to their vow. They failed to  redeem their vow.

“They were among the first set,  to befriend the Rescue Mission Government of Rochas  Okorocha that succeeded Ohakim.  And that’s the way of political Star players. They do not endure. They do not like being ” on the bench”. Political Star Players.  Always on transit. Always waiting for the next available flight or Club.”

Curiously, Onwuemeodo, in his haste to malign the hard-earned integrity and reputation of Barrister (Prince) Marcelinus Nlemigbo and Prince Lemmy Akakem, failed to substantiate his spurious allegations with verifiable and undoctored evidence.

Let me state that Sam has been making this fallacious claim all alone in this world for quite some time now and it will not be outlandish to challenge him to provide verifiable evidence to prove the veracity of his claim otherwise commensurate legal action will be taken against him.

As a journalist, Sam is aware that facts are sacred and it will amount to pandering to absurdity if he continues to spread false allegations as such conflicts with what he claims to be.

For the umpteenth time, Prince Nlemigbo has declared that he never made such statement being bandied about by lone Sam Onwuemeodo with impunity and for reasons best known to him.

The truth is that at no point or forum did Chief Nlemigbo make such unguarded remark as there was no need for such.

Soft-spoken, tactful and peaceful Nlemigbo renowned for playing politics without bitterness, does not talk anyhow and having acquired wealth, fame and fortune; seen and tasted the best things in this life including political power as former party Chairman at a very tender age, he does not play to the gallery, hence this futile attempt by Onwuemeodo to ridicule his personality remains objectionable and totally unacceptable.

Regarding Nlemigbo’s association with the administration of Rochas Okorocha, it was because of the former Deputy Governor, His Excellency Eze Madumere – his kinsman, who solicited his cooperation and frankly he never left the PDP then.

That notwithstanding, Chief Nlemigbo and Prince Lemmy Akakem have freedom of association as guaranteed by the Constitution and why that will be an issue for Sam is disturbing even when his boss, Senator Rochas Okorocha did multiple defections before emerging as Governor of Imo State for those inglorious and ‘locust-infested’ eight years.

Sam in his haste, failed to point out that when Okorocha was scheming to impose his son-in-law on Imo people, it was same Nlemigbo that told him to his face at a gathering that such cannot happen.

Sam also failed to tell the world that it was during the tenure of Nlemigbo as Caretaker Chairman that Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma got elected as Governor but his mandate, which was temporarily stolen by Ihedioha and co, subsequently got restored by the Supreme Court.

Understandably, it is a hard and bitter pill for the wailers to swallow particularly because Uzodimma gave them a bloody nose and deflated their brute ego – who cares! They can wail for all eternity.

God bless Imo State!

– Ben AHANONU is Special Adviser to the Governor on CSDP.