Anambra State Gubernatorial Election: Primus Odili, A Sacrificial Lamb
JUVENTUS CHUKWUNWEIKE OKOLI
It is now evidently clear that some people are consistently trying to malign the person of Hon (Chief) Primus Odili, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Anambra State and by extension his wife, Maureen. What really worries me is that the gentleman in question has not done any bad to any person or persons since his assumption of the exalted office of the Chief of Staff to the governor of Anambra state. To the contrary, rather than sounding autocratic and lording it over anyone, he has been a jolly good fellow by being a great help and sound pillar to the government and people of Anambra. He has worked so hard to make Anambra work by standing behind our performing Gov Obiano.
Having laid the above foundation, I am pained to the marrow seeing a viral post going round the social media, accusing Maureen, the wife of the Chief of Staff as bringing Corona virus into Government House, Awka.
I wonder what the originator of the vicious rumour set out to achieve. Why the COS? And why his wife? It is clear that whoever is sponsoring that cheap blackmail must be close to the Chief of Staff and a strong member of his political circle who has an eye for a particular office come November, 2021. It is a fact that some very close people in government think that Chief Odili will likely vie for the office of the Deputy Governor come 2021 gubernatorial election in the state. Because of this, they contrive all sorts of lies against his person in order to discountenance the young man who has been placed wherever he is today by destiny.
It is a known fact that Corona 19 index case in Anambra was registered last year, 2020. It is also true that the State Government, in line with regulations guiding against the spread of Covid 19, locked down activities in the State for weeks just to contain its spread. Schools, markets, Churches and other public places were closed to public use in order to stem the spread of the virus. I am also sure that ever before all these precautions were ordered, Maureen, the beautiful wife of Chief Primus Odili, was not in Anambra State.
His Excellency, Gov Obiano, repeatedly gave State wide broadcasts where he called on ndi Anambra to observe all Covid 19 protocols in their homes and environments. Even the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Hon Dr. Vincent Okpala, repeatedly followed the Governor’s steps in this direction. It is also on record that Anambra closed all her boundaries in 2020. I was privileged to be among the political aides of the Governor drafted to the borders to monitor activities. As at that time, it was repeatedly said that Awka South LGA was adjudged the most Covid 19 infested council in the State.
Again, Anambra stopped burials, marriage rites, opening of new houses and all other social functions in the State due to Covid-19 last year. Also, as at December last year, we started getting hint of another strain of the disease. In the early days of that festive month we had cases of people who died due to Covid-19 here in the state. Chief Odili’s wife, who flew into the country on the 30th of December, 2020, was not located in that mix. How then would Mrs. Odili, who left Nigeria healthy on the 5th of January, 2021, be accused of infecting anybody with the disease.
Mrs. Odili came home solely for the chieftaincy title-taking of her husband. She left Nigeria shortly after the ceremony. She came in good health and went back with no health issues whatsoever.
Now the foolery: Igwe Kelly of Igbariam, who died of prostrate cancer complications, was maliciously said to have contracted Covid-19 from Mrs. Odili, who had no remotest encounter with the late Igwe.
Why is Primus, who had close relationship with his wife not infected? Why are the Governor and his wife not down with the disease? And so for all the other relations and security personnel at home and at the Governor’s lodge?
Why are these ones healthy and about? What has the complexion of the Chief of Staff’s wife got to do with Anambra State and the people? What a stupid article! See how feeble minded the writers of the article are. There should be a limit to blackmail! What sense would anyone make of a writeup which claims that over 30 senior members of Government are down with Covid-19 but falls shy of providing their identities. Balderdash!
Could the writers and the organizers cum sponsors of the write up tell ndi Anambra and the global world who the other 30 are and where they are currently?
Till this is done, the article will be treated as a targeted attack which must have risen from sheer jealousy and envy. It was evidently politically motivated and ill sponsored.
I am sure that Chief Primus Ugochukwu Odili, the Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor of Anambra State, is not perturbed by attempts such as this to distract him from his focus in assisting Gov Obiano finish well.
