Hon. Afam Ogene Is In Self-Denial: Another LP Mistake 

MAZI EJIMOFOR OPARA 

Afam Ogene is in self denial. As a stakeholder, two time Federal Legislator and supposed community leader, Afam, in a recent video shared across WhatsApp platforms, sounded more like a crisis merchant interested in stoking the problem than proffering solutions.

First, I acknowledge his open and undeniable recognition of Governor Soludo’s sterling performance, of course if it were possible for him to deny, I am certain Afam would gladly do so. However, for fear of open hostility — online and offline — the facts of Soludo’s transformative leadership boldly stares everyone in the face, with Okpoko, an area under Afam’s constituency, standing as an eloquent testimony to Soludo’s creative leadership.

Back to Afam’s theatrical video; any suspecting listener would think Afam has been barred from meeting Governor Soludo or think that the Governor “has done nothing” with regards to the self-inflicted internecine crisis bedeviling Ogwu-aniocha. Especially where stakeholders like Afam are interested parties with self-serving interests. For as a man whose house is on fire, Afam was regrettably caught chasing rats when he started speaking about 3% host communities funds. For Afam and his political Party, “sharing the money” is far more important than the efforts made by government to bring peace to the community — one then begins to wonder if there is something Afam needs to tell Ndi Ogbaru about the crisis in Ogwuaniocha that he is yet to say?

For Hon. Afam to feign ignorance of Government’s ongoing interventions to bring peace to the warring community is testament to the fact that Afam is interested in everything but peace. The said abduction of a Traditional ruler which took place in 2021, months before Governor Soludo’s emergence, happened at a time Ogbaru and 7 other LGAs were under the hold of known criminals parading as Unknown Gun Men. Critical Stakeholders in the area, including traditional rulers and respected Statesmen, have roundly commended Governor Soludo’s rescue efforts which has salvaged the entire Ogbaru from the stranglehold of criminals.

The current internal crisis within Ogwuaniocha is to a large extent caused by the discovery of crude oil in the area. Various militia groups are now in fierce contestation seeking to control and appropriate the benefits of the oil exploration to themselves. Sadly, these are brothers, and a fact well known to Afam Ogene if he is not aloof or deliberately ignorant.

When it comes to security and governance Gov. Soludo is one leader you can trust not to play politics with the matter. A feat Afam and his fellow merchant of crisis cannot boast about. While the government of the day is making frantic efforts at bringing lasting peace to Ogwuaniocha, it is important that we collectively call Politicians like Afam Ogene to order, urging them to desist from making comments that truncate the gains made so far.

The Government of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR has shown visible commitment to protecting every inch of Anambra’s territory from marauding criminals of any kind, Ogwuaniocha would not be an exception.