Who The Hell Is Peter Obi? By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu @ The Cornucopia Reporters With Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

In the last one week, if you are doing analysis or opinion or a column and have not pushed forward your own theory of the rights and wrongs of the decamping of the Anambra former Governor Peter Obi to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then you have not started.

First Published October 22, 2014

The piece would not be complete without referring to the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) family led by Chief Victor Umeh. Is APGA being destroyed by the founders and joiners alike? Are these players mindful of the 2015 General elections or are they just playing to the gallery, leaving the substance and pursuing shadows?

Is the blame game for pecuniary and selfish ends? The masses have been eluded the opportunity to know who the clowns are. When would their macabre dance end and of course what will be the faith of APGA? Who are their pay masters? Who goes down as they continue their romance? When the elephants fight , the grasses suffer. The Chief Victor Umeh superiority battle over APGA with Chief Peter Obi and that of Obi and that of Dr Ifeanyi Ubah of Transformations Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) was a lesson in focus as it consumed too many grasses yet they reconciled. This one will not be a different game.

And those without any idea of how the Obi and Obiano romance started, jumped over gun to satisfy their master but ended up only deepening internal rife and ego tussle which ought not be.  It is now Bianca and Obi but Obi was careful in her responses while Bianca was more cautious despite the hot and cold been blown in some quarters. If these two are smart , are their co-travelers who are igniting the smoke that would consume APGA for its soul to rest in peace, Obiano or no Obiano still in APGA?

The vituperations will subside and the elephants would still move on unconcerned with developments around them despite the cheap blackmails, banters and entering of the trenches. On which side are the apologists and spinners of vicious tales and lies to curry favour?

Those with inferiority complex and half baked , if at all baked are creating mountains out of moles in Obiano and Obi relationship in one hand and Obi and Umeh relationship in the other hand with Bianca and Obi , a new addition.  

 In Nigeria, the grasses suffer a lot, for instance in Abia state , Governor Thordore Orji’s government through a letter from office of Secretary to the state Government , Prof Nkpa Agu Nkpa sacked the Rector of the state Polytechnic, at Aba, Sir Allwell Onukaogu, and the Provost of the state College of Education Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA), Dr. Christian Nwanmuo.

The Rector has few months to complete his second term while the Provost was in his second term, so the question is why now and I refer you to negative publicity the Institutions have attracted in the recent past over the abnormalities going on there which was not new but were never reported in the media.

There are journalists in Abia but they were all afraid to report and those who tried reporting were attacked like the Nation Reporter in Aba narrated in the dailies. Again the reports I have personally read about the Rector in the dailies were glorious and written by resident journalists but it took the reporters outside Abia to visit and report the total decay and arrears of salary in some institutions in Abia whereas the students and staff have suffered in silence, the grasses? Was it in Anambra state Institution that such report was reported; the Institution or its Public Relations unit would have written the management of the newspaper to sack he reporter or correspondent with tissues of lies. Journalism, my profession is endangered? Former Governor of Abia state , Chief Orji Uzor Kalu threatened to publish names of journalists and Editors  who entered his hall of infamy and we are anxiously waiting for that. Will my name be there, will yours be there?

And I drifting again I looked at Ekiti state and the drama playing out. Ordinarily , Governor Ayo Fayose derives no joy in telling Ekiti people and Nigerians that former Governor , Dr Kayode Fayemi spent N4 Billion in planting flowers and the rightful debt profile of the state whether N84 Billion or N36 Billion. Fayose said N84 Billion but N36 Billion was what Fayemi admitted the state is owning but for the noise made by the APC government over his election Fayose is opening can of worms based on facts he met n ground.  Fayemi built a new government house for N3.3 Billion and his bed alone in his room is N30 Million and that of his wife is N20 Million whereas the furnishing for the two rooms alone was N100 Million from a borrowed fund as alleged by Fayose yet Fayemi said nothing meaning he is in agreement. These have exposed the mindset of the elite in government and the aggressiveness of the Ekiti elites fighting to ensure Fayose never returns again. This is a state there were workers on strike over unpaid entitlement and other sundry issues before election and only called off the strike to give the new government a benefit of doubt.

Come in again the latest theater of absurd in Anambra , Obi is my friend because of the nature of my job . We met on my job and probably he developed some liking for me based on my efforts in reportage of events happening in Anambra and my association with him was not all woes. I got fare share of woes from those who do not like him and blessings from those who love him. Obi himself blessed my life directly and indirectly and elevated my status to the envy I am suffering partially today in some quarters. My encounter with Chief Peter Obi is a story on a good day.

I suddenly became the darling of Her Excellency, Mrs Margaret Peter Obi who I served for 8 years unofficially with regards to media maters through the Ministry of Women Affairs and social Development superintended by Dr (Mrs) Ego Uzoezie , now Provost Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe. Her’s too is a story for another day.

On his part, Governor Willie Obiano too has shown me much love by celebrating my birthday on 28^th March, 2014. If he is now doing it for others,  I was the first and mine was not only unique but special, with a call , big birthday cake and cash. I have not met the wife on a personal note apart from in the crowd of reporters or at events and therefore should not lay claims she knows me even though I am sure she knows the name having worked for her severally before I lost my engagement with The Nation.  But I am still a journalist, mirroring the society , galvanizing interest to condemn ills and mobilizing support for good as a moral barometer and gadfly of the society as a Blogger. That incident too the Governor took a stand which was communicated to me adequately by his Senior Special Adviser on Political matters, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike. But God has His better plans for us.

Even before Obi and Obiano in the spirit of continuity then, I was a benefactor of Chief Victor Umeh, to the extent that journalists and those conversant with developments around government house said Umeh built my house in the capital territory for me and not Obi as was initially speculated. I wished then that Umeh or Obi refunded me the money and I name the house after either of them but that never happened because I was very close to both and I communicated that to them but in his usual way Obi laughed and said nothing but Umeh congratulated me but did not say much. Obi and Umeh remain not only my friend as a journalist  but a close family ally having shown me favour when it maters most no matter the situation today for reasons beyond me. Obiano too is same but he does not know me much before my pen dropped but will soon know me through my blog if not yet. Umeh and Obi even Obiano still know everything I do for good or for bad.   And Umeh’s wife was not active in politics then as she is today but knows me by name and probably my wife. This is another encounter to be told on a sunny day.

With this hindsight, my profession stood between me and all these great men and women because despite the respect and close I was and still is to them , I was always carried away by my profession  to attack any wrongdoing based on my judgment from them not minding whose ox is gored.  That remained my greatest undoing as a journalist and intending politician. I would have grown politically better than I did knowing Obi and  Umeh and now Obiano but my style of the profession takes a little compromise not total. Unless I am not in he know of any crime or fraud, then I may not report it but once I am in the know, the story ‘must’ be reported but at worst mild even when my father is involved. I have tried learning even though very difficult because I have been sacrificed unnecessarily on issues I am convinced is in the public interest. I have my only consolation on the words of Charly Boy Oputa  known as ‘areafada’  on his Nuts and Screws about , standing on the truth and your conviction no matter the discomforts as it pays off at the end. He was writing about Nicholas Ibekwe and speaking the truth about journalists and Prophet TB Joshua’s alleged N50,000 bribery saga.

  But nobody knows about this part or better few knew about these whereas millions knew my affiliation with Obi and wife , Margaret. I have taken pains to say these because people who don’t know will start attacking my write up based on parochial mindset.

The vile with which attacks are hauled to anybody with contrary view online and on print when issues concerning Obiano were raised could be diverted to reporting what the Governor does everyday to better the lives of Ndi Anambra.  He does a lot on daily basis unreported as core journalists do not know the itinerary of the Governor and at such stories do not fly immediately as used to be in Anambra as an ‘A’ state. That is my observation. And those reducing the office of the Governor of Anambra state  to ridicule should better stop. Office of the Governor is the pride of the state no mater who is occupying it and nobody should play with it or the person should be seen as toying with the people of that state and in our case Anambra people.  

Our politicians and appointees who fan the embers of chaos by advising Obiano or  Obi  to war on are against the interest of the people of Anambra state and diverting resources , time and energy in wrong directions rather than areas that would benefit the citizenry. Construct criticisms should be welcomed, not destructive criticisms but even at that there is always a new thing to know or learn from a script written by an idiot. We must not hire people to react to every statement and bias it with their nuances and idiosyncrasies. I read about production of 10,000 films on how Obi vowing not to defect to another party from APGA and his promises to Late Dim Ojukwu to maintain APGA and another tape on the denial that Obi did not leave any N78 Billion Naira for Obiano. For me this is pursuing shadow rather than substance. Whether Obi promised Ojukwu or not ; whether Obi left one kobo or not and whether Obi defected to PDP or not should not pre-occupy the minds of either Obiano or Umeh even their aides and pro-groups but how to perfect governance and leadership by example in Anambra within the shortest possible time.

Who the hell is Peter Obi that governance and leadership in Anambra should be rotating around his decamping to PDP or not?  Obiano remains the Governor of Anambra state with all the political parties thereto. He can decamp to whatever party he likes but parties no longer win election but candidates. If he performs, he returns a second term but if non performance is his name the opportunists would jump ship and enter the new person likely to win election in the nearest future. After all Obi was still a Governor here , when about 80 percent of his supporters and loyalists were busy lobbying Obiano to be on his good book because Obi’s popularity and power hold was winding down in Anambra. Soonest, sooner than anticipated Obiano would become history and another Obijackson or Obiudu would emerge to govern Anambra .  Obiano has 8 years at maximum to do his magic for Anambra people and register his name in sounds of time.

Nigerian’s Ambassador to Spain and widow of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, not long ago expressed disappointment that former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Bianca admitted that Obi  “made immense contributions to APGA,” adding that she remained “proud of his achievements, as governor of Anambra State,” but said the former governor’s “exit diminishes us, and many of his supporters and grassroots crusaders are disappointed and demoralized.”

She also described Obi’s defection to PDP as betrayal of the late Biafran leader, who, she said, had such great hope in that he would always stand by APGA.

But Obi has replied Bianca , explaining why he dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), adding that he fulfilled all promises made to Ojukwu, her late husband.

Obi said since Bianca was not a frivolous person, her “comments must be taken seriously, moreso, when he was the wife of his leader.”

He was smart to remind that his loyalty to a cause of Ndigbo does not change with a change of platform. He stressed that there has not been any change of principles on his part.

He added that his response would be his last on the matter, as he wants to channel his time and energy alongside other well-meaning Igbo to work for the re-election campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan and the place of Ndigbo in Nigerian politics.

 “Of all those who have spoken, and who will continue to speak, on the issue of my leaving APGA, only Bianca spoke with sincerity. She does not fall into the class of those who are now displaying dated video clippings and presenting matters out of context for political reasons, without appreciating the sacrifice put into building the house they are now destroying.”

Obi admitted that Mrs. Ojukwu gave an accurate account of his exchanges with the late Ojukwu, who called him once and asked if he would leave APGA, when the Abia Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, left the party.

 “I wish to reiterate that I am still loyal to our great leader, in terms of what serves the interests of our people and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Everyone knows today that APGA is not what it used to be. My assurance to our great leader did not imply that I would be loyal to a platform that some people have resolved to turn into an empty shell without an inner core of shared values. I remain faithful to those values and   principles our great leader asked me to stand by and defend.”

 “Whether the APGA of today is still propagating the late leader’s core principles,” Obi said time will reveal. Obi added that he had seen enough of violation of what APGA stood for, and therefore, cannot continue to stay in a place, which had departed from the original course and where clearly, he was not wanted.

Obi went ahead to inform that “Despite all overtures for me to leave APGA when I was Governor, I did not give in but served out my term under APGA and handed over to an APGA Governor’’.

Obi’s promise to Late Ojukwu was to finish as the party’s governor as well as helped to enthrone another APGA governor.

The former governor recalled that he stayed with Ojukwu throughout his trying period and intervened in all possible ways to ensure that he was given a burial befitting for a leader and a hero.

Obi added a caveat, “like my leader and political father, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who was bitterly criticised for ignoring the Zik-led Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) to join the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) where he felt the interests of Ndigbo and the nation would be better served, I have moved out of a political party, which, in my own opinion, had derailed. I have moved on to a place my contributions towards proper representation of our people would have the level of impact that would make Ikemba rejoice in his grave.” 

Obi was smart n his remarks , avoiding too many wars and especially with Bianca he stood for strongly during the burial of her late husband and her appointment as Ambassador in PDP government which is Obi’s making or so to speak. The heroic burial to Ojukwu was possible because of Obi to mention but a few. Obi has his failings but if he joins PDP sequel to the heat turned on him as his recent interview explains , would it not be in the interest of Ndi Anambra and Obiano’s government? Bianca is now Ambassador and assuming Obi is SGF or Minister or whatever, it is still in the interest of Anambra and Obiano remains the Governor. The fight should stop now and energy channelled in a course for the welfare of the citizenry rather than dissipate energy on Obi and APGA or PDP. APGA’s campaign is to vote President Goodluck Jonathan as president and vote other positions for APGA and to show how serious it was formed 4J as its machinery.

Obiano should order all his aides to stop forthwith all kinds of vile talk against Obi and his actions and inactions as he remains the former Governor of Anambra state and ask them to be focused on how best to drive his numerous commendable developmental initiatives. Some beneficiaries of Obi are now talking from both sides of their mouth and organizing protest rallies rather than be peace advocates to enable Obiano. Obi too should warn his aides not to throw further bites in the name of response to attacks.

  

National chairman of the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) , Chief Victor Umeh  had said ‘’APGA is a political party with a different character. APGA is the movement of a people. You know, it is not something that an individual can reduce its potentialities in any contest. For example, APGA had been registered before I dragged Obi into APGA to contest governorship election. I was the one who dragged him into the party. I used the word ‘dragged’ because by October 8, 2002, I was the one in charge of his bid to run for the governorship election in Anambra State, which he started in 2001 – by October, 2002, Obi had not made up his mind on which party platform to run for governorship. As a matter of fact, his uncle, Chief Sylvanus Nwobu Alor, advised him to join the UNPP and told him that he would not win any election through APGA even though UNPP was registered the same time with APGA.

‘’ So, when he was vacillating, I had to threaten him that if he failed to join APGA, that I would back-off supporting him for the governorship of Anambra State. It was at that stage that in a meeting, where Chief Paul Odenigbo was present and  Chief Callistus Ilozumba, the present Commissioner of Works, were present, I  told him if you don’t join APGA and declare, I would back-off. It was at that stage that he accepted, because he could not do without me, having led him on for about a year plus. At that time, he accepted that he would now run in APGA. By the time he declared at the Holy Trinity field that he was going to run for Governor through APGA, Nwobu Alor’s associates including Nwobu Alor himself all of them were in UNPP.  He  was in UNPP. So, I have to drag him because I knew it was only through APGA that he could win that election. I was also aware that as at July 2002, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu had called on all Igbo people to join APGA. That was at Choice Hotel, Awka, on 30th July, 2002.

If Umeh dragged Obi into APGA, Obi has dragged himself out of APGA to PDP, what does that mean? Obi did one thing I personally like. He did not leave APGA with anybody but alone probably with his wife Margaret. Should Obi ask his lovers and associates to join him in leaving APGA to PDP , only the carcass of APGA would remain and the carcass because of those appointed and those doing contract now with Obiano’s government. But Obi left alone although unprecedented and against the believe that his decamping alone made it unsung. He does not want to pronounce death sentence on APGA even when he has the capacity.

Obi, no matter his failings , is important to Anambra and to Obiano more than Obiano is to him and sycophants should allow Obiano enjoy his relationship with Obi for better insight in governing Anambra because when the bubble burst , he would be alone and alone indeed with the ‘keneri’ supporters looking for better option. The bulk stops at his table at all times. Only Obi has the large attitude to govern Anambra while Umeh has the court attitude angle of it. There is division of labour and nobody appears to have it all though.

Whatever reason Obi gave for joining PDP may be told to the marines but he should be supported to do  his best for Anambra and not rubbished as a former Governor judging from constitutional rights he has to so do and his promise to campaign for Jonathan ‘s re-election while bringing the interest of Ndigbo  at the front burner. Nobody either would not bend his rules  to join the Presidential delegation led by Olisah Metu and SGF Anyim Pius Anyim as Obi did judging by the caliber of Ndigbo in PDP that visited him. He initially refused to give them answer until a meeting was held to convince him further and his wife’s appeal. Obi and Obiano’s whistle to work for a better Anambra starts now, join in counting for them.

Odogwu Emeka Odogwu is a Journalist , Social Commentator , Publisher , Editor and a Blogger based in Anambra state. Phone :08060750240 and E mail [email protected]

Photo of Odogwu during an interview session as Chairman of Board of Directors Odogwu Media