Who wears the diapers? Igboeli Versus Val: Be the Judge!

Kindly read what Mr. Igboeli wrote and juxtapose it with my article written and Published in National newspapers in 2005. I guess at that time, Mr. Igboeli was still barely out of the diapers. That I insisted Dr. Chris Ngige did not win the election that brought Mr. Peter Obi never blinded me from commending or supporting him when necessary. I have over 15 of such articles and shall make them available for the edification of Igboeli and his likes. I challenge Igboeli to produce one sentence written by him in commendation of Obi

Igboeli’s Piece
Igboeli EnyiNdigbo Arinze
A lesson in life...
In 2006, on assumption of office after a protracted legal battle, Governor Peter Obi through the likes of Valentine Obienyem, Stanley Chira, who masquerades as Odera Igbo and APGA Alaigbo used all known channels of communication to malign his predecessor, Senator Chris Ngige.
On all fronts and fora, Peter also known as Okwute rather than commend Ngige for his achievements repeatedly spewed canards against his predecessor, until his exit from office where he handed over to his friend and business associate Willie Obiano.
Before one could say Okonko Ndem! The duo of Willie and Peter had begun what I call a rofo-rofo fight. Today, on all fronts, newspapers, social media and even the electronic media, the same fronts Peter used to attack the image of Ngige is today being used to attack him!
Today the same channels are calling 'Saint Peter' names and it should be disgusting but for the fact that the same means were used and employed by the Saint now turned villain!
A wee lesson for us all... that which goes around comes around !


Val’s Piece
THE BARBARIAN FLOOD(2005)
By Obienyem Valentine


But for Chief Chris Ngige’s beard, he looked like a tonsured monk, though he maintained his usual composure, he was temporarily slender, with eyes of serious intent, resolute chin, a face not pugnacious but quietly announced courage, surpassing perseverance and character. This was Ngige that appeared on African Independent Television to explain the latest crisis that locked Anambra State.

Recently, Professor Chinua Achebe, a man of kindly wisdom, just in judgement and blameless in life refused a national honour, citing, among others, the crisis in Anambra State where Mr. President is suspected to be a major party. Like Achebe, the crisis is painful to all men of goodwill, especially the people of Anambra who have much stake in the state. Why should you expect me or any Anambra man to be happy when my Governor had been slapped, forced to sign cheques, abducted, made to skip off the road, stripped of police protection and made a refuge in far- away Abuja, and many more?

A complete re-examination of Anambra crisis proves that it has the imprimatur of Mr. President. Let us for once call a spade a spade in this matter by avoiding “Mr. President who is alleged to be …” and say “Mr. President who is behind Anambra crisis, by trying to wreck havoc on the state through those Achebe referred to as “renegades.” If I am harsh and judgemental, please pardon me for I write with heavy heart at what my otherwise peaceful state has been forced to undergo. If in my anger I commit libel, I will be ready to apologize afterwards, but I must “vomit” what is troubling me lest one is chocked to death. Even the Philosopher Seneca, in an angry page in his essay On Anger, had to be blunt on certain issues.

The same forces that fought Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju are also fighting Ngige. In Mbadinuju’s own case, he capitulated thus allowing those forces to get hold of the state. As an unfortunate sequel, he could not pay salaries and pensions for over a year. While he was the governor, pensioners died on daily basis. I am still not happy that Ngige has not got the courage to demand from Mbadinuju what happened to the money that would have been used to settle salaries.

Because of Ngige’s refusal to allow the forces backed by Mr. President to get hold of the state, by guiding the treasury ferociously from all political raids, he has been paying salaries and pensions and the arrears that Mbadinuju owed. Because of this demonstrable focus, Anambra people are pleased with him. The only problem most of us have against him is the fact that it is believed the elections that brought him was gravely rigged against APGA and Mr. Peter Obi. But until the Tribunal upturns the election, it is criminal to try to use unconstitutional methods to remove him. The people being used think that it will lead them to any place and whoever supports them proves to us that he was not disturbed when Mbadinuju was not paying salaries. This, no doubt, is the height of wickedness. Others close to the government use their closeness to attract government’s patronage. Some of them, through their companies, buy so many government investments in a deregulated regime, unannounced and use it to help their people and other Nigerians through employment.

Funny enough, the foolish ones only demonstrate their own closeness by allowing themselves to be used in destabilizing their states. What is happening in Anambra has confirmed the belief in certain quarters that Obasanjo really hates the Igbos. How can a President, yes he should take the blame, stand by and allow a state to be destroyed because of renegades’ vaulting ambitions? When he called a security meeting on Anambra State, I felt like sending brimstone to hit him, because the damage had already been done while he fiddled like Nero. The manner of that meeting suggested it was to advise him on a state of emergency, which seemed the far-reaching aims of the renegades. However, let us note that even the Anambra crises do not approximate what happen or happened in other states – Benue, Bayelsa, Kano, Oyo, Delta, Rivers, etc yet no state of emergency has been contemplated. Lest you blame me, please remember that I write with a heavy and a genuinely troubled heart.

After the renegades’ attack, it appeared as though an earthquake had visited Anambra leaving no stone upon another! It is clear that there is no Federal presence in Anambra State, it is painful that what federal authorities sponsored the depraved tribe of renegades to destroy were the things built by the state government from the pious kobos of illustrious Anambrarians. Oh yes, the splendour of the state is clearly the transmuted sweat of lowly farmers, traders and civil servants. The man who pursues the governor vindictively, who leads the band of renegades goes by the name eseluenuego. The name, which aims to portray monetary riches, is a typical depraved representation of the uneducated. Such names and characters remind one of Zeno’s remark upon seeing the uneducated man sitting on a stone, “Behold a stone sitting on another stone.”

Violently wrathful and impetuous, he thinks everybody corruptible and is insensitive to integrity. In fact, if you are interested to know what the steps by which men pass from civilization to barbarism are, you will be interested in those depraved renegades, for they embody, if not that process, at least that effort. I understand one of Anambra’s own renegades started his career with Chief Arthur Eze, under whose guidance he received an overdose of political thuggery. Pardon me if I write unusually; have you forgotten that I write with a heavy heart? With what is happening in Anambra, my friends and I am tempted to join The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and defend the Igbo land, thank God that we initially overcame the temptation, though one does not know what will happen tomorrow.

Amid all these virulent nonsense, I fear for Obasanjo who will be remembered for good or bad by posterity. I say this because renegades will soon be forgotten, after being used. Obasanjo seems to be concerned about reforms and how to move Nigeria forward, but it is at variance with the support for renegades and the crises they generate. The latest crisis has proved the saying that from barbarism to civilization takes years, while vice versa takes a few hours. In the twinkle of an eye, the civilization Anambra people built over the years were carried away by barbarian flood. Since internal order is one of the conditions that promise economic resurgence, Obasanjo’s protestations may as well be a ruse. The way the country is today, if anything happens to our unity, he should be held responsible as godfather of the barbarian flood.

When you look at great men that are remembered today in any field, you will see why they are worthy to be remembered. We still remember Euclid for the formulation of basic postulate of deductive geometry; Archimedes for his discovery of basic physical principles (hydrostatics, laws of the lever and pulley); Alexander flaming for discovery of penicillin; Einstein for the theory of Relativity; Lincoln for perseverance in politics, Zik, Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello for the foundation of modern Nigeria, Achebe and Soyinka for their exploits in literature. For what will history remember Obasanjo? For using a young man of his children’s age to destabilize a state he is supposed to protect. Is this abdication of duty by commission and omission not enough ground for an impeachment?

As an Anambrarian, apart from the flawed elections, I am proud of Ngige. I urge him not to relent, expect the Tribunal decides otherwise. I would like him to meditate on the words of Horace that “The man who is tenacious of purpose in a rightful cause is not shaken from his firm resolve by the frenzy of his fellow citizens clamouring for what is wrong, or by the tyrants threatening countenance;” if I am permitted to add, by Ubahsanjo.

As Nigerians’ react to what is happening in Anambra, their comments are understandable. Sometimes, you ask yourself: is Anambra not becoming a national embarrassment? It is true that the state has an unparalleled galaxy of writers, statesmen, astute businessmen, scientists; in fact, only a few states have as brilliant constellation of intellects, but the news from there is not appetizing. We Anambrarians are sorry for all the embarrassments, but again, it is not our own making. The fact to note is that when a higher power, such as the Presidency decides to destabilize any state, it must find renegades that will offer to be used for a few millions. But the presidency that will be so inclined is most irresponsible.
Honestly, the crisis in Anambra is fast taking everybody round the lunatic asylum. As we cry and call on thunder to visit the renegades, they are busy holding peace meeting with Ngige when ordinarily they ought to be arraigned for the breach of the peace and attempted coups.