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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Imo 2015: Hon. Emeka Ihedioha Breaks Silence & Bares his Fangs – By John Mgbe

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-Hon Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the NO.6 person in the order of Protocol in Nigeria has  revved  his political machine in readiness for the epic governorship battle of 2015.While  waiting on INEC to  flash the Green Light  for  the  commencement  of  the  electioneering proper ,Hon Emeka Ihedioha is  making  consultation  visits  and  cameo  appearances  to  some  select   political clusters to  familiarize  himself  with a cross section of  his  faithful in order to  break the  ice and make  pertinent  clarifications  in  regard to  all manner of wild  and  frivolous allegations that  have  been  persistently launched at  him in the past months. His persistent stoicism and taciturnity in the  face  of  the fusillade  of  propaganda  against  him  gave  the  erroneous  signal that  his silence  was synonymous with  acquiescence  to  the  malicious  and  fabricated   tales  from his political adversaries.

It  is, perhaps,  on account  of this  development  that  he  has  embarked  on  the   consultation visits  and  interactive  sessions  with  the people  in order  to  douse  the  lingering  frustrations  of  some of  his  admirers  on the  negative   and  hostile comments  being  made  by  a  cross section  of  politicians in Imo  State whose  intention  is  to  tarnish  his  reputation  even  before  the  electioneering kicks off. The consultation visits have so far taken him to two Local Government Areas in the State.  His entourage was hosted at the country home of Hon Maxwell Duru at Okwelle in Onuimo LGA on Friday 4th April, while the group was also hosted at the country home of Chief Ebere Udeagu at Ihube in Okigwe LGA on 6th April. In this viewpoint, I want to report the visit at Ihube. On arrival  at  the  venue, the Hon Deputy Speaker  was  received  by  a  large  gathering  of  party faithful who  were  already waiting  eagerly  for his  arrival. He  moved  straight  to  the IME-OBI  to  have  a  brief  chat  with  the  chief  host, Engineer  Ebere Udeagu, former Deputy Governor  of Imo State(1999-2007).When they  emerged  from the brief chat,  a waiting  crowd  was  already  beating drums and singing  songs  of praise  to God  for making  the  visit possible. After  the brief speeches  from  the  High Table  in which the  Chief Host   and  some  others  spoke  in praise  of   Hon Deputy Speaker, the  main  business of  the day  kicked  off.

The Deputy Speaker  said that  he embarked  on the visit in order to  present  himself  to  those  who  had   been hearing of Hon Emeka  Ihedioha, the green cap man,  but had never seen him  before. He  started  his  speech  by  giving a  genesis  of  his political  journey  from grass to  grace.Accoding to  his  account,he started his political expedition around the 1998/1999 political season. He started by serving as media aide to the Late President of the Senate, DR Chuba  Okadigbo. When the  controversial Senate  President stepped  on the banana peelings snd lost power as Senate President, the  upwardly mobile EMEKA  joined  the  office  of  the Vice President, Alhaji Atiku where  he  worked  as  an aide to the Vice President  in the  political wing  of  the office. It  was  from this  platform that he won the  primaries to  represent the Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency  in Imo State of Nigeria. He  successfully  won  the  constituency from the All Peoples Party(APP) who  held the  ticket  before  the  election. Since then, Hon EMEKA has successfully retained the ticket  for PDP. He  first  won that  seat in 2003.In his  first tenure , he  was  the  Chairman of the  Prestigious House  Committee on Marine Transport. As  Chaiman of this Committee, Hon Emeka Ihedioha  attracted   a  capital intensive project  of a Jetty at Imo River,Okpala.Those  who are  travelling to Aba from Owerri can see the Jetty  on Imo River at Okpala. The Jetty project is a testimony that a  son of Imo State  once  held sway at the Marine Committee. Since Imo State  is  regarded as  land locked  or a vassal  Niger Delta State, only  a  son of the soil in the person of Hon Emeka Ihedioha  would have  succeeded  to  deliver  the Jetty Project to the Imo/Abia  axis. Ordinarily, such projects are usually located in the coastal Niger States of Rivers, Bayelsa and related states. The Jetty project was not only earmarked but can also be eye-marked  by whoever  goes to Imo River at Okpala. Often what we hear from politicians is that a certain project, say a Jetty, was ear-marked   but in the end such a project will never be eye- marked. But  for Hon Emeka Ihedioha, all his earmarked projects can also be eye-marked  hence he bagged the title of “Omenkeahuru anya of Aboh-Mbaise na  Ngor Okpala.   Briefly put, a jetty can be defined as a landing stage or small pier at which boats can dock or be moored. It  is  a protective  structure of  stone or  concrete that  extends  from  the shore into  the  sea or ocean water to prevent a beach  from washing away. So, the  jetty project is  not  an  abstract  project; it  is  a  project which  has  a  life  of its own and can be seen in Imo River at Okpala.

In 2007, Hon Emeka won the second term ticket to represent  his Aboh  Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Constituency on the platform of the PDP.He was Chief Whip of the House  in that  segment. The  Chief Whip is  not  just a  provost in a  meeting in a local meeting as  most people  think; it  is  a  top  political  office in a  legislature which  task is to administer  the  whipping system that ensures that  members of the  party attend and vote as  the party leadership desires. So, it  is  a top job that  can only  be  given  to  a  tested  legislator and good team player whose  party loyalty  is cast in concrete. The slot cannot be given to a legislator whose loyalty to his party is in doubt or a politician who will very easily abandon his party in search of self aggrandizement or filthy lucre in a rival party. It is not a job for political turncoats or Fifth Columnists in a party who are always defecting from one  political party  to the other.  Hon Emeka Ihedioha was found to be a fit and proper person to occupy this tough and energy-sapping job.

When he completed his  first tenure and indicated interest in a second tenure,  some  sections  of the  political  class in his  constituency  made  a case  that  he should step aside  for  another  person. However, the  majority  made  a  case  for a second tenure   for  him  on the  grounds  of his   very  effective  and quality  representation in the House .On this  issue  Hon Emeka Ihedioha  said  that  although  his federal constituency   is a difficult terrain where you  don’t go two times but because  of the way   he served as a  bridge between the  members  of  the  constituency coupled with the way he  effectively  used  the  opportunities  that came his  way to  empower  his  constituents  and,  above all, because  of the fairness he  manifested  in his  representation, the  people  of Ngor OkpaLA/Aboh Mbaise  Federal constituency generously  gave him the ticket  to represent them for  a second tenure. He said that  his  campaign slogan  for  his  second tenure was  “One good turn deserves  another”. He was victorious in that  election thus went ahead  to do a second term.

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When he justified his second tenure and  made  a move  for the third tenure, a section  of the  constituency had  an opposing  stance. However, the majority of the people pointed fingers at his achievements and made a case for him to be given one more chance since the reward for good job is more responsibility. His achievements   in his first term as Chairman of Marine Transport and his impressiveconstituency projects in his second tenure made a strong case for him to win the election for the third tenure.

In the  third tenure  in the House, some   developments  took place which  caused Hon Emeka Ihedioha  to  be tipped  for the office  of the Speaker or  to  occupy  a top  office in the House. What  happened  was that after the  election of 2011  in which the PDP lost  all the  governorship  seats  in the South West as well as  losing virtually  all the  National Assembly  seats to the ACN, the members of the House of Representatives decided  to  elect  their principal officers without  any  extraneous  interventions from the  Executive Arm. The House  took this  decision because  the mood of the  nation showed there  was a  need for a House of Representatives  which would be  independent  of  manipulations  from the Presidency. However,  in spite  of the fall of PDP in the South West  Zone, some top political  bigwigs  insisted  that  the  Speakership  of the House  should  be zoned to the South West. This  decision generated outrage  across the  nation and the House of Representatives  leveraged  on this  anger  to  resist any  interference  from the  outside  in the appointment  of the principal officers  of the BLUE Chamber-House of Representatives. This is the political arithmetic that culminated in the emergence of HON Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively. It is  outrageous and  despicable  that  some  members  of the political class in Imo State  have  no qualms  in accusing Hon Emeka Ihedioha as  clinching the job of Deputy Speaker  through intrigue and  sabotage  of the PDP directives. If Hon Emeka Ihedioha had rejected the job, he would have been stigmatized   and ostracized by the House members  ,more so, when a section of them even  made a case for him to be Speaker. Of course, the office would have been zoned to another political zone. Although Hon Emeka Ihedioha devoted quality time to throw light on this issue, I have decided to report it  from the  information in my data bank. I do not need anybody to  educate  me on an issue  that happened just in 2011 before our very eyes. The  bottom line of my submission  under this heading is that on the allegation that he  became Deputy Speaker via  sabotage and sharp practices is  a  gratuitous  insult on the intellect  of the responsible  members of the political  community in Imo State;it’s a cheap blackmail,  a hogwash, a gibberish.On this charge, Hon  Emeka Ihedioha is discharged and acquitted. I want to appeal to our editors to exercise restraint and professionalism in placing some worthless and toxic viewpoints in their papers.

On the allegation that Hon Emeka Ihedioha facilitated the appointment of only Mbaise politicians to Federal Boards and parastatals, he made elaborate clarification to defuse the propaganda. The reasons adduced by Emeka Ihedioha to put the pin in the balloon of the peddlars of rumour were   convincing, compelling and unassailable. It is not true that Hon Emeka Ihedioha  abused his position by facilitating the board appointment of only Mbaise politicians. In his speech during the interactive session with the audience, he took  time to give details of those he facilitated their  appointments to Federal Boards. As a result of the paucity of space, I will try to summarize his very long treatise on this issue. Hon Emeka Ihedioha facilitated the   Board appointment of Hon Austin Nwachukwu in the Board of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).He also appointed  Hon Elvis Agukwe as member Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). He hails from Orlu zone.Another beneficiary is Hon Goodluck Opia, former Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, also Chairman of a Federal Board. He hails from Orlu zone.Dr Alex Obi, a medical doctor cum politician of IKWO OSE   fame is also a Board Chairman .He hails from Mbaise. In fact, in his own case, Barrister Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, even made a case for Dr. Alex Obi to be given the post. Another beneficiary is Hon Mike Iheanetu  in whom Hon Ihedioha had an interest because he worked hard for the election of Hon Ihedioha. The Deputy Speaker had  promised to  give him an appointment  if he(Hon Emeka)  won the  election. So, it’s a reward for hard work and tenacity of purpose. So, what is wrong about that? Another beneficiary of Board appointment is Hon Alex Emeziem who is on the Board of   Federal Capital Territory (FCT). What  happened was that  unknown to Hon Emeka Ihedioha, the Minister Federal Capital Territory was  compiling a list  of Board members  for the FCT.It was  Hon Alex Emeziem who  passed the  information to Hon Emeka Ihedioha. Leveraging on this  information, Hon Ihedioha  made  a  case to the FCT Minister   to  be  given some  slots .He was  given only one slot, even though he had  asked for about four .As a man who  has conscience, Hon Ihedioha passed that single  slot to Hon Alex Emeziem as a reward for  being eagle-eyed to  know  that  there  were  Board  appointments being  processed for  FCT. In fact, some other politicians would have given that position to  their own family members but Hon Emeka does  not  belong in that group. So, that  is how Alex Emeziem  bagged a Board appointment.  Perhaps, instead  of  making hostile  comments  on Hon Emeka Ihedioha, some  of us who  are  here in Imo State should relocate to Abuja  in search of  openings  for  political  appointments. Be assured that once you detect such an opening, Hon Ihedioha will go for it and you automatically become a beneficiary.Hon Ihedioha als  facilitated the Board appointment of the State  acting Chairman of  PDP,Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie (from Orlu) in the Board of National Youth Service Commission(NYSC);HE ALSO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE Board appointment of Hon Chuma Nnaji (from orlu) into a Federal Board. Again, he facilitated the Board appointment of Mrs. Comfort Chukwu(Okigwe zone) into a Federal Board. So, precisely put this is an insight into Hon Ihedioha’s role in facilitating Board appointments. It’s unfair to say that the Deputy Speaker ignored the other clans in Imo State while facilitating Board appointments for only  Ndi Mbaise. But what is wrong in a situation where a legislator who represents a particular constituency uses his position to  help his constituents to  secure federal appointments?

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Hon Emeka  Ihedioha  also  narrated how  he  used his position  to effect the  appointment  of Hon Omegara  as Chairman of a powerful House Committee which supervises inter governmental activities. Hon Omegara is not from Mbaise; he hails from Okigwe zone. The Chairmanship job was given to him on a platter of gold, even though he was a member of the then  All Congress of Nigeria (ACN).Again,  he  made Hon Omegara the leader  of the Imo caucus of the House of Representatives. Hon Omegara  is one of the three Chairmen of House Committees from Imo State. On Mrs. Mma Onyechere who hails from Okigwe zone, he  narrated how  the woman enjoyed  a  consultancy  job  from  the   a section of the  National Assembly and  disappeared into thin air  .The next information  he heard was that she had joined Governor Okorocha’s  Administration as Commissioner. It was on account of such ingratitude that he advised the people of OkIgwe not be wary of those they recommend for appointment into political positions. He said that dependable and reliable people should be recommended when such opportunities   became available.

 

 

Hon Emeka Ihedioha gave extensive account of his profile   on constituency projects. It is pertinent to state that Hon Emeka Ihedioha’s achievement’s in the area of Constituency projects are both intimidating and staggering. Perhaps, I want to say without any fear  of contradiction that I am not aware  of any  legislator in IMO State(State or NASS) whose  constituency projects can compare with that of Hon Emeka Ihedioha within the period 1999 to date. Even with the scanty records I have in my data bank, I can wager (stake or bet) on this statement. He is”MR Constituency Projects  and Youth Empowerment”. Little wonder, he holds a title of OMENKEAFURU ANYA(the  veritable doer) of Aboh Mbaise na  Ngor- Okpala Federal Constituency and his  faithful  address him as “Emeka Ihediohamma”. He is a- talk- and- do- politician and his earmarked projects can also  be eye-marked . What Emeka Ihedioha has achieved in the area of  Constituency projects  can only be compared to what the Deputy Senate  President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu is  doing in Enugu State. I speak from an informed mind, even though, I have not benefitted from these projects. In journalism, facts are sacred.

Although I do not intend to discuss his constituency projects in this review, it is  pertinent to  state  that   recently about 50 youths  drawn from the 27 LGAs in Imo State  graduated from a six- month  skill acquisition and empowerment  programme  from the  The Metallurgical  Training Institute in Onitsha. The beneficiaries of this programme will never lack food for life. On one  occasion, Hon Emeka Emeka Ihedioha  sponsored the  skill acquisition  and empowerment of about 500 youths( male  and female) at Villa Maria Owerri.They were  all given their  start-up kits  at the  venue. In the same vein, he organized another entrepreneurial empowerment programme   for the youths at Federal University of Technology, Entrepreneurial Centre , about two months ago. There are  so  many of such skills acquisition programmes   under the auspices  of Hon Emeka Ihedioha’s Constituency projects and they  are open to the 27 LGAs of Imo State  and not  just  limited to  his  Federal Constituency(Aboh Mbaise / Ngor Okpala). I am not aware  of any other legislator in Imo State(i.e. from 1999 to date)  who has  surpassed Hon Emeka Ihedioha  in the area  of constituency projects and youth empowerment programmes. On the 24th December 2011 or so, a capital intensive project-a power station- attracted by him was commissioned by  the former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji. It is located at Mbutu in his community while another one was also located elsewhere in that federal constituency. It was Hon Emeka Ihedioha who facilitated the capturing of Governor Ikedi Ohakim’s   dualization project   of Owerri-Elele highway in the Federal Budget. He has assured the populace that adequate funding would be provided for the project.

 

As in all gathering of politicians, there is always the likelihood of launching political salvos in the direction of the enemy camp. In this  vein, Hon Emeka Ihedioha  advised the  delegates  from Okigwe zone to use their  votes  wisely and  not  to waste  it  on  candidates  who  lack integrity. Emphasizing that the battle  to  sack Governor Okorocha    was  on course , he  warned  that  the  first and  most  important   move  was to   present  a  candidate who  has  what it takes to give Governor Okorocha a technical knockout(TKO). Assuring the people that , as governor,  his government would  not  be distracted on giving the  best to Imo State, he said:”I am  not owing any  bank  in the  country; I have committed  no  economic  crimes  for which  I may  be tried  ….” In view of  his  wide  experience  in the  political  arena,  he  said that he would  not  have any  encumbrances  or  impediments  in transforming Imo State. He said  that  his  wide network of  contacts  in all parts  of the country  would  enable  him to  get  things  done with effortless  ease     for  the  uplift of Imo State.  In the same vein, he emphasized  that with his 12 years  experience  as  legislator, he was in a better  position to  know  how  to  galvanize and  synergize  with  the legislature, the  executive arms as well as other  critical clusters in order  to  achieve a  timely transformation of  the  State  to an Imo State of our dream, more so, since  he is  in sync with the critical levers of power in the  country.

Some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion include the host and  former Deputy Governor for eight years(1999-2007), Engineer Ebere Udeagu, Hon Prince Obinna  Okwara,  Hon Ngozi Pat Ekeji,Hon Jones Onyeriri, Hon Oliver Enwerenem, Professor Obinna Ihedoro,Chief Okee Ikoro, Chief Evaristus Idumukwu, Dr Mrs. Rose Onumaeme,former Chairman of Obowo LGA   ,Lady Nkechi Mbonu who was described by Hon Ihedioha as a reliable and dependable lady who should be encouraged Dr Philip Ukaegbu,Chief J.C Onuoha. Others include Hon Basil Ekweke from Obowo,Hon Greg Owuamalam, Hon Alex Emeziem. The  various dignitaries took turns to  pour encomiums   and platitudes on Hon Ihedioha who  they  described as a dependable  and trust worthy party member  and a strong tower  of  financial  strength to the PDP at both the State and national levels. Finally, as the “ MR Constituency Project and Youth empowerment” that he is, Hon Ihedioha  did not disappoint as he lavished  executive largesse and goodies to his hosts amid a rousing ovation and applause by the sea of humanity who graced the occasion.

John Mgbe

08032722897

johnmgbe@yahoo.com

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