A Technical Assistant to Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Owo in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Anselem Arinze Ani has lambasted the zonal secretary of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Okwu Nnabuike over his comments against the state lawmaker representing Ezeagu constituency, Rt. Hon. Chima Obieze.
Ani who was reacting to a Facebook post from Nnabuike for castigating the lawmaker, described him as “one of Ekweremadu’s overzealous supporters.”
Nnabuike who took to his social media account to criticize Obieze, said the state lawmaker was ungrateful and showed no gratitude to the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu whom he said financially supported him(Obieze) to rise politically.
“What is the true meaning of gratitude? Can you explain this? You paid a visit of gratitude because he gave you money when you contested SUG election? But someone made him and from there he got the money he gave to you but he never showed gratitude rather he became ungrateful and antagonistic.
“You can never talk about Chima Obieze without talking about Ike Ekweremadu. Chima Obieze is nobody,” Nnabuike stated.
Reacting, however, the governor’s aide said Nnabuike was speaking from a point of hatred, envy, jealousy and bitterness.
He said: “Everyone that knows Obieze before now, knows that he lives and breathes Ike Ekweremadu. What other form of gratitude are you looking for?
“Is it the number of times he has brought his entire kinsmen to thank Ikeoha for appointing him Senior Legislative Assistant in 2014. Or when he got his community to receive him on 27th of Dec 2016. Or the many things he has done to promote him. Or the mobilisations he has done for him. Is it in the ideas known and unknown to you which he has brought to the table for Ike.
“I think I remember you, the young man who has no job or handwork except creating factional Ohanaeze youth groups for the purpose of extorting money from unsuspecting politicians and pan-Igbo businessmen. So I see why the growth and progress of Obieze must be received by you with such bitterness as you have displayed here. Obviously, he is everything you wish to become.
“The Obieze you called a ‘nobody’ before even meeting Ike, has been recognised by entire Catholic Community in the entire Enugu Diocese as the Image Maker of the Catholic Laity Council. He has become the Students’ Union President of ESUT, he has been a Special Assistant to His Excellency, Chief Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. He has been the West African Secretary, Young Lawyers Forum. He has been Enugu State Youth Ambassador at the National Youth Assembly of Nigeria. He was a principal partner of his own law firm “Streetwise Attorneys” and he was doing very well. The young man you called a ‘nobody’ were already living in a Duplex in Enugu town and was driving 4 sound cars, including an SUV before he met Ike. I can go on and on but I will stop. Just get your facts straight before you open your mouth to spit rubbish.”
He, however, admitted that Ekweremadu supported Obieze’s political ambition, saying “granted Sen. Ike Ekweremadu played a very special role in his emergence as a House of Assembly member. Obieze has never denied this fact and has never ceased to show gratitude to Ike Ekweremadu for allowing God use him. He basically lived a life of gratitude to Ike till date.
“That he insisted to stand on the truth and to state his stand on the zoning arrangement in Enugu does not make him ungrateful. Ike assisting him when he contested for House of Assembly does not make him Ike’s dog that should obey every of Ike’s orders or wishes without reason or giving it a thought.
“Obieze is now a member of the State House of Assembly, serving under a Governor. He won his election through the instrumentality of a political party, the PDP and the Governor is the Leader of the Party. His loyalty is first to God and good conscience, then 2nd to the Governor and leader of the Party. This does not make him ungrateful but shows he is a man who, when he is part of the system remains loyal and committed to the system.
“Ike did not join Jim to fight Chimaroke and he cannot say Jim contributed nothing to his political growth. He also did not join Chimaroke to fight Chime even when we all know how Chimaroke made him Chief of Staff, SSG, sent him to the Senate and spent fortunes to make him Deputy Senate President. Ike stood with the system in all the scenarios above, because he understood that he cannot fight the system that threw him up.
“To you Mr Okwu and all of you out there castigating Obieze for standing with good conscience, for standing with the Governor and Leader of the Party, and for standing for the zoning system which has worked for all of us in Enugu State, you are your own problem. Quit envy and grow. Obieze is a progressive and has no time for the kind of politics you play. He is both upright and open-minded in his political beliefs. There is absolutely nothing a hundred people like you can do to Obieze, his growth is of God.
“If you want to know if Obieze is an ungrateful person ask the People who has been of help to him in his early years. Speak to Hon. Chinedu Onuh and Comr. F.C. Edeh who he served while in the university. Speak with Prof. Chidobem(former VC of ESUT). Speak with Chief Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and many others.
“I will advice you and your likes, who have been hating and antagonising Obieze even while he was committed and loyal in serving Sen. Ekweremadu to go and get a life. You never liked him so even if he took a bullet for Ike Ekweremadu, your likes will still find a way to twist it and say he killed himself for selfish reasons.
“Come to think of it, why are all of you so stuck on Obieze. Because I’m sure many of you felt his presence was blocking your shine around Ikeoha. Why not let him be and then take all the time and space in the world to shine. Is there something in Obieze that you guys grieving about? I remember when Obieze brought Elvis Obi Nwankwo to lead the Youths of Enugu West it was you and your likes who fought and are still fighting Elvis because he tried to promote both Sen. Ekweremadu and Gov Ugwuanyi at the same time. To your myopic minds, anyone that promotes Ugwuanyi is an enemy of Ekweremadu.
“It is your likes that are pushing a good and kind man like Sen. Ekweremadu into committing a grave political blunder that may burn off the remaining drops of political goodwill he has left. Little will he know you guys are waiting for the money that will come out from him if he decides to run for election, without sitting down to ask yourself how exactly does he intend to pull through in the face of the many overwhelming political impossibilities.
“May God open his eyes to see the evil intentions in your minds.
“The Obieze I know would never insult Sen Ekweremadu. But this will not deter him from objectively standing with his beliefs and principles. To him it’s nothing personal.”
