By Kelechi Mejuobi
The recent protest staged by staff of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, has again opened another frontier of discussion concerning developments in the oil areas of the State, including its leaders.
One of those who attracted mention in the recent drama engulfing the interventionist’s agency is Goodluck Nanah Opiah. Opiah has been suffering cheap blackmails propagated by certain ill minded elements uncomfortable with his esteemed personality that has won better standing from the populace.
Opiah needs no introduction in the society, especially in Imo, having attainted an enviable height in the political and social circle. With a sojourn in the field of politics that spans more than two decades, the Ogboru-Abacheke, Egbema born business administration graduate of the River State University Portharcourt, RSUT, cut his teeth in the game when he represented Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency, 2003-2007 in the IMO State House of Assembly.
In view of the legislative sagacity he exhibited which saw him excel in lawmaking, constituency representation and oversight functions as a first timer, he was granted a second tenure chance which culminated in his emergence as the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, 2007-2011.
Consequently, as a man loved by his people, Opiah took a higher leap in lawmaking business when the entire Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency backed him to Abuja to represent the area in the National Assembly.
On completion of the four- year mandate in Abuja, apparently aware of his rich pedigree in caring for his oil rich zone, Governor Hope Uzodinma considered him appropriate to oversee the novel Oil and Gas Bureau, of the Imo State Government, where he serves as the Coordinator/Special Adviser to the Governor.
Since the subject of this discussion is not centered on the ISOPADEC protest which has generated enough interest in public domain, this commentary won’t delve into that as Police command in Imo State, the State Government and ISOPADEC workers bicker on what transpired on Monday, when things turned awry after the commission workers took to the street to protest non payment and slashing of their salaries.
The focus of this piece reflects on undiluted character assassination and hate induced name calling against Opiah by suspected opposition elements and haters in the political system.
Signs that cheap blackmailers who may be jealous of the enormous capacity the former Speaker wields, fertilized by his rosy relationship with the governor, sprouted when these irascible elements tried to exploit the recent ISOPADEC matter as weapon to launch fresh offensive against Opiah.
Regrettably, this is one of the many inglorious pursuits by these merchants of lies to unjustly tarnish the flourishing image of the former Reps member.
Their first target after the incident was to use the media to besmirch Opiah. Moments after the protest, the media in the state were flooded with syndicated tissues of lies fuelled by purveyors of falsehood.
One of the operators who knows my relationship with Opiah got across for certain verifications before going to press. Having served as Chief Press secretary to the Speaker during his tenure as number one lawmaker in the state, he remains a principal I can discuss his antecedents and prospects.
Part of their campaign of calumny after the protest was an allegation that the former House of Reps member appears to be indifferent to plight of ISOPADEC workers judging from his position and affinity with the Uzodinma administration. However, the uninformed blackmailers showcasing paucity of knowledge of the whole scenario failed to note that when contacted on their predicament, Opiah advised the workers to relax their protest and grant him few days for a fruitful response on their request. He promised to mediate on their behalf.
Unfortunately, when they failed to heed to his advise and the outcome turned sour, certain disgruntled elements accused him of allegedly engineering the protest.
Others who were buoyed by the scent of hatred and blindfolded with perhaps, unbridled jealousy about Opiah’s progress in the political scene, went to town with fairy tales. One notorious e-rat of a political party that doesn’t deserve mention because of the common suspicion that he is suffering from dementia, used his Facebook account to malign the integrity of the government appointee in charge of Oil and Gas matters.
Since Uzodinma came on board, celebral irritants opposed to the growth of the oil producing areas have seen him as an obstacle, hence the continued manufacture of unfounded lies and half bake truth against his integrity.
Part of their stock in trade has been the continuous dragging of Opiah’s name into any issue involving ISOPADEC. Their theatre of absurdities before the ISOPADEC protest was the moronic allegation accusing him of meddling into the finance of the commission even when no fund was released. When that tactless venture failed, the same destructive elements came up with cooked up views that the former Speaker was behind the clamour for the present administration to constitute the ISOPADEC board. Their sinful design was to pitch the governor against Opiah. Yet it collapsed. Their renewed chicanery is the act of using ISOPADEC as a means of calling a dog a bad name for it to be hanged unjustly.
Come to think of it and for record sake, ISOPADEC is the brain child of Opiah. I stand to be challenged that between 2003 to 2007, the only House of Assembly member who sponsored a private member Bill for a law government adopted is Opiah.
This may not be the forum for extensive discussion on this topic, but unlike various traducers who had in the past showcased gibberish remark on ISOPADEC existence, the interventionist’s agency is the multiplier effects of Opiah’s effective representation during his first tenure as a House of Assembly member. And on emergence as Speaker during second tenure, he ensured activities of the commission were kick- started to serve the purpose of its existence. Anyone alive with good sense of history can testify that 2007-2011 Opiah was Imo Assembly Speaker undoubtedly became the glory period of ISOPADEC.
There is no gainsaying the fact that from inception till date, Opiah has not been involved in the affairs of ISOPADEC to be accused of meddlesome in the matters related to the commission.
It will be foolhardy to link Opiah to ISOPADEC present challenge when he hasn’t been involved in its affairs more than a decade the commission was established.
The rascal e-rat serving an opposing party has taken to his facebook account to run down Opiah’s name in line with the agenda of his sponsors. Since his trademark remains undertaking “dirty Jobs” for his paymasters, it has become necessary to advise him to apply caution and seek the truth before letting loose feeble canon shots.
To those who may not also be informed and deceived by the antics of the hate crusaders, there are differences between ISOPADEC and the Oil and Gas Bureau, Opiah serves as Coordinator to the Imo State Government. While the former has Chairman, Managing Director and Board Members, the latter is a recent creation of the State Governor for certain strategic reasons with different outlook and functions.
With what has been done so far since Opiah took charge in the Bureau, there is no gainsaying the fact that the former Speaker is adequately qualified for the position.
As Opiah pointed out at a recent function in his honour after the appointment, he accepted the Governor’s call as another duty to serve his people and the state.
Recall that before his appointment, Opiah had received the mandate of the governor to mediate in the Sterling Global Oil vs Egbema Community crisis. The issue was amicably resolved with both parties associating without rancor.
Aside from settling the Sterling Oil brouhaha, Opiah has moved more steps forward to tinker of the establishment of an Oil producing company for Imo State while engaging in fruitful interface with concerned quarters for the realization of the noble project. These lofty projects are geared towards a better life for the people of the area which perennial antagonists of the Oil producing area are uncomfortable with.
Kelechi Mejuobi is a regular columnist of the Owerri based newspaper
The recent protest staged by staff of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, has again opened another frontier of discussion concerning developments in the oil areas of the State including its leaders.
One of those who have attracted mention in the recent drama engulfing the interventionist’s agency is Goodluck Nanah Opiah. Opiah has been suffering cheap blackmails propagated by certain ill minded elements uncomfortable with his esteemed personality that has won better standing from the populace.
Opiah needs no introduction in the society especially in Imo having attainted an enviable height in the political and social circle. With a sojourn in the field of politics that spans more than two decades, the Ogboru-Abacheke, Egbema born business administration graduate of the River State University Portharcourt, RSUT, cut his teeth in the game when he represented Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency, 2003-2007.
In view of the legislative sagacity he exhibited which saw him excel in lawmaking, constituency representation and oversight functions as a first timer, he was granted a second tenure chance which culminated in his emergence as the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, 2007-2011.
Consequently, as a man loved by his people, Opiah took a higher leap in lawmaking business when the entire Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency backed him to Abuja to represent the area in the National Assembly.
On completion of the four year mandate in Abuja, apparently aware of his rich pedigree in caring for his oil rich zone, Governor Hope Uzodinma considered him appropriate to oversee the novel Oil and Gas Bureau, of the Imo State Government, where he serves as the Coordinator/Special Adviser to the Governor.
Since the subject of this discussion is not centered on the ISOPADEC protest which has generated enough interest in public domain, this commentary won’t delve into that as Police command in Imo State, the State Government and ISOPADEC workers bicker on what transpired on Monday, when things turned awry after the commission workers took to the street to protest non payment and slashing of their salaries.
The focus of this piece reflects on undiluted character assassination and hate induced name calling against Opiah by suspected opposition elements and haters in the political system.
Signs that cheap blackmailers who may be jealous of the enormous capacity the former Speaker wields, fertilized by his rosy relationship with the governor, sprouted when these irascible elements tried to exploit the recent ISOPADEC matter as weapon to launch fresh offensive against Opiah.
Regrettably, this is one of the many inglorious pursuits by these merchants of lies to unjustly tarnish the flourishing image of the former Reps member.
Their first target after the incident was to use the media to besmirch Opiah. Moments after the protest, the media in the state were flooded with syndicated tissues of lies fuelled by purveyors of falsehood.
One of the operators who knows my relationship with Opiah got across to me for certain verifications before going to press. Having served as Chief Press secretary to the Speaker during his tenure as number one lawmaker in the state, he remains a principal I can discuss his antecedents and prospects.
Part of their campaign of calumny after the protest was an allegation that the former House of Reps member appears to be indifferent to plight of ISOPADEC workers judging from his position and affinity with the Uzodinma administration. However, the uninformed blackmailers showcasing paucity of knowledge of the whole scenario failed to note that when contacted on their predicament, Opiah advised the workers to relax their protest and grant him few days for a fruitful response on their request. He promised to mediate on their behalf.
Unfortunately, when they failed to heed to his advise and the outcome turned sour, certain disgruntled elements accused Opiah of allegedly engineering the protest.
Others who were buoyed by the scent of hatred and blindfolded with perhaps, unbridled jealousy about Opiah’s progress in the political scene, went to town with fairy tales. One notorious e-rat of a political party that doesn’t deserve mention because of the common suspicion that he is suffering from dementia, used his Facebook account to malign the integrity of the government appointee in charge of Oil and Gas matters.
Since Uzodinma came on board, celebral irritants opposed to the growth of the oil producing areas have seen Opiah as an obstacle, hence the continued manufacture of unfounded lies and half bake truth against his integrity.
Part of their stock in trade has been the continuous dragging of Opiah’s name into any issue involving ISOPADEC. Their theatre of absurdities before the ISOPADEC protest was the moronic allegation accusing him of meddling into the finance of the commission even when no fund was released. When that tactless venture failed, the same destructive elements came up with cooked up views that the former Speaker was behind the clamour for the composition of ISOPADEC board by the present administration. Their sinful design was to pitch the governor against Opiah. Yet it collapsed. Their renewed chicanery is the act of using ISOPADEC as a means of calling a dog a bad name for it to be hanged unjustly.
Come to think of it, for record sake, ISOPADEC is the brain child of Opiah. I stand to be challenged that between 2003 to 2007, the only House of Assembly member who sponsored a private member Bill for a law government adopted is Opiah.
This may not be the forum for extensive discussion on this topic, but unlike various traducers who had in the past showcased gibberish remark on ISOPADEC existence, the interventionist’s agency is the multiplier effects of Opiah’s effective representation during his first tenure as a House of Assembly member. And on emergence as Speaker during second tenure, he ensured activities of the commission were kick- started to serve the purpose of its existence. Anyone alive with good sense of history can testify that 2007-2011 Opiah was Imo Assembly Speaker was the glory period of ISOPADEC.
There is no gainsaying the fact that from inception till date, Opiah has not been involved in the affairs of ISOPADEC to be accused of meddlesome in the matters related to the commission.
It will be foolhardy to link Opiah to ISOPADEC present challenge when he hasn’t been involved in its affairs more than a decade the commission was established.
A rascal e-rat serving an opposing party has taken to his facebook account to run down Opiah’s. Since his trademark remains undertaking “dirty Jobs” for his paymasters, it was become necessary to advise him to apply with caution and seek the truth before letting loose feeble canon shots.
To those who may not also be informed and deceived by the antics of the hate crusaders, there are differences between ISOPADEC and the Oil and Gas Bureau, Opiah serves as Coordinator to the Imo State Government. While the former has Chairman, Managing Director and Board Members, the latter is a recent creation of the State Governor for certain strategic reasons with different outlook and functions.
With what has been done so far since he took charge in the Bureau, there is no gainsaying the fact that the former Speaker is adequately qualified for the position.
As Opiah pointed out at a recent function in his honour after the appointment, he accepted the Governor’s call as another duty to serve his people and the state.
Recall that before his appointment, Opiah had received the mandate of the governor to mediate in the Sterling Global Oil vs Egbema Community crisis. The issue was amicably resolved with both parties associating without rancor.
Aside from settling the Sterling Oil brouhaha, Opiah has moved more steps forward to tinker of the establishment of an Oil producing company for Imo State while engaging in fruitful interface with concerned quarters for the realization of the noble project. These lofty projects are geared towards a better life for the people of the area which perennial antagonists of the Oil producing area are uncomfortable with.
