{"id":2791,"date":"2012-10-22T15:59:41","date_gmt":"2012-10-22T15:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/?p=2791"},"modified":"2012-10-22T15:59:41","modified_gmt":"2012-10-22T15:59:41","slug":"okorochas-men-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/?p=2791","title":{"rendered":"Okorocha\u2019s \u201cMen at work\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Readers, I had prepared my topic for the week, when someone drew my attention to the Net and Newspapers in Owerri, where one \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d, who claimed to be a public Analyst based in Okigwe wrote with the caption \u201cOhakim\u2019s men at work\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the said piece, this \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d used more than four paragraphs to destroy my person calling me a Syndicate, Cultist, a terrorist, Boko Haram, Armed Robber, Blackmailer and a failure.\u00a0 According to him, his grouse against me was that I, including Gerry Ogu, Kelechi Mejuobi (of Imo Trumpeta<\/em>), Dr Amanze Obi, Elbert Okere, and Emperor Iwuala \u201cdeployed all arsenals at their disposal to frustrate and finally scuttle the tenure of Governor Okorocha\u201d.<\/p>\n

While I may not be able to answer for all those their names were mentioned here, I will speak for myself, moreover when it is clear that the writer mainly targeted me.<\/p>\n

First of all, I would want to say that the name \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d does not exist.\u00a0 However, since the author of the piece is not man enough to state his correct name and address, it means that he is not confident of the Government and Governor he was trying to defend.<\/p>\n

But in any case, that will not stop me from responding to his accusations, because after reading the piece and making enquiries, I have since unveiled the lazy \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d who is scared of open confrontation.<\/p>\n

I will answer him line by line.\u00a0 I want to state that \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d is not only fictitious but an Ulna, through which the Imo state Government wants to attack perceived enemies and \u201cOhakim\u2019s Men\u201d as stated by this Bonsai calling himself Arinze.<\/p>\n

He said Ohakim went to Court to challenge Okorocha because he got frustrated out of Government. Lie.\u00a0 It was me that read Ohakim\u2019s acceptance of Okorocha\u2019s Triumph to Journalists.\u00a0 It was done even against the decision of his party, PDP which warned him about Okorocha.<\/p>\n

Two days after the speech, Prince Eze Madumere, Okorocha\u2019s Chief of Staff wrote a letter, with letter-heading of \u201cThe office of the Governor Elect\u201d to Banks to freeze all Imo accounts.\u00a0 From that day, Ohakim never got access to any dime belonging to Imo until he left office.\u00a0 And PDP reminded him they warned him about Okorocha.\u00a0 It was after that PDP and Ohakim headed to Court.<\/p>\n

This Nincompoop said that \u201cthe Ohakim Boys established the Pedestrian Imo Trumpeta<\/em> tabloid\u201d. For the records, Imo Trumpeta<\/em> is not \u201cpedestrian\u201d.\u00a0 The likes of this \u201cArinze\u201d never gave the Newspaper a chance to survive.\u00a0 But today Imo Trumpeta<\/em> is one year, and employs about fifteen graduates, with all of them married and feeding their families.<\/p>\n

Therefore, Imo Trumpeta<\/em> has and still contributing to job creation in Imo state.\u00a0 How many people does \u201cArinze\u201d employ?<\/p>\n

The paid piper should realize that had Imo Trumpeta<\/em> been \u201cPedestrian\u201d he would not have bothered to respond to some publications of the \u201cPedestrian\u201d Newspaper.<\/p>\n

And let me repeat here again, that Imo Trumpeta<\/em> was not founded to attack any individual or organization. If the Newspaper was founded to attack Okorocha Government as alluded by this Bird brain, what happens to the workers if the Organization closes tomorrow?\u00a0 What of the money sunk into the place by the Publishers? What of their families?\u00a0 Do you think that a man with a family and above forty years of age can come out in the morning, sit down for the whole day in office for one week, looking for materials to attack and individual? The person must be mad, and need see a psychiatric.\u00a0 Arinze\u2019s postulation is silly and therefore nonsequitur.<\/p>\n

The reason for establishing Imo Trumpeta<\/em> apart from informing and educating Imo people is to make profit and remain in business for centuries to come.\u00a0 But in the course of this business, Imo<\/em> Trumpeta<\/em> is bound to hurt some people and impress someone.\u00a0 It is the way of life, just like as Arinze has ran to other Newspapers now to express his views about me and the others whom he called \u201cTerrorists\u201d.\u00a0 What if there were no Newspapers, or if they had refused his material, how would he have reached the public?\u00a0 You see, another man\u2019s meat is another man\u2019s poison.<\/p>\n

These Newspapers he used in castigating me and my colleagues belong to our friends and colleagues too, but they are doing business and practicing Journalism, which was the reason they gave this \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d the medium to vent his thinking, whether it was a fact or not.\u00a0 So, do we now take wars to these colleagues and friends simply because \u201cArinze\u201d sent his write-up to their Newspaper?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 That is the ethics of the job.\u00a0 Therefore, can \u201cArinze\u201d now realize why he cannot cage Imo Trumpeta<\/em> or dictate their editorials for them? That he does not like the Newspaper is his personal business, as others may like the tabloid and therefore is not \u201cPedestrian\u201d or run Okorocha\u2019s Government downs.<\/p>\n

The Scaly wag who goes by \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d said that I am a blackmailer, which he said had been my trade.\u00a0 \u201cHenry Ekpe, then as Editor of Announcer Express used the blackmail style he is using now to intimidate Ohakim into employing him as CPS\u201d.<\/p>\n

What is the meaning of Blackmail?\u00a0 \u201cDemanding money from a person by threatening to tell somebody else secret\u201d The Oxford Dictionary describes.<\/p>\n

Now let me make it clear that since I joined Journalism over eighteen years ago, I have never requested money from anybody with threat that I would publish a story if not paid.\u00a0 However, I cannot deny that I have been \u201cdashed\u201d money in appreciation for something I have written for somebody.\u00a0 I cannot collect a dime from any fellow, to run down another.\u00a0 God forbid!<\/p>\n

Let me tell this Whelp by name \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d that I am one of the hard working and upright journalists in Imo.\u00a0 I joined Announcer Express as a Reporter and rose to an Editor, after some many years of toiling My Boss Joe Anyama is still there.\u00a0 When I left Announcer in 2009 to serve in Government, I was the only pioneer staff remaining, others whom I came with had left.<\/p>\n

For the over seven years I worked in Announcer, I never had any query neither did any body bring a report against me to my Boss, Joe Anyama, this because of my upbringing and faith. I leave smooth paths wherever I pass so that I can return when I want and I maintain relationships too.<\/p>\n

Through out my years in journalism, I have not had a single libel case till date.\u00a0 What I was taught in journalism is to always say the truth.<\/p>\n

My Boss Joe Anyama would say \u201cHit it, if you have your facts\u201d.\u00a0 And that is what I am doing now and will continue to do.<\/p>\n

Dele Giwa said \u201cIt is the duty of Government to hide secrets and it\u2019s the duty of journalists to expose them\u201d.<\/p>\n

So, I don\u2019t know what \u201cArinze\u201d mean by \u201cBlackmailer\u201d. As I write, I have not called any present Government official demanding money for anything.\u00a0 In fact, since Ohakim administration vacated Government House Owerri, I have never stepped my foot inside the place.<\/p>\n

Prince Eze Madumere, the Chief of Staff to Gov Okorocha is my good friend, in fact a brother.\u00a0 But since he assumed office, I have never called nor visited and neither has he also.\u00a0 He still remains my brother and I cannot hold anything against him no matter what he does to me because he is defending his Boss which is the right for him.<\/p>\n

What does this Vassal mean by blackmailer?\u00a0 Is blackmail when you write constructively about a sitting Government for them to get it right?<\/p>\n

For instance, Okorocha told Imo people that he would not borrow a kobo because Imo is too rich.\u00a0 Then a few months later he borrows Billions of Naira and you inform the people about it, is it blackmail?\u00a0 That Imo General Hospitals have been sold to a Northern?\u00a0 That the abandoned city gates in Owerri gulped millions of Naira and yet not completed?\u00a0 That relocation of IMSU to Ogboko is not social justice? \u00a0That refuse bins have taken over theOwerriCity?\u00a0 That the free education policy of the Government is too confusing that parents are yet to decipher how it works?\u00a0 That the hasty, and now abandoned roads are causing hardship for road users?\u00a0 Are these the blackmails?\u00a0 All these are verifiable facts, and Government has not refuted any of these stories.<\/p>\n

A Mascot like this \u201cArinze\u201d is lost, because he is blinded by pecuniary incentives, for which he was accusing me of.\u00a0 In order words, he has completely fallen victim of the same offence for which he was disparaging others.\u00a0 Is he blind? Is he not seeing all these follies enumerated here?<\/p>\n

I am from Imo and a stakeholder here.\u00a0 I live here and will be happy if the fortune of my state improves.\u00a0 What would I gain by resorting to condemning my state Governor when he is on the right track?\u00a0 If a Governor is doing well, the masses will see it, and no amount of criticism can sway the people against the leader.<\/p>\n

Can \u201cArinze\u201d tell us why a Chief Executive of a state will celebrate a birthday in an open field with schools, offices and markets closed, while the state owned University andSpecialistHospitalwere under lock and key over unpaid wages of the Staff?\u00a0 This \u201cArinze\u201d has insulted all \u201cArinzes\u201d.\u00a0 I will ask my brother, Captain Arinze to change name.<\/p>\n

About a few months ago, when things were looking up right in Imo, I wrote it here and people were asking \u201cif they have bought you\u201d I replied that I would tell the truth at all times, even though it is bitter.\u00a0 And about blackmailing Dr Ikedi Ohakim into making me his Chief Press Secretary, \u201cArinze\u201d lives in fool\u2019s paradise!<\/p>\n

Does Ikedi Ohakim look like somebody you can blackmail into giving you an appointies without first of all weighing your capability?<\/p>\n

First of all, it was an insult to the former Governor, for this Zilch called Arinze to say that.\u00a0 And secondly, it was an insult tome as if all Ohakim saw in me was my \u201cBlackmailing style\u201d<\/p>\n

Let me tell \u201cArinze\u201d that I have known Ohakim, for years even before he started dreaming of running for Governor.\u00a0 Just as I have known Okorocha and other big politicians in this state. Mark you, I started my journalism in Imo, and has remained here for over eighteen years on the job.\u00a0 Therefore, it is only these new politicians who may not know me.<\/p>\n

Through my brother, Dr Ethelbert Okere, I coordinated Ohakim\u2019s first Press conference where he informed the media that he was running for Governorship. That event took place at Crunches.\u00a0 Ask Imo Journalists.<\/p>\n

He won election, and did not appoint me anything and I went on with my job.\u00a0 My appointment as Chief Press Secretary came when it pleased God, not because I am a blackmailer or the best journalist in Imo state.\u00a0 Would you appoint a blackmailer your spokes man, who travels with you everywhere, and has access to you all times?<\/p>\n

I want to tell this faceless fellow that I did not fail as a Chief Press Secretary as he said, neither did Ohakim fail.\u00a0 Checkout the fly over his administration initiated.\u00a0 One pillar alone can tar three roads inside Owerri.\u00a0 If it is that easy why can\u2019t the present administration complete them?\u00a0 It is not possible because the project is gigantic both in size and fund.\u00a0 Why is it that just one year after Ohakim, Owerri has turned into refuse bin.\u00a0 He may have failed in some and got some.\u00a0 To say he failed is generalization.<\/p>\n

Why Ohakim did not win was not because of bad image, but because of an idea whose time had come.\u00a0 It was an action by spur of the moment.\u00a0 Imo people today know better.\u00a0 And I won\u2019t say more on that matter since Senator Ararume is still in Court challenging the election.<\/p>\n

I want to tell \u201cArinze\u201d that I am fulfilled with the two years and five months I served as a Chief Press Secretary of a Governor.\u00a0 It is not a mean fit, if it were people like \u201cArinze\u201d would have since been Secretary of his village meeting.<\/p>\n

I thank God for his mercies that at my age now I have accomplished what most colleagues and friends are still dreaming of (no insult meant).<\/p>\n

I know that the problem I have is envy and jealousy from peers.\u00a0 They are yet to get to terms how my God has been faithful.\u00a0 Most of them thought I would become a beggar after Ohakim.\u00a0 But I am still managing to trudge one, and rather than carrying files around begging, for job, I am an employer of labour, even if the Newspaper is two pages and lasted for three months.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

But the problem is that many people like \u201cArinze\u201d don\u2019t know me and therefore equate me for what their imaginations tell them.<\/p>\n

I have paid by dues as a \u201clocal journalist\u201d. \u00a0I was one of the few who joined Journalism in Owerri with a Degree.<\/p>\n

When we started Announcer, it was only Statesman, National Post and Leader that were in existence. By then Horn, published by late Chief Onii Egbunine had closed shop.<\/p>\n

No body gave the Newspaper a chance to succeed.\u00a0 Today, Announcer is still waxing strong, while I have joined friends to float Imo Trumpeta<\/em>, I am happy for that.<\/p>\n

I want to say that I joined journalism with both eyes open. I am not one of those who joined the Trade because they were looking for \u201cany job\u201d.<\/p>\n

I read Communication in School and have a Master Degree and PGD in Journalism.\u00a0 I was one of the few journalists who have their own roofs over their heads.\u00a0 I did this before even joining Ohakim\u2019s Government.\u00a0 Therefore, I am not a \u201cPress Boy\u201d.<\/p>\n

My old man Dr Hilary Ekpe, who had a PHD fromLincolnUniversity,USA, died as an Acting Perm Sec in Imo Civil Service.\u00a0 My late mum died as a Headmistress with Masters fromUniversityofNigeria UNN.<\/p>\n

It was because of Sir Egbesa Ihite, Gov Sam Mbakwe\u2019s Chief Press Secretary that I took a liking to Journalism.\u00a0 He was a friend to my late Uncle, Sir RU Ekpe, an astute technocrat who worked in nearly all LGAs in Imo state.<\/p>\n

Therefore, \u201cArinze Ekeoma\u201d to call me a blackmailer is off the point.\u00a0 I have a good upbringing and despite the \u201crich\u201d environment I grew up, I wear humility like a second skill, and I know and respect my elders, no matter their status.\u00a0 However, I don\u2019t have phobia for \u201cbig men\u201d.\u00a0 Because I opened my eyes as a kid and saw commissioners, Professors etc in my father\u2019s palour.\u00a0 I was taught not to fear, but respect, and remain by the truth.<\/p>\n

About the Rev Father whose picture \u201cArinze\u201d said, I syndicated to the Media, I want to say till date I have not met Rev Okorie and neither have I any of his pictures. One day, God will open the truth.\u00a0 Rev Okorie is alive and he is a man of God.<\/p>\n

I neither blackmailed nor fabricated a story against Rita Ibemere.\u00a0 The story we wrote about her then was accurate, and she knows it and later apologized over attempted kidnap on my person.\u00a0 Announcer Express is still alive, and my Editor-in-Chief and Boss is still there.<\/p>\n

And about raising false alarm about attempts on my life, I don\u2019t think this Yeti by name, \u201cArinze\u201d lives in Imo, for if he does he would have heard that thugs were sent to kill me at the premises of Imo state High Court on November 12, 2011.\u00a0 They were sent by a top official of the current Government in Imo.\u00a0 I know the person.<\/p>\n

After beating and kicking me into a gutter, thinking that I was dead, one of them spat on me, saying \u201clet us see from where he will come and write again\u201d.\u00a0 But to their chagrin I later regained consciousness and good people took me to a private hospital, even as my attackers were surprised that I survived, and were looking for me all over Owerri.<\/p>\n

I know how many times I have been trailed. I know how many times bugs were planted on my car.\u00a0 What did I do?<\/p>\n

\u201cArinze\u201d said I will \u201cpay\u201d because I have \u201cinjured\u201d my victims \u201cbadly\u201d.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t know how, even though he has told me the \u201cvictims\u201d.<\/p>\n

But as far as I am concerned, my life is in the hands of God, and if He says that it would be \u201cArinze\u2019s\u201d pay master that will take it, let it be if it places him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Readers, I had prepared my topic for the week, when someone drew my attention<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-columnists"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","elegant-magazine-featured":"","elegant-magazine-medium":"","elegant-magazine-medium-small":"","elegant-magazine-thumbnail-small":""},"author_info":{"info":["Imo Trumpeta"]},"category_info":"Last-Line<\/a>","tag_info":"Last-Line","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2791"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2793,"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2791\/revisions\/2793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}