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| Madumere; Imo State Deputy Governor |
By Barr. Emperor N.
Iwuala (Ksc.)
Recently, I wrote an article on the media hype and rumours which
have been making the rounds for some time now concerning an alleged involvement
of the Imo State Deputy Governor His Excellency Prince Eze Madumere and others
in homosexual practices. I also narrated how one Sandra Duru claims that she
witnessed an alleged romp between her estranged husband who was a former
Transition Committee Chairman for Njaba L.G.A. of Imo State Mr. Uchenna Rajis
and Prince Madumere. In the write-up, I tried to draw the attention of the
personalities involved to the allegations which I said, were very weighty and
not good for their image. Consequently, I advised against the danger of keeping
mute over the story.
Recently, I read an article which an acclaimed Chief Press
Secretary to the Deputy Governor by name Uche Onwuchekwa wrote and syndicated
to some media houses titled ‘Emperor Iwuala and Journalism of Stomach’. In the
write-up, Mr. Onwuchekwa told the whole world that I used my article to extort
money from people. He also blamed media houses that publish my stories casting
negative aspersions on them. In synopsis, the entire article has a lot of
disparaging and unprinted remarks about my style of writing.
Anybody who has been following my write-ups can confirm that I
have a unique way of writing. I write on well researched facts and issues which
are cogent and verifiable. On the contrary, I do not attack persons in my
write-ups. Also I do not get involve in falsehood and blackmail and that is why
a lot of people avoid joining issues with me in the media. The best people have
succeeded in doing is attacking my person and not the issues I write on. This
is because most of my facts are cogent and sacred.
Recently, some ignorant pessimists and hack writers, while trying
to defend the rot in the Imo State Judiciary, came to the media to attack me
over my exposition of what has been going on in that arm of government. They
also tried to justify the illegal appointment of magistrates and the
disobedience of court judgment ordering for the re-instatement of the sacked
members of the Imo State Judicial Service Commission. Respectfully, I am today
justified as the Nigerian Bar Association Owerri Branch who is a major
stakeholder in the Imo Judiciary, has associated with my position over on the
said rot by declaring the said appointment of new magistrates in the state
illegal calling for its nullification.
In another development, sometime ago, I saw a picture published on
the back page of a newspaper where the present Imo Deputy Governor was
allegedly spreading notes suspected to be naira notes. I drew the attention of
Mr. Onwuchekwa who claims to be the media aide to the Imo Deputy Governor. He
admitted that he sent the picture to the media. However, I told him how
unprofessional it was for him to send such a picture to the media for
publication. Regrettably, instead of Mr. Onwuchekwa to appreciate the gravity
of his professional blunder and see how best to protect the Deputy Governor’s
image, he has been writing malicious and false publications against me.
Be that as it may, I am not good at wasting time discussing
persons. But I wish to tell Onwuchekwa that sending a picture where his boss
was spreading money to the media goes to tell much on his competence as
somebody’s image maker.
In the same vein, I view it as a gross negligence on Onwuchekwa’s
part to have also allowed the controversial gay story against his supposed boss
to gain grounds without a strong rejoinder from him.
In his above mentioned article against me, this acclaimed media
aide to my surprise, also failed to put up a strong defence for the Deputy
Governor viz-a-viz the gay accusation. He only wasted his time, trying to
disparage my ‘less-important person’.
Nevertheless, few days ago, the Deputy Governor called me on
phone. When I picked his call, I was expecting him to speak strongly to me in
anger because of the anxiety surrounding the gay story as many typical Nigerian
politicians would do. But to my surprise, I heard the voice of humility and
subtleness. With a voice full of emotions, the Deputy Governor gave me a
different version to the whole gay story. To my greatest surprise, he told me
that he had not set his eyes on the said Sandra Duru before. He also said that
he was not in any way close to the man he was accused of having gay act with
saying that he only knew him as a former Transition Chairman in Imo State. He
completely denied the whole allegation of being involved in homosexuality
strongly terming it as false and cheap blackmail.
From the tone of the Deputy Governor’s voice, I strongly suspect
that an innocent man is likely being unjustly taken to the cleaners especially.
However, I believe the story was badly managed by his image makers.
Nevertheless, it is good that we have now heard from the horse’s
mouth. This is what the public has been expecting for long. Therefore, there
may now be a sigh of relief in the minds of many as this saga has come to a
final bus stop.
To God be the glory.
(Iwuala can be reached on: 08037247295)
