Emenike Ihekwaba |
By Engr. Chike Ihekwaba,
Prof. Ola Nnadi, Dr. Nzeribe Ihekwaba And Mr. Okezie Ihekwaba
This
troubling question has been on our mind every day over the last two and half
years that God has granted breath and life to us: Where on this earth is our
brother, Emenike Ihekwaba? We have not given up and would never, at least not
until we have logical answers to our inquiry. We have cried, we have prayed,
and we are still full of hope, because we are believers and much as Jesus the
Christ had admonished us. Like Mary had asked on that faithful morning of
resurrection day, as recorded in the Book of John 20:15, so we ask: “Sir, if
you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
It is not a secret that we are hurting. This vicious, man-made agony has
inflicted untold toll on us, during the past 31 months of utter hell. Contrary
to the expectations of the perpetrators of this heinous crime, our heads may be
bloodied but yet it remains unbowed. Here is the inscrutable dilemma: To go
missing, inexplicably, in any part of Nigeria today, is becoming an ironic
civic duty that honest Nigerians ought not to owe their nation. The filial pain
is inexplicable, not just to the wards and siblings of the victim, but also to
the community that cherished the honesty and selflessness of the one to whom
harm has been wrought. The time is now to arrest this peculiar vicious
circumstance that is unraveling the public safety net. No one, anywhere and
anymore, has to become another statistic for this absurd reality.
Abduction reported
The
abduction of our brother, Emenike Ihekwaba, on August 26, 2012 at Amaraku in
Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, was reported to all law
enforcement agencies as well as government entities. It was well publicized by
the mass media outlets. At the time of the dastard act, he was a permanent
secretary in the Imo State Civil Service (in line to become the Imo State Head
of Service) as well as the Principal Secretary to the then Deputy Governor of
Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso and Principal Secretary in the Government House,
Owerri. As expected, the kidnapping was brought to the attention of his
employer, the Imo State government since he was a ranking official.
Instructively, Mr. Agbaso’s boss, Governor RochasOkorocha knows, and probably
still remembers, that this disappearance is highly suspicious just like many in
the government as well as a large swath of Imo populace and organizations. A
God-fearing, celebrated licensed architect and alumnus of the University of
Nigeria, our brother believed and advocated for honest dealings. Everyone
attests that he served his community, government and country with transparent
commitment and honesty but that his country and its government have failed him.
It is now well over two and half years since he was forcefully taken away. But
why he is still being held, without trace and incommunicado, since then is
puzzling and suggestive. An incident that happened just before his 29th year of
meritorious service to the Imo State government still lingers, even after he
attained the retirement age without being accounted for. Emenike and family
have been denied the joy and pomp of a peaceful retirement as well as a
thanksgiving to God for a fruitful career milestone.
Protections of the
state
In every
community or nation where decency is the norm, and professionalism and
transparent honesty are encouraged, EmenikeIhekwaba, and others like him, would
have been accorded the due protections of the state. In fact, in such a clime,
the government – especially that of Imo State where he served with distinction
all his life – would have been committed to, and piloted his rescue.
Regrettably, this has not happened. And this telling lapse, wittingly or
unwittingly, may have given rise to the persisting suspicion of the potential
knowledge or involvement of elements in very powerful positions.
Distressing
questions
Regrettably,
there are still distressing questions that remain unanswered: What does the Imo
State Government know and when did it know about the present whereabouts of our
brother, Emenike Ihekwaba? At the time of the abduction of our brother, Mr. Baba
Adisa Bolanta was Commissioner of the Imo State Command (but now an Assistant
Inspector General of Police), and the command allegedly investigated it while
Mr. Bolanta made public press statements suggesting that the whereabouts of
Emenike Ihekwaba was known. Pray, why is our brother still missing in spite of
the radio/television pronouncements of the Imo State Government and the Imo
Police Command at the stated time? The pronouncements were published in The Sun
and Guardian newspapers of November 1 and 2, 2012 respectively, as well as
broadcast in the radio/television media nationally and locally in Imo State.
Since those public statements implied and vowed their resolve to effect
Emenike’s imminent release, why the lingering delay? The former Inspector
General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar received another representation concerning
this case sometime in 2014 and reportedly constituted an investigating team
prior to his recent retirement. Why is it that each time an investigation is
allegedly done, concerning this matter, the findings get shrouded in secrecy
and mystery? A planted news report was once made a couple of months ago in one
of the newspapers to sway and misdirect us but that effort failed. It is rather
curious that after our family members made several attempts, locally and at
Abuja, to find a resolution to this nightmare, high ranking religious leaders
of note and several stakeholders of reach in Nigeria intervened by inquiring
into this suspicious abduction but, regrettably, all such efforts were
reportedly fruitless. Those who should know are keeping their silence. We find
it distressing and vexatious that those who spirited away our brother,
EmenikeIhekwaba in Imo State, are still walking around as free persons and
probably occupying powerful positions. Why they would rather this unlawful act
persist is without fathom and is even more troubling. We have asked around and
cannot find answers to our dilemma. We implore the public to come to our aid.
Victimized as belief
clashed with duty?
In the
intervening time, we have sought solace and comfort in the testaments of local
folks that our brother, as a high ranking government official in Imo State,
professed piety both in private life and at his duty post. Could it then be
that he may have become victimized as belief clashed with duty? In such
imponderable circumstance, we are fearful that the perpetrators may feel that
they have gotten away, perhaps with official protection, as at this time. As in
life, and in many circumstances, anonymity is only temporary. Instances like
this, where a ranking government official disappears, create civic doubt and
compromises public policy implementation. It highlights the absence of
gubernatorial fortitude even where the constitution demands enforcement and
justice, more so with the governor as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in the
State. We believe that our brother, EmenikeIhekwaba, will not remain missing
for forever. For all intents and purposes, this type of brazenness pokes a
soiled finger in the eye of law and order. It challenges the basic notion of
civic responsibility, and makes the government and its law enforcement agencies
appear weak and compromised. As the perpetrators may have acted in this hideous
manner perhaps to hide something, but they can never get rid of this dastardly
bone in their throat. We remain steadfastly resolute in our quest to find
answers and a resolution to this nightmare. We implore the general public and
persons with conscience to come to our help as we seek answers to the many
questions we have. And it is clear and simple: that we want our brother,
EmenikeIhekwaba home.
(Engr. Chike Ihekwaba,
Prof. Ola Nnadi, Dr. Nzeribe Ihekwaba and Mr. Okezie Ihekwaba are siblings of
Emenike Ihekwaba from Nkwerre, Imo State.)
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