By Obinna Nwachukwu

The attention of the Media Office of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, has been drawn to a mischievous story trending in the social media wherein an article entitled “The Tragedy Called Imo State” is being attributed to him. The piece of balderdash sent out in his name purports that he is angry with what the authors of the article called “Northern Islamic Oligarchy” for removing him as the governor of Imo State. The forgers of the piece of cant also claim that he is angry with the Imo political elite and the generality of the people of Imo State for their docile response to the Supreme Court judgment of January 14, 2020, among other infantile attributions.

We state here, for the avoidance of doubt, and for the records, that the article in question was not written by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.

The opinions and sentiments expressed therein are not his. Instead, they are the products of the putrid imagination of its purveyors. Associating him with the poisonous views expressed in that fairy tale is not only cheap and disingenuous, it is mischief writ large.

As a Nigerian citizen who has had the privilege of holding leadership positions in the political space, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has not and can never descend into guttersnipes. He understands the meaning and value of good breeding. He is therefore not one to shoot irresponsibly into the public space.

It is evident from the timing of this blackmail that the mischief-makers set out to exploit and cash in on the outcome of the just concluded governorship election in Imo State. The figment of their imagination must have led them astray, making them to believe, as they do, that Rt. Hon. Ihedioha has an axe to grind with the election and its outcome. This poor reasoning can only emanate from tainted minds scavenging desperately for mischief. But they got it all wrong.

It is on record that His Excellency Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has never made any inflammatory or incendiary remark since he was removed as the governor of Imo State. His dignified silence is for a reason. He is a firm believer in constitutionality and the rule of law. He detests self-help. That was why he never went outside the purview of the law in his quest for justice and people-centered democratic order.

It should be pointed out as well that the attempt to portray him as someone who harbours anti-northern and anti-Islamic sentiments is an act of bad faith. It is intended to put him on collision course with the northern political and religious establishment. But the mischief has failed disastrously.

In his political journey over the years, Rt. Hon. Ihedioha has had a healthy association with Nigerians of various religious and political shades. At no time has he been associated with bigotry of any sort. Seeking to impose one on him smacks of bad blood on the part of its promoters. Nigerians who have associated with him both at national and sub national levels can attest to his centripetal disposition to national issues.

We therefore call on well meaning Nigerians as well as men and women of goodwill the world over to disregard the piece of blackmail being woven around him. Rt. Hon. Ihedioha never authored or authorized to be authored any article in the mound of that being imposed on him by agents of mischief. The purveyors of the blackmail should be seen for who they are- loathsome mischief makers.

Chibuike Onyeukwu
Chief Press Secretary

November 17, 2023