-CONFESSES HIS AVERSION TO A SYMBOL OF PIETY AND REVULSION TO ARTISTRY
ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES
If like we have always known, a first step is as important as the last, then, the new governor of Imo State has left no one in doubt about the kind of disaster he forebodes. Spiritually, politically, morally and artistically, Ihedioha’s first day in office is nothing but a total disaster. His actions and inactions portrayed a man who is either under a spell, therefore, confused, bitter, therefore solely focused on vendetta, tactless, therefore, dangerously gambling with the State’s fortunes, insincere, therefore making lies a State policy. It could be more dangerous, if he is all of the above, as some people believe.
Governor Ihedioha became, without the slightest prodding from the opposition, a mince meat for critics, on his very first day in office. He presented a very sore image for himself and the State, with the very first step he took as governor. No one in the world, except his crowd of sycophantic clowns had a good word for that ill-advised action of his.
Governor Ihedioha has made history as the governor who didn’t put a brick nor bought a bag cement for Imo State, but started off with destruction and waste. He has also gone into the record books as the governor whose first day in office was greeted with the worst uproar of disapprovals and complaints.
The Akachi statue, built by His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha is of huge spiritual, artistic and national significance. Being the tallest such statue, anywhere in Nigeria, no one without the slightest cooking of intellectualism and responsibility would have thought of touching that statue. Being symbolic of the desire of Imolites to consecrate the State and themselves to God Almighty, no one with the slightest respect for God would have toyed with the thought of touching that statue with the longest machine. Being an artistic trophy with huge tourist potentials, even a philistine wouldn’t think of abandoning it. That statue is worth billions of Naira in revenue to the State if a sound head harnesses its tourist potentials. That statue also has huge spiritual potentials as a people who willingly promote Godliness shall never be abandoned.
Governor Ihedioha’s attempt to demolish that statue earned him a hot and deserving slap from God Almighty, and as a patriotic Imolite, I only pray he survives this slap. I can’t remember any leader who has ever recovers from a slap from God Almighty.
The tactlessness of Chief Ihedioha’s Media Adviser, Steve Osuji manifested in what might have been his first intervention. Osuji, a very experienced journalist disappointed everyone who had followed his career as a writer and journalist over these years he has put into them. Osuji betrayed the culpability of the government he serves in that disgusting action. While, an analysis of Steve Osuji’s press statement will warrant a full essay to tackle, let me put it here, that Steve helped any investigator go to bed early without digging further about who ordered the demolition.
There is an unconfirmed report that the machine used in attempting that demolition is owned and was deployed by Coduc Construction Company, owned by one of Ihedioha’s closest political allies, Chief Chinedu Chukwuonye from Anara in Isiala Mbano LGA of the State. If this report is confirmed to be true, one should then ask what the bulldozer of an Isiala Mbano man was doing at Umuoyima.
The site where the Akachi statue is standing was a garbage dump site, before His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha cleared that site and turned it to a potential place of adoration and tourism. Unlike what Governor Ihedioha’s media crew may want to spew to the public, that site is not in contention by any group or individual.
Governor Ihedioha, in his official reaction to the attempted demolition of the Akachi statue, described the statue as a baleful legacy of His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, yet, denies having a hand in its demolition. He also explained that ‘Imo people’ see the statue as loathsome and of ominous auguries. Does anyone need further explanation as to who attempted that blasphemous act on his first day in office?
A leader should be bold and responsible. You must be ready to take only those actions you are ready to own up to, and if you make mistakes, you should man it up, by accepting that you made a mistake. Imo people are not ready for a governor who would always pass the bucks on someone else.
It is important to put it on record that it was the outcry of Imolites and their threat to take laws into their hands that made the new and overzealous governor retract from completely pulling that beautiful and hugely significant statue down.
IMO MUST MOVE FORWARD!
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