AS CLOWNS AND IDIOTS JOCKEY FOR JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES AROUND GOVERNOR PETER MBAH OF ENUGU STATE ~ Emeka Ugwuonye,

My attention was drawn this morning to a post made by a man known as Reuben Oyishi, one of the desperadoes angling for job opportunities and relevance in Governor Mbah’s administration. In the post in question, Reuhen Oyishi wrote that an unknown source informed him that I, Emeka Ugwuonye, had an agreement with Honourable Chijioke Edeoga and that somehow we are having a problem over such agreement.

The only reason I would bother to respond to such stupid and infantile gossip is because there may be some gullible people in my state who may believe such silly story. Otherwise, Reuben Oyishi is such an inconsequential nonentity who tries to gain attention by mentioning my name. To be mentioned in my response is an honor he craves so desperately. Reuben is not my mate. He is not qualified to work in any of the organizations I lead, except as a cleaner. Indeed, he will not qualify as a cleaner because he will steal from me, as he stole from the bank where he worked and the local hotel he managed in Nsukka. He was fired from both places, of course, for petty theft.

How did Reuben get to know about me in the first place? A few years ago, Reuben Oyishi committed acts of domestic violence against his wife and he was reported to our organization, DPA. His case was reported to us during the time I was visiting our Enugu State Chapter office, and his case was selected as one of the examples for me to use as talking points when meeting with our staff in Enugu State during my official visit to the State in 2018. I don’t remember how his domestic violence case was resolved, other than the fact that he gave an undertaking not to beat his wife again and we decided not to prosecute him for that. Reuben is, otherwise, not a person I should deal with directly under any circumstance. And the only way he could reach me is to drop my name in gossips on social media, hoping that would get him some attention. The gap between me and Reuben is so much that he is not even qualified to be my student.

Anyone who knows me well would know that I would not have with anyone the kind of agreement Reuben said I had with Edeoga. My primary area of strength and relevance is not in the media. To suggest that I had a media contract with anyone is dumb. I am a lawyer with international qualifications and experience, far beyond what you can get in backward third-world country. I am not a journalist. How will any serious person hire me for media roles?

My interest in Enugu State politics is clear. I want Enugu State to have an atmosphere for competitive politics as they have in Abia and Imo States. The political culture whereby one party (PDP) had 99% dominance for 25 years was not healthy for the development of the state. It amounted to a dictatorship. It meant that the Governor could do as he pleased and they surely did as they pleased – they stole the wealth of the people and protected themselves without any accountability. It meant they undermined democracy in the State by appointing Local Government Chairmen rather than electing them. They undermined the independence of the judiciary by controlling funds allocated to the judiciary. They undermined the principles of separation of power by controlling the State Assembly. The monopoly of power by one political party in Enugu State has been to the detriment of the people of Enugu State. For that reason, I supported Labor in Enugu in the hope that it would usher in political competition in the State. My opposition to Mbah and PDP was principled and never personal.

As for the last elections, I believed, and still believe, that the election was rigged by INEC. I supported Edeoga as a matter of justice. I believe he was rigged out by INEC. I believe he was robbed. I thought it was worthwhile, as a matter of conscience, to support Edeoga in the courts. However, I did not support Edeoga just as a matter of abstract sentiment for justice. Rather, my analysis of the law, the facts and the evidence in the case led me to believe that he would prevail in the courts. I will not give up or accept defeat on that until the Nigerian Supreme Court has finally pronounced on the case. So, I cannot concede defeat of my legal analysis until the final judgment comes.

Having said that, if the final appeal judgment favors Mbah, I am bound to accept that. I do not believe there will be any further room for me to challenge Mbah’s victory beyond the Supreme Court. So, if the Supreme Court upholds his victory, I should expect every responsible person to live with the Supreme Court judgment. But until then, I will continue to challenge it. Nobody should expect anything different from me. There has to be an end to every fight. The Supreme Court is the end for me. But we are not yet there and there is no letting in my principled opposition to Mbah’s mandate.

My challenge to Mbah is not a personal war. Honestly, Mbah did not do anything to me personally. I really have nothing personal with the two men. They are both established politicians in Enugu State. But given my interest in competitive politics and my love for justice, I have no choice than to support Edeoga. Edeoga represents competitive politics and justice in Enugu State today. If you flip the table and have Edeoga with PDP rigging Mbah out, I would have supported Mbah. This is very simple.

Finally, you all must give me credit for one thing: That thing is that I have never supported anybody just for power or for money. If that was the case, I would have supported Mbah instead of Edeoga because it was clear that Mbah had the backing of the incumbent in the state. I could have offered my support to Mbah if I wanted money or power. But I wanted justice and fairness, and Edeoga represents both.

Now, why is this inconsequential rascal called Reuben Oyishi mentioning my name? It is obvious. Reuben is a desperado. He wants to gain attention from Mbah and his immediate circle. He wants to suggest to Mbah that there are enemies that he, Reuben, could fight off. So, Reuben goes around inventing imaginary enemies for Mbah. And stupidly enough, he mentions me as one such enemy. If I had reasons to fight Mbah, Reuben will not be capable of protecting Mbah against the kind of attack I am capable of. All that Reuben may be able to do is to chase gossips in blogs. But that is not how I operate. If I have any issue against Mbah, I will not fight Mbah by peddling gossips on blogs. Mbah should beware of sycophants, fools and clowns and wannabes like Reuben. Apparently, Mbah has no need for an idiot like Reuben. To try to pay attention to Reuben would be a great mistake. Reuben is one of those Wole Soyinka recently referred to as people of low intelligence who say things on social media just because they have access. As long as Mbah does not subscribe to idiots like Reuben, he will not get involved in pettiness. But once he starts paying attention to such people, he will give them the kind of clout that will then attract needless opposition to the Governor.

“Ignore, ignore, ignore”. That is wise advice to Mbah on how to deal with fools who hang around him looking for appointments.