An Open Letter to the Imo State First Lady, Mrs. Okorocha

Dear Madam,
I believe sometimes messages relayed through loved ones travel faster and could even be delivered much better. Thus, this is a heart-to-heart talk from one woman to another, in a kindred spirit.

Recently, there have been lots of innuendoes, lies, verbal beatings, allegations and more, heaped on your fellow noble lady, for just doing her job. It has now gone beyond the usual intimidation and browbeating that your husband's office is known for, and now to death threats! At this point, I had to personally write to bring these untoward events to your attention, which I presume you maybe already aware of.

Permit me to share with you that women all over the world are very disgusted with what is going on in Imo State, centered on your husband Gov. Rochas Okorocha's regime's treatment of women. These are not just ordinary women – they are widows!!

I am particularly embittered by his treatment of my sister-in-law, The Honorable Minister of State, Education, Professor (Mrs.) Viola Onwuliri (Nee Oparaoji). All over the world, there is an area one does not mess with, no matter how manly one is, and that is the maltreatment of women (even if the man does not regard his wife at home)! Please remind your husband that there is nothing as evil and heart-wrenching as the sobs of a widow – a tear drop screams to God up on high. Such cry or sadness could be frowned upon by the gods as well and could bring horrible vengeance to those who trample on the widows. As a fellow woman, you know the only way to avoid the gods' anger on your husband or your family would be for him to apologize to these widows immediately. I have a good feeling they will forgive him. These women do not ask for much but a chance to survive and help their families. First lady, just imagine yourself in their shoes and how hard life could be, especially when most of them have so little. Remember what they say, the wrath of a woman so badly hurt or scorned, could be worse than the bite of a venom. Your husband must be reminded of that.

Madam, when your family lived in Jos, Plateau State, Professor (Mrs.) Onwuliri and her late husband were part of your Igbo kindred in a far land. You and your husband got to know the Onwuliris very well as hardworking people, with great character to boost. This was one of the reasons your husband, on assuming office as Governor of Imo State in 2011, asked Professor (Mrs.) Viola Onwuliri to join him in his cabinet. She had thanked him, but politely said no. She was later given the honor of becoming the then Minister of State, Foreign Affairs. All who know her can testify how hard she works, including being detailed, accountable and delivers beyond expectations. When she joined the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Abuja office and all Consulates in diaspora knew there was a new and good sheriff in town. At the embassies she oversaw, diasporans for the first time in years, countries and embassies started treating Nigerians with respect. She was not flexing her muscles like most Nigerians in her position would do, she just did her job - strict, but fair!

Taking into account how much and how well she had worked to strengthen the foreign ministry's reputation abroad, Mr. Goodluck Ebele Johnathan wisely and like a good boss, felt she could also help in the revival of the overlooked and downtrodden Ministry of Education. As it is done in any forward-thinking world, when any well-thinking employee is sent to or promoted to another skilled area to work, the first thing to do is to ask the pertinent questions: what has been done, what is available, and what needs to be completed – accountability.

This request for what has been done, was all that the new Honorable Minister of State, Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri did. Where best to start to ask such questions than her own State of Imo? I believe she has looked into the records provided to her by her predecessors in Education Ministry, and maybe saw that enough funding and resources had been awarded to Imo State and her people. She continues to ask the right question to your husband, 'where's the beef'? What was wrong with that? Where did she go wrong? Why is your husband and his office afraid of these questions? IMO PEOPLE ARE GLAD SOMEONE CAN AND IS ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS ON THEIR BEHALF. The Minister of State, Education is just doing her job! If your husband had problems with the questions posed demanding the whereabouts of Education funding claimed for Imo State, he should have escalated the issue to the minister's boss, the President. Instead, your husband chose to attack her for doing her job as assigned. Where did Mrs. Onwuliri go wrong?

My dearest first lady, I am writing to you as a fellow woman, an Imo State citizen and one who has the people's welfare at heart, as I know you do. Please ask your husband to come to his senses and not allow his political stooges to keep creating problems for him, when it comes to Prof. Viola Onwuliri. I believe once in a while you have a chance to lay beside your husband, and could at that time whisper some ideas to him. I implore you to whisper to him the dangers of attacking the Honorable Minister of State, Education, Prof. (Mrs.) Onwuliri and to desist from it. Viola is not like the other women the Governor kicks around and gets away with. She knows how to fight back!

Prof. Viola Onwuliri is now the only surviving parent of her children and grandchildren. As wife, royal princess, a daughter (Adaeze of Mbaise), crowned chief, noble and knighted lady and officer, sister, niece, aunt, friend, leader, mentor, national and international scholar of repute, etc., she is important and dear to her family and to so many, within and outside Nigeria. With her religious belief and upbringing, she has dedicated her life to the almighty God, who guards her day to day. She is anchored in the Lord.

However, with all the threats coming from your husband's cronies and his office, please be aware that your husband will now be held responsible, if anything happens to the Honorable Minister of State, Professor (Mrs.) Viola Adaku Onwuliri. She is not running against your husband in the gubernatorial race and so should be left alone.

Madam, please explain to your husband Governor Okorocha, women do understand it is a man's world, and all they are asking for is to be allowed to live in it and hopefully help in making it worthy for the children to live in. In this case, remind your husband that the Honorable Minister of State, Education, is just doing her job to help the cause of Education in the State.

Finally, please share with him that if the widows did summon the courage to ask for what belongs to them by staging an organized peaceful protest, it is because they have empowered themselves to stop being the victim and it is a good thing! Although she represents Africa in the GlobalPower Girl and Women empowerment initiative in the world, I do not believe Mrs. Viola Onwuliri is always around them telling them how to breathe or what to do to help themselves every minute. Again, Mr. Okorocha implying that she had anything to do with the widows asking for their rights, is just calling the women and widows stupid, at best.

Thank you, your Excellency, for allowing me the opportunity to address you. If I were in your shoes, I would stress this to the governor – provide Prof. (Mrs.) Viola Onwuliri, a round-the-clock security coverage within and outside the State and even outside the country, from today moving forward. He must understand that due to the threats his office is putting on Mrs. Onwuliri, your husband, Gov. Okorocha is now responsible for any threats on her life moving forward. The world has been put on notice.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dr. (Mrs.) Ndidi Oparaoji
USA