Okigwe Senate Re-Run: Can Uwajumogu Contend With Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha?(Part Two)
There is a popular saying in Igbo which when interpreted says“Whoever embarks on a journey and defecates along the road, when he is returning, he would meet flies”. This clearly captures the picture of the unending feud between the former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu and his former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, as well as (SSA) on Special Duties, Citizen Samuelson Ikenna Iwuoha.
Prior to their face-off, which led to the incarcerationof Samuelson Iwuoha and his wife for alleged murder, allegedly masterminded by Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu, the duo were best of friends, who enjoyed robust political, Master/aide and personal relationships, which attracted both friends and foes to both individuals.The emergence of Uwajumogu as the Speaker of the then House in 2011, cannot be recalled without the mention of the strategic role played by Samuelson Iwuoha, a role that cowed and intimidated the ambition of Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim, the Present Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who was then anointed and positioned for the exalted position.
Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha, as the media aide to Rt. Hon Uwajumogu showered up his image and reputation in the eyes of the public. Samuelson attracted friends to the Speaker, on assumption of office. He inherited about 21 (twenty one) Assembly correspondents with a meager monthly stipend of N3,000 =. As an activist and well known Socio-Political Crusader, who cares for the less privileged in the Society, Citizen Samuelson increasedthe number of correspondents to 36 (thirty six). He also increased the stipend to N5,000 = and later to N10,000 =. The crusader did not stop at that, he ensured that personal challenges of Assembly correspondents were brought before the then leadership of the Assembly and were solved.
For example, House rents, Child births, Ante-natals, Marriage ceremonies, Motor accidents, Children’s School fees, illness, Burial ceremonies, Sponsorship of NUJ State Chapter’s activities, Furnishing of NUJ State Chairman’s office etc. By these actions and inactions, Citizen Samuelson endeared the then Speaker to the media Industry, which made Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, the most media friendly Political Office Holder in Imo State. Samuelson Iwuoha so much built up Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu’s Political profile and support base, that he became feared by political opponents, while attracting the Respect, Love and envy of political associates and affiliates. All these are (were) attributed to the Loyalty,Mercurial Ingenuity and love of the activist, Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha.
Unfortunately, all these support base, respect, love and fear built around Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu evaporated into thin air, he became clannish and beganto see Samuelson as an NKWERRE man who ought not to enjoy pecks of political office emanating from Ihitte/Uboma platform.
No sooner had Citizen Samuelson angrily resigned in December 2013 than his successor as media aide Mr. Emeka Ahaneku (fast-fast), the mis-fit, unfit and misnomer media aide, as he was described by those who really knew better, began to destroy the support base and respect built around the Speaker by Citizen Samuelson, as if he was undoing Samuelson. Despite glaring evidences that he is a misfit and misnomer as far as media administration is concerned, Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu continued to show blindness to the truth, which counted heavily against him in the March 2015 election where he failed and lost woefully and shamefully.
Now, Okigwe zone Senate re-run election is not “IF” but “WHEN”, as what is being awaited is the judgment of the Appeal Court. Rt. Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu could be likened to the man who embarked on a journey and defecated along the road, and in returning, he is met with flies.Apart from Candidates of other political parties in the race, Citizen Samuelson Ikenna Iwuoha is another Candidate Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu has to contend with in the Okigwe zone Senate re-run election. His contention with Samuelson should be taken seriously as the Political Crusader has already mobilized and galvanized the people of Okigwe zone against Uwajumogu.
The contention between Samuelson and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu in the Okigwe zone re-run election is retributive justice in action. A case of what goes around comes around. A case of do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. With the Okigwe Zone Senate re-run, the days of reckoning have finally come to the doorstep of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu as the negative use of his political giant size against Citizen Samuelson will be tested in the Political field. Although Citizen Samuelson has political structures across the state, his massive Political Headquarters is in Okigwe zone.
Recently, a report credited to Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu has it that he canvassed for the need of South-East to have an APC Senator in the Senate. This is indirectly calling on Okigwe zone constituents to consider him and vote for him during the re-run election. But the pertinent question is; on what basis should he be considered? Is it in credibility, integrity or performance? In this re-run, Okigwe Zone cannot afford to be sentimental.
They do not need to be deceived by the mantra of change, and that APC is the Party at the Centre. When we look at the political appointments so far made at the Federal Level, Imo State, being the only APC controlledState in the South East and the Governor, being the Chairman of APC Governor’s Forum, yet the State is less favoured especially in the Ministerial appointments where Imo State was given JUNIOR Ministerial position, and occupied by Professor Anthony Anwuka. Adding every other variabletogether, Okigwe zone should be better off in the hands of the opposition.
If the Governor of the State, Rochas Okorocha, with all his acclaimed connections and contacts, could not link the State to the National grid for effective National Political patronages: is it Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu, with all his yoke of corruption and non-performance hanging on his neck when he was Speaker of the State Assembly would performs the magic? The possibility is less than zero.The Part three of this piece will be more elaborate.
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