Re: “Faculty Of Medicine To Be Sited Within The Rivers State University Of Science And Technology”
I get all aswoon in our constant perennial political gridlock in this part of the world where sanity and rationality are all thrown in the receptacle simply because, we all want to be partisan most of the time. Today, the Rivers APC will be quick to call you a PDP member if you dare commend Gov.Wike for renovating some ‘selected’ roads in Port Harcourt City. Likewise, you will be taken to the cleaners if you criticise the ‘ongoing’ bad political precedence of celebrating and exporting crime and violence from Rivers State to other parts of the world. Some people will be quick to scribble down a narrative that paints you in bad light.
Today if you say you want ‘Change’ for the right reasons and in the best interest of everyone, the Rivers PDP may declare you a persona non grata. Do you blame them after all? It is that bad now. Sometimes I ask myself how did we even get here? But as bad as this sounds, this is the quagmire we find ourselves in the today’s Rivers of magical wonders. Wonders like, the more you yearn for unity and meaningful development the less you see. As painful and as sad as this portrays us, I am disconcerted that the political actors have not seen the need or even deemed it fit to address this catastrophic pointer militating against our unity and development. As Rivers people it is best we focus on the things that unites us than dissipate our energies on those things that tears and shares us apart.
Your Excellency, I write to reply a publication credited to you by your Senior Special Assistant (SSA Admin), Barr.Gilbert O Nria that he captioned; “FACULTY OF MEDICINE TO BE SITED WITHIN THE RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY”, published March 4th, 2016 also posted on your ‘official’ facebook page and in other print and electronic media platforms. Your SSA Admin drew the first blood in that unfortunate publication by dragging my name to disrepute in the bid to score cheap political points and to curry more favours from you. Perhaps he is overzealously engrossed with the deputy Governor’s lodge and the largesse that comes with his position in your office, just perhaps.
I read Barr.Gilbert O Nria’s unguided strawman’s attacks as he rushes down the slippery slopes knowing that my innocuous comment(s) on the way forward for the Kalabari Kingdom and Rivers State in this ‘wonderful’ administration where you happen to be the number two citizen of the state has been misconstrued, intentionally distorted and hatefully maligned. He used all sorts of unprintable names to describe me in that publication. But unfortunately, even that Young man at Troas can fathom his intention and will not fall asleep. Barr. Nria’s mission is only geared to titillate the public, especially the gullible ones with some salacious narratives just to create unnecessary propaganda about me. He also described me as being disrespectful to you among other things.
Whilst I am still in shock and wondering how that can be possible and why I should do that, I read his goof again that I am strongly supporting an APC Candidate for the National Assembly in the Kalabariland but he forgot to mention that I am an ardent believer, follower, staunch supporter and an independent contributor to the re-election bid of Dr.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the former President in whose goodwill you are enjoying your current position today as deputy Governor.
Funnily, Mr. Gilbert O Nria, your SSA Admin; suddenly developed selective amnesia that I and other well-meaning Nigerian professionals led all the interviews, rallies, campaigns and follow-ups in support of Dr.Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan’s 2015 Presidential re-election in the United Kingdom which were broadcasted by the CNN, Al-Jazeera, BenTV, Channels, BBC, NTA, and other media houses for the records. However, in as much as it remains my inalienable right to support any Candidate of my choice, I make bold to say that I have always supported Candidates across the political parties. Albeit, I am aware that I am not constitutionally obligated to defend myself as to why I have chosen to support one Candidate over the other, it is my right to do so. Regardless, I find Barr.Gilbert O Nria’s drivel as unfounded, misguided, misinforming, repudiating, witch-hunting and wizardry. Much as I owe no man any explanations why I preferred Dr.GEJ to Gen.Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), likewise I should not be castigated, witch-hunted, ostracised, alienated, insulted, or booed for choosing to support a fellow Kalabari man, an APC Candidate for the National Assembly whom I find more humane, more refined, someone with depth and breath and people-oriented over his contenders.
Also, for the records; it would be prodigalistic for a Kalabari man like me to fight or even contemplate to conjure the idea of bringing down the first Kalabari woman and first Rivers woman to clinch the position of Deputy Governor in Rivers State. Notwithstanding, it would be wrong and would be a disservice to the Kalabari kingdom should people like me keep mum when most of our leaders show complacency to the growth, unity and development of the kingdom via their good offices. Your Excellency, I am a Great-Great Grandson of King Idoniboye Obu (Tom Big-Harry) of our great Obuama and a Great-Grandson of Idumuye-Obu of Krakrama, hence my name “Maobuye” (Son of two great Obu’s). This is just for the records that I am well bred and I do not insult my elders, seniors, equals or juniors. Please, be informed that I revere you and your office and be rest assured that nobody can use me against my own, no one can use me against you. But, I will refuse to be cowed or gaged for the wrong reasons.
To this end, I have resorted to reply my treatise to that niggling publication of your SSA Admin without shenanigans unlike your SSA’s hoping that it would be urgently treated accordingly. Clearly Barr.Gilbert O Nria, your SSA Admin who ought to be a good judge at managing you especially has judged wrongly, this is catastrophic if you ask me. Also, I am respectfully making the following requests; that, a refutation as a publication be made so as to clear the air on my name by your good self (office). This is because, as a mother I do not think you will be happy should your Son’s name be brought to disrepute for crimes he did not commit. Secondly, I am pleading that this refutation should be made within 21days or, I will have no other option than to use the media and other legal means to seek redress to the lies and threats levelled against me by your office through Barr.Gilbert O Nria, your Senior Special Assistant (Admin).
Finally, I apologise if any part of my text is misconstrued. However, I hear the faculty of medicine of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology will take-off this September. I had earlier suggested this faculty to be sited in another area of the state so as to attract development to that area. Perhaps this was where I smoked the wrong weed that gave birth to Mr.Nria’s loosed canoness, hate and wizadry. Albeit, I hate to be seen as a constant motif in Rivers debates because; the current political culture in the Kalabari kingdom and the rest of Rivers State is bad, I cannot make it any worse. Truth is, I have no doubt Mr. Gilbert O Nria is not a professional at his job. If he is not checked and cautioned, he will cause more troubles for you and your office. May the Good LORD continue to guide, bless and inspire you on the much-needed governance in Rivers State.
Respectfully yours,
Maobuye Nangi Obu
07/09/2016
Lagos.