Publisher, National Network of Amaechi’s Detractors
That somebody is quiet doesn't mean clownish. Since Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State came to power on October 25th 2007, there is nothing the hear has not heard, there is nothing many people have not written in favour or against him. But as a keen observer of the government, the most appalling and worthless of all the write-ups I have read in the 21st century that are against Amaechi, are the ones one Jerry Needam trade in his Port Harcourt weekly newspaper he called National Network, which I don't think that going by the name of the paper, people in the neighbouring Abia State even read, let alone people in faraway Lagos or Abuja. But this Publisher without doubt has a National Network of Amaechi's Detractors that perhaps he is playing their script, perhaps that pay him in dollars to make sure that all his energy are channeled on pulling Amaechi down. No one should be surprise because now we know better that Needam purposefully gave his paper that name: National Network. We now see it that it would had been better he make it open that he is Publisher, National Network of Amaechi's Detractors, owing to the fact that he belongs to the click of those who felt that it was their birthright to rule Rivers State for ever, and so doing he is always venting vendetta, which in the class of critics is just a staunch vituperation, vilification and venom on Amaechi, perhaps seeking for attention he forgot that Amaechi would not give him. I think this publisher is better called the Rivers Sanitation Authority spokesman because he does not publish every week he does without an article favouring the agency. That shows how dirty this Publisher might be, because the Sanitation Authority he is bent to supporting has not done any other thing than to keep Rivers State dirty of which the Governor Amaechi had recently talked about the dirty in Rivers State and gave his directives.
Needam's recently appearance on Amaechi has downsized him as a Publisher with biasness. I would have ignored that jaded edition of the National Network, Vol 6 NO 28 July 20th - 26th, 2009, but have to redress it for people not to beckon on ignorance as being right. The Publisher published that "For the thousands of Rivers indigenes, residents and indeed, all stakeholders in the State that gathered at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt Tuesday, July 14, 2004(9) during the stakeholders meeting with His Excellency, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, it was no different from the rehash of the Biblical Jeroboam's message to his fellow Israelites.”My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpion". Following that assertion, I wouldn't know when Amaechi's disciplinary consciousness has turned to brutality. Perhaps, Needem is among the gluttons who want Amaechi to be sharing the state's money, which he refused, that was why in the eyes of Needem, Amaechi is now his Jeroboam.
Needem went further with his blunder on casting vituperation on Amaechi, saying, "Though tough and rough it sounds, the unrepentant nature and unprecedented lawlessness of the Israelites of that era, such that has been witnessed in Rivers over the years may have necessitated the royal threat. Governor Amaechi, sentiments apart, is blunt and unpretentious about his actions. As he is, so he was during the eight years he led the State House of Assembly. He does not talk into his pocket". Judging by that, we can now see among Amaechi and Needem who is blunt, if Needem did not know that the same bible he is familiar with said that the ruled should have deep reverence for their leader and pray for them.
Needem said that "Rt. Hon Amaechi remains deaf and unrepentant ....Governor Amaechi even shot more piecing salvos. Wait and see, he warned". I could not help but laugh over this mad publisher because he just want to be popular through nonsense in a publication. Did he expect Amaechi to say, waste and still? Which was what many people like Needem perhaps had wanted the governor to be doing or saying.
Jerry Needam who's the oldest Lay Preacher was in September 2007 elevated to the rank of a Senior Catechist of the Christ Army Church of Nigeria, which he celebrated at St Michael's Christ Army Church of Nigeria, Luubara, Ken Khana, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, performed by the Arch-Bishop of Christ Army Church of Nigeria and President of Synod, Most Rev Abel S. Vurasi (AMP, JP) who was on a farewell visit to Khana II Archdeaconry of the Church, should separate gospel from debasement or assassination of character.
He should remember what his Arch-Bishop Vurasi tolld his member while speaking on the theme: "Live Life Worthy of Your Calling", "be humble, meek, patience, forgiving and peaceful with all men". But is Needem in peace with himself, let alone with all men? The answer is no!
Instead of Needem being in peace with all men as a "man of God" since he sees Amaechi as "man of Satan", he went berserk picking every point Amaechi didn't say, to my understanding, in that meeting. He said: "Responding to the myriad of contributions from his fellow Rivers people, Gov Amaechi said that just like the proverbial millipede, he has not been able to walk as he wished because of many legs (too many problems). Declared he, "but should I decide to re-contest for a second term and come back, it will be war. I dare you; do not vote for me because if you do, you will see". To his kinsmen, the Ikwerre people who according to him accused him of being an Okrika man in the past because of the 'spirit of Rivers man' in him as against that of an ethnic champion, it will be another era to think he is anti-Ikwerre. Reason: Amaechi is not happy with the average Ikwerre man's attitude of not appreciating space and his penchant for selling every available land including natural endowments like the rivers. By so doing, the State especially Port Harcourt and its environs have been defaced, streets and drainage blocked, and even school premises in most cases sold out so much so, that all that remains is the physical structures without space for extra-curricular activities." So, what does Naadem wanted? Is Amaechi not a diatribe governor? I wonder. "This is unacceptable, the governor noted. And to correct this imbalance, such lawless landlords and house owners including those who have become addicted to buying anything in form of land no matter how highly placed must be prosecuted and punished accordingly. In addition, such buildings must be brought down, Amaechi concluded with a tone of finality". Is Amaechi not correct, before he becomes Needem's Jeroboam?
My advise to Preacher Needem is to stop interpreting things the way they are not said, for example his statement earlier that, "For the thousands of Rivers indigenes, residents and indeed, all stakeholders in the State that gathered at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt Tuesday, July 14, 2004 during the stakeholders meeting with His Excellency, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, it was no different from the rehash of the Biblical Jeroboam's message to his fellow Israelites. "My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpion".
As a Christian Needem prophesies, he should continually do what is right in the sight of God, so that the land will be healed. And not to continue adding salt to injury. He should know that his Archbishop Vurasi urged Christians to live and do things always in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The Archbishop of the Christ Army Church of Nigeria and President of Synod commended members of the Khana II Arch-deaconry for their steadfastness in the work of God and urged them not to relent. Reportedly, Vurasi said "You must remain as salt here on earth" as according to the man of God, if salt loses its taste, it becomes saltless, and when salt is saltless, it becomes useless. "For you to become useful, you must remain as salt".
You don't give a dog a bad name to kill it. Reportedly, hear His Excellency in that meeting….. "I do not want to be a president neither do I want to be appointed a minister. So nothing will make me compromise. I'm not acquiring property. When I leave, if you see any property belonging to Amaechi, demolish. My interest is in academics, immediately I complete my tenure, I hope to retire to the classroom."
Odimegwu Onwumere is the Founder of Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State. +2348032552855. [email protected]