By Chief Eric ObieshiA mud-slinger may miss his target but he can never miss having soiled hands.(Igbo Proverb)
In the recent weeks, Imo-based tabloids have been inundated with arguements and counter-arguements between the Orlu Political Consultative Assembly(OPOCA) and the former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Prof Maurice Iwu.
The issue at stske was revealed by the Nigerian Horn newspaper of Friday, 26th January, 2024 in a front page news headline captioned: “Group Bombs Maurice Iwu Over Comment On Awuzie”.
According to the newspaper, Prof Iwu was alleged to have referred to those giving conditions for the Imo governorship seat to shift from Orlu zone to either Owerri or Okigwe zones in 2027 as rascals. This alleged comment by Prof Iwu was a fall-out from the decision of the leadership of OPOCA which had earlier reeled out some conditions for Orlu zone to support the emergence of any governor from Owerri or Okigwe zones. One of such conditions was that the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Labour Party (LP) in the 11th November, 2023 Imo governorship election from Owerri and Okigwe zones should withdraw their petitions against the election of Governor Hope Uzodinma if Orlu zone must be true to the spirit of the Imo Charter of Equity. The newspaper further reported that the group heavily poured invectives and venom on Prof Iwu for daring to voice his views on the matter and went ahead to compare Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie’s resume with that of Prof Iwu in an attempt to ridicule the latter.
As a bonafide son of Imo state and as somebody who can be considered a strategic stakeholder in the affairs of the state, I feel obliged to lend my opinion in the matter. First, let me quote the informed view of Harold Robertson when he said: “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than speak out and confirm all doubt.” OPOCA has evidentially given out itself as a shallow-minded bunch guided and governed by self-interest, self-preservation and self-survival instincts. In saner societies, OPOCA will have no moral ground to rear its ugly head especially in a democratic setting such as ours.
It must be pointed out that the attempt by OPOCA to ridicule Prof Maurice Iwu by comparing him with Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie is akin to juxtaposing the depth of an ocean with the
shalow-reach of a stream. While Prof Awuzie is a sound and grounded academic in the standard he finds himself, Prof Iwu is a topnotch global academic .
In other climes, people of Prof Iwu’s social standing are not only idolized as society ambassadors but also reverenced as public assets. In such areas, his kind are insulated from the jobman schemes and taunts of political jobbers
OPOCA needs to know that it is erroneous and deceptive to think that rascally behaviour can only be associated with motor-park touts and street urchins. Our actions and behaviours can connote or dennote how we can be addressed.
According to one Igbo saying: “A mud-slinger may miss his target but he can never miss having soiled hands.”
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