By: Sam Onwuemeodo.
I crave your indulgence to take-off this way. And l wish you oblige me. Bear with me. Remain abundantly blessed.
Those who were with me at Mbaise Secretary School, MSS, in the 80s, would know or could recall that l had had the practice of writing articles and pasting on the wall for other students to read. I had no editor. It was somewhat “cut and nail” or ” cut and paste”. But it was interesting. Even as the Senior Prefect of the School, l didn’t relent or relax. I kept the Flag flying . The passion was overwhelming.
A vendor would be passing through the gate of the School, blowing his trumpet and l would rush to buy a copy of the Statesman, even with my last “card”. The gate of the School was, and is still opposite the headquarters of Aboh Mbaise Local Government.
At times, during break, we would sneak into the High Court inside the premises of Aboh Mbaise Local Government to hear cases and admire lawyers. One lawyer then, Mr.Nwosu, l have forgotten the second name, was our main attraction. He would allow his “learned friends” to be blowing all the grammar until it’s time for him to address the court or cross-examine the client of the other lawyer or his own client. Nwosu would turn his head right, turn it left, three comments or questions he would say “my LORD , l’m done”. And you could see the excitement in the court room. The judge would smile. They said, the man was too technical and he was winning all his cases. I am yet to see such lawyer again. Today is thursday, January 30, 2025.
Then, my Mathematics teacher, an alumnus of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Mr Soroibe, would always say jokingly, that l was “writing and pasting rubbish”. But l wasn’t deterred. I wasn’t discouraged.
At Alvan lkoku College of Education, l formed a media group, called ALVAN MIRROR, and we were producing Magazine, as inferior as it was. Duruaku printing press was printing for us. And even after being elected President of the Students Union of the institution, we sustained the momentum until we left . Aguiyi Clement who writes for the SUN these days, was the Editor of the Magazine.
Why these stories? My taking to journalism was not an accidental discharge. Rather, it was born out of passion or calling. And l have been practising it to please God and not to please man. I write what l can defend before GOD. Writing always with the consciousness that whoever wants to go to equity must do so with clean hands. I download.
I had done a piece with the caption, ” SAMUEL ANYANWU, SOUTH EAST PDP AND HOW NOT TO PURSUE A MAN”. That was on Monday, January 27, 2025. In the work, l had maintained that those wishing away Anyanwu’s appeal at the Supreme Court and the stay of execution at the Appeal Court, were not honest to themselves. That, they were not fair to Anyanwu, hate him or love him. For me, the truth must be told. And not minding whose ox would be gored.
Those who didn’t like Anyanwu for one reason or the other, descended on me. Insulting me and calling me names which were neither here nor there. And unfortunately for them l sent the piece to the personal WhatsApp platform of Senator Adolphus Wabara because l had mentioned him in the essay.
Incidentally, the Board of Trustees, BOT, of the Party met on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. And l am delighted to say that, the BOT led by Wabara had vindicated me.
In the Communique issued at the end of the BOT meeting and read by Wabara himself, number 3 stated, “ln the effort to resolve the current crisis over the position of the National Secretary of the Party, which is presently before the Courts , the BOT has set up a Committee led by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, to interface with the parties, study the situation and report to the Board for further action”.
The Communique didn’t talk about the Party’s Constitution again. Reason being that, the matter has gone beyond leaders of the Party acting on the basis of what they felt the Party’s Constitution said, but what the Supreme court, where the matter is now, will say at the end of the day . Nothing more, Nothing less. It does not matter whether one likes or hates the lkeduru born politician. It does not matter the individual feelings about the matter. And making a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the leader of the Committee wasn’t for the fun of it. But to ensure that reality takes precedence over stampede or thuggery, considering the appeal at the Supreme Court.
In another development, on same Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the former National Auditor of the Party, Chief Ray Nnaji told the GUARDIAN Newspapers in Abuja,
“while a Court of Appeal, Enugu, recently declared Udeh-Okoye the rightful person to occupy the seat, Anyanwu also got a stay of execution of the order from a Court of Appeal, Abuja and further appealed the decision at the Supreme Court. They should subject themselves to the dictates of the Supreme Court. Anyanwu has obtained a stay of execution and at the same time appealed to the Supreme Court, then, the law should take its course, unless there is no appeal before the Supreme Court on the matter,”.
Truth is sacred. It can’t be buried. Truth does not die. What dies easily is falsehood. Lies. Blackmail and pettiness.
What if something untoward or deadly had happened on Wednesday at the PDP office Abuja, that would warrant Udeh Okoye to be in the witness box either as an accused or as a respondent or as a star witness, the likely questions would be;
Were you elected at the National Convention of the Party on December 9, 2021? He would answer, No. Another question; The Appeal Court gave judgement against Anyanwu in favour of the group supporting you for the post of the National Secretary of the PDP?. He would answer YES. Another question; Are you aware that Anyanwu had appealed to the Supreme Court against the Appeal Court Judgement?. He would have no option than to answer YES. Another question; With Anyanwu’s appeal at the Supreme Court against the Appeal Court Judgement, what were you expected to do?. That would be the end of the matter. I have done Anyanwu’s case here. Let him that has ears, hear what the Spirit of GOD is telling the Church of Jesus Christ.
We must continue to write to please God and not man. What we can always defend before GOD and posterity. The rest will be history.
While we continue to clap for Jesus.
