RE: ROLE MODELS WITHOUT CHARACTER: A RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF SCRIBE

  

My attention has been drawn to a piece hurriedly written and signed- off by my brother and friend; Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku ,  Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma ,  CON, wherein he made concerted efforts to water down a claim in a trending online video  credited to Uche Nnanna- Maduka, one of the Nollywood guests of Dr. Ejike Chukwu (MON, FCIA),  invited to Owerri during his Foundation's empowernment program specifically designed for Imo widows as part of the events that marked his 50th birthday anniversary, penultimate weekend.

In the said viral video footage circulated by major news blogs, Uche Nnanna- Maduka was captured as she expressed her frustration over the technical hitches and power outrage at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport on arrival to Owerri alongside her colleagues for the epochmaking event; a program  put together by the  Ejike Chukwu Foundation to empower Imo widows across the 27 LGAs of the state with food relief materials and cash donations at a most challenging time as this having  taken  into cognizance that government alone cannot do everything for her citizenry.

While it is not in my character to join issues with friends or colleagues in the pen profession, an urgent response to the divisive, incitive, inflammatory and rubble - rousing piece became very expedient given the weighty allegations made  against such a glorious personality like Dr. Ejike Chukwu (MON),  by a   strategic public officer like the governor's Chief Scribe, Oguwike Nwachuku 

Again, while it is regrettable that Uche Nnanna- Maduka, one of the movie  celebrities invited by Dr. Ejike Chukwu (MON, FCIA), to add some color to the event was quite insensitive as she personally went overboard in expressing her anger nay  rights to freedom of speech , it is completely wrong to make such unfounded allegations  that she was playing the script of her sponsor, supposedly Dr. Ejike Chukwu; a harmless host, bridge builder, compassionate leader, uncommon philantropist, respected statesman,  true Nigerian patriot, polished technocrat, an established businessman from the private sector with a  track record of excellence and integrity. 

Such inflammatory remarks coming from a seasoned journalist like Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku  without proper investigation, is not only infantile, atavistic and puerile, but  underscores the politics of eye service and professed  loyalty by an overzealous political appointee who wishes to be in the governor's good books. 

For record purposes,  Uche Nnanna- Maduka's  expressed opinion over the technical hitches at the Imo International Cargo Airport which was borne out of personal frustration neither had the support of her host, Dr. Ejike Chukwu,  nor the endorsement of her colleagues, the rest of veteran Nollywood actors and Actresses: Chief Ejike Esiegbu, Fred Amata, Keppy Ekpenyong, Gloria Nobert Young, and Grace Ama, who were special guests at the Ejike Chukwu Foundation Empowernment Programme for Imo widows. 

Apart from the Nollywood movie stars, the epochmaking event had in attendance respected Imo political leaders, traditional rulers, past and  serving government functionaries which included but not limited to; Sir Jude Ejiogu, a former Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Chief Dr. Batos Nwadike, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Hope Uzodimma, Hon. Barr. Kingsley Onunoju, immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Trade & Investment, Nze Prince Eze Ugochukwu, Special Adviser to the governor on Public Enlightenment, Sir Modetus Nwamkpa,  Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Print Media, Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri, guest speaker, His Royal Majesty, Eze Mathew Nwokeoma, Traditional Ruler of Umuokanne Ancient Kingdom,  Ohaji Local Government Area. It is quite unthinkable and inconceivable to any reasonable homosapiens that a distinquished personality like Dr. Ejike Chukwu (MON, FCIA) could gather Imo finest to play on their sensibilities in the name of empowernment programme. I think Mr. Ogwuike Nwachukwu should do better next time. 

Ejike Chukwu Foundation, established in 2018, is a non- profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through education, skills development, and economic empowernment. And over the years, it has worked very  assiduously on its commitment to bridging the gap between potential and opportunity, empowering individuals and communities to reach their full capacity. 

Giving a rather mischievous interpretation while hurriedly rushing to the press to  cry foul play over the huge  success of that  humanitarian outreach by a perfect gentleman like Dr. Ejike Chukwu because of the demeanour of one of his invited guests, Uche Maduka, who might not be in a right frame of mind when making such  video to say the least, is being too uncharitable, and it is  deviod of your candor for investigative journalism. 

Ordinarily, I would have   kept quiet since I don't work for Dr. Ejike Chukwu but was  only engaged to cover his Foundation's event as an  eye witness reporter and independent online publisher, but I owe it to my conscience to lend a  voice to some of the misleading storylines written by the governor's Chief Scribe, Oguwike Nwachuku, and  circulated across many WhatsApp platforms with the unprintable names he ascribed to Dr. Ejike Chukwu. 

Uche Nnanna- Maduka acted on her own accord, as a closer look at the video showed  a dissenting voice against such recording even as I also  condemn the angle where she directed her frustration to the wrong person by  calling out Governor Hope Uzodimma to fix the power outrage and related technical hitches at the Imo International Cargo Airport which are in the exclusive list of the constitution and run by the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

To my big brother, Oguwike Nwachuku , there is no gain in inciting the state governor against his brother,  Dr. Ejike Chukwu (MON),  who truly meant well by extending his hands of benevolence to Imo widows across the 27 LGAs in the state, and also playing host to our celebrated movie stars as special guests as part of the activities marking his golden jubilee celebration. It takes a man  with a bouyant heart for charity and love for humanity like Dr. Ejike Chukwu to do what he did in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and not in his Ohaji  village as mischievously stated by Oguwike Nwachuku for whatever reasons.

While lamponing Uche Nnanna- Maduka for her seeming  misguided outburst at the Imo International Cargo Airport, it doesn't take away the fact that she is also one of our very best in the Nigerian movie  industry. `` Anyone can make a mistake, and that is why pencils have erasers.`` 

*👔|Njoku Macdonald Obinna,* an eye witness reporter who covered the Ejike Chukwu Foundation's Empowernment Programme for  Widows on Friday, June 14, 2024, at the Forth Event Centre, off PortHarcourt Road, Owerri , Imo State;  is a Media Consultant|Newspaper Columnist|Public Analyst|PR- Expert 

Pub❗isher,

*🎬|4TH ESTATE REPORTERS*