Hon. Oguwike Nwachuku is a man with deceptive mien, underneath the gentility is a man of indomitable courage, bold and punchy. In this a mind boggling exclusive interview with EVEREST EZIHE of Onion Newspapers he decisively dealth with Imo PDP, the politics of dredging Orashi River, Senator Hope Uzodimma and his Stark in Imo governance and as Chief Press Secretary his worries and challenge among litany of other things. It's fresh with historical spiceof realities.
SIR CAN YOU OBLIGE OUR READERS THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING IN SYNOPSIS WHO HONOURABLE OGUWIKE NWACHUKU IS ?
Thank you Mr. Everest Ezihe, for the benefits of those who are meeting or reading me for the first time, am a reporter, a reporter with so many years experience in Journalism practice. I have worked in so many media organizations, and am still a reporter. Am one of you (referring to the interviewer) as a reporter, forgot that my work designation now is Chief Press Secretary cum Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, but every body knows me as a reporter. My major job entails issuing press releases and building the image of the Governor before the people and the state.
TALKING ABOUT BUILDING THE IMAGE OF THE GOVERNOR AS WELL AS THE STATE, HAVING BEEN IN THIS SADDLE FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW AND HOLDING TWO CRITICAL MEDIA POSITIONS, WHAT'S THE JOURNEY SO FAR ?
It has been interesting, in the sense that you are subjected to learn every day. You learn from the principal, you learn from your colleagues and you learn from the society been the general publics you are interfacing with. It's important to note that environment plays key roles in whatever you are doing. You know what happens to other states like Zamfara, Adamawa, Lagos, Akwa Ibom states etc may not happen in Imo State. Yes, we're all Journalists practicing the profession but we have our individual idiosyncracies that often came when we wants to discharge our duties. For a state like Imo State, honestly it has been an interesting Journey working with very intelligent and dogged Journalists some of them even more intelligent than you. Interestingly, it's not only they're Journalists most of them are politically savvy. They are politically aware. There political consciousness is above sea level, thus they always put you on your toes and as Caesar's wife you must be above short comings. These I have discovered for the past two years plus I have been on the saddle of managing the Governor's image and that of Imo State. For people who know Senator Hope Uzodimma knows he's an encyclopedia, political encyclopedia, every day you must learn new things from him. He has no room for indolence and intellectual bankruptcy. Again, Senator Uzodimma is a man who has no patience for nannities and excuse(s) for failure. Often times you find it difficult on how to classified him, either as a Philosopher king, Scientist, an Economist, Politician, an Engineer etc because he's versatile in every socioeconomic order. Honestly, am learning much from him. Sincerely speaking atimes am confused whether am truly advising him because he is positively intellectually endowed, however it has been an interestingly mutual working relationship both with my principal, the media community and other members of the society.
CPS, AS YOU ARE POPULARLY KNOWN AND CALLED, HOW HAVE IT BEING HANDLING BARRAGES OF CRITICISMS COMING FROM ALLEGED POLITICAL DETRACTORS AND OPPOSITION CAMPS ? ARE YOU WORRIED, THE WAY AND MANNERS THE OPPOSITIONS ARE CARRYING OUT THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE ?
You see, when I said something on how environment and society influences people's way of life, it's like you are in my mind because part of the excitement one has noticed in discharging his or her social responsibilities is the role of the oppositions in the politics of Imo State, to me not just me as a person but to every other descerning mind. Ours is a brand of oppositions that doesn't see any thing good from the Shared Prosperity and 3R administrative mantra governance of Imo State government. The truth about life is that there's time for politics and there's time for governance, to us what we are doing now is an all inclusive governance but the oppositions in the State, particularly the PDP has blatantly refused to see reason why APC and Governor Hope Uzodimma should constitute the Government of the Eastern Heartland State. They are simply acting God. They are still behaving as if something awkward happened because their illegitimate power was taken away from them, ironically, we are talking about judicial event that took place for over two years now, just barely a year plus for another election to take place, instead of them to start preparing for the forthcoming elections and test their popularities, they have continued to cry wolf and employed every divisive tendencies just to discredit the people's oriented government of Senator Hope Uzodimma. They only specialized in chucking out and planting fake news. Can you imagine their latest antics of destabilizing Imo State just recently being two weeks ago, the three man Appeal Court sitting in Abuja gave ruling discharging Mazi Nnamdi Kanu only for us to wake up the following morning with a fake press statement orchestrated by Imo State PDP just to malign the Governor and the state government against the IPOB members. Unfortunately, they have been consistent since 2020 in dishing out filthy lies. Most often they issue out litany of press releases in which they put my name, office and forged the letterheads of the state government, it's surprising that when you are doing something over and over again and you are getting the same result, what does that implies, it means your strategies are not working and you have to change your style and strategy. Every Imolite knows that their strategy is moribund. Infact, is like PDP have a template, they usually bring it out and put Oguwike Nwachuku, most often they don't even spell my names correctly and writes bad grammar. The good news is that those who know me know my language and always sieve the grains from their chaffs. The worst of its all is that they always clone my person just to achieve their evil propagandas and blackmails. Honestly, PDP mischievous antics are not ideal in reality of governance. They are purely out to distract the machineries of the state government and frustrate her developmental agendas. Methinks it's time for them to poise and asked themselves pertinent questions, on what they stand to gain by all these their mischievous actions, except if they are blind but I don't think that they are. They ought to know by now that with the people oriented legacy projects and programmes of the Shared Prosperity government, that Governor Uzodimma is not here for a tea party. For instance Owerri -Orlu Road is a signature project for any blind man to even see. Even Owerri-Okigwe dual carriage road has activated lots of economic activities in the state. Even Owerri- Mbaise-Obowo road that was a death trap has been reconstructed. Just like Orlu - Mgbee - Akokwa Road have gone advanced stage. The balloon driven technology erosion control measure, dredging of Orashi River and so many other tangible projects the government is embarking upon.
OKAY TALKING ABOUT THE DREDGING OF ORASHI RIVER INTO ATLANTIC OCEAN, THERE'S THIS REPORT THAT THE PROJECT DOESN'T HAVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT ? WHAT IS THE TRUE POSITION ?
My brother Everest (referring to the interviewer), at the risk of sounding immodest, it's an obvious truth that Governor Hope Uzodimma does not play the kind of deceptive politics that those who are politically dented play with their people and their destiny. It's unfortunate that most of the politicians playing opposition politics in the state are politically dented. These politicians have neither soul nor conscience. To them whatever they say or do doesn't matter, after all to them everything is politics. The Gospel truth is that Senator Hope Uzodimma I know can not come to Imo State with the high caliber Naval Officers just for a jamboree. It's not possible. Uzodimma I know can not tell Imo people that Orashi River will be dredged if it's not possible. He has said it and am in a privileged position to tell you that the State government in collaboration with the Federal Government is doing that. Otherwise is part of PDP known distraction mechanism. The Chief of Naval Staff who was ably represented in one of the occasions made a categorical statement about the dredging and somebody is in his comfort zone questioning the authenticity. It's probably because they made mockery of the dredging during their days in power and they want that to continue by comparing their deceptive administrations with that of Senator Hope Uzodimma. You can observe that since the inception of Governor Uzodimma's administration, Oguta Naval Base has become a beehive of activities, simply because of the intervention of the Governor. These things are like a relay race, the Oguta Naval Base is like a forerunner of what the Navy is coming to do at Orashi River. The dredging is not because of the derivable economic benefits, it goes beyond that because it will equally serves as a route for the Naval Base. This government is not known for playing politics with the people's dividends of democracy and we cannot start that with dredging of Orashi river. All we are asking is an enabling environment to show case our commitments to Imo people.and not the more you look the lest you see PDP Brand's of politics have instituted. My assurance to every Imolite is that dredging of Orashi River is a reality under Governor Hope Uzodimma's administration.
ARE YOU NOT WORRIED OF THE INSINUATIONS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION MASTER MINDED THE ALLEGED KILLINGS OF INNOCENT CITIZENS UNDER THE GUISES OF EBUBE AGU, BANDIT'S AND UNKNOWN GUN MEN,. MORE ESPECIALLY IN ORLU SENATORIAL DISTRICT ?
Worried about what ? Propaganda ! Certainly, am worried about the falsehood and propagandas emanating from Imo State chapter of PDP. Am only worried about the lies and insincerity of those who called themselves politicians, am most worried about the blackmail and politics without conscience and soul PDP people are playing against the State they claimed they cherished and wants to serve. Honestly, am rather worried about the insincerity of those who called themselves politicians. Am equally worried about the unfortunate things they are doing to undermine the system and unnecessarily heat up the polity, the government and the people. This is exactly what we have been complaining about, the bad politics here. The politics of bitterness. What is the primary role of government ? . It's simply for protection of lives and properties. That's the major role of government. That's the essence of government and that is the bedrock of good governance and purposeful leadership. So all they specialized upon is merely blackmailing the Governor, the government and the people. This is the simple truth. Put it mindly, I think they are the ones instigating the killings, destruction of properties and insecurities in the state. Every one saw what happened in the recent past at the State Police Command, at Owerri State Correctional Centre, even the burning down of police stations and killing of their men like fowls in the state. The perpetrators should be able to ask themselves if those people they're killing are not fellow human beings and then of what benefits. The pertinent question is, are those people they're killing, are they not our brothers and sisters, father's and mother's ? Are they not our friends, well wishers and associates ? Why are they killing Innocent people all in the name of politics and ironically they try to put it to the Governor who is absolutely Innocent.
IN VIEW OF ALL THESE INSECURITIES, HOW THEN DO YOU DESCRIBE THE PRESENT SECURITY SITUATIONS IN THE STATE ?
Stable ! I said stable !! It's stable because Imo people have started realizing the truth. They have started identifying those who are perpetrating the mayhem. This is the true position. They have started realizing what the governor is telling them, that security is every body business. Now those have been shouting Ebubeagu ! Ebubeagu !! Where are they now in the security of their own environment ? Most communities in the state have risen against their own security challenges. Look out what is happening in Orsu communities, where people in the name of politics have suddenly turned to cannibals. This is something that should worry every Patriot. It's ironical that all of a sudden, people no longer respect the sanctities of human life. How come that blood letting has become a way of life ? You kill people at will. Destroy people at little or no provocation . This is evil and demands all and sundry condemnation. How can people instigate crisis targeted at security personnels? All in the name of politics. It's an abomination. It's a sacrilege.
FUNDAMENTALLY SPEAKING IMOLITES ARE WORRIED THAT THEIR GOVERNOR SPENDS MORE TIME OUTSIDE THE STATE THAN IN THE STATE ?
The world today is a global village. It's internet and social media driven . It's the benefits of jet age. We are on a digital economy. Everest, if you are in Abuja, certainly there's nothing you can not do with me in Owerri if you want to. Please just cast your mind when you started Journalism in 1994 with the kind of technology invoke then and now. If it's then, for this kind of interview, you would have been busy writing with pen on jotter, even if you are using recorder it's not digital like this phone you are using now. It's unfortunate that there are people who still thinks analogy when the world have digitally moved on. It's time to let such people know that the train have left the station, since. It's not all about staying at Government House, Owerri. In any case, the sit of power in Nigeria is at Abuja. The power game is in Abuja. The good news is that each time the Governor comes back from Abuja, he maximizing brings to the state her bountiful share of the national cake. It has always been in the best interest of the state and her citizens. If the Governor stays here like an introvert, how would he discuss issues like dredging of Orashi River, building the express routes, gully erosion sites, the need to upgrade Alvan Ikokwu Federal College of Education to Federal University of Education etc. Do you stay at Eke Onunwa to discuss these things ? Or Owerri Club to discuss getting fair share of the nation's cake. The truth is that most of these things are products of physical power play and net working.
SINCERELY SPEAKING, YOU ARE EVERY GOOD REPORTER'S DELIGHT, WHAT THEN IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF IMO STATE ?
I urge them to continue to have faith and trust in Senator Hope Uzodimma's governance. They should remain supportive and prayerful. The government means well to them. This administration is divinely instituted to give succour and restore people's hope and love in governance of the state. It's proper to recall that Governor Uzodimma came when people have completely lost hope in good and purposeful governance, but in less than one year he has repositioned the state and restored people's hope in government, civil service, infrastructures, urban renewal, security of lives and properties among others that have accelerated the growth, development and progress for the Eastern heartland state.
FINALLY, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED ?
I would like to be remembered as the man who came and God willing served his people with zeal, truth and love. I kept my head high as a professional. The truth is that media management is not a rocket science, Journalism is my life and a noble profession I cherished so much. The nobility of the profession is a product of playing in accordance with the professional tenets and ethics. Truely speaking, I want to be remembered as that man that came and played according to the rules of engagement and at the end the society was better off.
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