In Christie Hartman’s book, “It’s Not Him, It’s You” he warned that confidence should not be confused with arrogance. According to him, arrogance is being full of yourself, feeling you are always right, and believing your accomplishments or abilities make you better than other people.
Indeed, the Indefinite suspension of the erstwhile Publicity Secretary of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi, Sir Augustine Ikeh, who for the past two years has continued to demonstrate the highest level of insubordination and unbridled arrogance has not only been described as a welcome one but will save the town from further embarrassment.
Sir Augustine Ikeh (Ikedoji) on Monday, 6th April 2020, was not only removed as the Publicity Secretary of Nzuko-Ora but his Community, Uruagu Nnewi, was asked to find a replacement.
In the well-attended meeting presided over by one of Nigeria’s longest-serving monarch, Igwe Nnewi, His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu (111), Augustine Ikeh was removed for insubordination and nonchalant attitude.
The real issues.
On Wednesday, April 1st, 2020, Augustine Ikeh wrote an article titled “COVID-19 Saga: C. Don Adinuba; Anambra State Information Commissioner Is A Disgrace Reaction To: Anambra COVID-19 Account: A Clarification”
In the article, which appeared to be a reply to the press release earlier written by the Commissioner, Augustine Ikeh described the Anambra State Commissioner of Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, as incompetent and referred his press release titled “ANAMBRA COVID-19 Account: A Clarification” as gibberish.
In the write-up which was unprofessional when viewed from the journalism angle, Mr. Augustine called the Commissioner a disgrace and heaped a lot of insults on him and the efforts of the state government in containing COVID-19.
Read Also: You Are An Embarrassment, Uruagu Nnewi Flays Augustine Ikeh (Photos)
Some parts of the write-up reads;
“Ndi Anambra, nothing could be more annoying than to appoint an inept into a political office on grounds of sentiment. This is the case of the Anambra State Information Commissioner; C. Don Adinuba , who has zero media presence and yet is the commissioner for Information of a state”
“Instead of telling us of the program launched to combat Coronavirus in Anambra State, he is telling us of the account number launched to tackle the virus. This clearly indicates the intention to extort people by the state government. Please still give us the state road map to tackle the COVID-19, we are waiting”
“Sen. Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah did not at any point said he was raising funds to work with the state government. The donors are a selected group of friends. Meanwhile, I doubt till date if you have a laid down plan to tackle this sickness. People only supported one who came up with a visible plan”
“The most stupid of them all. Come to think of the people you are calling successful, are you not older than most of them? Did you forget to mention your name? C. Don Adinuba, are you a revenue agent? Do you work for AMCON? Have the Court ruled on the case? How did you arrive on the claims that Senator Ubah is really owing AMCON”
Augustine Ikeh instead of being objective in his criticism restored to a smear campaign against the state government and appeared to be a paid agent to de-market the state government.
Read Also: Augustine Ikeh Expelled As Nzuko-Ora Nnewi Publicity Secretary
The Commissioner’s Press Release
Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba earlier last week in a released press statement titled, “ANAMBRA COVID-19 Account: A Clarification”
In the press release, the Commissioner clarified the general public on the discrepancies as it concerns the different fund drive ongoing in the state in the fight against coronavirus.
Some part of the press release reads;
“Since the launch last week of the Anambra State COVID-19 account in the determination to fight the spread of the coronavirus in the state, a lot of people from the state and beyond have been calling officials of the state government to complain that they confuse it with the funds’ drive-by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in the name of mobilization of resources from wealthy indigenes to launch a campaign against the highly contagious disease”
“Until these individuals and organizations began to complain about the confusion they face while seeking to contribute funds to the Anambra people, the state government was not aware of the funds’ drive-by Senator Ubah. In other words, the state government is not part of Senator Ubah’s fund’s drive. Our people should, therefore, not confuse the two. Ubah did not consult us before he started his solo enterprise, nor has he, to this moment, sought to work with the state government. The state government does not sanction his activities”
“Successful entrepreneurs like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Chief and Mrs. Alakija, Dr. Mike Adenuga and Mr. Tony Elumelu, who are not indebted to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), have contributed significantly to the campaign against the coronavirus, and they have at every point worked in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Government, and the Lagos State government. They are not executing hidden agendas”
“Here in Anambra State, such eminently patriotic individuals as Dr. Ernest Obiejesi, Chief Allen Onyema, and Dr. Clement Nwogbo have contributed handsomely to the Anambra State government’s effort to check the spread of the highly infectious scourge in our state. They recognize that it is immoral to play politics with the lives of millions of our people. It is, in fact, unconscionable and a mortal sin to politicize the current fight against COVID-19”
Mr. Adinuba while outlining the different steps the state government has taken in containing the disease urged Anambrains to demonstrate, once again, the well-known philosophy of solidarity known over the ages as “Onye aghana nwanne ya”, which he described as the secret of the triumph of ndi Anambra against all odds.
Read Also: Nzuko Ora Nnewi Denies Publication Attacking Anambra State Govt
The Controversies.
Few hours after his publication, a blogger who also hails from the same community with Augustine Ikeh, Edoji Community, erroneously or deliberately published the write-up with the headline, “You Are A Disgrace! Nzuko-Ora Nnewi Blast Anambra Information Commissioner-Adinuba”
The news purportedly claimed that Nzuko-Ora Nnewi blasted the Anambra State Government and the Honorable Commissioner of Information, C. Don Adinuba. This generated a lot of attention and portrayed Nzuko-Ora Nnewi as an enemy of the state government.
The attention of some Nnewi stakeholders was drawn to publication including executive members of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi. The President of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi, Chief Sir Ugochukwu Udemezu (Ifeneti) immediately convened an emergency meeting of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi executives.
According to the Secretary-General, Barr. Obinna Ubah, the meeting commended the Anambra State Government on the measures they have taken to curtail, curb and eradicate totally the coronavirus pandemic, the meeting also dissociated Nzuko-Ora Nnewi from the publication of Sir Augustine Ikeh and advised parties who have vested interest either for or against any party or persons to find their comfort zone for an amicable settlement and should leave Nzuko Ora Nnewi out of this. The meeting also directed Augustine Ikeh to immediately disassociate Nzuko-Ora Nnewi from the publication of Mr. Emmanuel Elombah through a press release.
Augustine Ikeh refusal to refute the publication prompted the President-General of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi, to immediately release a press release urging the public to disregard the publication.
The President-General denounced the publication by stating that the town union body never at any point in time sat to deliberate on the Press Release by the Anambra State Commissioner of Information, nor ever authorize anyone to issue or release a statement on behalf of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi and therefore Nnewi denounced every content of the said publication entirely.
Part of his press release reads;
“May we use this opportunity to state clearly that Nzuko Ora Nnewi is in full support of all the measures being taken by Anambra State Government to contain the Coronavirus epidemic especially measures so far by establishing a 240-bed and other isolation facilities at the NYSC Camp Mbaukwu/Umuawulu Isolation Centre and also that of Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha; the procurement of medical equipment and supplies; sharing of relief materials to the elderly (bags of rice, etc), the economic stimulus package as announced (tax refunds, etc) for traders and business owners”
“May we also use this medium to announce to the general public that any Press Statement not authorized by the President General of Nzuko Orah Nnewi and its executives remains the personal opinion of the author and should be discarded in its entirety”
“We apologize to the State Government for any inconvenience the said publication must have caused them. We have equally taken measures to issue a query to the said author and publishers of the Press Release and will not hesitate to discipline them if found culpable”
The argument
Unfortunately, sometimes very emotional people in making their positions known, take facts and logic to the backbench. As a Publicity Secretary of a town like Nnewi, one will have excepted Augustine Ikeh to always speak and write with caution as not to portray the town in a bad light, but unfortunately, everything about him has been all about overheating the polity with unguarded statements and actions.
While it is the responsibility of Augustine Ikeh to speak for Nnewi when necessary, he was not elected to become an attack dog of the town. Becoming a Publicity Secretary or Spokesman of a town/public figure limits the person’s right of personal opinion because any statement made will directly or indirectly be credited or assumed to be from the organization or individual you speak for. By his position as the Publicity Secretary of a sensitive town like Nnewi, Augustine Ikeh was expected to be nonpartisan and also speak and write with constraint.
Augustine Ikeh reply to the Honourable Commissioner was unnecessary and unprofessional, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has an official Media Aide, who has the responsibility of managing the image of his boss, if there was a need to reply the government, the press release should have come from him and not Nnewi Publicity Secretary. Even if the press release was seen as a direct attack on Nnewi Son, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, and there was a need for Nnewi to reply, the Publicity Secretary of Nnewi should have consulted the executive members especially the President, Secretary-General and the Legal Officer of the Nzuko-Ora Nnewi.
For one who claims to have four (4) university degrees, with a master degree in journalism, resorting to the choice of epithets to convey a fit of strange anger at the government was very unprofessional.
Two pertinent questions that draw a serious concern is;
1. Why did Augustine Ikeh refuse to refute the publication of Mr. Emmanuel Elombah even after he was directed by the executive of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi?
2. Since Augustine Ikeh decided to resort to the writing of opinion articles which are most times critical and bias, did he know that he should have resigned his position as the Publicity Secretary of Nnewi to avoid creating problems for Nnewi?
Meeting Attendance
While the Nzuko-Ora Nnewi Constitutional position on the suspension or removal of an executive is not yet known, it is most unfortunate that Augustine Ikeh has resorted in making kindergarten but divisive statements in trying to cause a communal crisis in Nnewi and yet claims he has the ambition to represent the town in Anambra State House of Assembly in 2023.
The attendance of the meeting was balanced and not dominated by any political party as he claims.
The roll call of the meeting;
1. His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu (111).
2. Obi Uruagu Nnewi, Obi Afam Charles Obi (Ogidi IV),
3. Obi Umudim Nnewi, Obi Benneth Okafor (Amaukwu),
4.Obi Nnewichi, Obi George A. Onyekaba (Obidiugwu)
5. Rt. Hon. Prince Engr. Chukwudi Orizu
6. Sir Ugochukwu Udemezue – President-General Nzuko-Ora Nnewi
7. Sir Fabian Obi – Vice President Nzuko-Ora Nnewi
8. Barr. Obinna Ubah -Secretary-General
9. Emeka Chikezie – Financial Secretary
10. Amobi DeBoy Adukwulu -Assistant Secretary
11. Sir Augustine Ikeh – Suspended Publicity Secretary
12. Hon. Moses Anayo – Welfare Secretary
13. Basil Ndubuizu – Provost 1
14. Christopher Ejidike – Provost II
15. Nathaniel Enemchukwu – Provost III
16. Cyril Ngbakaogu – Provost IV
11. Prince Moses Obi – Treasurer and Anambra State Chairman Young Progressive Alliance (YPP)
12. Hon. Afam Mbanefo – Commissioner for Youth Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy
13. Hon. Melie Onyejepu – Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Implementation
14. Hon. Amara Ken Anazodo – Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters
15. Orji Nwafor Orizu – Lawyer
16. Oseloka Osigwe – Lawyer
17. Sir Francis Okeke Omo – APC Stakeholder
18. Sir D. C Ofodeme – Nzuko-Ora Nnewi BOT
19. Edwin Kalu – Igwe Nnewi Cabinet
20. Elder Surge Egbuna
21. Prince Obi Orizu – Nnewi Crown Prince
22. Chief Emma Iwuchukwu – Igwe Nnewi Cabinet
23. Prince Afam Orizu
24. Jude Osumuo
25. Engr. Akon Anuligo
The Fear of government’s sledgehammer
Nzuko-Ora Nnewi is a town union under the state government and subscribes to a body called Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU). It is within the right of the government to dissolve the town union of a town and inaugurate a committee to be headed by a caretaker.
If Augustine Ikeh continues in his unsolicited attempt to portray Nnewi as an enemy of the government, the truth is the government may start considering the idea of dissolving Nzuko-Ora Nnewi.
Constitutional Provision
It is not yet a public knowledge what Nzuko-Ora Nnewi constitution provides as it concerns the issue of the removal or suspension of an executive member, but since the meeting had the presence of very successful lawyers like Barr. Orji Nwafor Orizu, Barr. Oseloka Osigwe and Barr. Obinna Ubah, one can comfortably assume that the indefinite suspension of Augustine Ikeh is not totally illegal.
It is time for Sir. Augustine Ikeh (Ikedoji) to retire to his Edoji residence and stop arrogating powers to himself that he no longer possesses. His Highness, Obi Afam Obi (Ogidi IV) has already been asked to forward a replacement for Augustine Ikeh.
Looming Crisis
It is unfortunate that Augustine Ikeh has resorted to the exhibition of lies and concocted stories in a desperate bid to cause a communal crisis in Nnewi.
His recent video in which he insulted Nnewi Royal Fathers and stakeholders call for a lot of concerns. His attempt to initiate Otolo VS Uruagu fight is the worst of it. Unfortunately, reactions that have followed his suspension is going towards community versus community lines.
Ticket Racketeering
Augustine Ikeh has alleged that he was removed because of his opposition to the tickets being sold by Nzuko-Ora Nnewi. Is it not surprising that Ndi Nnewi are only hearing about this after he was suspended or is he trying to draw sympathy?
Conclusion
Ndi Nnewi must resist every attempt to use the name of the town to fight personal battles. It is time to organize ourselves in such a manner that we can address our shared needs collectively as a people. Otherwise, development will continue to elude our beloved town Nnewi.
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