Criticism of governments, their policies and programmes by any individual is one among the many benefits human beings in all civilized democracies enjoy out of the freedom of expression. Objective and constructive criticism of such governments and or characters in governments creates an avenue for changing or correcting certain identifiable ills of such systems and their operators. It should not be slanderous, false and above all, such
criticism should be able to proffer suggestive approaches, or changes to pending matters raised in the censure.
Any condemnation of character of government, or persons in governance without suggestive correctional measures to question issues in the criticism, is like asking your guest to go to sleep without showing him where to lay his tired body; it’s all senselessness and in futility. A case study of unmitigated personal attack on public office holders in the name of criticism can be seen from the actions of one Mr Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha who has been spreading so much falsehood about the government of Imo state and about some leaders in Imo State.
The ancient Greek Philosopher, Aristotle said anger, falsehood and personal abuse are the weakest link to arguments. Intellectual dwarfs like Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha fall into this trap. I was so irritated to say the least when I read a mockery of Chief Goodluck Opiah by Mr Iwuoha in Ukpaka Reports online news media were Iwuoha was calling Chief Opiah a puppet and was calling on Imo people not to vote Opiah in any election whatsoever. As much as there is freedom of expression, we should be careful the way we insult people. I could afford to keep mute over this issue but my conscience will not let me be.
Iwuoha is one person who thinks he is all knowing. His second nature is falsehood and he is virtually heaping unsubstantiated allegations and vituperation on so many prominent Imo persons. From Chief Dr Ikedi Ohakim to Prince Lemmy Akakem to His Royal Highness Eze Okeke to Chinedu Chukwuonye to Dominic Egbuchukwu to Chukwem Onuoha to Emma Ohakim to Cosmas Iwu to Maurice Iwu to Goodluck Opiah,he is busy pouring insults and allegations. This is the height of gross disrespect for elders. Iwuoha is someone who cannot see beyond his nose, yet he thinks he is clever enough to insult others.Why is Iwuoha picking on Goodluck Opiah? Iwuoha and his sponsors wants Chief Opiah to join them to fight the peoples governor of Imo State,Chief Ikedi Ohakim.The Imo State House of Assembly have not seen any wrong doing in the leadership of governor Ohakim,so why should they fight him?
The Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly ,Chief Goodluck Nanah Opiah that Iwuoha is calling a puppet is a distinguished man of high integrity, who was elected based on his track records of competence, honesty and integrity. Opiah had a remarkable stint in the private sector before joining politics. He served in various positions of trust and proved himself to be an astute manager of human and material resources. He is well respected and will quickly get the mandate of his people in whatever position he chooses to contest come 2011.
The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Chief Goodluck Opiah and his honourable colleagues, should be appreciated having so eminently distinguished themselves as the most cohesive, progressive, dynamic and focused legislature in our country. Their deep sense of purpose, commitment and patriotism have helped to sustain the peace, development and good governance that we have witnessed in Imo State since 2007.
The firm and fair approach Chief Opiah has adopted in his oversight functions has earned him the respect of so many agencies of government and so many personalities in Nigeria. It has also helped in ensuring a greater measure of discipline, accountability and due process in the conduct of government business. The solid rapport between the legislature and the executive in Imo State remains a shining example to be emulated by others. Imo people are happy that they have a functioning system, which has allowed an unfettered pace of development to flow through the State.
Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha to me is suffering from frustrated aggression. The frustration aggression theory states that aggression is caused by frustration. When someone is prevented from reaching a target, he becomes frustrated. This frustration then can turn into aggression when something triggers it. For example, if you failed in your final exam, you will definitely become frustrated. What if someone you barley know told you “You are such a loser not to pass that exam”. In this case, your stored frustration will surely turn into aggression. Ikenna Samuelson we gathered is angry over the demolition of the illegal structure he erected as his kerosene store.
In his frustration,he is telling to many lies. Let me point out one of the so many lies Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha is dishing out to the public. In his article titled how Ohakim Loots Imo State: A Challenge To Efcc & Office Of Inspector General Of Police published in the Ukpaka Reports of 19 December 2009,Mr Iwuoha made the following pronouncement“Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha has written a total of 340 published articles, all exposing the criminal activities of Chief Ikedi Godson Ohakim. He has made so many representations to the Imo State House of Assembly urging them to invite him to offload his evidence against the Governor. He has also made so many representations to the EFCC, Office of the Inspector General of Police and other security and anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria urging them to commence investigations on the criminal activities of Chief Ikedi Godson Ohakim”
In another article titled how Ohakim Loots & Mis-manages Imo State – Part 1 published by Ukpaka reports on 31 may 2010,Mr Iwuoha made the following pronouncement “I have written so many write ups and articles, all centering on the activities of Ikedi Ohakim in Imo State . So far I have written a total of eighty six articles against Ohakim since September 2007.Yet Ikedi Ohakim have not deemed it necessary to turn a new leaf and become a born again Governor. It appears that the more I write the more Ohakim criminalizes leadership in Imo state”
Iwuoha claimed to have written 340 published articles against Governor Ikedi Ohakim in December 2009 and the same Iwuoha in May 2010,claimed to have written 86 articles against Ohakim since year 2007.What a double speak. Are we supposed to take this liar serious?The performance of persons in government will improve significantly if the critics are credible and truthful and the motives devoid of personal interest.
-Kenneth Uwadi writes from Mmahu-Egbema,Imo State,Nigeria