– IS IT THAT HE IS REDUNDANT OR DELIBERATELY RELEGATED/PUSHED ASIDE OR THAT HE SIMPLY DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO?
-Frank Nwaete
With the inception of Democracy in 1999, there have been existing, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the IMO State Governors!
Chief Achike Uzoma Udenwa (ONWA) started in 1999 with the Mbaitolu LGA born Prince Onunwa.
He was later replaced with the Oru-West LGA born Chief Mbadiwe Declan Emelumba (Incumbent IMO COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION).
When Emelumba resigned from the position to go and contest for the Oru-West State Constituency Seat under the PDP, Gov Udenwa appointed the Nsu Ehime Mbano born Sir Bright Nwelue as his replacement!
Sir Bright Nwelue not only Completed Udenwa’s first term with him but also served out his 2003-2007 Second term with him.
Dr Ikedi Godson Ohakim in 2007 first appointed the Mbano born Mr Steve Osuji as his Chief Press Secretary(CPS).
Two years later in 2009 replaced him with the Ngor-Okpala born Mr Henry Ekpe, after he had redeployed Steve Osuji as the Managing Director of the IMO NEWSPAPERS LTD, publishers of the Statesman Newspaper.
Owelle Rochas Okorocha in 2011 appointed Mr Chinedu Ofor from.Onuimo LGA as his Chief Press Secretary.
On the elevation of Chinedu Ofor to the position of the Deputy Chief of Staff, he appointed the Aboh-Mbaise born Chief MacDonald Amadi as his replacement.
And later appointed Chief Sam Onwuemeodo as his Chief Press Secretary.
Chief Sam Onwuemeodo not only Completed the remaining part of Rochas Okorocha first term with him but also served out his 2015-2019 Second term.
RT. Hon Emeka Ihedioha in 2019 appointed Mr Chibuike Onyeukwu and remained with him till the infamous January 14 SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT!
In all these aforementioned Chief Press Secretaries were adjudged to have done wonderfully well on the job.
Steadily kept the Public duly informed of the Activities, Programmes, Policies and Actions of their Principal and thus achieved a commensurable measure of Confidence in the People.
Chief Achike Uzoma Udenwa (ONWA) may not have endorsed Mbadiwe Declan Emelumba to go to the State Assembly, if he had not done well as his CPS!
Dr Ikedi Godson Ohakim wouldn’t have appointed Sir Bright Nwelue his SPECIAL ADVISER if he hadn’t done well as CPS to Gov Achike Uzoma Udenwa.
Owelle Rochas Okorocha wouldn’t have also elevated Chinedu Ofor to the position of a Deputy Chief of Staff and also supported him to go to the IMO State Assembly in 2015-2019, if he had not done well as CPS.
Today, Chief Sam Onwuemeodo is functioning as Sen Rochas Okorocha SPECIAL ADVISER (MEDIA) and this wouldn’t have happened if Sam did not do well as CPS!
Unfortunately, the gains recorded by the previous CPS may have been eroded with the Gov Hope Uzodinma appointment of the Ahiazu Mbaise LGA born Mr Oguwuike Nwachukwu as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS)!
He is hardly heard and seen at all and has vehemently refused to “parley” “homeboys” who are on ground.
No wonder why the image of Gov Hope Uzodinma continues to stink and no determined efforts seem to be made by his Chief Press Secretary to salvage the very ugly situation.
Ironically, Ted Cos Ukwuoma the Deputy Governor’s Chief Press Secretary does far better on the job than Mr Oguwuike Nwachukwu.
No day passes-bye without Mr Ukwuoma getting the Public duly informed of the Activities of the Deputy Governor.
A singular effort that has got him not only Sound followership on Social Media Platforms,but also high Commendations.
This luck lustered performance of Mr Oguwuike Nwachukwu has continued to fuel rising speculations that either he is not truly a practicing Media Personnel or that he simply does not know what to do on the job or that he is redundant or deliberately shoved aside!
For instance, in the last few weeks, one “J O NJOKU”, Permanent Secretary (POLITICAL AFFAIRS BUREAU) Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) has been the one signing Press Releases which Mr Oguwuike Nwachukwu ought to have done.
They include the Press Releases on the dissolution of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) if the IMO TRANSPORT COMPANY ( ITC), Swearing-in of four new Commissioners and the appointment of Chief Cosmos Maduba as Gov Hope Uzodinma SPECIAL ADVISER ON “CONTACT AND MOBILISATION”!
THERE SURELY CANNOT BE SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE!
Gov Hope Uzodinma should please STOP wasting IMO TAX PAYERS MONEY on his REDUNDANT CPS.
And should Immediately redploy him to where is most suitable for him and seek to restore the Confidence of IMO People.
The earliest Gov Hope Uzodinma does that, the better for him as his image in Office as IMO GOVERNOR remains nothing to write home about, IT STINKS!
Frank Nwaete writes from Owerri.
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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