I must confess that one local commentator in Imo State I love reading is Mr. ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES (to write it the way he normally introduces himself).
One fact I find roundly compelling and hugely profound about Jones, and which endears him to me is that he uses allusions – no matter how flawed – to buttress his points. This is a mark of knowledge and confirmation of one who understands the subject one is handling.
However, Jones, in his usual angling, most times, of taking sides, without dutifully comparing comprehensive notes on the issue at stake, even in unpardonable hue, tragically crucified himself, although through an infantile crossfire.
His recent outing on the state of Imo State NUJ was a beautiful sore. His argument was terribly flawed just as his delivery was a mere mindless attack on the Imo NUJ executives, particularly, its ebullient chairman, Comrade Precious Nwadike and his group.
Look at Jones’ concern: “If it is an incorporated association, it is expected that any responsible person or organisation trying to deal with such association would go to the Corporate Affairs Commission to find out who truly has the seal of the Association before having any dealings with them, if it is a union like the NUJ, a responsible person should inquire from the National secretariat to know who truly has the authorisation of the National Secretariat. This is because a nationwide union cannot exist separately from its national leadership”.
Yet, Jones knows very well that there is a room for anybody that disagrees with its national union to seek redress through judicial processes.
For instance, His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, sauntered to national space when he disagreed with INEC who had announced Dr Chris Ngige the winner of the 2003 governorship election in Anambra State. Of course, Obi disagreed, went to tribunal and lost. He went to the court of appeal and lost. And was ultimately returned by the supreme court. After him, there were Adams Oshiomhole in Edo State, Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State, and completed by those of Bayelsa, Ondo and Ekiti states. The matter in Rivers State that sacked Celestine Omeha and installed Rotimi Amechi was a pre – election matter yet, it was anchored in seeking a redress when one felt not satisfied with the stand, decision or declaration of a national agency or body.
It is an outright attack on due process and a clear case of abuse of judicial process for Jones, otherwise a law-abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth leader and an once publicity secretary of Imo APC, to be instigating and inciting state actors in Imo, including the security agencies and government officials, to go against a matter that is in court. And even calling for a brutal, vicious, mindless and ruthless action against the journalists who, rather took a right and righteous path of law and order, instead of heading for actions that would have encouraged lawlessness and compromised orderliness.
By urging the government of the day and its security details to forcefully invade and attack law abiding citizens and professionals like the journalists, Jones, has once more, demonstrated his penchant for chaos, anarchy and lawlessness. His stand on the current Imo NUJ crisis has confirmed his disdainful nature for rule of law, due process and lack of respect for established institutions. This is awful and frightening as Jones, in spite of his unclear recognition as a public affairs analyst, has a huge gullible follower who read him.
Curiously, Jones, like Nwadike and Ifeanyi Nwanguma who was wrongly elected by his own group of journalists recently, are all from Orlu Zone. Why didn’t he try to unite them by exploring all the windows available? Why is Jones supporting an illegality? Why is he dragging Imo NUJ through his mob of hooliganism and insulting our noble and prestigious profession with a hooligan art, served by a proselytizer whose codes are fundamentally skewed?
And by the way, why this Orlu Zone assault on the people of Imo State? Governor Uzodimma and Senator Okorocha are Orlu. Otulu killings were witnessed in Orlu. Omuma magic took place in Orlu. Izombe massacre is Orlu. What gave Imo State the stamp of insecurity was sealed in Orlu. The notorious Banana Junction is located in Orlu. Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu, the deputy speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, who supervised the relegation of Heartland FC, is also Orlu. This Orlu disturbances must come to an end. This is because Orlu Zone has produced wonderful and ingenious persons that are too numerous to mention here. Orlu is stuffed with verifiable wards who have what it takes to make Imo State the China of Nigeria.
And lastly, it is imperative, once again, to recap here that, contrary to Jones’ ill-conceived and hogwash claims, the leadership matter of Imo State NUJ is in courts.
Before Nwanguma wrongly emerged the leader of his group, his predecessor, appeared in the courts where he was asked not to conduct any election. Yet, Jones described it as a “purported court order or ongoing court case”, this is laughable and childish.
The true situation is that a court of competent jurisdiction ruled against having any election until the matter is disposed of. This is the strength of the Nwadike – led group. So, between the group that is obeying a court injunction and the other that disobeyed judicial directives to conduct an election, invaded the NUJ secretariat in an annexation manner, attacking and wounding occupants of the premises, who is an imposter, who is a renegade, who is an illegitimate gang?
That the national body is supporting the other body does not in any way confer any legitimacy on it. This is what the Nwadike group is praying – that the election organized and supervised by the national NUJ was flawed and lacked merit. The matter is the courts and if this Jones’ group thinks it has any legitimacy, why is it running away from the arm of government that interprets the law when two or more people disagree on a matter?
Perhaps, Jones is not even aware of the fact that the group he is supporting illegally sold this same facility to his former boss, an erstwhile governor of the state. It took the resilience and determination of Nwadike and his group to recover the property through also a court order. Had this affront been allowed to stand, would Nwanguma and his co – travellers be making this last kick of a dying horse towards occupying a sold apartment?
Jones, you got it all wrong here. You failed abysmally. You are one of the persons stoking the embers of discord in Imo State NUJ and it is abhorrent to all decent members of the public. Your call for the state authorities to uproot the Nwadike group in this matter is utterly reprehensible and it is a worrisome development.
