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By Ben AHANONU
My attention and indeed that of numerous loyal appointees of the Shared Prosperity Administration of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, especially the Special Advisers (SAs) that were appointed earlier this year, have been drawn to the false, defamatory, loathsome and objectionable main story in the Friday, July 7, 2023 issue of the Trumpeta tabloid newspaper.
Ordinarily, I would have ignored that poorly written story because it is clearly a mere fabrication by the opposition - People's Democratic Party (PDP) in conjunction with sworn enemies of the Shared Prosperity Administration but for the sake of unsuspecting Imo people, who might be misled by such grievous disinformation, I felt compelled to issue this rebuttal.
One thing incontrovertible about the story is that it is as useless as trash, speculative posturing, part of an integrated smear campaign of the imploding PDP and a failed attempt to annoy the loving and kind Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, who has the best of intentions for Imo and set him on the warpath against his appointees.
The logical fallacies in the story were further underscored by the fact that it has no byline - meaning no author and the word "abandoned" which is the weightiest plank of that inciting story is in quotes meaning that it is not definitive - the fake writer is not quite sure of what he/she is writing and this is corroborated by the fact that the unknown author did not mention the name of the so-called appointee or appointees from Owerri North that allegedly issued the threat although the author might quickly claim that the identity of the source was hidden to protect him/her.
Nonetheless, why should someone on earth engage in such unprofessional conduct if not for pecuniary interest or intent to cause confusion.
According to the ethics of the journalism profession, the main story of any newspaper must be serious and consequential and must have concrete details about the who, what, when, where and why. It must not lack substance, rather it must have verifiable facts and details.
A newspaper main story must also be logically consistent or, as logicians are fond of saying: "Have some possible world in which they are all true."
Unfortunately, the fabricated story, which is libelous in the main, lacked logical consistency because certain paragraphs in the story contrasted with one another.
For instance a paragraph that stated: " However a source from the Government House said that Gov. Uzodimma did not abandon the new appointees as he is making elaborate plans for them immediately after their inauguration, which will come in weeks.
"The source said that the SAs will be paid all their arrears starting from the date in their appointment letters."
Then this other paragraph: "The abandoned SAs said that while they were still roaming the streets empty-handed and hungry, the Governor is busy giving red-carpet reception to defectors from opposition parties, while they are abandoned."
The question is which one is true - abandoned or did not abandon?
Government all over the world is not a child's play because it is backed up by the Constitution especially regarding its functioning hence anything done by the government or pronouncement by an elected government official especially from the executive arm is regarded as serious and the authority is duty-bound to fulfill such pronouncement.
Almost all the SAs are literate enough to understand the legal implications of their being announced as SAs to the Governor of Imo State, including the rights and obligations, hence cannot act in any despicable manner that will be a source of embarrassment to the Governor and the Government.
As part of the government, their primary duty is to do everything constitutionally appropriate for the success of the government.
They also know that it is just a privilege and not a right for one to be appointed by the Governor as his Special Adviser and this is in view of the fact that there are thousands of other qualified and competent Imo citizens, who can equally be appointed.
In addition, the new SAs are literate enough to know that they reserve the right to resign their appointment if the terms and conditions are not suitable or if they feel constrained, inconvenienced or abandoned hypothetically.
Therefore, I am convinced that no loyai and reasonable appointee of the government can go to a partisan tabloid newspaper with strong support for the opposition - People's Democratic Party (PDP), to make unguarded remark against a Governor that is working so hard to ensure that it is well with them.
The SAs and other appointees know that their appointment was made in good faith and Governor Uzodimma - I know, does not, cannot and will never treat people, including his appointees with disdain.
The SAs know that no matter how long it takes, all their entitlements will be paid by the Shared Prosperity Administration of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, which has the welfare of Imo people as one its cardinal policies.
I believe that the new SAs cannot make such unguarded remarks as contained in the fabricated story, published by Trumpeta - a PDP - mouthpiece and propaganda outfit because the owners are either card-carrying members of the PDP or sympathetic to the cause of the PDP.
On the other hand, the SAs and appointees are Imo people with family and relatives. In informal setting, some of them might utter something that can fly into the ears of the naysayers and which could be blown out of proportion by the opposition propagandists just to score cheap political point or cause disaffection between the Governor and his appointees.
I believe that the SAs are working very hard for the success of the Governor in the polls on November 11, 2023 and this was amply demonstrated during the extended revalidation exercise and registration for the Imo State Social Security Benefit Number.
The SAs including those from Mbaitoli and Ikeduru hit the ground running and did their best for the success of the extended exercise in the two Local Government Areas.
The SAs are solidly in support of the Governor as he goes to the polls on 11 November , 2023; therefore, Imo people should regard as false, premeditated and wicked the said publication by the Trumpeta that attempted unsuccessfully to stoke bad blood and confrontation between the caring Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and his new appointees.
It is not true that the new SAs are murmuring against the new members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, especially defectors from the opposition parties because the APC as a party, is big enough to accommodate everyone and the party equally needs more capable hands to get the job done on November 11, 2023, even as we are all Imo people.
One thing that is abundantly clear is that in the run-up to the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial election in Imo State, the PDP and its agents have been acting desperately, deploying deceptive strategies including dissemination of falsehood and incendiary propaganda to mislead Imo people , dumping of hot asphalt on newly constructed roads like the incident on Owerri-Okigwe Road precisely at Ekemele, Akabo, Ikeduru, unwarranted outbursts and crying wolf, false accusations as being done by one Ikenga Ugochinyere - a known PDP agent but the chickens will soon come home to roost because Nigerians are now aware of his heinous tactics and propensity for making much noise and telling malicious lies through frivolous press releases and inconsequential press conferences but Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma remains strong and indomitable.
Nonetheless, the new appointees must be wary of the evil antics of the vanquished PDP and their agents to avoid falling into their devious trap.
In addition, they should never behave like the proverbial tortoise, who was in a pit of melancholy for long but on the eve of his evacuation from the pit, he yelled at the rescue team for delaying and that prolonged his dreadful ordeal in the pit.
One thing I know for sure is that Gov. Uzodimma will never start what he cannot finish.
All we need as appointees is patience for in no time, there will be a falling of good rain upon us all.
Uzodimma must win!
God bless Imo State.
Ben AHANONU is Special Adviser to the Governor on CSDP.
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