BY VALENTINE OBIENYEM

I LAUGHED my heart out as I read the above titled piece published by Dr. Okey Ndibe. He writes: “Last week, Mr. Obienyem wrote and distributed a piece titled{sic} ‘Anambra: May God Help Okey Ndibe!’” in response to his piece.  In his usual offensive language devoid of civility, he was at the crest of his curve pouring vituperations on the Governor.

Though he poured it more on me, I do not care for he seems helpless in his penchant for vitriol. I am often worried when he speaks unrestrainedly about the Governor because it is not about Mr. Peter Obi, but about the exalted seat he occupies which Ndibe delights in desecrating.

Whenever I am confronted by the type of language he uses against eminent people of the State, I wonder at his lack of maturity. Okey went to school(Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu), but what influence has that had on his life if he could be so petty and childish in his outbursts.

If at his age, and supposedly exposure, he could write with such a cavalier contempt about constituted authority, we wonder if he understands what he is doing.

A common feature of Okey is to attack anything that has to do with Governor Obi, like a puppy frolicking with children. If you recall, the world-revered Prof. Dora Akunyili  was an object of his rabid attacks for identifying with Governor Obi, whom she calls “my Governor”.

As part of activities celebrating Anambra @ 20 on the 27th of August, those who attended took a day to visit Obi’s projects and returned a common verdict that he remained the best thing to have happened to the State.

Based on this, Okey  disparaged Chief Emeka Anyaoku, one of those who commended the Governor, in his column of 27 September. A Governor who does not have anything on ground cannot invite people to inspect his projects.

Governor Adams Oshimohole did it with the Guild of Editors when they recently held their meeting in Edo State. Governor Godswill Akpabio did it when Akwa Ibom celebrated its 24 years of creation. Many governors are doing it now – another innovation in governance introduced by Obi and embraced by those who are proud of their accomplishments.

Okey said that I ran Obi’s “Sordid Propaganda Machinery,” and described me as Obi’s “Man Friday.” I have done a long treatise on propaganda, but from what Okey writes, he is not interested in understanding its meaning.

As for calling me “Obi’s  Man Friday”, a term, which through strange odyssey that characterizes philology entered into  English lexicon through Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, I do not actually know what he intended to achieve.

If Man Friday is a faithful male assistant as I understand it,  that is what I will remain to Obi until… I am not afraid of identifying with him. If you have been privileged to deal with him or serve him as I am doing, you will agree that the Governor is an institution. By daily contact with him, one, willy-nilly, gains wisdom by osmosis.

In my career progression, I have remained grateful to those who helped me climb the rungs of the ladder of life.  As a young school leaver seeking admission into the university, I was Personal Assistant to Dr. Okey Ikechukwu. He mentored me when I was barely out of diapers.

I cut my ‘journalistic’ tooth under him. I worked closely with him and when he had to move to Abuja, he took me along. When President Olusegun Obasanjo suddenly removed Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu as the Minister of Information, we lost our jobs.

But like a great man who suffered shipwreck and had all his property burnt but still confessed that he had lost nothing, counting on the intellect, we lost nothing. A week after that incident, a senator approached me to come and be his special assistant but I declined.

I confided that in Mallam Abukakar Jijiwa, who was then just confirmed as the substantive Director General of the Voice of Nigeria,VON, and quickly signified interest to have me as his special assistant. I obliged, for the man is imbued with whatever positive point one desires in people – courteous, affable, intelligent, and supremely humane.

The day I informed him I was  invited to join the Government of Mr. Peter Obi, he told me he would certainly miss me, adding that since the appointment was for my growth and development he offered me his prayers and said he was not entertaining any fears about me.

Today, whenever Ikechukwu, a real intellectual and I are discussing metaphysical realities of death, eternity, being, the nuemenon  and phenomenon as  well as the unseen real and the unreal seen, he jokes: “Val, I have refrained from asking the Governor to pay me for having you, because no amount will pay for the services I am sure you will render to him”.

Okey referred to me as lacking in intelligence, but I can go on and on, while apologising for my immodesty, to tell him the schools I passed through, to inquire what they think about me. His Parish Priest at St Matthew’s Catholic Church, Amawbia, Fr. Jonas Okoye, was my teacher, he may wish to start from him. I do not intend to blow my own trumpet but since in his usual thoughtlessness, Okey has elected to put my character in question, I am only helping him out.

“Thank God that Valentine Obienyem never made it to ordination as a priest.” In ancient Hebrew society that valued men, men would always thank God for making them in His own image; while women thanked Him also for making them according to His will.

I thank God for taking me where I am today according to His will. Perhaps, I might have made a bad priest, I thank Divine Providence for making me whatever I am today. I hope Okey is satisfied.

Let me even go further to tell him that my younger brother was in the seminary too. Upon completing his philosophy, he said he would not continue. At our family meeting, we asked him to pray over it and allow the will of God to be done. It is better, infinitely better not to become a priest, alter christus, another Christ, and become a scandal to Christendom in any way as Okey has become to the pen fraternity. I hope I have explained my stand to my friend, Okey.

Rather than use the pen to do havoc to people, Okey should have prayed to God for other callings.  All arts, including writing, are designed for the greater glory of God.

As to the N200 million Okey was referring to,  I do not want to dwell much on that as I was not even at the scene of the event as could be verified. If he wishes to continue drawing news from Internet gossip, good riddance! In any case, the incident has long been buried and forgotten as the truth has been uncovered.

Mr. Obienyem is SA on Media to Governor Obi of Anambra State.