– Silent On Dilapidated Imo Schools
Following the whispers and widespread condemnation especially from the opposition leaders of the award conferred on the Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma by the Vanguard Newspaper, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba has made frantic attempts to justify the award which many consider absolutely underserved by all standards.
Surprisingly, while Emelumba and other media handlers of Senator Hope Uzodinma tried to justify the award by responding to the incisive article written by Steve Osuji, a former Editor of Guardian Newspaper, they chose to be silent on the cardinal issue of dilapidated schools in Imo State.Emeluma in his article captioned,”STEVE OSUJI IS BLINDED BY HATRED AND ENVY AGAINST UZODIMMA”,also did not say anything about the money that will be refunded to the state government as a result of the federal government projects that Gov Uzodinma executed or where the monies will be channeled to because they were supposed to be used for other projects that should benefit Imo people.
According to Emelumba, Osuji’s core argument “is that Uzodimma only constructed three federal roads and that Vanguard failed to conduct due diligence before recognising him. He even argued that Uzodimma executed the projects merely to secure federal reimbursement as a member of the ruling APC. What he refused to acknowledge, however, is whether these roads are used by the federal authorities or by the people of Imo.
“When a journalist, one who should know better, fails to be even subjectively objective, but is instead driven by bitterness and petty hatred, it’s easy to see why his career has been defined by collapse and failure”.
But according to a cross section of Imo people, “Emelumba, himself spurred by the desire to play to the gallery, did not address other pertinent issues raised by Steve Nwosu, including, the frightening level of insecurity, decayed infrastructure in most primary and secondary schools in the state, the glaring difference between the enormous amount allocated to the education and health sectors in the last five years and the reality on ground, among others. Rather, he was preoccupied with pouring invective”. on the celebrated journalist.
A retired civil servant who also commented on the development accused Emelumba of being myopic and blinded by the pecks of office. “If not, he would have known that most of those who endorsed and congratulated the governor on the award are self seeking politicians, praise singers and contractors who know the truth but are more interested in personal gain. Hence the elaborate and insincere congratulatory messages”.
