A few days ago, the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, was in Abia State for a protest he claimed was aimed at demanding the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Shortly after Sowore left Abia, he began making negative comments about Governor Alex Otti.
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Sowore claimed that he doesn’t believe in what he called “half transformation” and subsequently described Otti’s government as a failure.
Unsettled by the avalanche of criticisms and negative reactions from Nigerians that greeted his comment, Sowore obviously felt that his ego has been bruised, and subsequently organised an interview where he indulged in more distortions.
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We initially didn’t want to dignify Sowore because his sweeping and reckless statement of “Otti is a failure” sounded like an intentional jab to create a discussion.
However, after his follow-up interview, we thought it appropriate to respond and put the records straight by stating as follows:
1. Sowore was correct when he described Otti as his ‘friend’ though he failed to qualify the relationship. Again, we feel his understanding of friendship is questionable. Friendship entails respect and honesty. When he describes his ‘friend’ as “some guy there” it puts a doubt on the relationship. Given Sowore’s controversial political and activism life, he must have trusted Otti very well before he slept in his house and ate his food when he campaigned in Abia in 2019. The question Sowore needs to answer is “does this your ‘friend’ know where you live?”
2. Sowore claimed that Otti used to maintain a column on his platform and used same to attack serving governors. This is false. The only media platform that had Otti as a columnist was Thisday newspapers. SaharaReporters merely republished Otti’s articles as published by Thisday. This is verifiable.
Otti’s columns never attacked any governor, rather were mainly critical of wrong national political and economic policies and developments, while proffering solutions on issue basis.
Sowore also lied when he claimed that he once told Otti that he would come after him if he failed to perform as governor. There wouldn’t have been anything wrong if Sowore actually said this, but since such a discussion never held, it was misleading for Sowore to fabricate it and present it as something that happened, just to appear as a friend that’s doing his job with professionalism.
3. Sowore claimed he doesn’t compromise standard, but this is a lie. It’s actually Governor Otti who does not compromise standards, which is why he has ignored all the false publications Sowore has used his platform to publish against his government. The only time Governor Otti had reasons to caution him, was on 20 February this year, when Sowore used his SaharaReporters to publish a false story that the reason for the postponement of Abia APC Congresses was because Otti had concluded plans to join the APC. Sowore had no evidence and never spoke to Otti or his aides to know the truth before rushing to publish falsehood. Governor Otti subsequently sent him a message reminding him that using his platform to publish falsehood would bring his credibility into question.
4. Sowore has been accused by many commentators, including his Lagos comrades who came with him for the protest, of coming to do a hatchet Job against Governor Otti in Abia.
If Sowore denies this, he may need to answer the following questions:
(a)What was the reason for staging a protest in Aba when Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is from Umuahia, which is also the Abia State Capital? Didn’t Operation Python Dance, which Governor Otti was at the forefront of condemning in 2017, happen in Umuahia?
Just about a month ago, the family of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu held a memorial service in honor of Kanu’s late parents at their home at Afara Ibeku, yet Sowore didn’t deem it fit to visit their home when he sneaked into Aba for the said protest.
(b)Why didn’t Sowore consider going to Sokoto where Kanu is being incarcerated to protest?
(C) Why did Sowore resort to attacking Otti few hours after leaving Abia, instead of briefing Nigerians, especially Kanu’s supporters on the outcome and impact of the protest?
(d) Couldn’t Sowore have chosen a different date to quietly sneak into Abia, carry out in-depth investigation on the performance of Otti, so as to be armed with the necessary facts, before making his “Otti is a failure” declaration?
(e) Was Sowore’s visit to Abia without the courtesy of informing his governor ‘friend’ not an intentional but failed strategy of provocation?
(f) Could it be that Sowore came to Abia to incite violence and breakdown of law and order with a view to serving some hidden external political agenda, but felt angry and disappointed that Governor Otti outsmarted him by providing maximum security cover and ensuring that no one was harassed?
5. Sowore claimed that Otti was upset because people came out to receive him. This hilarious comment is actually an indictment on Sowore. It simply means that Sowore was in Abia for publicity and popularity stunt, and not to genuinely call for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
It’s important to remind Sowore that this excitement about nonexistent popularity in Aba amounts to a delusion of grandeur. If he doubts, let him come and campaign in Aba when he picks his presidential form, and see the difference between using Nnamdi Kanu’s name as a cover and coming as Sowore.
6. Sowore alleged that Governor Otti paid influencers in Lagos to criticise him. If Otti paid any influencer, Sowore would know, so deep down in his mind, he knew he was lying to himself. He knows that most of the people attacking him know him very well.
Just to further help him, it’s important to remind Sowore that Otti has no paid influencers and is not looking for influencers to pay. Abians and Nigerians love him and are proud of what he is doing in Abia, hence they have collectively chosen to be his influencers and spokespersons.
7. On Sowore’s allegation of “half transformation” by Otti, we are glad that he saw some transformation during his few hours stay in Aba, his only problem is that Governor Otti has not achieved full transformation in two years and ten months. We are convinced he will be speechless by the time he tours the city and speaks to residents.
Governor Otti has never claimed he has transformed Aba or Abia State as a whole, because he knows that it’s a process. He has always stated that these are still early days and that a lot of work still needs to be done. However, we cannot apologise to Sowore if he is angry and embittered that the Abia masses and Nigerians are praising and celebrating Governor Otti for the things he has achieved so far.
In the spirit of “friendship” Comrade Sowore needs to be reminded that arrogance and aura of invisibility worn like an expensive apparel can be dangerous and destructive, especially when it is aimed at advancing a self-serving cause that hurts the people and harms their future.
Whatever his agenda is, he is obviously targeting the wrong person and needs to beat a wise retreat.
*Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma is a special adviser on media and publicity to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State
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