THE DETESTABLE CHARACTER OF SEN.SONNI OGBUORJI THAT MAKES HIM AN ENEMY OF ALL
Sen. Sonni Ogbuorji is a man who believes in Machiavellian principle
that the end justifies the means. This principle he erroneously likened
to playing of a “draft game”, believing that what matters in the game is
how to be crowned by your opponent. This is the philosophy that guides
both his private and public life. In as much as this principle has been
working for him, it has nevertheless estranged his relationship with
friends and foes. This is why anybody who has ever come into contact
with him believes that he is a selfish, self-centered, a wicked and a
treacherous dangerous politician that is always plotting on how to
outsmart even his best friend. A cursory reflection of
Ogbuorji’s antecedents clearly shows that his adventure in politics was
in 1990 following the mysterious circumstances of his abscondment from
the house of his political godfather, Dr Udo Oji Okoro which in its
entirety was questionable. This incident coincided with the period of
the 1990 two party system Local Government Election experiment of the
IBB administration. Unfortunately, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Candidate for the said election, Chief O.U. Okoro who was Ogbuorji’s
kinsman was disqualified as a result of late tax payment.
Consequently, Ogbuorji readily offered himself as a worthy replacement
claiming to possess valid tax clearance certificate.
After Chief Sonni Ogbuorji won the election as Chairman Afikpo Local Government Council because of the caliber of personalities in SDP, his NRC opponent, Mr. Sunday Olughu challenged his victory at the Tribunal for possession of fake tax receipts. When Ogbuorji realized that his victory was going to be upturned by the Tribunal, he opted for out of court settlement, promising to compensate Sunday Olughu adequately which made him to withdraw the case from court. Ironically, both Chief O.U. Okoro and Mr. Sunday Olughu became Ogbuorji’s first victims.
Following the creation of Afikpo South Local Government Area in September, 1991 which was carved out of Afikpo Local Government, the position of all political office holders of the Council was dissolved, which made Ogbuorji to contest for the Chairmanship election of his LGA of origin. He won the election on a platter of gold unopposed as a result of the disqualification of his opponent, Barr. Bethel Ibiam. Shortly after he was sworn in as the pioneer Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) LGA Chairman, Dr. Bogart Ibiam who had labored gloriously to ensure Ogbuorji’s victory at the polls became his next victim. First of all, Ogbuorji caused the Police to arrest and detain Bogart over trumped up allegations and later sacked him as his party boss.
After Military interregnum, Chief Sonni Ogbuorji contested for the Senatorial election for Ebonyi South zone in 1999 on the platform of an obscured political party against Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and failed disgracefully with ignominy. Those who assisted him to join the party were betrayed and short changed - courtesy of Ogbuorji.
Chief Sonni Ogbuorji’s senatorial victory for Ebonyi South zone in 2011 was made possible through the joint effort of the former Governor, Chief Martin Elechi and the then PDP State Chairman, Engr. David Nweze Umahi against the candidate of the former SGF, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim who was fronting Dr. Dennis Ekumankama for the position. Regrettably enough, Chief Martin Elechi became the next victim of Ogbuorji’s politics of treachery who joined forces with other PDP stalwarts and frustrated Chief Elechi out of the party in 2015.
The 2015 political episode in Ebonyi State is as intriguing as Ogbuorji’s deceitful lifestyle. It would be observed that Engr. David Nweze Umahi who contested the gubernatorial election in the State on the platform of PDP against the Labour Party candidate, Arch. Edward Nkwegu, in his benevolence still endorsed Sen. Ogbuorji for a second tenure - an action which political pundits said was unusual as no candidate from the zone has been privileged to serve for two terms. Consequently, other political gladiators from the zone especially in Afikpo South Local Government Area rallied round and delivered Ogbuorji in the said election.
While those who did not know Sen. Ogbuorji too well had expected him to organize a thanksgiving party in appreciation of the support accorded to him during the election those who knew his antecedents thought otherwise. As should be expected, Sen. Ogbuorji thereafter organized a kangaroo meeting of his loyalists where he read his riot act, threatening to deal decisively with anybody who made recommendations to the Governor for political appointments without clearance from him since according to him; he is the highest political office holder from the zone. He went further to describe the Chairman of Divine Campaign Organization, Afikpo South LGA, Chief Julius Ama Oji (aka Ochiri Edda) who anchored his campaign during the election as a” blind man leading a visually sound man” notwithstanding the fact that Ochiri had co-sponsored Ogbuorji’s election in 2011. Such a derogatory statement coming from a lame duck sleeping Senator who is always snoring during debate at the floor of the senate is laughable.
Having won the Senatorial election on a platter of gold through the band wagon effect of the PDP machinery, Ogbuorji became swollen headed. His over bloated ego made him believe he has arrived to the extent that he started nursing the inordinate ambition of taking over from his boss and mentor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi as the next Governor of the state. He demonstrated his bias against the Governor by boycotting all programmes organized by the State Government. To dramatize his ambition, he allowed himself to be dragged at the floor of the Senate by both PDP and APC senators as if he is too important.
His doctrine of being crowned by his opponent through deft maneuver soon paid off as the APC which he joined after decamping from PDP sooner than later crowned him as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Ebonyi State in a questionable primary election that was alleged to have been grossly manipulated, which made one of the aspirants, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odo to challenge the verdict of the primary in the court. The court is yet to deliver judgment to that effect.
Since then, Ogbuorji has been preaching in his campaign the message of liberation. This message is perhaps for the unsuspecting Ebonyians who do not know him from Adam. However, it pertinent that Ogbuorji should be courageous and honest enough to answer these questions. How many of his closest friends has he ever rehabilitated or liberated since he joined politics in 1990 even in his immediate community, Ebunuwana Edda, not to talk of the masses whom he always treat with disdain? Has he ever maintained or serviced any political structure before in his political career? Why does he always avoid people coming close to him? Is it because he is trying to shy away from responsibility? Why is he always locking his gate against people whose support is critically needed now in realizing his gubernatorial ambition?
As the APC Governorship candidate, has Ogbuorji ever summoned a meeting of stakeholders of Edda extraction especially in Ebunuwana Edda where he claims that it is his community not to talk of Edda at large, at least, to inform the people about his political ambition? These are questions begging for answers. However two major planks of arguments have been adduced as the reason why Ogbuorji cannot summon a meeting of Edda Stake holders. Firstly, he is a bonafide son of Egbonu Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State where he has directed all his Economic Empowerment Programme to. And it will be foolhardy of him to mobilize support from a different plan for his strange ambition. Secondly, Ogbuorji has always preferred to work as a lone ranger in order to avoid attracting the commitment of people who may turn out to be a burden to him in future.
In the final analysis, Chief Sonni Ogbuorji from the foregoing has been having roller coaster outings and may have recorded pyrrhic victories in the past but his present gubernatorial election is certainly a Greek gift and a tall dream that will obviously retire him compulsorily from politics.
Hon Stanley Okoro Emegha
SA. to the Gov. on Capital City
After Chief Sonni Ogbuorji won the election as Chairman Afikpo Local Government Council because of the caliber of personalities in SDP, his NRC opponent, Mr. Sunday Olughu challenged his victory at the Tribunal for possession of fake tax receipts. When Ogbuorji realized that his victory was going to be upturned by the Tribunal, he opted for out of court settlement, promising to compensate Sunday Olughu adequately which made him to withdraw the case from court. Ironically, both Chief O.U. Okoro and Mr. Sunday Olughu became Ogbuorji’s first victims.
Following the creation of Afikpo South Local Government Area in September, 1991 which was carved out of Afikpo Local Government, the position of all political office holders of the Council was dissolved, which made Ogbuorji to contest for the Chairmanship election of his LGA of origin. He won the election on a platter of gold unopposed as a result of the disqualification of his opponent, Barr. Bethel Ibiam. Shortly after he was sworn in as the pioneer Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) LGA Chairman, Dr. Bogart Ibiam who had labored gloriously to ensure Ogbuorji’s victory at the polls became his next victim. First of all, Ogbuorji caused the Police to arrest and detain Bogart over trumped up allegations and later sacked him as his party boss.
After Military interregnum, Chief Sonni Ogbuorji contested for the Senatorial election for Ebonyi South zone in 1999 on the platform of an obscured political party against Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and failed disgracefully with ignominy. Those who assisted him to join the party were betrayed and short changed - courtesy of Ogbuorji.
Chief Sonni Ogbuorji’s senatorial victory for Ebonyi South zone in 2011 was made possible through the joint effort of the former Governor, Chief Martin Elechi and the then PDP State Chairman, Engr. David Nweze Umahi against the candidate of the former SGF, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim who was fronting Dr. Dennis Ekumankama for the position. Regrettably enough, Chief Martin Elechi became the next victim of Ogbuorji’s politics of treachery who joined forces with other PDP stalwarts and frustrated Chief Elechi out of the party in 2015.
The 2015 political episode in Ebonyi State is as intriguing as Ogbuorji’s deceitful lifestyle. It would be observed that Engr. David Nweze Umahi who contested the gubernatorial election in the State on the platform of PDP against the Labour Party candidate, Arch. Edward Nkwegu, in his benevolence still endorsed Sen. Ogbuorji for a second tenure - an action which political pundits said was unusual as no candidate from the zone has been privileged to serve for two terms. Consequently, other political gladiators from the zone especially in Afikpo South Local Government Area rallied round and delivered Ogbuorji in the said election.
While those who did not know Sen. Ogbuorji too well had expected him to organize a thanksgiving party in appreciation of the support accorded to him during the election those who knew his antecedents thought otherwise. As should be expected, Sen. Ogbuorji thereafter organized a kangaroo meeting of his loyalists where he read his riot act, threatening to deal decisively with anybody who made recommendations to the Governor for political appointments without clearance from him since according to him; he is the highest political office holder from the zone. He went further to describe the Chairman of Divine Campaign Organization, Afikpo South LGA, Chief Julius Ama Oji (aka Ochiri Edda) who anchored his campaign during the election as a” blind man leading a visually sound man” notwithstanding the fact that Ochiri had co-sponsored Ogbuorji’s election in 2011. Such a derogatory statement coming from a lame duck sleeping Senator who is always snoring during debate at the floor of the senate is laughable.
Having won the Senatorial election on a platter of gold through the band wagon effect of the PDP machinery, Ogbuorji became swollen headed. His over bloated ego made him believe he has arrived to the extent that he started nursing the inordinate ambition of taking over from his boss and mentor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi as the next Governor of the state. He demonstrated his bias against the Governor by boycotting all programmes organized by the State Government. To dramatize his ambition, he allowed himself to be dragged at the floor of the Senate by both PDP and APC senators as if he is too important.
His doctrine of being crowned by his opponent through deft maneuver soon paid off as the APC which he joined after decamping from PDP sooner than later crowned him as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Ebonyi State in a questionable primary election that was alleged to have been grossly manipulated, which made one of the aspirants, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odo to challenge the verdict of the primary in the court. The court is yet to deliver judgment to that effect.
Since then, Ogbuorji has been preaching in his campaign the message of liberation. This message is perhaps for the unsuspecting Ebonyians who do not know him from Adam. However, it pertinent that Ogbuorji should be courageous and honest enough to answer these questions. How many of his closest friends has he ever rehabilitated or liberated since he joined politics in 1990 even in his immediate community, Ebunuwana Edda, not to talk of the masses whom he always treat with disdain? Has he ever maintained or serviced any political structure before in his political career? Why does he always avoid people coming close to him? Is it because he is trying to shy away from responsibility? Why is he always locking his gate against people whose support is critically needed now in realizing his gubernatorial ambition?
As the APC Governorship candidate, has Ogbuorji ever summoned a meeting of stakeholders of Edda extraction especially in Ebunuwana Edda where he claims that it is his community not to talk of Edda at large, at least, to inform the people about his political ambition? These are questions begging for answers. However two major planks of arguments have been adduced as the reason why Ogbuorji cannot summon a meeting of Edda Stake holders. Firstly, he is a bonafide son of Egbonu Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State where he has directed all his Economic Empowerment Programme to. And it will be foolhardy of him to mobilize support from a different plan for his strange ambition. Secondly, Ogbuorji has always preferred to work as a lone ranger in order to avoid attracting the commitment of people who may turn out to be a burden to him in future.
In the final analysis, Chief Sonni Ogbuorji from the foregoing has been having roller coaster outings and may have recorded pyrrhic victories in the past but his present gubernatorial election is certainly a Greek gift and a tall dream that will obviously retire him compulsorily from politics.
Hon Stanley Okoro Emegha
SA. to the Gov. on Capital City
Comments
Post a Comment