I never wanted to reveal this but the unwarranted incessant campaign of calumny by my friend, Eze Chikamnayo, against the person and government of Gov. Otti has made it imperative that certain uncomfortable truth and events are exposed in the Abia marketplace for Abians to understand the undercurrents that propel the ongoing shenanigans. As i said earlier, Eze Chikamnayo is my friend. We have shared platforms together in the past. He lobbied me severally pleading that Dr. Alex Otti, as then was, concede the LP ticket for Umunneoche Constituency to him. This he did while serving the Government of my elder brother, Gov. Ikpeazu, as a Commissioner.
To fly the flag of Labor Party as a House of Assembly Candidate, he was ready to throw in the towel as Gov. Ikpeazu’s Commissioner as a last minute joker aimed at startling and ruffling the Ikpeazu Government.
Truth be told, I was ecstatic for two reasons:
1. I was eager to help a friend.
2. I was head over in love with anything and anyone that would help in dismantling the mysterious hegemon that Ikpeazu’s Government has metamorphosed to.
After several meetings with Chikamnayo most of which held at Olive Hotel, Azikwe Rd, Umuahia, which bothered on making assurances double sure, I proceeded to Dr. Alex Otti. This particular meeting held in one of Dr. Alex Otti’s palatial sitting rooms in his residential heaven.
Thinking that I have secured a jinx-breaking deal that would add value to Dr. Alex Otti in Umunneoche, I placed my cards before him.
Dr. Otti sat back.
He crossed his legs.
He pushed his head backwards and sheepishly rolled his eyes.
That wasn’t a good sign. From my own meteoric knowledge of Gov. Otti, whenever he takes such a posture, all his critical reasoning antennas are proactively activated.
He was silent for what looked like eternity, but the silence lasted for a few minutes in reality.
Suddenly…
“Manja, thank you for your passion in this project of reclaiming Abia State as evident in your your efforts such as this.
However, there is something that doesn’t sit well with me in this deal you want to broker.
With a character as Chikamnayo, what are we going to tell Abians that we will do differently from what this decadent system is presently doing?
Boy, birds of identical plumage flock together. I want to be a Governor but not for the same reason why vultures like your friend want to join us. I am into this not for my next meal or vainglory. I want to serve. I want to change the narrative. I want to raise the bar of governance. It is not all about me.
Therefore, I am not desperate. As such, I can’t stain my public image by identifying with a character like Chikamnayo just to be a Governor”.
Dr. Otti started answering calls. I knew that the meeting was over. I knew that Chikamnayo’s attempt to join us as a candidate was finally buried as far Dr. Otti remained the candidate and leader of Labor Party in Abia State.
When certain campaigns of calumny are being perpetrated against the person and government of Gov. Otti, it behoves on the elite to educate our people to understand that it is not out of the baker’s kindness that we get bread.
