As I stated in an earlier piece in response to the accumulated media attacks on the person of the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, by Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rochas Okorocha, where I reminded him how he has crossed the red line. I realised, and expectedly too, that he thought that I’ll condescend to join him in a bath of filth.

I did not mean any harm. I only tried to remind Onwuemeodo who he really is, especially as it concerned his lack of decorum and respect for laid down code of conduct and organisational principles. If Onwuemeodo knows anything at all in public relations, he did not need anyone to remind him he should have thanked me profusely because I helped him in image assessment. I was not surprised to read him feigning ignorance of his misdeeds and missteps. He made no effort, not all, in addressing the issues I raised. This is the reason I feel that Onwuemeodo must be a necessary affliction to the present administration. His mission and set goals, I know no other than the traces of colossal damage he has done already to the Owelle Rochas Okorocha-led administration.

In his filth, he raised an issue I had taken for a mere mischief from known quarters, labouring to denigrate and smear the deputy governor, by circulating trash on the social media, making spurious allegations that Madumere is an ex-convict.

With Onwuemeodo’s high standards and knowledge, he appeared very ignorant of the fact that there is what is known as “Burden of proof” in law. In Latin, it is called onus proband. This law of evidence stipulates that it is the obligation of a party in a trial to prove his claims.

Interestingly, Onwuemeodo’s interest in the allegation with no substance, to say the least, smacks of irresponsibility. In a simple syllogism, we can infer that Onwuemeodo is the brain behind the blackmail materials circulating around the internet. My reply to him is that he should approach the appropriate quarters to register his petition if truly he and his cohorts are serious about their claims. It is then that we shall unfold what we have for people of his kind who do not grow above juvenile delinquencies.

Why should Onwuemeodo ask me if I have ever worked in any media house? Haba! If I were you, I would not have been in a hurry to begin to throw tantrums without, first, investigating the subject matter. The governor’s media aide has shown that he is nothing but one of those quacks destroying the noble profession of journalism. In the political space, in far away Lagos, I managed those that matter in the media, but we did not make noise about it. I did that successfully.

I was trained by the best hands, and still undergoing training every day. If these names mean anything to you - Femi Adesina, Steve Nwosu, Onuoha Ukeh, and many others – then, you need not go further to ask if I have worked in any media house. Please, ask your colleagues here, they knew how I came to Imo State. They can attest to my performance.

It is shameful, if not disdainful, that Onwuemeodo will raise his head to make comparisons when he has ignorantly murdered the image of his principal. Pray, how many libellous trashes have churned out and how many times have you been landed into trouble for libel? Without any modicum of regret, Onwuemeodo has proved himself a disgrace to journalism. With all the dangerous investigative stories I have done here in the state, kindly find out if I have ever been found wanting to the extent of being taken to court for libel.

I have worked in several departments in some of the best media establishments: starting from business development to project and, then, to editorial. You are my inferior intellectually and otherwise. Can’t you see that there is no yardstick for comparison? I have won awards! Which one can you lay claim to: I mean anyone at all, even if it is from Eke-onunwu? I do not want you to resign as CPS. Any day, anytime, I still have my confirmation letter from a prestigious newspaper, The Sun. And before I joined the service, I was the CEO of Humchestract Concept Limited, where we consulted for personalities and establishments on media management and public relations.

Let me shock you, Mr CPS. Gov Okorocha whom you are mismanaging today was first managed and protected by Uche Onwuchekwa. When the chips were down, I never knew him; but for the sake of preserving him, though I may have been wrong, I defended him. Onwuemeodo, in your small brain, have you forgotten that I gave your tissue paper newspaper some substance? Can you not call to mind that some of my opinions were published four to four times in your newspaper because I gave you content, which you lacked in-toto.

Nonetheless, you have proved to be more of a master image-destroyer, rather than an image-maker. Your short-lived success as Okorocha’s media aide was possible because we did the needful behind the scene. Since we left, Onwuemeodo, of course, has done so well that the image of his principal has become receptively repulsive to every rational mind. What our governor has become to Nigerians is an example of the great things Onwuemeodo can do when given an opportunity.

As I subtly advised in my last response, there is the need for Onwuemeodo to approach a psychiatrist. He needs to know whether he is neurotic. A situation where somebody is always angry with himself and everybody around him signals danger.

I must exercise restraint in the issue of a relationship between Okorocha and Madumere, because I have had the opportunity of being to the United States courtesy of Madumere on a number of occasions where in my journalistic instinct, I made little investigations to know who the man I manage his image is. If I opened up on this, Onwuemeodo, surely, would regret ever threading on this path. Whether Okorocha is benefactor or beneficiary to Madumere, we can leave that on the table of rusty minds like Onwuemeodo’s to continue in his conjecturing.

Again, you addressed your benefactor as impeached. It will really be foolhardy for anyone to believe that Onwuemeodo is amenable. How can a press secretary be so reckless, not minding the fact that the issue of impeachment was put on hold the day a court order was made from a court of competent jurisdiction? The attorney-general of the state cannot even address the prince the way you did. I am happy that for the first time, you were honest by half, by not denying the fact that the deputy governor is your benefactor.

Let me say it without equivocation, Onwuemeodo is an affliction to the practice of journalism and to the establishment. Surely, I will never waste my time again discussing Okorocha’s media aide.

Our consolation is that the Holy Bible says that many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers them from them all. This affliction called Onwuemeodo, too, shall pass away.

•Onwuchekwa, Special Assistant to Imo State Deputy Governor on Media, writes from Owerri.

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