One of the major drawbacks in the politics of Abia State is the preponderance of charlatans or people without any known identity or address of any type. For example, one Mr Ben Godson had no restraint in mentioning the name of High Chief Ikechi Emenike in his so-called press briefing. Godson, as confirmed by findings and reliable sources, has no known address – residential or official – in Abia State. If he has any, through this article, I challenge him to publish the building with the address, anywhere in Abia State. He infrequently visits Abia, and is known to hibernate in hotels in the Aba axis.

Godson is not a registered voter in Abia State. So, how does he know what happens in the state politically except when he has been hired to malign reputable leaders of the party in the State? He should be bold enough to first publish his polling unit and ward results from the just-concluded elections, or he should forever hide his face in shame.

Most Abians will tell you that in the last elections, no one campaigned in Abia State more than Emenike. And, he did so in company of his amiable wife: Ambassador Uzoma Ikechi Emenike, who was fully on ground to accompany him in most of the tours. This is apart from the numerous elaborate meetings and political gatherings he hosted in his Umukabia-Umuahia country home. How, then, could a journeyman such as Godson arrive at the conclusion that Emenike did not contribute to the fortunes of the party in Abia State?

By the way, when did Godson and his sponsors begin to love President Muhammadu Buhari and APC? It is on record that when Emenike mobilised visionary Abians to support the candidature of President Muhammad Buhari, Godson and some of his sponsors were agents of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. Now that Okorocha is self-inflictedly politically down, they have found a new anchor in Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who, not only campaigned against President Buhari in 2015 but said numerous unprintable things about him.

Such characters and their sponsors should certainly not be taken seriously. Abia politics in particular and its development in general will continue to be a mirage until the likes of Godson and his sponsors are told in clear language that “politics is not synonymous with criminality, and that politics is about decency, truthfulness, progress and should not be a meal ticket for charlatans.”

•Ogbonna wrote in from Umuahia, Abia State.

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