Supreme Chief Omeoga O. Omeoga, the authentic Okosisi from Ohuhu land, Umuahia and Abia state in general does not need much introduction each time stands him out he comes into an event.
His towering figure, height, complexion and peculiar dress code stand him out at any any ceremony he decides to be part of. He does not go every where neither does he buy into every commodity he finds in the market. He searches for truth and any time he finds one, he wells with it, preaches its gospel without minding what the multitude thinks about about his faith. Many have seen him as the Biblical disciple, who always obeys the Injunction of Lord Jesus Christ, not to follow the multitude to do evil.
A towering figure of a man with an intimidating height, whom the female folks describes as handsome from the days of his youth, at over seventy years of age, Omeoga is still the man to beat. Many people who have met with him does not know him by the name he has been introduced with in this article, but as Okosisi, the Iroko, an inherited ancestral name that stands every member of his family out in the crowd. For a man, who have been there for over seventy years, and is still relevant in the political, traditional and other human affairs of life, Okosisi can freely be described as a colossus.
In a recent interaction with Sunnews Times, Supreme Chief Omeoga spoke extensively on many issues, including why people should support the High Chief Ikechi Emenike led All Progressive Congress in, APC, Abia, if they want to salvage this state from the evil machinations foisted on her by selfish individuals and families, who runs Abia as personal enterprise and have so governed it for over twenty years.
A front line politician of note , an APC Stakeholder and illustrious son of Ohuhu land in Umuahia North LGA of Abia state, Omeoga started politics at the age of 21 year, and having attained over 70 years of age, he has spent over 50 years of his life, politicking both at the grass root, state and national levels. He can hardly give false political testimony on any issue, policy and political activity in and outside the state.
Excerpts;
Give us a brief history of your political career.
I contested for House of Assembly in the old Imo state for Ohuhu / Umuopara state Constituency in 1983 and won, unfortunately, they robbed me of that victory. The election was conducted along Bende Road, at the premises of the building that housed Chekwas Cinema then. Later, Dr Michael Onokara Okpara, our big uncle then asked me to step down for Dr Nwabueze, that I could be compensated through another office. That singular act made me to leave the party and joined Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri of the politics without bitterness gospel. Then, I was screened by Justice Ovie Whisky of the blessed memory. So you can see that I have been in politics for a very long time now. I have been in ACP, and different other parties including PDP, but today, I am a strong member of APC, a strong believer in the ideology of High Chief Ikechi Emenike.
Could you kindly asses’ politics in Abia state?
Politics in Abia state has been thrown to the dogs by those who have been piloting the affairs of the state for a very long time now. The military and other civilians that governed the state tried to build Abia, but since the take over of the state by the Peoples Democratic party PDP administration, it has degenerated from bad to worst. Each government that comes in brings the state down further to the extent that today; you can say that the state is dead and ready to be buried. If for instance we fail to rescue the state from the clutches of those who have made it one man business, the next thing will be to declare the state completely bankrupt because nothing is remaining. In the midst of the suffering of the masses, those who have put the state in this condition are still fighting to retain power and destroy the remnants.
Kindly throw more light on what you have just said.
In a state where civil servants, pensioners, workers in para-statals are owed backlog of salaries up to 28 months, would you still say that the state is existing. Retired workers are dying daily, yet those that are holding the state hostage does not want to let go. The politicians no longer have shame, due to the activities in the state; it can today be well described as failed state . In Arab countries, they would have been stoned to death by the masses. I can’t understand what is wrong with our people, whether it is fear or ignorance that will make them to see those who have looted their treasury walking freely and displaying what was described as ill-gotten wealth by the military and they still let go. Since they have robbed the state and nothing happened to them, why shouldn’t others do the same thing? It is a sad development, Abia is in deep trouble and only a visionary leader can save us.
Is that the reason why you left PDP for APC?
Yes, I joined APC, because I know that it is the only party that can change the narratives and wrestle power out from the hands of one family that has held it in bondage for the past twenty four years. It is a family thing, where you refuse to follow their instructions, or allow them to initiate you into their cult, you can never be come anybody in the state. They only welcome those who belong to their cult and are ready to do their bidding, Some of us who are Christians refused their overtures to join in their ungodly acts because we need God fearing leaders, and they are no longer afraid of God.
What actually attracted you to APC because so many people know you as PDP man?
The leadership that I saw coming is my interest, over the years, one of the leadership of APC being propelled by High Chief Ikechi Emenike, whom I watched from the side for a long time, and have realized that he is coming for the emancipation of the common man. I realized that many people misunderstand him due to his visions, which is always the case with visionaries. His adversaries kept using lies and propaganda to turn the heart of men against him that he is this or that in the negative sense.
Those of us who were not close to him never knew that they were attacking him because they he will never permit wrong doing at any time. In their heart of hearts, they know that he is a good man, and in their evil machinations, they were using that to talk ill of him. Initially, I believed them until I got close and heart him speak, and felt true milk of human kindness flowing in his blood. It occurred to me that the only reason why they are fighting him is because he is the type of person who can stop the evil going on in the state.From there, I resolved with my followers to join hands with him and other good spirited Abians to make this state habitable because he is the only one that can bring total change into the state.
For how long have you been in APC?
For about two years now with all my followers in PDP because we all came to the conclusion that Emenike is truthful, and that as a core Christian, he will always stand by his words and promises, when he says yes, it is yes, that is why these professional propagandists are afraid of him. He believes in the supremacy of God and cannot allow any other thing to derail his faith in God.They cannot tell you that he is this or that negatively, but that he will not allow them to steal from the government coffers.
What were some of the propaganda they were carrying about his person?
Before I got close to him, there was no story we did not hear about him, how he is very arrogant, how he slaps his workers without looking back, how he plays the game of a spoiler and is not serious in politics, how PDP has planted him to come and scuttle true lovers of Abia politics etc, all fabrications from the pit of hell, and I even believed them, and joined hands in criticizing a man I had not met for the first time. But today, I have a different belief after listening to him in a meetings organized in his honor by Ohuhu clan to welcome. It was there and then that I realized those fighting him were nothing but enemies of good governance in the state. It became clear to me what visionaries suffer in the hands of the wicked. Emenike is a visionary who has come to mend the broken fences in Abia state, he has been sent to Abia for the good of the common man.
What were some of the things he said that attracted you to him?
He spoke flawlessly for about two hours, addressing issues without looking at any paper and I realized that we had criticized a good man in an error, yes, wrongly, without standing on the truth. The propagandists in Abia are the pharaoh who never knew Joseph; they were all behind the misinformation on the person of Emenike. They never wanted anyone to save the state from the clutches of wickedness; it is as simple as that.
Can you briefly tell us what you perceived as the character of Emenike after hearing him speak?
Emenike feels aggrieved that his people , the entire Abia people are being maltreated by a government that is suppose to care for them, he feels pained that Abians are suffering, he feels concerned about the future of Abia youths, the elderly, men and women and future of our children. He is not seeking governance for selfish reasons but for the well being of the masses. I want to assure Abians that the deceit of the sitting Government will soon be over, that they should support a man who will look after the welfare of their children, the elderly and the old, as well as secure the future of the state.
He asked one pertinent question which nobody could fault; “I you give someone an assignment and the person branches into a bar to use your money to drink beer, would you not be annoyed that instead of accomplishing the task given to him, he resorted to drink with your hard earned money, will you still maintain your cool, without getting annoyed over his action? We all realized that he is telling the truth. He is a person who want things to be done the right way, and when you refuse to do things the way it is suppose to be done, he gets crossed, and you cannot b;lame him for it, does that make him a rude person? He is not what they think that he is, he is a God fearing man.
What call are you making to Abians?
Those that does not know him are the once criticizing him, over non existent wrong doings.
I am calling our people to rally round him because he is the reincarnated personality of our revered son late Dr Michael Okpara, he is a man with vision to save the state and serve the people. His supporters’ cuts across clans and boundaries, he has no enemies. I am sure that God will use him to save this state. Emenike is the messiah, sent from on high to save our people.
The party is organizing ward to ward campaign, village to village, community to Community, where we, followers of Emenike will address the people and open their eyes on what is on the ground. Everybody should go and get their PVCs, because this battle will not be business as usual, but one that requires truth because no matter how we look at it, our voting will count this time around. END
