A Scathing Indictment: Nnewi Professionals Condemn Anambra State Government’s Media Vendetta Against Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu
A Scathing Indictment: Nnewi Professionals Condemn Anambra State Government’s Media Vendetta Against Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu
As I pen this article, my heart swells with indignation and a deep sense of injustice. The recent media attack on Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu by the Anambra State Government, orchestrated through a government-owned media outlet, is a brazen affront on the dignity of a revered icon and a blatant attempt to denigrate the memory of the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.
As a member of the Nnewi Professionals forum, I am compelled to unequivocally condemn this egregious act and warn against the continuous denigration of the legacy of a great statesman through the unwarranted attack on his beloved wife.
The Anambra State Government’s decision to launch a vicious media assault on Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, a respected diplomat and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, over her chieftaincy title is not only uncalled for but also a stark revelation of the depths of ingratitude and pettiness that has come to characterize the present administration. It is nothing short of a character assassination, designed to malign the reputation of a woman who has brought immense pride and distinction to the state and the Igbo nation at large.
The people of Anambra State, and Nigerians in general, are not oblivious to the fact that Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu is the widow of the illustrious Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, a towering figure in Nigerian history who played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of Igbo nation.
To attack her is to attack the memory of her late husband, a feat that should be considered sacrilegious by any decent government. The continuous vilification of Amb. Ojukwu is, therefore, a clear indication of the Anambra State Government’s disdain for the legacy of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu and a desperate attempt to rewrite history.
I must stress that the Nnewi Professionals forum views this media attack as a personal affront on the Ojukwu family and a calculated attempt to destabilize the peace and harmony that have come to characterize our great state. We see it as a thinly veiled attempt by the present administration, led by Prof. Charles Soludo, to score cheap political points at the expense of a defenseless woman and the revered memory of a great statesman.
We, therefore, call on Prof. Soludo and his government to desist from this unwarranted vendetta against Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu and to instead focus on the task of governing the state in a manner that benefits all its citizens. The people of Anambra State deserve a government that is inclusive, respectful, and sensitive to the feelings of all its citizens, not one that is driven by malice and a penchant for character assassination.
To Prof. Soludo, I say this: your government’s actions will not erase the indelible mark that Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu left on the sands of time. Your petty squabbles and media wars will not diminish the legacy of a man who gave his all to the nation. We, the Nnewi Professionals, will not stand idly by while the memory of a great hero is being denigrated. We will continue to speak truth to power and defend the dignity of those who have brought honor to our state and nation.
Finally, I reiterate our strong condemnation of the Anambra State Government’s media attack on Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu. We demand an immediate apology and a retraction of the malicious publication. The government must learn to respect the dignity of its citizens, particularly those who have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the state. Anything short of this will be seen as a continuation of the vendetta and a clear indication of the government’s insensitivity to the feelings of the people.
We stand with Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, and We stand with the memory of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu. We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to join us in condemning this egregious act and in defending the dignity of our icons.
….Dr. Emeka Chinyereugo,
Chairman Nnewi Professionals in Diaspora
