The moment I saw a rabidly calumnous article, entitled “Media seige (sic) on (sic) Abia: The limit of indulgence” published in THE NATION ON SUNDAY of June 28, 2015, Page 69, I knew instantly that the victims would be the former governor of Abia State (1999-2007) and publisher of The Sun, Dr. Orji Kalu and this writer. What I never expected was that the famished hustler who wrote it, Ethelbert Okere, would beat the vicious records of the hungry media blokes who monumentally mismanaged and battered irredeemably the image and, extrapolatively, the public reputation and perception of the immediate-past governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji.
On a critical prefatory note, it is apposite to x-ray and skeletonize Okere before addressing all the idiocies he raised in his half-page bile in his conventional quest for recognition and patronage by the governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, and other unsuspecting politicians.
From the illiterate headline, I was not astonished by the poverty of the language and the caustic contents of the beggarly contribution by a floundering man in his 50s who had in the past 30 years or more of his adulthood never experienced standard, gainful, employment! It has always been one dirty job or another, especially for gullible administrators, nonchalant governors and other careless politicians who think that bylines for jaundiced stories confer intellectualism or high-profile media authority/visibility.
As we dissect the temerity of this latest deviant, it would be nice to know the circumstances of his employment and exit from the old Daily Times in the 90s. It remains a mystery to most of us who meritoriously entered and gloriously moved on to higher callings from that pace-setting media institution how the like of Okere manoeuvred his way to the Editorial Department of that erstwhile conglomerate. One thing is certain and clear: Okere exited the organisation in very ignominable circumstances and as if under a spell has been feasting despicably and messengerially from one cottage establishment to another amid slavishness and mercantilism with mercenary politicians in the Imo-Abia axis.
The Daily Times stint is most likely the only time that Okere had formal employment, probably, ever in his life and thereafter has remained unemployable for reasons that border on incompetency, unseriousness, crass irresponsibility and unprofessionalism. If it were possible, I would like to know his educational background for my own personal edefication and subsequent utility if need be. I declare here that if Okere shows me a copy of the letter of employment and acknowledged resignation document from any standard organisation that is publicly quoted (on the stock exchange) in the past three decades, I will dash him one million naira cash for the feat.
The last time I heard about the routinously irregular employment of Okere was his queer appointment as the chair of the Editorial Board of Hallmark Neswpapers which, unsurprisingly, did not last up to three months—possibly when the management noticed his incapacity and eased him out. Hardly any journalist of note in Nigeria today who does not know the maniacal notoriety and survivalist stupidities of Okere.The final point of engagement was spiritual work when everything else had failed him! I understand he is now a pastor! The Okere that I know will swindle the congregation and lead them on a hellish journey.
Now to Okere’s sillies: first, the buffoon and ignoramus that is Okere is questioning why I should be on the Editorial Board of The Sun as well as being the Media Advisor to Dr. Kalu. In his trite article under reference, he said some of his “colleagues” and politicians he spoke with faulted my job schedule and he concluded that the dual development was a mark of media impunity in the country. Does this fool know anything about the history of the Nigerian media (which I studied as a sophomore), ethics, ownership, proprietorial interest, public interest, national interest, vision and mission statements before his interjection? If this dishevelled fellow knew these journalistic fundamentals, he won’t be intruding in matters that are obviously beyond him and his equally ignorant “colleagues” and disreputable politician-friends who do not know anything about journalism, yet pontificate on its professionalism or lack of it because the Okeres of this world give them the fleeting platform usually monetised What business of Okere is it if my employer decides to give me a multiplicity of tasks based on my versatility and capacity? This same unscrupulous element came to The Sun years back to beg Dr. Amanze Obi, the chair of the Editorial Board then, for membership of the board which was turned down swiftly because of Okere’s shallowness. Just like Dr. Obi, most top-echelon journalists know that this AGIP agent is empty—forget the occasional mechanistic and jaundiced intrusions on the pedestrian pages of some newspapers. You need to see the original manuscripts/posts…gosh!
An extract from Okere’s malicious article to corroborate my assertions about him: “…he (Wabara) was charged for (sic) sedition. Hell was let loose in a section of the media where Wabara and his publisher dominated.” This is just one of the innumerable asininities of Okere. My barbaric abduction by imbecilic agents of T. A. Orji drew global attention and umbrage through multi-media dissemination of the assault. Rascals like Okere should not be reminding me of the bizarre effrontery by one of his traitorous benefactors. I have closed that chapter and moved on miles away from the sordid tragedy, by God’s grace. I advise Okere to do a media audit of the reportage of that ugly incident that has eternally diminished the actors.
Another excerpt: “His (Wabara) weekly column published by his political cum professional (sic) benefactor is devoted chiefly on (sic) T. A. Orji. Those familiar with the column know that it is all about an unashamed solidarity with his publisher….”This impolitic chap is so confused that he mixes up my column with my regular essays on T. A. Orji’s eight-year disastrous misadventure in Abia State that has earned him brazen senatorship! This can only happen in Nigeria. By Okere’s treacherous antecedents and current waywardness, I should antagonise my publisher/employer and dine with devils and demons personified by his floating principals! This dishevelled stranger to my state needs a psychotic examination and should be quarantined meanwhile. Why should I be embarrassed or ashamed defending my publisher or care about third-party approval/disapproval? Is this critic confused?
Still on Okere’s trash: “Is Wabara in any position to cause Orji any discomfiture even if the entire newspaper is handed over to him to do columns on Orji every day?” For Okere’s vacuous head: it is not the volume/space of a newspaper that matters—what counts is the quality of work. I did only six articles (two of them rejoinders) on T. A. Orji and inerasable international blunt was made by my Orji-induced kidnap. The outcome of that executive brigandage is now history.
Ordinarily, I will n ot respond to a moronic character like Okere, but the issues he clownishly raised are such that need elucidation lest his principals and prospects like Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Dr. Ikpeazu go and contract him for more deviancies.
Finally from the latest oppositional ant: “I have written severally (sic) that Dr. Kalu and his media boys (demonstration of Okere’s incurable insanity) have taken the matter too far. Abia is the only state that has (sic) the misfortune of having a media siege laid on (sic) it by two of their (sic) own.” Other states did not have media siege laid to them because their governors exemplified visible good governance devoid of callousness, malice, devilishness, demonism, multiple taxation of Abians and illegal demolition of their shops/homes, surrogacy, propaganda, deceit, lies and amnesia. Above all, they feared God and never had serpents like Ethelbert Okere and three notorious lawyers (one a former special asistant, the other a judge aspirant that will never be and the main legal actor now foisted on Ikpeazu)!
It is well with my state while Okere will remain cursedly unemployable (and unemployed) forever. Dr. Kalu and I cannot pick a fight with Okere because he has nothing to lose! Who will rant next? I dey wait for una.
Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media adviser to Dr. Orji Kalu.