The Media Adviser to former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has alerted the public on a sinister plot to rubbish the reputation of his principal through the sponsorship of false and malicious publications, especially in disreputable online platforms and in the Social Media.
In a statement he issued in Awka on Wednesday, Obi’s Media Aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, identified one Ikenna-Ellis Ezenekwe as the arrowhead of the sinister plot, using his blog 247Ureports.com as the main vehicle for disseminating the false stories. He cited recent libelous publications by Mr. Ezenekwe, noting that he did not bother to observe the basic journalism rule of contacting the accused to state his side of the story.
Referring to the latest of such stories alleging the offering of N10 million bribe to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Obienyem said: “Ikenna Ellis Ezenekwe, a well known fraudster, lied that Obi gave N10 million to PDP Chairman.
“Obi has not seen the PDP Chairman in the last two months, yet he reported how Obi gave him N10 million, which he rejected. You and I know that Obi can only give such an amount to schools!”
He recalled the running battles with Mr. Ezenekwe, whom he described as “a notorious blackmailer”.
Further recalling some of their encounters, he wrote: “I have had many encounters with Ezenekwe in the past. In the January of Obi’s administration, he visited my office begging me to appeal to the then Governor Peter Obi to make him an assistant. He even wrote a letter to that effect.
“At that time, I did not know that he was part of the delegation from ASA USA to monitor elections, but he left the group and pursued other interests. Till today, ASA USA is demanding the refund of the money with which they sponsored him,” he stated.
He said that at a point, “it became clear that Ikenna is a fraudster” and “can do anything for money”.
He explained that Ikenna started Sahara Reporters with Omoyele Sowore, but because he always went behind to collect money from people to work against his colleagues, they expelled him. He went on to give a damning account of Ikenna’s character as regards their past encounters over the years concluding with the phone call her received from Ikenna Ezenekwe two months prior.
Since we left office, he wrote, he has not spoken with Ikenna Ezenekwe, but two months ago, precisely on the 2nd of July, 2018, my phone rang repeatedly. When I picked, I was surprised it was Ikenna Ezenekwe. I have his 08083368888 but he used a new number to call me: 08136697979.
“Ikenna started with apologies over series of unpleasant issues between us. As usual, he said he was a changed person, and to buttress that, that I should hear him out. He went on and on telling me how Obi has turned out to be the best thing that has happened to Anambra State and how he would make a good president. He said it was an insult for those he was better than to chose him as the VP. After about 15 minutes of talking, I said to him that he should not worry since Mr. Peter Obi was not angling for any post.
“Further, Ikenna told me that a politician in the South-East vowed that Obi would never be considered for a VP position was about to mobilise them to launch coordinated attack on him by posting falsehoods about him. He said the offer was tempting, but that as a “born again”, his conscience was troubled. Upon all my persuasion, he declined to name those about to be mobilised with him.
“Knowing Ikenna as synonymous with fraud and mischief, I asked him how much. He said if Mr. Peter Obi could give then $50,000 dollars, that he would make the team to turn back on the offer and work for him (Obi). I told him that he should be aware by now that it is only on medical condition that Obi would bring out such money. Off course, going by his father’s saga, that area is foreclosed.
“Subsequently, having realised that the old fraudster was at it again, I did not pick his calls.
“It was not surprising when, in the last three weeks, he started dishing out falsehoods against Mr. Peter Obi.
“Obi has not seen the PDP Chairman in the last two months, yet he reported how Obi gave him N10 million, which he rejected. You and I know that Obi can only give such an amount to schools!
“While we await more lies from Ikenna, it is pertinent that the public knows who he really is.”