Sir.Collins Ughalaa, is currently serving in the Imo Shared Prosperity Government of Governor Hope Uzodimma, as the Special Adviser on Public Communications, has written an article with the caption: "Arresting Nonsonkwa Is Our Best Interest".
In Ughalaa's report, it reads, "The Shared Prosperity Government led by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has shown without a shred of doubts that it is tolerant of criticism.
If the governor was someone who is intolerant of criticism, by now, the story would have been different in Imo State. We have had governments in the past in the state where people lost their lives for political reasons.
Some people have been jailed, some suffered bodily harm, and others lost their property just for being in the bad book of government at a time.
But because we have Governor Hope Uzodimma, who has never hurt a fly, who swallows all the insults and false allegations levelled against him with uncommon equanimity, false accusers go scotfree.
No doubt, criticism is essential to governance, and without it, we would unwittingly be breeding despots.
It allows us to see the weaknesses in the person we criticise and also realise that no one is perfect and that any perceived shortcoming on the part of the person we criticize may not be intended.
This view helps the critic to have an open mind and also affords the person being criticised the opportunity to improve and recognize that the person who is giving the criticism wants to see you succeed.
Constructive criticism is a form of feedback mechanism that targets delivering critique and negative feedback constructively and positively to improve performance or behaviour.
It is actionable, clear, and beneficial to the recipient and does not focus solely on the negative aspects.
Therefore, if we must help our governments and leaders and protect the system against breeding despots, we have a duty to ensure that our criticisms are constructive, devoid of animosity, bile, or anger.
All criticisms are not constructive. There is a thick line between deconstructive criticism and constructive criticism.
Constructive criticism is a feedback mechanism that is positive, means good, targets positive behaviour, elicits positive feelings, and builds up the person who is being criticized.
The context and actionable advice contained in it distinguishes it from deconstructive criticism. Unlike deconstructive one, constructive criticism builds trust and provides an opportunity for both parties to improve.
However, what we have seen in Imo State over the years is that some people seem to have made a career out of deconstructive criticism. They enjoy a certain kind of weired notoriety, and they seem to deceive themselves as someone enjoying some popularity.
This is the sad reality in Imo State today, which is that those who engage in deconstructive criticism would boldly tell you that they are telling the truth or that they are standing with the people.
This unreasonable career path became worse in Imo State after the Supreme Court judgement that ousted the PDP administration in January 2020. Quite curiously, some "critics" believed the judgement was wrong, and they constituted themselves into an appeal after the Supreme Court.
They wanted everyone else to believe their truth. Unable to have their way, they allowed their sentiments to get the better hold of them.
They became angry, unreasonable critics. Sadly, some of them profess to be journalists, and because they have access to the microphone, pages of the newspaper, or the social media, they convince themselves that only them know the truths.
One such person is one Chinonso Ubah, also known as Nonso Nkwa.
He is said to be a "broadcaster" with Ozisa 96.1FM Owerri. On Thursday, July 27, 2023, he was arrested by the police. He became notorious for manufacturing and peddling libellous falsehood against the government of Imo State and the person of the governor.
In the wake of the politically contrived insecurity, he sold his conscience and appeared to assume the role of spokesperson for non-state actors.
He found it pleasurable to accuse the governor of being responsible for the killings and destruction perpetrated by hoodlums in parts of the state.
A recent report captioned: "Uzodinma, Dokubo Behind Killings in Imo - Nonso Nkwa" by Ekeh Longinus, Portharcourt, reads: "A popular activist and on-air personality (AOP), Comrade Chinonso Ubah, popularly known as Nonso Nkwa has revealed those behind the incessant killings and arsons in Imo State, Rivers Monitor can authoritatively confirm.
He accused the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma and ex-Militant leader, Asari Dokubo of masterminding series of murder in the state.
Nonso Nkwa in a 2 minutes and fifty one seconds video clip accused Uzodinma of hiring Dokubo to ensure the killings of Imo youths and burning of their buildings across the state."
Unguarded utterances like this from Nonso are legion.
Disturbed by his unprofessional, unguarded, inciting conduct, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) last year took action against Ozisa 96.1FM.
In further complaince with the directive of the NBC, the station asked Nonso to proceed on compulsory professional training.
Upon his return from the training, he became rather emboldened and continued with his outbursts against the governor. It was no surprise that he was arrested by the police.
It is sad to note that some people who should know better are busy sweeping the core issues under the carpet and are rather throwing emotional tantrums.
One of such persons is Steve Osuji, who has served as media adviser to two governors in Imo State.
Not many people see him as a fantastic media aide, though, but he served under an administration that never tolerated dissent.
If a journalist who served as media aide to two governors finds it difficult to separate constructive criticism from libellous outbursts, we should begin to question his thinking faculties.
For obvious political reasons, people like Steve prefer to hide the reason for Nonso’s arrest but have no qualms questioning the manner of his arrest, alleging that he was arrested in a commando style.
They do not say what they mean by that, but they just want their readers or audience to determine for themselves the meaning of gestapo or commando style.
They are ashamed of defending Nonso’s conduct. Otherwise, how could someone try to teach the police the manner of arresting a suspect, especially when the rights of the suspect were not violated? Interestingly, the hackneyed view of the manner of Nonso’s arrest does not agree with the records and statements from the police, which say that the team that arrested Nonso came from Abuja, and they were in police uniform.
This eliminates any doubts about who arrested him. Upon arriving in the state, the police observed all knwon protocol and first made entry at the police command, Owerri. After arresting the suspect, they did not leave with him straight to Abuja but also made entry at the state police command, indicating that they were taking him to Abuja.
If Steve had overcome his emotions and made a little inquiry with the police, he could have found out the truth.
But he chose to believe social media gossip and unfortunately fed his readers some poison.
Another thing you would hear from Nonso’s supporters is that the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba petitioned the IGP on Nonso’s nefarious activities.
Those who make this argument try to show that the Honourable Commissioner was mean and thus put Nonso in harm's way.
On the contrary, we think that the Honourable Commissioner performed a lofty duty and deserves our commendations. Nonso raised weighty allegations against the governor.
Apart from the fact that Emelumba serves as a Commissioner under Uzodimma, he is from Imo State and is in a position to worry about such weighty allegations against the governor of his state.
What Emelumba did is what yours sincerely would have done, because there is an urgent need to know whether Nonso Nkwa is saying the truth that our governor who swore to protect life and property is in alliance with "our enemy" to be killing our people.
To be clear, Nonso accused our governor of conspiring with Asari Dokubo to kill Imo people and destroy their property.
This is a heinous allegation against a man who swore to an oath to protect the life and property of Imo people. It is an allegation that should be resolved and not swept under the carpet, especially for the fact that the governor is standing to be reelected.
We have to know whom we elected governor about three years ago and whom we would reelect on November 11, 2023.
Nonso has a sacred duty to help us to know, and he has the opportunity to do it. If he can provide proof, as he claimed, then we would be sure of the kind of person we have as governor.
If he proves that he was telling lies, then he would have proved that he made himself available to be used to tarnish the good name of an innocent man and probably stand against his reelection.
No matter what direction the pendulum swings, Nonso’s arrest is in our best interest.
Collins Ughalaa is the Special Adviser (Public Communications) to the governor.
Meanwhile, a very strong political group known as ''Imo Must Get It Right", ably led by the State Coordinator, Comr.Christian Nwachima, in Owerri, while reacting to the arrest of Nonsonkwa and speaking on the report made by Uzodimma's aide on Public Communication, Sir.Collins Ughalaa, Comr.Nwachima, expressed dissatisfaction with the negative heights of leadership by the Shared Prosperity Governor against the wishes of the people of Imo State.
Comr.Christian, who spoke to ThePressman, described the report made by Ughalaa concerning the arrest of Nonsonkwa as false and untrue.
He therefore condemned the arrest of Nonsonkwa by the Imo Government of day led by Governor Uzodimma, even as he lamented against the ugly encounter of Nonsonkwa.
Nwachima, further more, appealed to Governor Uzodimma to have pardon on Nonsonkwa and ensure his release, but promised that Nonsonkwa, when freed by the Police in Abuja, will return to Imo and trade with caution.
"In a democratic settings, the people especially the press must be allowed to speak and not to be gagged", Comr. Nwachima submitted.
