Everyone by now must have known that Dr. Kalu is liberal to a fault. I have criticised him on these pages on so many occasions without him being bothered.
Ebere Wabara
Since January 2, 2013, when I returned to The Sun Publishing Limited and was seconded to the Office of the Publisher/Chairman and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, as his media aide, there is nothing I have not heard with regard to our profound association — copious positives and a few negatives. Expectedly, I have never spared a thought for such unsolicited pieces of information and advice.
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In the same breath, I have also deliberately not discussed any such issues with my boss because I feel they are unnecessary as they are mostly gossip. Interestingly, both of us are so gainfully engaged that there would be no time for the accentuation or dismissal of such idle talks.
It is equally apposite to mention here that because I am a special assistant to His Excellency, who is rated by Forbes as one of the 50 richest Africans, everyone — including friends of mine who should know better — erroneously believe I am, by virtue of my especial employment, a moneybags, too!
Of course, there are occasional financial interventions by my principal, aside from my regular and handsome salary from The Sun Publishing Limited. The misconceptions surrounding such mediations are such that most people ignorantly exaggerate the extras that come my way. I am sure some people think I get millions of naira on a regular basis from the former “Action Governor.” It may interest one and all to know that when it comes to compassion, my oga is an incurable philanthropic extrovert. (Only his personal staff nationwide will understand what I mean!)
The latest mischievous yarn by supposed colleagues of mine in town is that I have been telling people that it is OUK that has been instructing me on what to write — especially as it concerns his successor and estranged political godson, Theodore Ahamefule Orji, and, indeed, any other person. Nothing can be more hilariously fictitious than this terrible lie.
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If some cub-reporters or ne’er-do-well adults are interested in working for the publisher of this medium, there are decent ways to go about it. One of them certainly is not futilely running down this columnist who is a thoroughbred and consummate professional. If or when my employer wants to disengage me or resignation arises, it would not be because of professional misconduct or inefficiency, ineffectiveness and incompetency. There could be other plausible and non-professional grounds.
On this matter, anyone calumniating or demonising me before Dr. Kalu is merely using a basket to fetch water. My years of robust intellectual journalism are so celebrated that it is impossible for anyone to dictate to me what to write. I know full well that he who pays the piper calls the tune, but the day I foolishly expose myself to such indulgence most cerebral readers of my multifarious columns will know the writing on the wall without any prompting or suspicion.
It gets to a point in one’s career that committing abominable blunders like dropping names, plagiarising or influence exertion becomes an anathema that is unthinkable and unlikely. That is the summit level I have attained. I am no longer a rookie that should be afraid of life’s fundamental challenges. I have come a long way and cannot now throw away my candour, dispassion, reputation, perception and integrity on a platter of allusion and illusion.
As I had pointed out in the past, the publisher of this medium and New Telegraph does get involved in the day-to-day management of his publications. In the past five years or thereabouts, he has not visited The Sun premises. In any case, most times he is outside than inside the country. He hardly has time and interest in the running of both media organisations. I remember repeatedly mentioning to his diligent and humble special assistant despite being a billionaire’s son, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, that our boss is too aloof in matters pertaining to these titles and I also emphasised the imperativeness of his getting more involved in how these newspapers are managed administratively — not editorially.
Hypercritics may interrupt and asininely declare that his physicality is not required if he needs to meddle in the content of the publication vis-à-vis standpoints of the newspapers or some of their columnists. All I can tell such people is that our boss is the most indifferent newspaper publisher on this continent who does not care a hoot even if you attack his bosom friends and associates or enemies. This inimitable dispassionate inclination of his has remained the fulcrum of his media establishments.
Everyone by now must have known that Dr. Kalu is liberal to a fault. I have criticised him on these pages on so many occasions without him being bothered. His co-publishers do not have such a disposition. So, how would a man with so much indifference turn around to call the tune for any of his editorial employees?
Anyone who claims that it is Dr. Kalu that tells him what to write should come out with forensic evidence of such transactions in any form or shred. I expect people in his employ to take responsibility for whatever views and opinions they hold and not make Dr. Kalu culpable on issues he knows nothing about.
Buffoons who go and misrepresent this columnist in order to take over his job or get other favours from nmiri riri enyi should have a rethink lest fire and brimstone engulf them in their concocted fiascos and shrines. He who is in me is greater than the demons in them.
Issuing from the above perspectives, there is no iota of truth in the allegation by some deviants that I have been alluding the contents of my critical articles on T.A. Orji or any other person for that matter to OUK. Since Dr. Kalu employed me, we have never — for once — discussed ANYTHING concerning T.A. Orji with regard to my damning essays on him. All my opinions on him, others or institutions are based on my own convictions. I personally generate all the ideas/contents.
Anyone who claims that I have ever linked Dr. Kalu’s name to my opinions on T.A. Orji or, indeed, any other person/ matter should boldly come out. Most people who read me know that the substance is uniquely mine — never influenced by anyone. Without being immodest, I am a highly responsible and respected professional.
It should interest everyone to know that shortly after my release from T.A. Orji’s masterminded abduction, my phone lines were cloned and email account hacked into and both used to send fictitious online messages that I have been bought over by T.A. Orji, among other inanities! It was so bad that the managing director and editor-in-chief of The Sun Publishing Limited then, Chief Femi Adesina, compelled me to do a no-holds-barred full-page rebuttal, which I boldly and gladly did. Perhaps, they have started again!
Some imbecilic fellows said shortly after my freedom from T.A. Orji’s brazen, unlawful and unconstitutional seizure that he had compromised me with a prime building in Umuahia and N10 million cash, if only I would dump his political godfather. This is the worst asininity in my three-decade-plus distinguished journalism career. How could a man who almost exterminated my existentialism — if not for God’s awesome grace — turn around to “settle” me and I would accept? Gosh!
It is germane to point out that Dr. Kalu does not require any journalistic mediation in his battles with the vanishing tribe of oppositional elements. He is equal to the task as he had done in the past and still does through his candid public avowals.
The currency of my engagements is such that I no longer have time for vituperative exchanges here or elsewhere. Rascals who want to pull me down through the instrumentalities of their idiocies had better rethink their bohemianism.
It is a function of crass irresponsibility for any sane person to yarn against another person for very selfish reasons that vaporize within a twinkle. Life cannot come to an end for such victims as long as they know their onions and it will never be well for the villains on grounds of retributive karmic justice. I have never undermined anyone for essentially opportunistic anticipations.
Certainly, it was out of my own choice and personal volition that I decided to work for OUK, who has made so much impact on my life, next to The Bull, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., GCON, an Adonis of philanthropic superfluity, unparalleled compassion and my greatest benefactor. Nothing on earth will make me to antagonise them or vitiate their interests at any cost whatsoever, let alone toy with disloyalty!
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I plead with all harebrained brats to stop their vicious stupidities as regards my relationship with OUK vis-à-vis my editorial contributions to national discourses and standpoints on inebriate and amnesic ingrates in moronic senatorial pastime and other indulgencies!