By John Ezeobi

Like a fruitful tree that attracts attention from passers-by, Senator  Stella Oduah is always the target of political hunters, conspirators and scavengers. No single week ends without tantrums cloaked as propaganda or media blackmail being thrown in her direction. Being an elegant woman of distinction, who has distinguished herself both in private and public sectors of Nigerian’s socio-political firmament explains it all, especially in men-dominated society like ours, that sees women as mere objects—that should only be seen and not heard.
As a proverbial cat with nine lives, Princess Stella Oduah has fought many political battles on different fronts, without losing steam or becoming fatigable. No former or present Minister in Nigeria has suffered this kind of extreme level of media hostility cum trial like this amazon, even after leaving office few years ago. Her ordeal started when she vowed to champion far-reaching reforms in the nation’s aviation industry, thereby upstaging the ‘cabal’ that hitherto ran the strategic sector aground before her appointment as Aviation Minister, by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Those who were caught unawares by her transformational strides in aviation industry are still gunning for her head even when she had moved on to conquer new frontiers of life beyond aviation ministry. Her major ‘sin’ in the eyes of her adversaries, is not only her tribal affiliation but family background. Being born with golden spoon as a princess to a wealthy king, positioned her in the limelight as fruit-laden grapevine—that magnets all the attention, even before she got to understand the dynamics of her contemporary world.
Like a deeply-rooted tree planted in a fertile soil beside the river of life, Senator Oduah has weathered many storms that came in her direction. Many thought that the political hurricane that propelled her out of office as Aviation Minister, would end up burying her promising career inside the debris of falsehood, conjectures, blackmails, hypocrisy and propaganda, instigated by retrogressive forces, who saw her as a fruitful tree that must be tainted as ‘corrupt’ just to short-circuit her  rise to greatness.
In spite of the unrelenting attacks, Stella Oduah has been able to recreate, renew and resurrect herself out of the valley of blackmails and persecutions, looking more energetic and focused in her quest for excellence of service to her fatherland. She keeps coming out of every battle waxing stronger. Those who mistakenly thought she would be distracted or derailed by mountainous, unsubstantiated allegations—which only exist as figments of imagination  of her conspirators, can now attest to her indefatigability and resoluteness.
Political pundits, who follow developments in Anambra State politics, can also attest to her doggedness and clout. Senator Oduah’s emergence as senator representing Anambra North, also surprised many who thought that her sudden exist as Aviation Minister had nailed her political aspirations, especially in a state like Anambra where billionaire godfathers calls the shot—and determines who gets what.
Those who are yet to come to terms with reality that she has been given a popular mandate to represent her people  are still on futile judicial voyage, trying to explore any available legal loophole to stampede her out of the Senate, even as both Appeal Court and  the Supreme Court have validated her election.
Ejike Oguebego, ‘appointed candidate’ for Anambra North Senatorial election, kept on losing every case filed against  Stella Oduah from one court to another. It remains alien to Nigeria’s jurisprudence that a trained lawyer would institute a case already determined and interpreted by Supreme Court at the Federal High Court, just to create a scenario. Hitherto, pressure put on INEC to withdraw the  Certificate of Return issued to Senator Oduah has evaporated into thin air—after those sponsoring the protesters discovered the futility of their mission.
In furtherance of media conspiracy targeted at   her, which was reinvigorated recently, when  National Judicial Council (NJC), recommended for retirement of two judges—Justice Mohammed Yunusa of Lagos division of the Federal High Court and Justice Olamide Oloyede of Osun State High Court, respectively, for gross misconduct. When the news hit airwaves, the unrepentant Anti-Stella Oduah’s  forces in the media ran the story with some unprofessional propagandist headlines such as: “How Stella Oduah’s Case landed Judge in Trouble”, “NJC Sacks Judge for Shielding Stella Oduah from Prosecution”, and so on.
In view of all these, these questions are necessary: how did those who formulated the headlines come to their conclusion that it was Senator Oduah’s case that landed Justice Mohammed Yunusa in “trouble” out of several cases mentioned by NJC in its report? Why would some  media houses use only Princess Oduah’s picture when reporting or publishing the story? Is it not a calculated attempt to portray her in negative light? What concerns Senator Oduah in NJC’s decision to sanction some judges, who have presided over many cases (Oduah’s inclusive)? Is this not a plot to incite the entire judiciary against Princess Oduah—so that she would be avoided like a ‘plague’ whenever she has issues in court, thereby making her venerable? When will media “harassment” of this woman stop? Where is the ethics of journalism?
It is very unfortunate that peddling of venom-filled falsehood is becoming a norm in the nation’s polity. Source of encouragement to Senator Stella Oduah’s supporters and what remain a mystery to her antagonists, is her ability to rise above every storm of allegation and  media attacks. She has developed thick skin against all these shenanigans meant to weaken her resolve.
Like a fruitful tree of courage and sagacity, those throwing stones at the fruits of this Iroko tree are getting feed up, while the tree remains unshakeable and evergreen. Senator Stella Oduah’s unreserved loyalty and formidable support to Senate President Bukola Saraki-led Senate, is also a source of concern to her adversaries. Those who knew her right from her days of exploits in private sector, always salute her temerity and ability to stage a comeback, after every challenge.

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*Ezeobi writes in from Onitsha via
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