It is so surprising that some social media organizations in Nigeria and other African countries would just get a story, went ahead and publish it without properly investigating to know whether the story is real, authentic or misleading. The job of every media outfit world wide is to publish articles that would not mislead the people because the general public rely so much on the information they get from the media to make their own judgement in some cases but if at the end, the media organization is not sure of what its publications are, then the credibility of such social media outfit becomes questionable. For instance, the recent incident that happened between the Nigerian minister of science and technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and the Governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi is one such example which we are going to explain here. Ogbonnaya Onu is a great human being, a compassionate individual and an illustrious son of Ebonyi state. He visited his home to celebrate Christmas with his family and all other well wishers in Ebonyi state and as a compassionate person, he decided to pay a condolence visit to Ebonyians who lost their loved ones including the Umahi’s family for the death of their mother. He never went there to see David Umahi (the Governor of Ebonyi state). NO, he never did as was earlier reported by some media organizations. When the minister (Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu) reached the compound, (there are about six buildings in the compound belonging to David Umahi and his brothers) everyone assumed that he has come to see the Governor (David Umahi) but no he never did. He supposed to see the elder brother of David Umahi (Retired General Obi Umahi) since he is the eldest in the family as tradition demands to pay his condolence but unfortunately the person directing him took the minister to Governor David Umahi’s home. When Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu found out that he was in the wrong house, he requested that they should take him to the eldest son’s house (Retired General Obi Umahi) and not David Umahi. Governor David Umahi as a smart and trickish person who wants to use every opportunity he has to gain favour and popularity started being nice and thought that the minister had come to see him, somehow all his media aides and other people he is working with took up the story and started publishing the story online that Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu had gone to greet David Umahi. Again, Governor David Umahi has not finished his manipulations so after few days on December 29, 2015, he (David Umahi) decided to pay a visit to the minister (Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu) in his home. When Governor David Umahi was going, he went with almost all his top government officials and Journalists, we (Viewers Corner) believe he did that intentionally for record purpose but on arrival in Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu’s residence, Governor David Umahi and his entourage requested through the minister’s personal assistance to see the minister that he has come to greet him and to have discussion with him. Dr. Ogonnaya Onu knew immediately the games David Umahi was playing so he told his personal assistant to tell Governor David Umahi that he would only see him alone without his entourage but Governor David Umahi insisted that he will see the minister with the large crowd he came with so Dr. Onu refused to come down to see the Governor since he was not ready to comply with the directive given to him. Governor David Umahi and his entourage waited for a long time in the the minister’s compound without seeing Dr. Onu, they left with shame. This is exactly how it happened.
Now if Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu who is a great and intelligent human being had come out to see David Umahi in the presence of his entourage then it would have been something else, maybe by now everyone in Ebonyi state and around Nigeria would have thought otherwise. Governor David Umahi through his press people would have changed the story in favour of the Governor (David Umahi) which is wrong. We (Viewers Corner) call this manipulation on the part of Governor David Umahi because in his mind, he knew that he has caused so much pains to lots of people in Ebonyi state so he is trying all he could to get cheap popularity through this method but he has failed. Our take on this is that no one in this world would eat his/her cake and still have it, we have been advising Governor David Umahi and we shall continue to do so. He should quietly examine his activities starting from when he had nothing till now that he is the Governor of Ebonyi state to start rendering apologies to all the people he has offended in the past and sincerely ask for forgiveness including all the Ebonyi state people. Most probably he would be forgiven and everything may be alright instead of using tricks the way he is doing now to achieve that purpose, such method can never work.
Therefore, we (Viewers Corner) are advising Governor David Umahi to please do the right thing, change your system of leadership in Ebonyi state, share the wealth of the state to reach all the people because they own the state with you too. Do it now and be in the good books of every one in the state and around the country (Nigeria).
Source: Viewers Corner News.