John Nwaigwe
Onyeani: A rare gem, an Icon of Politics of Principles and Integrity
By Prince Clinton Uba
In a clime where sychophancy, deception dressed as political sagacity are the culture, the likes of Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani are not easily identified. But the players know his principled stand on issues and his integrity. Always calm, gentle and warm, when men of honour are being searched for, definitely Hon Onyeani would feature on that list – Many would testify that he is indeed a trusted rallying point in Abia’s shifting sands of political chessboard
Recently,, Emenike Iroegbu wrote about Hon. Onyeani and i quote, ” Long before the winds of political change swept through Abia State, Hon. Okara had already written his name on the marble of integrity. As the former member representing Arochukwu State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, his journey has been marked not by opportunism, but by steadfast belief in the leadership vision of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR”.
That succinct submission above by Iroegbu has indeed agitated my mind to let Abians know more about Hon. Lukeman Ukara Onyeani.
My first encounter with Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani was in 2015, when he was elected as member representing Arochukwu State constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA). It will be recalled that APGA caused a major political upset in 2015 when it fielded as it’s governorship candidate the current Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti. The party almost swept away then ruling party, PDP, capturing 11 state Constituency seats out of 24 House of Assembly members, leaving them with 12 and APC with one member.
That unbelievable political hurricane laid bare the home truth that the people are finally disenchanted with PDP, a party that has held sway in Abia state since 1999 and sees itself as the landlord in Abia politics.
After the inauguration of Abia’s 6th Assembly, I was appointed the Chief Press Secretary to then first Speaker of Abia 6th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike.
In my closet, when I recall the events that unfolded in the first part of the 6th Assembly, I unconsciously became an admirer of the impeccable lifestyle of the man, Hon. Onyeani. Nigeria politics is seen as scheming and hypocrisy, but Hon Onyeani stood aloof as a lonely Island of truth, integrity, unwavering positive attitude and fidelity. He consistenly honoured his words and stood by earlier decision irrespective of a bandwagon swing. He stood like a collosus, an unshakable man of principles.
In 2015, as political intrigues unfolded, the APGA opposition members including Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu; Hon. Abraham Oba; Hon. Theophilus Ugboaja; Hon. Emmanuel Clinton Ebere; and Hon. Kelechi Onuzurike all dumped the APGA, the party that brought them to power, but one man vowed never to show ingratitude or betray the party that brought him to office – that man is Hon. Lukeman Onyeani. He weathered the opposition storm and remained even more stronger and committed like the rock of Gibraltar behind Dr. Alex Otti and refused to be lured by messy porridge offers from the ruling PDP, vowing to stand with Otti to the end.
Beyond that, while Otti lead the 2015 opposition that changed the power calculation and created the sense of displacement possibility, again, one man was holding the other end of the stick for Dr. Otti – Hon. Onyeani. He not only worked as the administrative head of special duties, he also helped in throwing up the 2015 House of Assembly candidates for APGA that later won elections, the likes of Ifeanyi Uchendu, Kelechi Onuzurike and others. One remarkable thing was that, he never collected a kobo from anyone and coordinated a rancour free APGA primary election in 2015 has since entered the anals of politics
The 2016 Abia Speaker impeachment saga and the role of Hon. Ukara Onyeani
It’s no longer news that the first Speaker of Abia 6th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Azubuike was removed from the office by his colleagues on December 29, 2016. But, what was not known to the public was the role of his (Azubuike’s) colleagues
That impeachment was plotted by few power brokers in Abia PDP, sold to then Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who bought the dummy, hook, line and sinker and it was allegedly executed by Elder Godwin Nna, Chief Raymond Aliga and Erondu Uchendu Erondu jnr, with the tacit support of Ikpeazu and his political pay masters.
The House of Assembly members met quietly and secretly at Hotel Damngrete, Umuahia to plan the execution and share their proceeds, but only one man looked straight in the eyes of leadership of the presiding officers of the Assembly and their message bearers and openly disassociated himself and rejected their monetary offers to remove, who he described as “An innocent man” and quintessential law maker, Martin’s Azubuike. That his stance, encouraged another law maker, Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri to join Onyeani. Before then, all the Ukwa-Ngwa law makers have all signed the impeachment of their own ‘brother’ after money exchanged hands.
How it happened
When they presented the “Ghana Must Go bag” filled with money to Hon. Onyeani as his own part of the impeachment booty, he bluntly refused and vowed he cannot be part of plot against an innocent soul, to the extent that calls began to come from major power brokers in Abia State, but he stood his ground, that they now had to confess, he should maintain his stand that they admire someone with such courage and strong character. They also made a promise, the first of it’s kind in any political circle that since he has stood firm and exhibited an impeccable character, that the House leadership will ensure he was not going to be victimized for taking such a position that revealed his real identity as a man of integrity.
One remarkable thing then was that, despite the fact money had already exchanged hands amongst the House of Assembly members, the resistance of Hon. Onyeani almost scuttled the impeachment as some members who had collected money started backing out and this delayed the process, and the executioners deployed more persuasive force and threat for them to pull through. The impeachment of the then Speaker was a PDP affair, as they were in clear majority, while Hon. Onyeani was of the APGA – this point is most significant.
Till moment, Hon. Onyeani remains a respected and loved amongst the teeming Ukwa Ngwa population because of the way he stood by Rt. Hon. Azubuike. Such display of bravery and integrity is rare in the politics of our clime. No wonder he is currently an Aide to Gov Otti on Legislative Matters, a very sensitive position in any government, that ensures a smooth Executive-Legislature relationship.
Prince Clinton Uba,
Publisher/ECEO Newsmirror
