By Reuben Onyishi (Ugoachataberu)

This piece is a rider to some trifle pseudonymously scribbled and guided by some partners in political failure and desperation thought to impugn the hallowed person of the father of Enugu democracy, a statesman par excellence, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo.

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The feeble hand that penned the  insipid piece, if a piece it is, had entitled it: 'Senator Jim Nwobodo: an Effete and Spent Force still Posturing as King."  Marred by syntactic incongruity, the title points to the disorganized mind of the author whose title is replete with  contradictions. The error-ridden piece has nothing to whet the appetite of any reader worth the name, except for the fact that Chief Jim Nwobodo is mentioned in it. Besides the redundancy in the juxtaposition of effete and spent force, if Jim is a king, of course he is and much more, the question of effete doesn't hold at all since he is still very active in decisions to move Enugu State to unexplored heights which informed the emergence of the amazing young man, Barr. Peter Mbah, the governorship candidate of the PDP in Enugu State, whose blueprint to  economic prosperity of Enugu State confounds the desperately overambitious and those behind the humdrum targeted at Chief Nwobodo. Indeed, it is for this reason of Jim standing by Peter Mbah with fatherly blessings, patriotic and selfless disposition towards a better Enugu State that provoked the ill-advised title by some ghoulish contraption of ne'er-do-well turncoat politicians.

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We are not disappointed at all at the characteristic throwing of mud by those who have deceived once reasonable persons to foolishly labour in vain; we are only concerned that they have no respect for an elder of Chief Nwobodo hue, a sage of no mean dimension. Jim Nwobodo remains a huge consciousness in Nigerian nationhood. He belongs to the finest elements that ever happened to the building of our nation and has paid his dues right from the time he was a young man of 21 till date. Little wonder the Almighty God has kept him alive to continue to offer his fatherly advice to present-day players in leadership of our state and our country, for he who built a homestead before another can boast of more broken pots. At a time when all Jim's contemporaries like Abubakar Rimi, Solomon Lar, Sam Mbakwe, to mention no more,  had gone to the great beyond, only Jim is still alive and active. It is a blessing of long life for which the Octogenarian is grateful to God and for which no one who would live long should neither demur nor begrudge him

Eddy Orji Onyia, if that be a name of any living soul, the purported author of the impudent piece of thrash against Chief Nwobodo, had begrudged Governor Ugwuanyi the resource of Jim's advice and availability. The fact remains that Governor Ugwuanyi is a wise leader who knows how best to appropriate the best that is known in his realm. Of all that ever ruled old Anambra State, old Enugu State and the new Enugu State, none holds for aesthetic gaze the superlative scorecard of Chief Jim Nwobodo. It will not be out of place to hold that Ugwuanyi's giant strides in governance might have benefitted from his drawing from the active Octogenarian statesman, Chief Jim Nwobodo. Governor Ugwuanyi is a humble leader who knows how to earn the blessings of the elders. If  anything, honouring Jim Nwobodo has earned Ugwuanyi many blessings. Governor Ugwuanyi will go places in the leadership of our country. As he honours Jim, he too shall be honoured at his sure old age. As Ugwuanyi treasures old age, he too will grow old in splendour and much honour. Eddy Orji and those who sent him to dishonour Chief Jim Nwobodo in the name of vile politics of name-calling have rejected the honour and beauty of old age. That which you dishonour, you never can attract nor earn.

Eddy Orji recognizes the fact that Jim Nwobodo performed excellently while he ruled old Anambra State as its governor but curiously attributes his scorecard to his four-year one tenure. If it takes one tenure to build the timeless legacies of Chief Nwobodo, let second tenure burn to ashes. The institutions that Jim Nwobodo built as governor over 40 years ago are still very much relevant. His rural electrification projects have yet to compare anywhere in Nigeria. Jim's was a case of unexampled extraordinary leadership. Jim did not perform so well because he wanted second tenure as the servile heads that led Eddy Orji to infamy would claim. He did because it was in his nature and character. Jim was later to demonstrate it while he suprintended the Ministry of Youths and Sports in Nigeria. Under Jim's watch in 1994, the  Nigerian Super Eagles lifted the African Cup of Nations that had eluded it for 14 years, and qualified for the World Cup.Jim broke the jinx. Nigeria also under Jim's watch as the Minister of Youths and Sports went ahead to win the Olympic gold medal, defeating Brazil and Argentina in the soccer mundial.Jim Nwobodo is a gift to Nigeria and the people of Enugu State. His is Midas Touch. Jim glows and glitters with resplendent splendour. He is the light that shines to perfection, the light from the sun that shines for everyone. And this is true to his moniker, Anyanwu- na-awara-ora. Jim Nwobodo remains  immaculate and ever untainted. He had at no time been found wanting in any way.

Nwobodo for five years was kept at Kirikiri Prison by the military junta led by Buhari for no just cause. Alex Ekwueme too was thrown into the gulag for no just cause. It was therefore not out of place for Ndigbo to cry foul, given that the major players in the politics of the toppled Shagari regime, including Shagari himself, were left untouched. Nnia Nwodo too who served as the Minister of Aviation was jailed by that same military administration. How that of Jim Nwobodo has become an issue to be digged out by Eddy Orji Onyia remains an ache on the head of the villains that sent him on the voyage to despicable defamation. In 1986, when nothing was found against Jim, he was released and given a clean bill of health. So, what case of corruption is the rude dead dog and his masters blabbing about?

The resources of Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo and his wife, Pat Nwobodo, are indispensable and highly needed by the leadership and people of Enugu State. Ndi Enugu are eternally grateful to the Almighty God for this gift. Governor Ugwuanyi has made the best use of these resources and it has paid off.The incoming government of Barr. Peter Mbah would not dispense with these resources. Chief Jim Nwobodo is an evergreen standard reference of good governance. He offers the depth of foundation to launch from. Jim's fatherly advice will surely guide Peter as he takes Enugu State to his proposed high pedestals of unprecedented economic growth.

Those sending Eddy Orji Onyia to write nonsense against Chief Nwobodo are well known. They are the barren crags who as ministers stole from the coffers and overreached themselves. That Jim did not support their governorship bid should not form the basis for such insult on the sage. The other one, suffering media inquisition he brought upon himself for his hate and divisive speech, who is leading some timid politician astray in the name of governorship bid on the basis of clannish emotions, against Jim's advice, has got to grow above exuberant outbursts and sponsorship of calumny against elders. He too at 70 should have been wiser and then give honour to whom it is due, despite his ugly brand of politics founded on chicanery, usurpation and subversion.