Date Published: 05/0509

Dr. Jerry Ugokwe

I write on behalf of the Obasanjo Solidarity Forum, OSF, Anambra State Chapter to say that I have recently read with shock an article in pointblank news blog of the net in which an attempt was made to impugn the integrity of one of the most respected and resourceful stakeholders in the Obasanjo Solidarity Forum (OSF) in the person of His Excellency, Dr. Jerry Ugokwe, now Nigeria’s ambassador to Austria.

The article in question caught my fancy mainly for two reasons. One has to do with the competence or locus standi to speak on the affairs of the OSF in the South East zone in the first place. The other reason has to do with the vain effort by the author to dent the hard-earned and nationally-acknowledged integrity of Dr. Jerry Ugokwe which has placed him at the top burner position in both social and political affairs of Anambra State, the South East and the country at large, culminating in his appointment and unanimous National Assembly endorsement as Nigeria’s ambassador to one of the most important and strategic countries in the world – Austria.

I am a core stakeholder in the OSF, the South East in particular as one of the co-ordinators of the OSF in the South East, and very conversant with its history of leadership and administration in which Dr. Jerry Ugokwe was and still is a very revered stakeholder and benefactor whose moral and financial support to the organization has been tremendous and indeed instrumental to the growth and success of the OSF in the South East.

That the OSF in the South-East was so solid and so well organized was largely due to Dr. Jerry Ugokwe’s personal and financial commitment, right from the early days of the organization with late Dr. T. Ejikeme, former Chairman of Njaba local government area of Imo State as first Zonal Co-ordinator, nominated to that position by Chief Nnamdi Nsorom, a banker and good friend of former President Obasanjo.

At the death of Chief Ejikeme, Chief Maduba succeeded him. Before this, I was the Anambra State Co-ordinator of the OSF and for some time overseeing both the Enugu and Ebonyi State chapters.

Throughout this time, I have known nobody within the circle of the OSF going by the name of the author of the article on Jerry Ugokwe and the OSF, and therefore it has to be that either the author is not and has never been a member of the OSF, and therefore in no position to write about the affairs of the organization with any measure of credibility or he is using a fictitious name, in which case, again, his intention and mission become sinister and clear intention to blackmail Dr. Jerry Ugokwe, perhaps out of sheer envy at Dr. Ugokwe’s progressive rise to national and international reputation, based on his track record of personal integrity, professional ingenuity and political sagacity.

Here in the Obasanjo Solidarity Forum, Anambra State, our handover note which can be verified at the National Headquarters of the OSF, spoke eloquently of the pride of place the organization has for Dr. Ugokwe for his singular effort and commitment to see that the organization grew and stood the test of the time then. Which was why the OSF strongly backed him for the governorship of Anambra State in 2007 which he eventually conceded to his friend, Andy Uba in the hope of getting the Senatorial nomination of the party which eventually was denied him.

It is indeed interesting that the writer has chosen the web on his mission of blackmail, the same web that features several blogs and sites replete with tributes and encomiums on Dr. Ugokwe by both Nigerian and non-Nigerian commentators. Certainly, the author is not aware of them, otherwise he would not have embarked on a futile venture of blackmailing Dr. Ugokwe in the face of such overwhelming national and international public opinion to the contrary, suggesting personal envy on the part of the author or else acting on the paid instruction of one of Dr. Ugokwe’s political rivals.

For us erstwhile members of OSF, Anambra State and indeed the South East, we shall ever remain proud and grateful to Dr. Ugokwe bothg for his unequalled contribution to the success of the organization then as well for his level headedness and personal integrity with by he commanded and still commands the admiration and respect of all us.

Mazi Omife Omife (Mbuze Mbaukwu)

08036680171

Former Coordinator,

OSF Headquarters

91 Zik Avenue

Awka, Anambra State