Ebonyi: The Gains of Strategic Communications

Bridging the communication gap between the government and the people is the strength of the current administration of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, writes Benjamin Nworie

Since the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi appointed Dr. Emmanuel Onwe as the commissioner for Information and State Orientation, two things have happened. One, the understanding of government with realtions to the people has changed significantly and two, the sector has recorded tremendous improvement, from what it used to be.

Sharing the philosophy of his principal, Onwe believes that if public money is used for public purpose, there’s the need for the public to be completely and adequately informed. It is also his belief that propaganda and lies do no good to the development of any state as well as the success of any administration.

This, ostensibly must have been the bond of commitment shown by the commissioner that, apart from the desperation of the people, especially the opposition parties to know what is happening in the state, the governor has not pushed him to propaganda fireworks.

Rather, Onwe has continued to put together documentaries, commentaries, media parleys on government achievements, policies and programmes. And from all indications, his uncommon approach to work may have endeared him closer to the governor than a majority of his colleagues.

Perhaps, with the ignoble lessons from the past administration, as regards low publicity and awareness creation on government policies and programmes, Governor Umahi, may have thought it wise to bring in a capable hand that would drive his transformation agenda without resort to propaganda.

To his credit, Onwe has changed the laxity in information management in the state. Government programmes and policies are now brought to the doorstep of the people. People have begun to feel the impact of government. Government is further brought closer to the people and they can now contribute effectively to issues of public interest through functional media networks.

However, it has also been advised that the governor should have a stake in the media works, even though he has a capable hand that always hits the airwaves in information dissemination, like Onwe by engaging in interactive sessions with media operators and town hall meetings with stakeholders to keep the public abreast of the happenings in his administration.
This was why the need for quarterly media chat initiated by the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists appears a veritable platform for such use. If this tradition is adhered to, it is the belief of many that the governor may have succeeded in directly feelings oulse of the people without subjecting them to the antiquated and sometimes, ignoble demands of the suggestion boxes. These are some of the ideas of the Commissioner in bringing the governor closer to the people.

Though Umahi has the penchant for the best, Onwe’s appointment became most expedient, considering his role during the elections when he displayed not only articulated skills and strategies but sincerity in propagating his clamour for charter of equity and the inherent virtues of Umahi. Since his appointment, Onwe has not only shown that he is a media game changer, but also a reputable newspaper columnist, whose thoughts and contributions reverberate the political landscape of the state and country in general.

Onwe, unlike many politicians that scramble for juicy political positions has continued to render the needed service delivery to the people. He noted that he was faced with the challenge of rendering social services to his people and state, no matter the capacity.

Above all, the Ikwo-born is an ardent supporter of the need for greater transparency, sincerity and non-politically driven anti-corruption reforms in Nigeria. Apart from being a former member of the Nigerian Senate, Onwe is a lawyer, human rights activist, initiator and facilitator of Njiko Igbo Movement, a socio-political group for Igbo unity.
As an advocate of social justice and fair play, Onwe also played prominent role for power shift to the south. This was also why he parted ways with the former governor, Chief Martin Elechi, when Elechi’s perceived insincerity on power shift became obvious.

Immediately, Onwe backed out and maintained deaf ears to the political “concoction” of the former governor and his cohorts, when Edward Nkwegu was “conscripted” to contest governorship against the zoning arrangement and charter of equity.
Accepting to serve the state in such capacity has further demonstrated his love for service to state and humanity, even with his intimidating credentials. That was why it particularly piqued the governor during his first of appointments, the rejections of appointments by his appointees for one reason or the other. With his orientation, Onwe accepted the mantle of information management in the state to propagate the reality of the Umahi administration, and render selfless service to the state.

Many may not know or believe that Onwe is from Ebonyi State. He is among few elites that have carved a niche through dint of hard work. Onwe returned to Nigeria after a successful legal practice in the United States of America. He was first seen in political scene in 2007. Probably, that was when most people knew him for the first time.
However, his popularity blossomed in 2007 when he contested Ebonyi Central senatorial position under the Peoples Democratic Party. And because of the love and his intellectual dispositions, Onwe was able to secure the supports of the youths, who queued behind him as the needed change that Ebonyi must key into.

Though his duration was short-lived in the senate due to legal fireworks and pronouncement, his footprint is still indelible. His election suffered legal litigations for over three years until the Court of Appeal in Enugu, on July 16, 2010, upheld his appeal and declared that Onwe was duly elected candidate to represent Ebonyi Central, thereby ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue him certificate of return. However, the Supreme Court in 2011 overturned Onwe’s victory.

Onwe ran again for senate in 2011 under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), an election observers noted was clearly won by Onwe until INEC called off the election, citing the inadequacy of election materials. However, angered by the development, probably having sensed “manipulations” from the PDP candidate, Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Onwe opted against participating in the rescheduled election a week after, and called for the annulment of the election.

Though Onwe’s prayers could not sail through, his popularity and impacts have placed him above his contemporaries.
In the senate, he was the first federal lawmaker from the state to declare to his constituency that there was no excuse for failure and not bringing dividends of democracy home due to the “juicy or flamboyant” nature of the National Assembly. With his short stay in the Senate, he was able to organize job summit for the youths where money and employment opportunities were offered to many unemployed graduates. He equally donated transformers to some of the communities in his zone.
In the past, lawmakers were seen to arm themselves with excuses that it was not part of their mandate or responsibility to award and execute projects and that was why it was difficult for them to execute most of the project needs of their constituents.

Born in Aguabata in Ikwo, Onwe received his early education at Our Lady of Fatima (later renamed the Community Primary School) in Ikwo and the Presbyterian Secondary School, Abakaliki in Anambra State.

Onwe studied law on a scholarship at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he earned his bachelor’s degree. After his graduation, he proceeded to the University College London, where he received his master’s degree in law and later his PhD in public international law from London University.

Trained as a barrister at the Inns of Court School of Law in London, Onwe was admitted to the Lincoln’s Inn Society in 1999 and called to the English Bar. While at the Inns of Court School of Law, Onwe received the Sir Thomas More Award. He later undertook his pupillage at Two Garden Court Chambers, Middle Temple, London.

Onwe has worked for many non-governmental organisations like the Y-Care International; Friends of the Earth and Amnesty International. At Y-Care International, he worked chiefly on mobilising and delivering relief materials for the victims of the Rwanda Genocide in 1995. At Amnesty International, he worked in the campaigns department and took a special interest in the organisation’s campaigns on issues such as the death penalty and in the 1991–1992 campaign against the Maoist guerrilla insurgent organisation Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) in Peru.

During this period, Onwe attended the historic World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria in June 1993. The conference gave rise to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action on Human Rights. As a prelude to the conference, Onwe wrote an essay published in the New Internationalist in June 1993, which extolled the principle of universality and indivisibility over the concept of the cultural relativity and peculiarity of human rights.

Onwe was a founding member of the Civil Liberties Organisation’s United Kingdom Section alongside Dr. Amazu Anthony Asouzu. After joining the British Labour Party in 1992, he worked on the election campaigns of MPs Bernie Grant and Paul Boateng between 1992 and 2005. Both Grant and Baoteng were long-serving members in the British Parliament. Most interestingly, as an astute politician, Onwe believes in giving back to the givers of votes.

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Perhaps, with the ignoble lessons from the past administration, as regards low publicity and awareness creation on government policies and programmes, Governor Umahi, may have thought it wise to bring in a capable hand that would drive his transformation agenda without resort to propaganda