Columns
Sam Amadi: Untold Stories Of A Sanctimonious Demagogue By: Ambrose Nwaogwugwu
Sam Amadi: Untold Stories Of A Sanctimonious Demagogue
By: Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, April 07, 2024.
Sam Amadi is a walking example of a scintillating demagoguery, but give it to him; how he has managed to portray a kind of reputation, of him to be a man of integrity deserves a special mention at the Harved.
Because, Sam Amadi featured prominently in the whole value chain of the storm of few rogues who packaged darkness to Nigeria in the name of privatisation — electricity generation and distribution and when the Aba Power Project under the Geometric came on board, Sam Amadi with his NERC and other enemies of the country fought blood and water to kill the only single highest investment in the whole of Igbo land in morden history.
But because of the kind of lies he has continued to portray himself, of farse integrity, no serious interrogation has been deployed to shine into the alleged arduous activities with BPE which sought to quench the only light to come from east of the Niger.
Because Nigeria is the way it is; where failed persons who have had the privileges of serving in public offices in the past, somehow, still find a way to regurgitate their voices and even sell themselves off as some sanctimonious entities.
That is the untold stories of Mr. Sam Amadi.
If we were in any serious country where citizens are enlightened enough to hold to account past public officials, where will the likes of Sam Amadi find their voices again?
Sam Amadi is a bundle of contradiction to integrity, he so much tout about.
As a lecturer of law, of the now infamous law faculty of Baze University, Abuja — Sam Amadi hold this ubiquitous malignant reputation where almost all his students; who are of course money bags who passed thru his school always come out with first class results.
“I don’t know why, but his Faculty, Law, at the Baze University, holds a huge attraction for Nigerian Politicians. It is where a good number of them go to read Law. Senator Dino Melaye. Senator Ifeanyi Uba.” wrote the source magazine some time ago.
Some of those who would graduate from his law classes are very busy captains of industries or busy bank executives or policitians but somehow, they always almost every time graduate with first class!
Please don’t get Nwaogwugwu wrong; people are not pointedly saying their results were not meritorious enough but it is becoming quite disturbing that his law faculty is now making a kind of reputation where busy wealthy professionals go and bag first class for tedious law courses.
Curiously, almost none of those first class graduates from the law faculty of Sam Amadi practice law….
And for this man, he would always be in the rooftops crying hoax trying to paint his reputation with some sort of credibility whereas in actuality and in practice, he stinks more than those he tries casting aspersions to.
A few days ago, in his usual holier than thou dispositions, Sam Amadi wrote on: Owerri: A Preliminary Report.
In his haste to appropriate a white snowish reputations as clementine integrity, he falsely asserted that “Owerri does not look like a well- managed place. The people are doing well for themselves. But the quality of governance is poor and almost non-existent.”
That is one thing with demagogues, they attach a false sense of importance to themselves, whether they are misrepresenting facts or standing facts on their head.
In false sense estimation of Sam Amadi, Owerri looks like a place where governance is non existent to him alone but Mr. Sam Amadi passed thru the newly inaugurated road from Imo airport as I guess he must have flown from Abuja to Imo State.
No genuine person with good sense of probity would fly into the state without meeting that state of art reconstructed road, well paved with solar powered street lights and from the airport junction down to Owerri — which is the Aba Owerri road received the baptism of construction of the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma.
From the Aba road down to new Owerri where Mr. Sam Amadi must have passed thru on his way to Imo concord hotel, I guess he followed thru the newly reconstructed Akachi road with state of the art double drainages lighted up with solar powered street lights and because he must have followed the Emmanuel College road connecting the inland road which leads to the concord hotel, I will be most sure that Sam Amadi will pass thru all these roads.
Just for stepping into Imo State from Abuja via the Sam Mbakwe International Cargoe Airport, I am 100% sure that Sam Amadi must pass thru five different road projects started and fully completed by the government of Imo State under the sterling leadership of the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma.
If Sam Amadi did not fly he will then be coming in from Okigwe to Owerri where he will be greeted with a well reconstructed road from Okigwe down to Owerri with well paved drainages and solar powered street lights.
If by chance he followed from Anambra into Orlu, he will be welcomed to Imo with the ever scintillating Orlu Owerri road fully reconstructed, dual carriage with well paved drainage system and solar powered street lights.
The story on total reconstruction is the same with Orlu-Owerri road, Okigwe-Owerri road, Onitsha Mgbidi road failed portion which is now completed and Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia road (which is over 70% completed).
Not forgetting the over 50 different ring roads like Toronto-Safety road, Dick Tiger road, Chukwuma Nwoha road, Toronto To Umunaho road, Ph road, world bank road…. To mention but a few few.
Before 2020 when there was no Hope, all these roads I listed above were thoroughly broken apart and impassable.
This above is on road infrastructure, let’s move to other spheres of economic development.
We head to the health sector; the government of the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma has restored quality health care system to the people of Imo State where affordable and free health care services are rendered to the generality of the masses for free.
During the Covid-19 public emergency, Imo State was among the states in the country with the least affected people and death rates. Sam Amadi should fact check me.
Thru Imo State health insurance agency, the government has enrolled over 100,000 citizens into the state insurance scheme where beneficiaries receive free and quality health care services.
In the last 11 months, the #PeoplesGovernor of Imo State His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma has thru the Imo State Health Insurance Agency under the leadership of Dr. Uche Ewelike as Executive Secretary of the agency given free medical care services to Imolites where over 1,200 child births have been recorded for FREE without the delivered mothers paying a dime!
Both deliveries were both thru C-Sections and normal deliveries without the intending mothers parting with a kobo… From the attenental up till delivery.
Total Hospital Visits = 213, 712.
Total Maleria Treated ===143,852
Total Normal Delivery=== 1,075.
Total Atenatal Care ===17,399.
Total Gastroenteritis Treated ===6,766.
Total Hypertension Managed ===56, 239.
Total Referrals/Surgeries (Mainly CS Deliveries) ===639
Total Respiratory Tract Infection Treated ===37,574.
Total Diabetes Managed ===25, 466.
Total deaths ===17.
These records are verifiable and Mr. Sam Amadi can fact check Nwaogwugwu.
This is sound and practicable health reforms of the #PeoplesGovernor’s #RenewedImo vision in action.
On youth empowerment with tangible indices, Imo State has been the best as over 20,000 youths have been fully trained in digital skills and equipped to gadgets to start up life changing careers as digital tech nomads thru the Imo Skill Up exercise.
Thousands of youths who were not only equipped with skills alone but equipments and gadgets to pilot their trades in the tech industry are working both in the country and abroad remotely from home.
On worker’s welfares; Imo State is one of the first states in the whole of the federation who are paying workers ₦40,000 as minimum wage even when so other states are still foot dragging on ₦35,000.
Because the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma does not like priding payment of salaries and pensions as achievements, the regular and up date payment of both salaries and pensions have been regular with no single interruption.
We are the only state in the entire federation where the state workers for more than 3 years running are receiving bonuses at the end of the year with the payment of the 13th month salary. The workers for the 3rd consecutive years received 100% of their salary as bonus and 13th month salary.
Imo State workers since 2020 have never spent a dime from their salary as transportation money because the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma provided a free transportation service to all Imo State workers.
This free bus service take workers to their work place in the morning and at the close of work each day, they take them back to their homes without the workers paying shishi.
I want Mr. Sam Amadi to fact check and contradict me.
This has been on since the last four years and still running.
First of its kind; started long before the fuel subsidy removal when other states and the federal government started talking about providing free transportation scheme to the workers in the bid to ameliorate effects of the subsidy removal…. But the the governor you have chosen to disparage unjustifiably was visionary enough to get this started some three years ago, and after four years now, still running smoothly.
On education; Imo State for the time in about ten years have never graduated eligible students from the medical college. The #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma stepped in and reformed the education sector which saw Imo State graduating medical students first in over ten years and since then, over 3 different batches have been graduated and will continue to graduate as at when due, all thanks to the reforms carried out by the #PeoplesGovernor on the education sector.
Due to the deliberate investment in education, Imo State from statistics from various sources ranging from statsense, UNDP, national bureau of statistics among others recently published very positive reviews and results showing the investment which the 3R government of Governor Uzodimma put in over 4 years ago are yielding positive fruits.
On the security: this is like an open secret, that many enemies of Imo State forged to dismember the state and render it ungovernable but trust the very resilient nature of our God sent governor — they met their match.
They were not only defeated but were thoroughly beaten to their own game.
People like Sam Amadi, like ndi amuma Baal, they prophecied doom and gloom and pontificated how the election was not going to hold; at the end of the day, election in our dear state did not only hold very peacefully but was the freest, safest and fairest amongst the other two that took place at the time as ours was the place with least security concerns.
Today, Imo is liberated and we are very happy about it, grateful to God who safe guarded us and eternally thankful to the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma who weathered the whole storm and alightted us safely.
If not for spirit of nshiko mentality, why would a poor performer like Sam Amadi describe such a government of a place with non existent governance?
Columns
Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu MON (born 21 April 1960) is a prominent Nigerian politician, businessman, and former two-term governor of Abia State. He is widely recognized for his influence in both Nigeria’s political landscape and its private sector, particularly in media and diversified business enterprises.
Early Life and Education
Kalu was born in Abia State, where he grew up and began his early education. He later attended the University of Maiduguri but was suspended during a period of student activism. Despite the interruption, Kalu went on to build a successful entrepreneurial career before fully venturing into politics. Over the years, he completed various academic and executive programs, strengthening his profile as a businessman and public administrator.
Business Career
Before entering high-level politics, Kalu established himself as a successful entrepreneur. He is the Chairman of SLOK Holding, a business conglomerate with interests spanning:
trading
manufacturing
shipping
banking
oil and gas
His investments expanded both within Nigeria and internationally. Kalu also holds significant influence in the Nigerian media industry as the chairman and principal owner of The Daily Sun and New Telegraph, two widely circulated national newspapers. Through these enterprises, he has contributed to Nigeria’s media development, business growth, and employment generation.
Political Career
Kalu ventured into politics in the early 1990s. His major political breakthrough came in 1999, when he was elected Governor of Abia State, the first governor of the state under Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. He served two terms from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.
During his governorship, Kalu focused on:
infrastructural development
education reforms
rural development
fiscal transparency
encouragement of local enterprise
He became known for his bold political style and his outspokenness on national issues. Kalu also played influential roles in national politics, aligning with various political parties at different times and serving as one of the notable political actors in Southeast Nigeria.
Senatorial Career
In 2019, Kalu was elected as the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate. In the Senate, he has participated in legislative debates, sponsored bills, and advocated for policies supporting economic growth, regional development, and national unity.
Legal Challenges
Kalu faced legal controversies regarding corruption allegations linked to his time as governor. He was convicted in 2019 by a Federal High Court; however, the Supreme Court later nullified the conviction, citing procedural errors and ordering a retrial. The development became one of the most widely discussed legal cases involving a high-ranking public official in Nigeria.
Honours and Recognition
Kalu holds the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). His political and business careers have earned him recognition across Nigeria and beyond, while his strong media presence continues to shape public discourse.
Personal Life
He is married and has children. Kalu maintains a significant influence in both political and business circles and continues to be an active figure in Nigerian public life.
Columns
THE EXECUTION OF THE 1976 COUP PLOTTERS IN NIGERIA
On Friday, February 13, 1976, Nigeria was shaken by a tragic and violent coup d’état led by Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka. The most devastating outcome of this failed coup was the assassination of the nation’s then Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed. He was gunned down in Ikoyi, Lagos, as he traveled unescorted to his office at the Dodan Barracks. His death sent shockwaves across the country and marked a dark chapter in Nigeria’s post-independence political history.
General Murtala Muhammed had only been in office for approximately 200 days, yet he was deeply admired for his bold reforms, anti-corruption stance, and efforts to return Nigeria to civilian rule. His untimely death sparked outrage, mourning, and swift retribution by the military establishment.
The coup, though partially successful in its initial hours, quickly collapsed. Loyalist forces, particularly those under the command of then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo, and General Theophilus Danjuma, regained control of strategic institutions. Dimka had temporarily seized the state radio to broadcast his justification for the coup, accusing the Muhammed regime of corruption and maladministration. However, his broadcast was cut short, and he fled Lagos.
Olusegun Obasanjo, after initial hesitation, accepted the call to leadership and succeeded Muhammed as Head of State. His new regime was determined to punish the conspirators severely and deter future insurrections. What followed was one of the most publicized military trials and mass executions in Nigerian history.
The Court-Martial and Executions
Over 100 military personnel and civilians were arrested in connection to the failed coup. Following military investigations and tribunals, dozens were convicted of plotting, aiding, or executing the coup attempt. The convicted officers were sentenced to death by firing squad, and the executions were carried out in two major rounds.
The first set of executions took place on March 11, 1976, at Bar Beach, Lagos, a location known at the time for public executions. Under the supervision of General Obasanjo’s military government, 31 individuals were executed, including senior officers, junior ranks, and one civilian. These included:
1. Major General I. D. Bisalla (former Commissioner for Defence)
2. Warrant Officer II Monday Monchon
3. Staff Sergeant Richard Dungdang
4. Sergeant Sale Pankshin
5. Lieutenant Colonel A. R. Aliyu
6. Captain M. Parvwong
7. Captain J. F. Idi
8. Captain S. Wakins
9. Lieutenant Mohammed
10. Lieutenant E. L. K. Shelleng
11. Lieutenant Colonel Ayuba Tense
12. Colonel A. D. S. Way
13. Lieutenant Colonel T. K. Adamu
14. Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Umaru
15. Captain A. A. Aliyu
16. Captain Augustine Dawurang
17. Major M. M. Mshelia
18. Lieutenant William Seri
19. Major I. B. Ribo
20. Major K. K. Gagra
21. Captain M. R. Gelip
22. Mr. Abdulkarim Zakari (a civilian who assisted in the radio broadcast)
23. Lieutenant Peter Ggani
24. Major Ola Ogunmekan
25. Lieutenant O. Zagmi
26. Lieutenant S. Wayah
27. Sergeant Ahmadu Rege
28. Sergeant Bala Javan
29. Warrant Officer II Sambo Dankshin
30. Warrant Officer II Emmanuel Dakup Seri
31. Major J. W. Kasai
A second round of executions took place between May 15 and 17, 1976, following the capture and trial of the coup leader and his key accomplices. This final round included:
32. Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka (leader of the coup)
33. Joseph D. Gomwalk (former Military Governor of Benue-Plateau State)
34. Lieutenant S. Kwale
35. Warrant Officer H. E. Bawa
36. Colonel I. Buka
37. Major J. K. Afolabi
38. H. Shaiyen
Dimka was captured after a nationwide manhunt and interrogation. During his trial, he remained defiant and refused to express remorse. His execution, along with the others, was carried out in secrecy, though public knowledge of it spread quickly.
These executions were meant to send a clear signal that treason and political instability would not be tolerated. While controversial, especially due to the scale and speed of the trials, the actions taken by the Obasanjo-led government reinforced military discipline and temporarily stabilized Nigeria’s political environment.
General Olusegun Obasanjo would go on to continue the reform agenda of the late Murtala Muhammed and, in 1979, became the first military leader in Nigeria to voluntarily hand over power to a democratically elected civilian government. This marked the beginning of Nigeria’s Second Republic.
The 1976 coup attempt remains one of Nigeria’s most defining political crises, remembered not only for the tragic loss of a visionary leader but also for the massive response it provoked from the military and the Nigerian public.
Columns
Tokunbo Akintola: The First Black African Student at Eton College
In April 1964, a quiet but historic milestone was recorded in the educational and social history of both Nigeria and Britain. On the 29th of that month, the family of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola—then Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria—stood proudly at Eton College in England as his son, Tokunbo Akintola, was formally admitted as the first Black African student in the school’s centuries-long history. At just thirteen years old, Tokunbo stepped into one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, a boarding school that had shaped the minds of British royals, aristocrats, intellectuals, and nineteen British Prime Ministers.
The photograph taken that day captures not merely a familial moment but a symbol of cultural diplomacy and evolving global relations. The Akintola family appears in a dignified blend of traditional Nigerian attire and modest Western clothing—a visual representation of their deep Yoruba roots and their engagement with the global stage. Standing at the centre is young Tokunbo, clad in his new school uniform, poised to begin an educational journey many could only dream of. Around him, his family offers a visible aura of pride, hope, and expectation.
Chief Ladoke Akintola, Tokunbo’s father, was by then one of the most influential political figures in Nigeria. A trained lawyer, seasoned journalist, and an orator known for his eloquence, he had risen to become Premier of the Western Region during a turbulent but significant period in Nigeria’s post-independence political evolution. His son’s admission into Eton represented both personal achievement and national symbolism—proof that African families could now step confidently onto platforms historically reserved for the British elite.
Eton College itself stood as an institution of immense reputation. Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, it had become synonymous with leadership and privilege, producing generations of statesmen, military leaders, and members of the Royal Family. For centuries, its doors had remained firmly closed to Africans. Tokunbo’s arrival in 1964 therefore marked a quiet breaking of barriers, the beginning of a new chapter in cross-cultural educational exchange.
Tokunbo remained at Eton through the late 1960s, navigating the school’s rigorous academic environment and its deeply traditional culture. Those who remember him described him as gentle, intelligent, and quietly charismatic. Yet his life, promising as it was, would be a short one. Four years after leaving Eton, in 1973, Tokunbo Akintola died tragically at a young age, cutting short what many believed could have become a remarkable legacy in law, politics, or diplomacy—fields that seemed perfectly aligned with his upbringing and the reputation of his father.
Today, Tokunbo’s story endures as part of Nigeria’s broader historical narrative. It represents the aspirations of a generation of postcolonial families who sought to blend African identity with global opportunity. It also stands as a reminder of the contributions—and sacrifices—made by those who walked early paths of representation, carrying the hopes of their families and nations with them.
Source:
Getty Images archival description; historical records on Ladoke Akintola and Eton College.
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