In an apparent reply to the ‘curse over
stinginess’ by Fr. Ejike Mbaka of Adoration ground, Enugu State, the duo of Rev
Fr John Chinenye Oluoma and former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Iyom Bianca Odumegwu
Ojukwu have declared their no apology stand on alleged Peter Obi’s purported
stinginess for insisting on using of public fund to better lives of the poor than
mere donation, reports ITREALMS.
Part of Fr. Oluoma’s epistle read:
“I love this STINGY MAN who gives money to
the right people.
“I love this STINGY MAN who doesn't drink
champagne with the public fund but uses it to improve their lives.
“I love this STINGY MAN whose integrity is
topnotch and who can't be deceived into showing off in the public.
“I love this STINGY MAN who loves the poor
masses more than himself.
“I love this STINGY MAN who has refused to
collect pension from the Anambra State government since he left. This is what
those people who are seen as givers do.
“I love this STINGY MAN for coming out to
save the ordinary Nigerians.
“Mr. Peter Obi the truth is that we DON'T
DESERVE YOU but in all your dealings may the Heavens bless and enrich you,” he
said, stressing that as a Catholic Priest, he prays too.
“May these blessings follow you child of
God,” Fr Oluoma.
Reacting, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, in a response entitled ‘No Apologies, Please’ on Peter Obi’s supposed ‘Stinginess’ recollected how the prudence tagged stinginess aided her foundation.
As said by Iyom Ojukwu, “sometime in 2009, ‘Mr’(as he preferred to be addressed) Peter Obi, Governor Of Anambra State at the time, visited Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and myself at Dallas, Texas. He came to deliver a get well message from Dr Goodluck Jonathan and was billed to attend a black tie event at the Dallas Marriot.
“Curiously, he flew into Dallas airport
with one small carry on luggage which he insisted on wheeling around himself,
and on getting to our residence requested to freshen up. He opened his carry
on, filled with files and paperwork and a few toiletries and an extra shirt,
when the Ikemba and I asked if he was expecting another item of luggage, and he
said no.
‘Then, what will you be wearing to the
event tonight?’, we inquired. It was at that point that it struck him that he
couldn’t show up in his casuals at such a ceremony.
“I insisted on taking him to the luxury
men’s emporium at Nieman Marcus to buy a smart black suit. When we got there,
he was busy doing the Dollar to Naira currency conversions. The suit that was a
perfect match for him was a dapper Tom Ford suit with a price tag of 3,985
dollars plus tax. He did the calculations and told me ‘Do you know how many
students this amount of money can train in Nigeria?’ I reminded him that he was
the governor as well as the special guest, and for the caliber of guests
expected at that evening’s occasion, including the mayor, senators and captains
of conglomerates amongst others, he needed to be dressed in top form.
“To cut the story short, he refused to pay
what he termed ’that outrageous price’
for the Tom Ford suit and that was how we ended up at Steinmart where he
agreed to pay a more acceptable price of 220 dollars, tax inclusive, for a
basic men’s suit which he was happy to wear to that evening’s event.
“What struck me, was that as we were on the
way to the airport to see him off for his return flight back to Nigeria, he
reached for his pocket where he brought out an envelope of crisp hundred dollar
bills. The amount in the envelope was 3,800 dollars.
“He said ‘ Anyanwu, this is the balance of
the money I would have paid for the ‘Ford’ suit. If the label on the suit was
‘Peter Obi’, I am wondering if anybody in America will pay that amount for it.
I have deducted the amount we paid for that suit we eventually bought. Please
use this balance for your Charity foundation to help those in actual need. I
trust you will do so’. We all laughed heartily. Vintage Peter Obi!
“The eventual beneficiaries of that Largese
were Madam Theresa Agbo, a yam seller who became penniless and displaced when
her Yam shed was gutted by fire, Callistus Egbe who was bedridden due to
illness, and needed help with the school fees of his young children, and the
Mgbemena family of six who were thrown out of their one room accommodation
(which we subsequently doubled to two rooms) because their breadwinner fell
upon hard times and could no longer afford the rent” Iyom Ojukwu declared.
She further said that in life, “You either
live by your creed or you desecrate the mould by which the Almighty created
you. Any progressive nation measures an individual by his values, not his
vaults.”
Pointing out that “If this way of life is
what is derided as ‘stinginess’ on the part of Peter Obi, then
we all need to adopt this mould for a more sustainable and more humane
environment.”
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