Immediate past Secretary to Delta State Government, Comrade (Chief) Ovuozourie Macaulay says he didn’t insult his former boss, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as was portrayed by Executive Assistant on Communications to Delta State Governor, Dr. (Barr.) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe in an article posted on Facebook.
Macaulay who reacted to the article in a statement on Tuesday signed by his Media Assistant, Mr. Iteveh Ekpokpobe, said that the fact that him and his former boss are now in different political party would not warrant a disrespectful assertions as was credited to him by the said Latimore.
The former SSG who described Uduaghan as his “boss” and “elder brother”, however noted that his decision not to follow the former governor to All Progressives Congress, APC but to remain in PDP was based on “principle” and not because of any frosty relationship.
We gathered that the Governor’s aide known for his media propaganda had made the distorted post reportedly from an earlier news report credited to the SSG where he was quoted to have said; “Isoko Nation is not known for talks. We are known for delivering the figures. Isoko is a PDP nation. We have never failed. We will do it again.”
The statement entitled: “I am Not A Fan Of Armchair Journalism – Macaulay” made available reads:
“The attention of former Secretary to Delta State Government, Comrade (Chief) Ovuozourie Macaulay has been drawn to a post credited to Executive Assistant on Communications to Delta State Governor, Dr. (Barrister) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, which is currently making the round.
The post titled, “Delta Decides 2019. Nothing For APC In Isoko Nation; Gov Okowa, Senator James Manager Our Mandate – Former SSG Ovuzorie Macaulay” (sic) ordinarily wouldn’t incite a response due to its Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) orientation. However, there were issues raised which must be addressed for the sake of posterity.
In the first instance, Macaulay never discussed any issue with the writer. He was at the verge of exiting the PDP Campaign Secretariat in Asaba when Latimore ran into him. Been acquaintances for decades, Latimore sought his permission to take a photo shot with him which he obliged. It ended there. There was never any discussion except exchange of pleasantries. Hence, Macaulay is most perplexed about claims contained in that article, to say the least.
Being a veteran journalist, Macaulay is not a fan of armchair journalism. He does not hope to change that stand either in future. He will never be a fan of armchair journalism, which is obviously on crass display with that article.
Latimore claimed that Macaulay “berated the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for abandoning a party (PDP), that baby-nursed him from semi-poverty as a medical doctor with a low-key lifestyle to a prosperous individual of enormous proportion…” A claim taken too far.
Macaulay is known for many virtues including respecting his elders. He would not insult his elders. He would not insult his boss. That they are now on different sides of a political divide will not be a yardstick for such attitude.
He took his stand to remain in the PDP as a matter of principle. Macaulay has instituted structures for the party ahead of the elections. He is a member of the National and State campaign councils of the party. He has campaigned vigorously for the party. He is still campaigning. But he holds it dear that his campaigns are issues based. Insulting his former boss, who by age, is his elder brother, will not be part of his campaign and winning strategy.
The former SSG believes in issues based campaign and will continue to go by that dictate. As a matter of reiteration, he posits that latimore’s claims never emanated from him. Never!”