Re. The Paid Distraction Named Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe 

I have been following the folly of Ikenna’s desperate attempt to smear the integrity of Nigerian Icons like Okey Ndibe and Sowore just to have an insight into what makes a man derail? What makes a man to sink to such depravity? What made Ikenna who started so well in investigating journalism via his website and activism with Nigerian cause in general and Igbo cause in particular go off the rails? Is it mid-life crisis? Is it Andy Uba’s pecuniars? Is it the stress of seeing his much beloved Nanka ravaged by erosion? that Andy Uba at the federal level never got the federal government to intervene. Is it the sadness of seeing ex Biafran soldiers wallowing in poverty that again Andy Uba refused to help (except when he was much belatedly advised that it was voter-friendly to do so) via his federal connections despite the no-victor no-vanquished peace deal? Only Ikenna and Ikenna alone knew why he derailed. 

Despite my pains in seeing Ikenna destroying himself, I refused to write publicly about my views for the simple reason that Ikenna’s act deserves dignified silence for it to blow away like an ill wind. But as Okey Ndibe stated below in his article ‘The Paid Distraction Named Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe’: - 

“How unscrupulous is Ikenna? Let me tell those of you who haven't figured it out yet. Yesterday, in an e-mail, Ikenna made the astonishing claim that Sowore and I were being financed by Atiku, Ngige and Orji Kalu! Atiku—a man I’ve never met in my life—as my financier? Ikenna claims I've never commented on Atiku's wealth? What planet has this unreformed liar been living in? Ikenna obviously never reckoned that those he defamed would ever get to read this meretricious confection. 
 
After reading it, I placed a call yesterday to Ikenna. Ikenna boldly told me that he'd never peddled any such falsehood, and that somebody must be trying to pin it on him. And yet, his words were there to indict him, to expose his baseness and shamelessness! Who knows how many people he'd covertly sent that diseased lie, all in a depraved effort to besmirch my name”. 

The source of the above falsehood by Ikenna on Okey and Sowore was my self and below I publish verbatim email correspondences between Ikenna and myself that I sent to Okey and copied Ikenna. Up until the time of writing this article, Ikenna has ran for cover. Dear readers, please peruse the said email correspondences, unedited, between Ikenna and myself: - 
 

From: chidi_anyaeche

To: editor@ukpakareports.com

Subject: Re: Article for Publication

Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:48:45 +0100

Ok. What happened? I was made to understand that you are now in Andy Uba's camp. Please be impartial and highly professional with your website otherwise you will damage its fledgling reputation.

Kind regards

Odenigbo Chidi Anyaeche

______________________________________________________________________________________ 

From: Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe

To:Chidi Anyaeche

Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 10:41 AM

Subject: RE: Article for Publication

Chidi:

I went home to do erosion work. And on the Andy Uba issue... the only this I have to say is that I am not employed by him.

I only come to defend... my opinions. Andy Uba... is not the worst tragedy in Igbo land. He is a small distraction. We have other issues bigger than him. That is why I wrote about Ndibe impartiality.

I will endeavour to remain impartial.

Thanks.

Ikenna  Ellis-Ezenekwe
______________________________________________________________________________________ 

From: chidi_anyaeche@xxx.co

To: iezenekwe@xxx.com

Subject: Re: Article for Publication

Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:44:01 +0100

Hi Ikenna

All I will advise is that having done a splendid work for yourself and the Igbo community via your website, please do not throw it away via Andy Uba. "It is very difficult to build but so easy to destroy".

My moles informed me that during the ASA-USA sponsored trip to Nigeria to monitor the last elections that you despite being ASA-USA delegate openly decamped to Andy's camp. Moreover, your writings these days are so partisan Andy. I understand the temptation to go to bed with Andy but Andy is bad meat in Anambra State and believe you me has lost out in the scheme of things. Once again, I implore on you not to please ruin your hard earned reputation all because of Andy. Your time will surely come in Jesus name, Amen.
 

Kind regards

Odenigbo Chidi Anyaeche
______________________________________________________________________________________ 

From: Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe

To:Chidi Anyaeche

Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:47 PM

Subject: RE: Article for Publication

Chidi thanks.

Ikenna  Ellis-Ezenekw

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From: chidi_anyaeche@xx

To: iezenekwe@xxxx

Subject: Re: Article for Publication

Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:57:25 +0100

You are welcome
 

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From: Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe

To:Chidi Anyaeche

Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 6:03 PM

Subject: RE: Article for Publication
 

Chidi

I have nothing against or for Andy. I am not an interested party. But I must let you know that Saharareporters and Okey Ndibe are both being financed by the trio of Atiku, Ngige and Orji Kalu. I hope you remember I was part of them... before I pulled out.

The unfortunate thing is that many people are not aware of it.

Ever wonder why Okey Ndibe refuses to attack Orji Kalu's wealth? Or Atiku's wealth?

Anyway, I think I was spoken too much.

Ikenna  Ellis-Ezenekwe

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From: Chidi Anyaeche

To:Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe

Cc:Okey Ndibe ; rudolfokonkwo

Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 4:44 PM

Subject: Re. Andy Uba has not bought me and I have not sold out
 

Ikenna

In the above article you wrote:
 

 "It is important a point be made of the growing penchant to blackmail innocent people for reasons that are either dubious or for reasons that are best known only to Okey Ndibe and Omoyele Sowore. In their passionate quest to blackmail me, they managed to drag an innocent fool into penning down what they could not find the spirit to do themselves. But I forgive Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo".
 

Yet in your email to me yesterday reproduced verbatim below, there seems, to borrow your word, a 'passionate quest' from you to blackmail Okey Ndibe. I forwarded the email to Okey and he vehemently refuted your allegation.
 

In your soul of soul, you know where the truth lies and I know where the truth equally lies, which is on Okey's side. Apologies to Okey will do you no harm. I hope, to paraphrase you once more that Andy Uba has not managed to drag an innocent fool into penning down what he is intellectually challenged to do himself.
 

Kind regards
 

Chidi