MAJA UMEH: THE COMMISSIONER THAT WAS
By Emma Udeagha
Maja Umeh or ‘Okwoaka Amichi’ as he was fondly called, was one of the last Commissioners of Information in Anambra state, who achieved distinctive notice, Some others, including Prof Chinyere Okunna also deserve a mention.
That was when persons were selected for the office, chiefly, for their tested abilities not for their political conformity.
I didn’t know ‘Okwoaka’ until our paths crossed in 2010 or thereabouts, when I was the Project Manager, Communication Component, of the Avian Influenza Control Project, domiciled in the Ministry of Information.
That was the infamous era of the global menace of bird flu, when many avoided chicken and all its products, for fear of catching the deadly flu.
As Commissioner then, Okwoaka was instrumental to the huge progress we recorded in the implementation of the programme’s communication control strategies.
As the Commissioner for information, he considered all questions of importance and never stooped to writing strongly partisan public letters, the pastime of many now.
The liberally minded and vigorously competent political scientist had an excellent command of English language. He knew the language as a musician knows his Instruments.
Hence, the Anambra public commanded deep respect for his intelligent and fair minded approaches to the management of government’s Information, that helped to tone down some of the obvious media propaganda that made the State media outfits , at the time, the symbol of publicised wickedness.
And the outcome was better appreciation of the programmes and policies of the Obi administration.
He made outstanding contributions to the development of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, and the defunct Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation, publishers of National Light, that helped to put them ahead of their rivals.
But more important, he achieved his leadership by being receptive of the Ideas of others.
It is troublous that ‘Okwoaka Amichi’, the political strategist, exited at this time that a crucial election is in the offing.
Indeed, something peculiarly precious and irreplaceable has been lost by his passing.
Adieu Okwoaka Amichi
May his soul rest in peace
