By Angela Nnamani
It is essential to set the record straight, not out of obligation to dignify the baseless and unfounded claims of some ignorant and unscrupulous persons against Professor Bart Nnaji; but to ensure that truth is upheld.
It’s even troubling when individuals use the power of the pen not to inform, educate, or uplift society, but to spread baseless accusations and ignite unnecessary divisions in their society. Recent articles targeting Prof Nnaji—a man of great repute and integrity—are not only malicious but also reek of envy and prejudice. Worse still, they attack the good people of UmuOdenigbo, a people that has always stood for peace, development, and the unity of Nkanu land.
Prof. Bart Nnaji is not just a brilliant scholar, an engineer, or a former minister; he is a beacon of progress and excellence. His numerous contributions to the development of Nigeria are well-documented, and his commitment to the advancement of technology and power infrastructure in the country cannot be understated.
For anyone to attempt to malign such an individual, is nothing short of a desperate attempt to tear down what they themselves cannot build. However, like the proverbial saying, a tree that bears fruits will always be stoned, and the very abundance of these fruits on the tree attracts more stones.
The people of UmuOdenigbo, even with their overwhelming majority have, over the years, remained a central force for good in Nkanuland, even in the midst of injustice and needless provocation by their brothers. Evidently, they have consistently championed the values of hard work, unity, and peace.
They are not a people given to divisive tendencies, but rather ones, who stand as pillars of communal progress. To paint them in any other light is a gross misrepresentation of their character and contribution.
Prof. Nnaji’s contributions to Nigeria are undeniable, and no amount of slander can erase them. The people of UmuOdenigbo will continue to be a force for good in Nkanu land, regardless of the baseless attacks they face. “
A run down of the people in elective positions from Local government councils to House assembly , National Assembly and to Governor’s in the last twenty five years of fourth republic, from 1999 till date, will evidentially tell anyone what some mischievous and divisive people call just and unjust.
Those who benefit from it may not even realize that what they enjoy is not a right, but an undue privilege born out of inequality. With time, they start to believe they are owed certain comforts, advantages, or exemptions, even as others struggle for the bare minimum.
This skewed perception distorts their worldview, making it difficult to recognize or challenge injustice. When society normalizes this, the moral fabric weakens, and meritocracy takes a back seat to entitlement. Albeit, True growth and progress can only come when undue privilege is acknowledged, and efforts are made to ensure fairness for all.
It is not lost on any discerning observer that these attacks are rooted in envy. When an individual excels beyond measure, it often draws the ire of those who, rather than seek to elevate themselves, choose to tear others down. Such actions, however, are not only morally reprehensible, but also harmful to the collective progress of society. Nkanu land, and indeed Nigeria as a whole, cannot afford to allow envy and myopic thinking to further divide its people or tarnish the reputation of its brightest minds.
To individuals, who cannot achieve anything in life when there is no division, and have taken to patronise obscure online platforms to spread their falsehoods about Prof. Barth Nnaji, I implore them to pause and reflect on the damage they are doing—not to Prof. Nnaji and UmuOdenigbo, but to the unity and future of Nkanu land in the eye of other zones.
Words have power, and they can either build or destroy. It is time to choose the path of truth and reconciliation rather than one of envy and division. Nkanu people are saner now to understand the impact of this never do well’s and there continued division of Nkanu land.
Prof. Nnaji’s legacy, like that of the people of UmuOdenigbo, is one that will stand the test of time. As President Kennedy one’s said “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not”. Prof. Bart’s contributions to Nigeria are undeniable, and no amount of slander can erase them. The people of UmuOdenigbo will continue to be a force for good in Nkanu land, regardless of the baseless attacks they face.
Let us all rise above petty envy and work towards a future where truth, justice, and unity reign supreme. JFK one said that each time a man stands up for an ideal, or act to strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
Mrs. Angela Nnamani
writes from Enugu.
