Sam Edem vs The Native Doctor

Comfort Obi

Of all the sordid stories to emerge from Nigeria's troubled Niger Delta region, that of Sam Edem is the most astonishing. It is, perhaps, comparable only to that of the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha who took his two former aides to court for allegedly stealing N1.264 billion from him. He revealed, in court papers, that his former aides, Diepreye Zibs and Preye Okonsi stole from him as follows: N150 million cash, 30 different wrist watches which cost he put at six million naira, jewellry, six LCD/Plasma television sets, and other items all valued at N714 million. Alamieyeseigha, you recall, was arrested in London for money laundering and corruption. He jumped bail, came back to Nigeria, and was impeached as a governor. The EFCC arrested and successfully prosecuted him. For his freedom, he forfeited, we thought, all that he acquired illegally. But here he is, telling Nigerians that there is much more.
Given Edem’s background, his story is the most confounding. The now suspended chairman of the NDDC had a distinguished career in the Foreign Service, ending up as an Ambassador. Edem, the son of an African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Pastor, and a Deaconess mother, holds a first degree in French, and a Masters degree in French philosophy. So, what is the business of this son of a pastor and a deaconess with a native doctor? How did Edem, an Ambassador, descend to the same level with a native doctor? Answer: Greed. Here is Edem’s story, as told by him.
In 2007, he narrates, one Kakas Amgbari introduced one Dr. Perebakowei Ogah, alias Mathew Sonoma, of Bomadi town in Delta State to him as a “pastor.” His job, said Edem, was to pray for him, his family and the Niger Delta. In the process, Edem said, Sonoma got close to him and his family. No problem. Pastors have a way of getting close to church members. It is a good thing. But these days where every crook answers a pastor, one needs to be careful. But I digress. So, Edem’s pastor got close to him. Then, he became a petty thief. Edem's photograph became a major attraction. He stole it, not out of love but to lure other people of little faith by telling them: “You see, Edem, the chairman of NDDC is my adherent." He stole it with a sinister motive. He used it and bewitched him. And then, his “pastoral” work on Edem began. By the time he finished with him, he had lost the sum of N800 million to his pastor who turned out to be a native doctor. Moaned Edem: “He obtained some of the money through threats to my life and those of my family, sending threat text message. When my eyes cleared, I found out that he had used my money to buy a hotel in Yenegoa worth N100 million and several brand new state of the art cars.” But Sonoma tells a slightly different story.
Yes Edem paid him the sum of N520 million, but it was for another reason. He says Edem first paid him the sum of N15 million for prayers to stop his removal from the NDDC. When that worked, Edem became more ambitious. And greedy. He asked him to do three things – Work on Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to obey and support him if there are plans to remove him from office; work on Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill Akpabio, to always give him contract, and inflict Timi Alaibe, NDDC MD with stroke so he would have the opportunity to do with the NDDC as he liked.
It is instructive to note that it was Edem who shamelessly reported Sonoma to the police when he found out that he had been duped. In Edem’s shoes – God forbid – I will not do that. Short of going on self-exile, I will hide my face in shame forever. It doesn’t matter who is telling the truth between Edem and his native doctor friend. The fact remains that Edem’s relationship with Sonoma was based on evil plans. And Edem knew.
What I think happened is that Edem laid himself bare to blackmail. He may not have told the man to do as much evil as the man claims now. But, he must have told him to do something sinister. He must have been discussing, with this native doctor, the Vice President, Akpabio and Alaibe. And it was not a love story. Which explains why Sonoma could easily intimidate him to part with N800 million. Edem should make public what they were discussing. Did he plan to reduce Jonathan and Akpabio to mumus? Did he plan to strike Timi with stroke? Could it, indeed, be why Timi’s charming wife, inexplicably suddenly fell ill, and almost died but for the grace of God? Edem should speak up. The s..t has already hit the fan.
The sum of N800 million? Edem spent that on a native doctor when thousands of his people live in abject poverty? Imagine how many children whose school fees that amount of money would have paid. Or how many endangered pregnant women that amount of money would have saved. What kind of son does the Niger Delta have in Sam Edem? Why is the zone cursed with so many such sons and elders?
The NDDC has since denied that the money Edem and his native doctor squandered belongs to government. Edem himself confirms that, explaining how he made the money which he wasted on voodooism. I believe them. The NDDC would go down as one of the most investigated government agencies in Nigeria. Till date, it has emerged clean. The NDDC and its MD, Alaibe, are a subject of envy and evil machinations by some politicians and their jobbers. What Edem has done is to hand these idlers a weapon to hit at the NDDC. But the baby must not be thrown away with the bath water. Inspite of sponsored, vicious attacks, NDDC has done tremendously well in the Niger Delta. The difference it has made in the lives of the people is clear. The agency must not be dragged into Edem’s greediness, stupidity and voodooism. Edem should be made to explain, publicly, his mission with native doctor Somona. He should tell us how much he is worth if he could splash such an amount of money on a native doctor. He is neither a good Nigerian ambassador, nor a poster boy for the Niger Delta. Wherever his Methodist Pastor father and Deaconess mother are, they must be weeping. It is his type of greed that pushes Niger Delta youths into thinking that all their leaders are cheats. It is a shame.