Why Did Fabian Ihekweme Not Attend Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s Burial?
By Ambrose Nwaogwugwu
The absence of Fabian Ihekweme at the burial of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, an icon and a father figure to many in Imo State, raises eyebrows and fuels suspicion. One would expect any genuine son of the land to attend such a solemn occasion, especially if he claims, as he does, to be a true stakeholder in Imo’s political and social circles. But instead of paying his respects to a man who has done so much for our people, Fabian Ihekweme was nowhere to be seen. Why? The answer is both shameful and revealing: he is a wanted fugitive, desperately hiding from justice after allegedly jumping bail….but how long will he continue to be on the run? Only time will tell.
This is no ordinary absence; it’s the deliberate evasion of a man running from the consequences of his own actions. Fabian’s hands are tainted with allegations that would make even the most corrupt blush. Arrested in connection with the illegal sale of government assets which prompted his shameful sack from Imo State executive Council —properties that belong to the people of Imo—he was involved in the sordid disposal of equipment from Avutu Poultry and the Okigwe Water Scheme, resources that should have been used to uplift his communities in general and own local government area — Obowo — in particular, not line his pockets.
After his arrest, rather than face the law like any respectable individual would, Fabian eloped, started blackmailing the #PeoplesGovernor and the state government. He slithered into the shadows, too cowardly to stand and answer for his deeds. It’s no wonder he was missing from Chief Iwuanyanwu’s burial. A man who has so blatantly betrayed his people and whose actions reek of greed and dishonor would find no welcome among dignified Imolites paying their respects to a revered leader. The truth is, he fears the long arm of the law more than he respects the legacy of Chief Iwuanyanwu.
Today and tomorrow, Fabian Ihekweme has been declared persona non grata by his own people as he cannot even dream of stepping his foot into the state as citizen’s arrest will be inevitable on him.
Imagine the sheer nerve of this man, who, even as he evades justice, still wants to pose as a champion of the people. How can he claim any credibility when he can’t even muster the courage to honor the burial of a leader as prominent as Chief Iwuanyanwu? His absence was not by accident; it was a calculated move to avoid the eyes of those who know his history and the shame he brings upon himself and those associated with him.
Fabian Ihekweme’s so-called activism and his newfound crusader complex are nothing more than smokescreens, as recently revealed by Sen. Sam Daddy and I concur with him intoto. They are weak attempts to distract Imo people from the reality of his character—a man driven not by the good of the state, but by his stomach and the endless need to evade accountability. A man who cannot answer for his alleged crimes and who skips town to avoid justice cannot lecture anyone on integrity or leadership.
Ihekweme’s absence from Chief Iwuanyanwu’s burial was a glaring confirmation of his status as a fugitive, a man whose loyalty to Imo is as hollow as his words. And as he remains on the run, let Imo people remember: a man who has betrayed them once will do so again without hesitation.
