In a rather dramatic turn of events, Chief Olisa Metu, the former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, and Hon. Harry Oranezi, a former member of the House of Representatives, who were longtime allies, had fallen out. Preliminary investigations reveal that the two former leaders of the PDP might have contracted the nemesis to their relationship during the just concluded 2023 General Election in which Harry had sought Metu’s assistance to return to the House of Representatives.
Hon. Harry Oranezi whose membership of the House of Representatives lasted for a term, represented Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituency which is Metu’s constituency. Apparently, Hon. Oranezi always wanted to return to the Green Chambers since leaving in 2007 and only hoped that his friend Metu, would use all within his disposal to aid his ambition. Only in 2015, no less of a person than Chief Metu confirmed in a Facebook comment that he bought the House of Representatives nomination and expression of interest form for Oranezi. In response, Harry said Metu gave him only N1 million in support of his aspiration in 2015.
Although, Hon. Oranezi accused Chief Metu of being controlled by his pecuniary interest instead of loyalty to family and friends, “money is the God you serve”, Harry said; this Metu didn’t find acceptable. Metu then responded accusing Harry of having an entitlement mentality. “Harry Oranezi”, Metu called him out. “A feeling of entitlement often blinds to the naked truth,” Chief Olisa Metu said.
Further follow up of all the fall out revealed from the exchanges of both elders, show that only in 2023, Oranezi had sought Metu’s help with securing viable ticket to run for the House of Representatives. First in PDP, but he was quickly outwitted by a younger and wealthier Ndubuisi Ezeani, who picked the ticket. Then, Oranezi asked that Metu help with securing YPP’s ticket, however, we gathered that an unnamed close ally of Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah gave the ticket to his friend Peter Uzokwe, who “wasted” the ticket. It was revealed that Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah is not pleased that YPP failed to win that House of Representatives seat. What is clear however, is that from every conceivable political standpoint, it is unambiguous that YPP would have won the seat with a better candidate. This, apparently, was part of Oranezi’s resentment towards Metu as he feels that Metu did not do enough to help him win the YPP ticket. Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah and Olisa Metu are brothers from the same village in Nnewi and they are close allies.
Unrelenting, Hon. Harry Oranezi, Metu claimed, approached him ( Metu) to link him (Harry) with the candidate of Labour Party for the federal constituency, so that he would work with the Labour Party’s candidate for the election, Emeka Anagwu, and this was the last straw that hit hard on the duo’s relationship. Emeka Anagwu is a young inexperienced entrant into the political ring, who might be future material if he does his homework well. But as a new entrant, many saw him as a soft target for exploitation considering that he has some financial base. Chief Metu revealed that Emeka Anagwu gave Harry some money for work and Harry could not deliver. Metu went on to challenge him to come out with any proof of him sacrificing friendship or family for money. Harry pointedly accused Metu of “going behind to set up people to defraud the young man (Emeka Anagwu)”.
Chief Olisa Metu at his peak as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, was an influential man, who had the ears of former president Goodluck Jonathan. He is well known around power circle and only recently, he was seen in the presidential villa on a visit to President Bola Tinubu. Hon. Harry Oranezi is a former member of the House of Representatives. Perhaps, the last of all that transpired between these two men has not been heard.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
