PAUL ONWUANIBE – A FIGHT WITHOUT ‘TOMATOES’
I swear nothing beats education and when you add debonair intelligence, then you are looking at Paul Onwuanibe. The man woke up one morning to see a clear instruction that he should vacate his $200million facility in seven days. Kai, in a retort that I have seen, he reportedly said: “I cannot even vacate my bedroom in seven days.” Well, my own is to look at how he has responded with class and dignity, unlike his “tomatoes” kinsman who has recorded his name in the book of international infamy by the way he has gone after his “reviewer.” I hear Amnesty International has once again asked that he pull back. He has been profiled by CNN, Daily Mail and other such international media outlets and his dogged pursuit of this case has put him in a place where he is “using his own hands to destroy all he has worked for.” In contrast, see how Paul has fought his case with class. Using facts and figures, he has thrown public support his way. In videos, interviews and strategic use of modern-day PR moves, he has thrown the job losses, the amount invested, the number of firms tied to the space and the years it took them to reach this point as savoury weapons to push back the bulldozers. The one that really got me was alluding to the fact that his facility was the main destination point of the world renowned “Detty December” end-of-year entertainment spree that has turned Lagos into one of the hottest spots in the world every December. This, my people, is a fact and if you see the figures in terms of international human traffic into Lagos and its attendant inflow of forex, you will bow. Then he slams it in an interview with Rotus of ARISE TV, “We receive 20,000 visitors daily and at N2,500 per person, do the maths.” You see that his strategy is not combative or aggressive. He is not staring at the bull in the face and waving a red flag, he is gradually and surely calming the bull and moving it towards a negotiation table. He is acknowledging the bull’s power superiority but also saying, if you kill me, it will affect the manure you sef need to remain healthy. Thankfully, I hear his strategy is working as the government reportedly is open to discussions.
Now compare him with the “tomatoes” villain - I will die instead of leaving this girl. This girl cannot come and scatter everything I have worked for, my enemies sent this girl. Police lock her up and throw the keys into the River Niger. Nigerians my tomatoes are sweet o, I swear check it, there is no sugar. If this girl wins this case, I will run naked from River Niger to the Mambilla plateau. You see as my head big like this, it is suffering, so this girl cannot come and break palm kernel on it. This baba needs to attend my Masterclass in strategic thinking. Wait, I cannot have him as a student with that kind of temper before I say something now and the next thing, I will see myself inside plane in the middle of the night heading towards a dingy cell in Abuja. Fidelis Anosike and Nick Okoye, come and carry your brother o before he “carry” tomato paste rub all over him body.