OPINION
BY FRED IWENJORA
 |
| RT. HON. CHIJIOKE EDEOGA |
In the past
few weeks, since the name of Rt Hon. Chijioke Edeoga came up as the likely and
fully endorsed successor to Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state,
the man known worldwide as Gburugburu, many have tried to talk in hushed tones
about this epitome of humility, character and so much competence.
The buzz has
been on with some people trying to say he is coming from nowhere while others
say he is relatively unknown and therefore does not earn this projection.
Some others
think that he could only boast of his two terms in the government of Governor
Ugwuanyi first as Commissioner for Local Government and second as Commissioner
for Environment of Enugu state before his resignation last week.
FRED
IWENJORA went into the archives to unearth the solid profile of this very
humble lion which may leave many reeling in shock and proving the wisdom in the
saying that fully laden vessels make less noise.
Lion is here
used in many ways including that he is an alumnus of the so called only
University in Nigeria that is the University of Nigeria Nsukka where men and
women are called Lions and lionesses.
Again is that
he is as calculative as the world’s strongest animal which talks less yet has
so much action. What you find at the end is that Edeoga is well grounded and
primed for the new leadership role that he may by God grace soon assume.
First is
that educationally, Edeoga is accomplished. Very accomplished in all manner of
measure.
From the
years after he picked up a BA honors degree in English from the University of
Nigeria Nsukka, Edeoga had gone ahead to collect an LL.B degree and an LL.M
degree in tow from the Universities of Buckingham and of London respectively.
Not done, he
was at the presitigious ESUT Business School to also collect a Masters degree
in Public Administration. When I write ‘collected’, kindly note that such
laurels are not dashed but received after years of dilligent study and burning of
the proverbial midnight lamp in character and in learning.
Second is
that Edeoga is also very well politically grounded. As one of the child
prodigies of Zik of Africa, he couldn’t be less. Yes I mean Rt Hon Benjamin
Nnamdi Azikiwe, top journalist and first President of Nigeria whom he met quite
early in life, got inspired by and later went ahead to project in a critically
acclaimed essay on Nnamdi Azikiwe contained in the seminal book titled; Published in Zik, testimonies to a great
African edited by Henry Onukwuba.
Few recall
that between 1997-1998, when many were still asnore in deep slumber and
ignorant that such positions existed, Edeoga sought and was elected Executive
Chairman of Isi Uzo LGA. He soon followed that up by winning the House of reps
seat for Enugu East/ Isi Uzo Federal Constituency at the return of democracy serving
between 1999 and 2003.
At the House
of Reps, he was Chairman House Committee on information becoming the spokesman
for the House of Reps at the time.
He later was
Chairman of the committee on states and local governments. These positions were
enough to load him up with better understanding of Nigeria and political leadership.
The job as
the House Committee chair on information was not just thrusted upon him just
like that. It was made possible by his solid background in journalism and
information merchandising for many years spanning times at the Daily Star as
staff writer, The Outlook as Features Editor, Enugu Government House as Press
Officer during the times of Dr Okwy Nwodo as Governor.
Edeoga did
not end his journalism career there as he went off to garner national clout at Classique
Magazine as Special Correspondent, Champion newspapers as Special Correspondent
as well as The Post Express newspapers as Assistant Editor.
Even now
Enugu LGA News which he publishes is a monthly must- read by those who wish to
be abreast with news across Enugu state.
After his
tenure at the House of reps and on his return from University of Buckingham, he
was again appointed SLA to the Deputy President of the senate on legislative
matters and later got laden with the job of SA to the President of Nigeria on
national Assembly matters/ senate Liaison. Those he served continue to shower
him with deserved encomiums for excellent service.
It should
also be pointed out that many do not know that Edeoga had calmy and
calculatively been one of the pivots of the People Democratic Party PDP since
inception both nationally and in Enugu state. Yes. But he prefers to be silent
over such noble actions prefering that people do the talking. He was the
convener and chief organiser of PDP in Isi Uzo LGA. He called the first meeting
which affirmed PDP and gave the party a base in the LGA. He was also a founding
board member of the Intellectual Resource Center of the Peoples Democratic
Institute and member Disciplinary committee of the PDP in Enugu state. He also
chaired the reverred electoral committee for PDP Anambra state exco in 2011.
So when next
you see the humble photo of or want to talk about Rt. Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, the
man who may in 2023 assume a higher assignment of becoming Enugu state Governor
by the grace of God (because only God raises kings), please try to accord him
some modicum of respect because he is not your mate like a Warri man would
readily say. He has come a long way and deserves all the accolades.
