RT. HON CHIJIOKE EDEOGA; SOLID PROFILE OF A HUMBLE LION

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.