It will interest you to know that till now, I don’t even know his real name. So get used to the name ‘Silicon’, as I delve into the major part of the story.
It was about 4:15pm on Friday, September 16, 2022, when we arrived for inspection at a project site. It was raining heavily. On getting to a particular spot, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru exclaimed somewhat, like something extremely important fled his mind. He remembered that his boy, Silicon had informed him the day before (Thursday), that he wouldn’t be at work on Friday, as his late father would be buried on that day. It was not an invitation, he was merely excusing himself from work on the day.
At once, Mr. Speaker instructed his orderly, “Quickly make arrangements for me, I’ll be attending the funeral, immediately.”
It was still raining at about 4:56pm, when we headed to Silicon’s village in Amachi Community, Abakaliki LGA of Ebonyi State. We arrived at about 5:38pm when the funeral was almost done and dusted, with the rain sending most mourners away. But at the sign of Mr. Speaker’s escort siren, some villagers stayed put.
Silicon was left numb. He never saw it coming.
Interestingly, when the microphone was handed to the Honourable Speaker to address the people late on, he said while holding Silicon’s hands, “I am here to commiserate with my friend, who told me yesterday, that he would be burying his father today.” The astonishments around the people were palpable. I could hear someone behind me whisper, “Nwikirikpo iphe” (this small thing). In my mind I said, yes, this small thing.
Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru went on to tell the people how he found a worthy friend and son in Silicon. How Silicon never failed in any assignments given to him and always delivered without excuses, even though he was still an apprentice. He went on and donated One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) to Silicon, to help soothe his sorrows and made a promise to take care of his school fees as he is set for his University education. He donated Two hundred thousand Naira (N200,000.00) to the youths and and One hundred thousand Naira (N100,000.00) to the women there.
Evenings like this keep steady smiles on my face, in the confident knowledge that #FON is simply a man with a heart of gold. A rare breed of human who loves and identifies with every single human being, irrespective of one’s social status, provided you’re focused and hard working.
I feel privileged sharing some of these hand-on experiences, because beyond what you see and hear, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, by God’s special Grace, will be the next Governor of Ebonyi State, come 2023, and he will connect effortlessly with everyone, just as he has always done. He will see through your respective problems and harken to your needs, because he was once upon a time, in your shoes. He has seen it all, and he’s ready to make you smile like Silicon, the beloved of his master.
Hope you had a good Sunday?
Leo Ekene Oketa is the Chief Press Secretary to the Honourable Speaker.
Sunday, September 18, 2022.
