The indomitable lion of Izhi Nnodo was treated to a grand reception by his royal Ndu-Odigwe maternal extended family, Emeka Iboko writes.
I have personally chosen to address him as the 'Indomitable Lion of Izhi Nnodo' consequent upon his bravery - how he has always skilfully and triumphantly manoeuvreed his way to victory since 2011.
Yes, without being either judgemental or sentimental, this same Ogbonna defeated, not just an Hon. Member, but a Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly then, Barrister Augustine Nwankaegu. This story sounds incredible but I'm living proof that it did happen. I don't want to go into details before I will be accused of 'shaking the table'. But the scenario was better imagined than experienced.
In a similar vein, just before the recently concluded gubernatorial election; some people, who seemingly had the APC nomination ticket in their pockets, were tragically displaced, trivialized, humiliated, and defeated by Ogbonna to become the standard bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state; which later gave him a landslide victory in the polls. I'm afraid he hasn't lost an election since 2011. Go and verify!
I, therefore, take my hat off to you for your virile performance, Onwa.
Back to the business of the day. Maternal families, in Izhi land, even though we don't bear maternal names as what is obtained in other cultures, are incredibly powerful, culturally.
You dare not take them for granted or take issue with them even when they are clearly in the wrong. Their pronouncements remain validly supreme. In fact, after the Highest God, they are next in your life. They are superior to your biological father in all spheres.
The governor thanked them for the love they have always exhibited and urged them to sustain the kind and homely features which had always stood them out well in the community.
Ndu-Odigwe, for your information, is the place of birth of the governor's mother, Chief Okweru. And remember, behind every successful man, there is a woman. Biologically also, I wish to add that, behind every pregnant woman, there's a virile man.
'Academically, Ndu-Odigwe people are very sound. The Ndu-Odigwe people have everything good.'
It's worthy of note that former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Amb. Alex Nwophe, former Chairman, of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Chief Elias Mbam (a worthy opponent of the governor during the APC primariess) and a host of others are members of the revered Ndu-Odigwe.
The occasion was elaborately and joyously attended. Addressing the people, Engr Elias Mbam, who contested the same position as the incumbent governor, gleefully accepted that the latter has started well. He said 'Everybody here should be praying for him (the governor) to succeed. The job is not easy; let's minimize gossip. Don't distract him from delivering on his manifesto. He has started well and we are confident he will sustain the tempo.'
Ladies and gentlemen, for your political opponent of less than five months to have publicly accepted that you have started well, I'm certain that, there's more to it than beholds the ordinary eyes.
Meanwhile, there are two salient points in his brief but weighty speech.
Firstly, his admission that His Excellency, Rt Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwiphuru, has started well is historic and has understandably and knowingly, too; solved more than 80% of the man-made intractable Izhi political problems - 'Ipfu' (kidred dichotomy). It has a lot to do with the appointments he has made so far.
Therefore, if gold can rust, what then will be the fate of ordinary iron? Yes, it's only a foolish dog that barks at what the lion 🦁 saw and ran away.
Secondly, he equally prayed for the sustainability of the tempo- the excellent steps Ogbonna has taken. That's, on no account must he allow his government to be hijacked by people madly driven by greed and the unbridled quest for power and materialism.
Suffice it to say that what the elders or no other Izhi man have been able to achieve, even with their money bags and pseudo fame, His Excellency, Nwifuru, has effortlessly achieved within three weeks.
I can state, without fear of contradiction, that his becoming governor has come as a godsend for us, Ndu-Ebonyi. It is also a pointer to the fact that Governor Nwifuru is a unifier who will take Izhi Nnodo, in particular, and Ebonyi State in general, to the much talked about and long anticipated promised land.
The maternal extended family, through Amb. Alex Nwophe, prayed for our dear governor thus: 'We are going to be stronger in our support to you for you to meet up the expectations of Ebonyians which is good governance. You will never at any given moment lack the human resources, nothing will ever be too hard for you to accomplish in this regime.'
Finally, I saw the political zeal and determination for a transformed people and state in Nwifuru some years ago. That's chiefly why the Highest God, in collaboration with the gods of the land, spared his life when he was involved in an automobile accident during the electioneering campaign. He has a vision and a mission to accomplish.
'The chick that will grow into a cock 🐓 is spotted the day it is hatched' - Chinua Achebe. This same statement can loosely be translated to 'ememe okoro eshidje le ji usu egu' - Solomon Uzoke.
Let's be patient and pray for him. May the Highest God bless us and see us through for Christ's sake!
Emeka Iboko (High Chief) is our Guest Writes and Public Affairs Analyst.
