EBONYI INDIGENES : Silent Heroes Making Remarkable Strides In Leadership, Nation Building

Contrary to the erroneous perception of primitivism which is wrongly ascribed to Ebonyi State People of South East Nigeria, by some unenlightened minds, Many Ebonyi Indigenes, have proved that they are a class to reckon with in leadership and governance.

For instance , despite the jest and mockery of being low class and backward, the Ebonyians have silently made wonderful investments and developmental strides in Nigeria.

They have carved a niche for themselves as obedient and meticulous people, who usually serve their Masters without fault,thereby popularizing and greatly benefited from the internationally recognized Igbo Apprenticeship scheme, which is being under studied at Harvard University in the United States of America, USA.

Indeed, Besides the military where Ebonyians have made impact even as Generals, some other outstanding Ebonyi Indigenes, who have broken the barrier of poverty , yoke of slavery, dependency, and brought Ebonyi State to National cum international lime light ,with their super performance in office, leadership acumen and qualities, are people like Engineer David Umahi; Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Odi , Hon. Linus Okorie ,Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene and many others, who have made colossal impact in Leadership and governance.

It would be recalled that Engineer Dave Umahi ,is credited to have transformed the face of governance in Ebonyi State, during his era as Governor, which was said to have captivated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to draw him closer to his regime as the Minister of Works, where he is commended to have achieved tremendously .

On his relationship with the former Ebonyi State Governorship Aspirant and International Business Mogul, Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Odi and Hon. Linus Okorie, Chief Aguene , said that he remain eternally grateful to them for their brotherly love and support .

Chief Aguene , praised them for being worthy Sons of Ebonyi Land and” my back bones and principal sponsors during my electoral campaign and leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos , despite the blackmails from oppositions in all fronts”.

These sterling qualities and desire to excel in leadership , was why Chief Solomon Aguene , was reputed to have become a shining light in Lagos and transformed Ohanaeze Ndigbo , despite obvious weakness and absence of home support from Ebonyi people resident in Lagos.

Not deterred by the obvious lack of Ebonyi home support, Chief Aguene , was credited to have made Ebonyi People proud with his classical leadership style and accomplishments.

He also was said to have given them sense of belonging and created the first ever Eze Ndigbo dynasty for his people in Lagos, by instituting and installing 13 Ebonyians as Eze Ndigbo in diaspora , thereby bridging the gap between them and other states like Anambra , who had about 25 Crowned Eze’s as at that time.

Speaking in an interview with News Planet International, Chief Aguene , who praised Engineer Dave Umahi ,for his super performance in governance and national reckoning , said he has confidence in Ebonyi leaders, Such as the Minister , Engineer Umahi, who he said , made it possible for him to win his election by contacting Governor Willie Obiano, Chief John Nnia Nwodo and late Ifeanyi Ubah ,to intervened and give Ebonyi State the opportunity to lead Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos for the first time.

He however, bemoaned the obvious foot dragging in followership and reluctance of Ebonyi people to always support their own in leadership .

When asked to explain why he got more support from Anambra State people but next to nothing support from Ebonyi people during his capacity leadership in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Aguene said that” it was very unfortunate that despite that Ebonyi people are wonderful people , who in their in built character will serve their master meritoriously and obidently before starting their own business empire from the scratch, but they usually foot drag and are weak when it comes to followership of their leaders.

Further Speaking on the great capacity and human resources domiciled in Ebonyi State,the Former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President, revealed that there are over 20 Ebonyi State Indigenes in business that are worth multi – billion Naira each, some he said are resident in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and other parts of Lagos state .

He advised the public not to judge the whole of Ebonyi people as betrayers because of what he called “the behaviour of some people like Robert Obasi , my former errand boy and Personal Assistant , who out of greed betrayed me ( Aguene) and worked against the interest of Ebonyi people in Ohanaeze Ndigbo ,during my regime, despite that I exposed him to civilization and Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos”.

Commenting more on Robert Obasi’s alleged antics and betrayal, Chief Aguene said thus : ” Iam not God that creates.Remember that in every 12 Disciples, there must be a Judas .I never knew that Robert Obasi has these terrible characters before I employed him as my Personal Assistant to in Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So Ebonyians can’t be judged by such Character like Robert Obasi “.