As a professional media man of many decades standing, I often prefer not to join words with colleagues especially those who decided to put their services to political uses and for casting aspersions on individuals whom their pay masters are not too comfortable with. Also, as someone who since the lifespan of my professional journalism and human rights career, has decided to remain apolitical, I’m doing this somewhat a general rejoinder to a publication in a local paper published in my state capital of Owerri, Imo State in which the reporter decided to showcase an unpardonable level of ignorance and mischief against the person of a well respected political tactician and community leader in ARONDIZUOGU by name Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu just for having the privileged of being nominated by the Imo State governor and the leader of the All Progressives Congress in the South East as the National Vice Chairman of the national ruling party in charge of South East of Nigeria. The local tabloid by name Trumpeters trumpeted an unacceptable fallacy about Dr Arodiogbu by branding him as an unknown quantity sort of and that his endorsement has caused divisions within the ranks of the followers of the Imo State governor Senator Hope Uzodinma. But these sentiments and fallacies are further from the truth. The said Dr Arodiogbu is a well known medical doctor in Abuja and a reputable businessman who at one time even set up a vast array of non governmental institutions that were engaged in providing reliefs to the less privileged persons in the Federal Capital Territory. As someone who has stayed in Abuja for well over 23 Years, I am in a very good position to know those who have served humanity in a very amazing ways.Dr Arodiogbu is one of the few of such good people. So it came as a shock to me when I read the jaundiced piece in which the reporter attempted to recreate history and build up lies as facts. The piece was so illogical to a very defective level because whereas the writer said Dr Arodiogbu was strange to ImobState politics, but the writer ended up identifying that he Dr Arodiogbu worked in Enugu and is from the great town of Arondizuogu. I guess strongly that the writer of that piece must have been paid to try tontarmish the good reputation of a man who has found favours in the eyes of his political leader the governor of Imo State. Why should anyone begrudge the Imo State governor who as a very well established politician, has a profound knowledge of the characters of each of his loyalists or those who identify themselves as his followers. Governor Hope Uzodinma must have discerned that the qualities he has seen in thevoerson of Dr Arodiogbu are such that he was convinced to sponsor him to attain such a lofty political height in the national ruling party. The following information will convince doubting Thomas’s about the aforementioned.
in life, a value that is largely missing which explains the source of conflicts and misunderstandings amongst and between persons of same or different societies is what philosophers chose to call selfless service. Three quick quotations will elucidate what the above assertion is conveying.
Sadhu Vaswani said it that: “true love is selfless, it is prepared to sacrifice”.
Secondly, is the wise saying by Debi Mazar thus: “A hero is someone who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible to help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares”
Lastly, is this very fascinating quote by Tony Robbins that “ only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment”.
An analyst who did few quotations on charisma has this to say; “Charisma by itself serves little purpose. There are many who are charismatic that leverage it to selfish and foolish exploits. Natural Charisma is a gift that can benefit those with positive intentions. Those who lack Charisma can boost it with focus and hard work”. Then Peter Ajisafe said: “charisma without character is postponed calamity”.
Luckily, the central character of this brief reflection on distinctive leadership qualities rolled up in one person known as Ijeomah Arodiogbu a medical doctor, fits appropriately into all the positive qualities adumbrated in the aforementioned quotes.
He, Dr. Arodiogbu recently in the Nation’s capital, emerged as the National Vice Chairman, South East of Nigeria for the APC.
The emergence of this versatile grassroots politician as the vice chair of the National ruling party in Igbo land was made possible by the singular endorsement of the only All Progressives Congress Governor in Igbo land Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo State. After successfully nominating this trusted loyalist of his, the Imo State governor thereafter lobbied intensely to convinced other leaders of the political family from across the Country to accept his choice which is also the choice of the South East of Nigeria given that Senator Hope Uzodinma is the leader of the All Progressives Congress in the South-East.
Senator Hope Uzodinma the governor of Imo State has practically become a beloved political apostle of the President Muhammadu Buhari which made the nomination into the unity list of the ruling party of the name of a very reputable medical scholar and teacher Dr. Arodiogbu to emerge as the Vice Chairman of APC in Igbo land, South East of Nigeria.
The election of this phenomenal loyalist of the governor of Imo State should ordinarily be a cause for celebrations especially by Young Igbo people given his youthful age and the credibility of his academic attainment and his readiness to serve his party selflessly. Sadly, some of the sponsors of this poorly scripted diatribe are some persons from the same Arondizuogu who over the years have demonstrated annoying sense of betrayal of their common political leader in the person of the Imo State governor.
A competent source told this writer that if Governor Hope is not a magnanimous leader, he would not have anything to do with the so called political allies who persistently betrayed him during the 2019 election, collected money for election and did nothing to help in the election. They all reappeared like vampires when he was declared Governor.
Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu is a very close friend of the immediate past National chairman of APC Governor Mai Mala Buni, who was the National Secretary of APC during the period of the primary that produced Governor Hope Uzodinma. Dr. Arodiogbu worked very hard behind the scene to ensure the emergence of Hope Uzodinma as the Governorship candidate of APC in the 2019 election.
He has worked so much for Governor Hope Uzodinma without any demands for rewards. He has earned the trust of Governor Hope Uzodinma by resisting lots of financial offers by Hope’s political enemies to betray Governor Uzodinma, and hence earned his trust in any crucial assignment. Most of the people that have been working with him have betrayed him, thinking he doesn’t know.
Hope Uzodinma is not just a local politician or Governor but a national leader from the South east. He knows that Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu has a huge clout and network across the country and as a master strategist, is the best man for the job
His Recent assignments for the party : Secretary Governorship primaries in Anambra 2021; Chairman, APC ward Congress Enugu state 2021;Chairman, APC LGAS Congress Enugu state 2021;Chairman, APC state Congress 2021.
A high flying son of Arondizuogu and a solid go- getter who has attracted many projects from the federal government, to the town.
Observers say that with the emergence of Emma Enukwu as NDC , a member of NWC and Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, NVC , it shows that Governor Hope Uzodinma rewards loyalty and honest commitment to goals. He needs proper protection, trust and strategic dynamism in entrenching APC stronghold.
*EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is a Political and media strategist based in Abuja.