I just read this
week that distinguished Deputy Senate President Ekweremmadu turned 56 on May
12. The first thing that came from my mouth was wow. This giant is just 56 and
he has made such a tremendous impact on our political landscape as if he has
been around forever.More power to his elbow and many happy returns to this
great Democrat.
I have been an
ardent admirer of Senator Ekweremadu for long and the love burgeoned the more
after I saw his leadership in steering Nigerian Constitutional Review Committee
that brought landmark changes that have been credited to the improvement of our
democracy through electoral laws.
My love for him
grew the more when I also saw and read of his maturity in handling the conflict
between him and former Enugu State governor and the eventual emergence of Gburu
Gburu Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as Enugu State Governorship candidate meant to frustrate
Ekweremmadu from contesting for same position.
Despite all the
plans to use Ugwuanyi to frustrate the Senator’s ambition to lead Enugu State,
he peacefully accepted Ugwuanyi and even canvassed for votes for him. He refused
to turn Enugu state to theatre of war to achieve his ambition even when he had
the clout and followership to achieve such aim.
Rather, he
embraced the situation with fate and maturity and made sure that did not brew
crisis in Enugu State PDP which would have caused the party the state if he had
towed the line of average Nigerian politician with do or die politics
inclination especially when they have the power to alter the equations for
their own interest.
The humility and
intellectual ability distinguished senator brings to the national table of
leadership is simply outstanding. This makes me to begin to imagine him
stepping into the shoes of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who toiled day and night to foster
a united Nigeria and worked had to give us independence without fear or
intimidation. Ekweremadu is gradually towing that line of leadership and
stepping into those big shoes. The shoes will certainly fit him.
Senator
Ekweremmadu is admired across all ethnic lines because of his style of
leadership and ability to negotiate across ethnic and regional lines as he has
always seen the Nigerian project from the eye of a nationalist and not from
ethnic coloration.
He has worked
with different Nigerians over the cause of his third term at the senate as
Deputy Senate President of the republic.
IkeohaNdigbo as
his people call him, is admired across Nigeria and loved passionately by his
people due to his contributions to their well being and that of Nigeria as a
whole.
Recently, to
further showcase his nationalist interest and desire for patriotism among
Nigerians, he wrote a book called, “WHO WILL LOVE MY COUNTRY”. I have not read
the book but those who did could not stop praising his nationalistic solutions
to our problems as he proffered why downplaying ethnic and regional interest if
we have to move forward as a nation.
He runs an open
door policy that allows him to welcome and listen to any Nigerian irrespective
of where you are coming from. His contributions at the senate have been all for
the interest of Nigeria as a whole. His leadership skills have been why he has
continued to be relevant in the scheme of things at the senate and in Nigeria
as a whole.
Senator
Ekweremmadu took over the leadership of ECOWAS Parliament when over the years
little has been credited to that parliament because of poor performance by past
leaders as member states never felt the impact of the parliament in enacting and
changing laws that will shift the paradigm on a 21st century ECOWAS
community and to strengthen ECOWAS regional democracy. But the distinguished
senator is not known for underperformance. He took the challenge head on and
left a big vacuum in the parliament when his tenure expired with many members
wishing it was possible for him to extend his term in office.
Many African leaders
have failed in their duties to serve their fatherland one way or the other
through various reasons with regional and ethnic interest dominating and
further beclouding their ability to pronounce equity, fairness and good
conscience in their leadership approach to solving our problems. Ekweremamdu
was not going to tow that line, hence he left a landmark of performance at the
parliament.
After PDP, lost
power in 2015, they looked around and saw that the right person who will
objectively review the activities and performance of the party without
prejudice and come out with a report that will help the party regain its lost
glory was Ekweremmadu.
He was appointed
to head the committee that was mandated to review the woeful performance of the
party to unearth what went wrong and proffer solutions and recommendations on
how to forestall such in future elections. He objectively did the work and came
out with the required recommendations that are headlining the restructuring of
PDP today.
Many people were
not surprised to see Ekweremadu break another unprecedented record of clinching
the position of Deputy Senate President among such a power hungry and
aggressive APC senators who are ready to kill or maim anyone that stands on
their way of controlling every aspect of the arm of government.
But with
sterling performances over the years at the senate and friendship built across
the Niger, it was easy decision for his fellow senators including APC Senators
to entrust on him for the third time the power to be part of their leadership
and bring his wealth of experience and national interest towards solving the
problems of our nation without fear or favour nor party interest.
These things did
not happen by chance rather it was a reflection of whom Ekweremmadu is.
Interestingly though, I had predicted similar situation in my old unpublished write
up sequel to 2015 election. In that piece I said that it is obvious that
Senator Ekweremadu deserved to head the government of Enugu state as he will
bring his leadership style, transparency and exposure to bear to make the state
a place to be.
However, I went
ahead to say that, for me I would have preferred the DSP to come back to senate
where his experience and leadership will benefit Ndigbo the more and project
him further towards a bigger national assignment for Nigeria as the next Igbo
president come the next turn of the South.
My prediction of
his relevance at national level came to bear as it took his personality for PDP
to win that position at the Senate. If he had not been at the Senate, PDP
wouldn’t have won such leadership position andNdigbo would have been completely
shortchanged by power drunk and regional minded APC members who want to control
every aspect of Nigeria without respect for other regions and interests that
bind us together.
At 56, we have
to give honour to whom honour is due. Senator Ekweremadu deserves our
recognition and our best wishes as he turned 56. At his age, he has many years
to contribute greatly to the growth of Nigeria and for young ones to learn from
him and his leadership skills. My prayer is that he remains here with us for a
long time as age is on his side.
Long Live
Senator Ekweremmadu, Long Live Nigerian Senate, Long Live the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.
FREEDOM TO OUR
GENERATION!
Anayo Ekeanya
(MBA, BSc,DAIT) Writes from Abuja
@getmotivatedng
#JesusIsTheGreatest
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