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Tag: Onochie Igwesi

Onochie Igwesi Makes Enugu APC Campaign Council List

The Secretary to Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Barr. Onochie Jon-Igwesi, has been appointed a member of the Enugu State All Progressives Congress Campaign Council.

Jon-Igwesi who was also sworn in for a second term as Secretary to Nkanu West on October 21, 2026, was appointed the state Deputy Director of the Mainstream Media (Print) in the campaign council.

The 51-Directorate campaign council which is chaired by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, and was inaugurated by him on October 27, 2026, was charged to pursue a resounding victory for the party in all the 2027 elections.

Mbah urged party faithful to campaign hard on the administration’s achievements and be unapologetically APC in doing so, saying the opposition had nothing but propaganda to offer.

Accepting his appointment, Jon-Igwesi expressed gratitude to Mbah for the opportunity to serve the party and the state. He noted that the confidence reposed in him ought to be justified and he expressed readiness to campaign vigorously for the APC, remarking “Mbah’s administrative acumen and governance scorecard makes the job less difficult”.

Onochie Jon-Igwesi is a dedicated professional with a diverse portfolio spanning public service, entrepreneurship, media proprietorship, community engagement, education administration, and the legal profession. In 2020, he embarked on media entrepreneurship founding Pacesetter Frontier Magazine.

He holds degrees in Microbiology and Law; certificates in Public Leadership and Policy; International Criminal Law, Journalism, Business Consultancy and Mediation. He is a school administrator, Rotary International member, and Paul Harris Fellow, driving discussions on peace, governance, and development through the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards, an initiative of his Magazine.

Jon-Igwesi is expected to bring his expertise in the print media industry to bear to drive the re-election of all candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

October 28, 2026
5th Frontier Discourse Public Lecture: Stakeholders Examine Power Struggles Defining Nigeria’s Democracy

Political stakeholders and citizens have examined the dynamics of power struggles between citizens and ruling elites in Nigeria’s democratic landscape at the 5th Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards, organized by Pacesetter Frontier Magazine.

The event, held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Nigerian National Merit Award House, Abuja, focused on the theme, “Politics of Convergence and Collisions: Navigating Power Struggles in Shaping Democracy.”

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Udenta O. Udenta, Founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy, argued that the state often represents an ideology rather than the people themselves.

“It’s impossible to represent everyone. You represent your policies, your government, and the segment of people who buy into your ideology”, Udenta said.

He said collisions are inevitable when the interests of different groups and classes clash, emphasizing the need for dialogue and inclusion in resolving societal conflicts.

Also speaking, Dr. Ahmed Sajoh, Executive Director, FutureNow Initiative, and the second keynote speaker, lamented that democracy in Nigeria had become synonymous with elections rather than governance.

“Our political parties have become revolving doors. People move from one party to another. How, then, do we hold them accountable?”

He stressed the importance of mentoring young people before transferring power to them, warning that leadership without guidance could be disastrous.

Chairman of the occasion and senator representing Abia South district, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, expressed concern over the erosion of moral values in governance, criticizing leaders who prioritize appeasement over justice.

“You do not reward those who thrive on ransom and blood. A government that chooses appeasement over justice signs the death warrant of its citizens.”

During the panel session, Journalist, Laolu Akande, urged citizens outside the political system to “invade” it, warning that complacency equated complicity.

Activist, Aisha Yesufu, highlighted how poverty has been weaponized to suppress dissent in Nigeria. She emphasized education as a critical foundation for sustaining democracy.

“We cannot fully access democracy without education. Children must be taught early about good governance and the power they hold to demand accountability.”

Catholic priest and social commentator, Rev. Fr. John Chinyere Oluoma, condemned what he described as Nigeria’s “politics of convenience,” insisting that true change must come through civil action. Echoing Udenta’s call for ideology-driven politics, he said:

“Let political parties be founded on ideology. State clearly what system of government you represent in your manifesto, so voters know they’re choosing ideas, not tribes, religions, or personalities.”

Mr. Ademola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs, reminded citizens of the importance of institutions that hold the government accountable. He urged Nigerians to focus less on complaints and more on understanding the slow but steady evolution of governance, encouraging active engagement in the electoral process.

Speaking to newsmen on the choice of the theme, the Founder of Pacesetter Frontier Magazine, Onochie Igwesi, noted that the idea behind the initiative was in line with the duties of the press as the fourth estate of the realm. He stressed that conversations geared towards the 2027 elections had begun and it was necessary for citizens to make their decisions in 2027 based on data, not sentiments.

The event also featured awards recognizing outstanding individuals and institutions. Honorees included:

Good Governance (Governor of the Year): H.E. Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah

Public Sector Person of the Year: Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu

Humanitarian Service Award: Mary Dinah Foundation

Media Person of the Year (TV): Aaron Atsahyel

Media Person of the Year (Radio): Maryann Okon

Brand of the Year: Centre for Memories

Promising Entertainer (Music): Ugochukwu Uneabunso (Une 50)

Business Person of the Year: Chief Chukwudi Nnaji

Frontier Person Award: Prof. Udenta O. Udenta, Dr. Ahmad Sajoh

Literary Icon Award: Abuja Literary Society

Tech Person of the Year: Gbenga Sesan

Sports Icon of the Year: Barr. Amobi Ezeaku

Lifetime Achievement Award: H.E. Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo

Other highlights were a saxophone performance and live musical entertainment.

November 15, 2025
Peter’s Intangibles – By Onochie Jon-Igwesi

On Thursday, October 13, 2022, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2023 general elections, as he then was, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, at the Law Auditorium of the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, unveiled his manifesto before thousands of supporters.

I recall that of the 4 major contenders in the governorship race under different political parties, Mbah was the first to present his manifesto. He would later go on to have so many firsts to his credit. I also recall that the crowd was so thronged on the day that it was difficult for bigwigs to gain entrance into the auditorium at the time.

Back to the story – at the end of the manifesto unveiling, while he gave us metrics to gauge his tangibles, we did not know at the time that we would get more than we bargained for.

You see, Governor Peter Mbah, like all transcendental leaders, is a premium package that comes with more as you untie it. When Mary Slessor, the Scottish missionary who arrived in Calabar, Nigeria, in 1876, came with the message of Christ’s gospel, she did not know that she was going to achieve more than soul winning – becoming the person most widely credited with significantly stopping the killing of twins.

When Peter set out to honour his charter with the citizens of Enugu State, little did he know that beyond paved rural and urban roads; Smart schools & Type 2 Healthcare centres in all the 260 political wards of the state; several modern bus interchange; revamped transport system, inclusive of Enugu air, with 2 planes already and more likely underway; the planned intra-rail system; deployed CNG Buses and electric taxis; he would go on to achieve what he did not promise us – his intangibles.

None, not even Peter himself, could have envisioned that after recently completing the abandoned International Conference Center, where both the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors and the Nigerian Bar Association will be hosting their conferences; after the concessioning of the Nike Lake Hotel to Landmark Africa Group; and rehabilitating most of the infrastructure by the former Premier, Dr. M.I Ọkpara, like the Hotel Presidential, Nigergas company, etc; we would gaze into the clouds to behold the beautiful rainbows of his intangibles.

For me, I reckon that the heaviest of Peter’s intangibles is that to hail from or reside in Enugu has become a thing to be coveted, a bragging right of some sort. To come from Enugu means to be gazed upon with an admixture of envy and jealousy. To come from Enugu means to relive the nostalgia of the Enugu Rangers Football club of the 70s and yet bask in today’s euphoria of this team rebranded by Peter that tells the story of who we are. To come from Enugu means to walk the streets and see people adorn Rangers’ jerseys as though they were jerseys of English clubs. To come from Enugu means to go to the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium on a day that Rangers will play to behold a stadium filled to the brim. To come from Enugu means to normalize the sight of international athletes participating in the city’s marathon. To come from Enugu means that while you can now go out on Mondays, walking or driving in a rebirthed capital city, fitted with day and night vision cameras, you have an Enugu State Security Trust Fund worth more than 3 billion naira, donated by private individuals and corporate bodies, giving your senses an aroma of heightened security. To come from Enugu means that you are awed by the numerous projects of today – all going on at the same time – yet knowing deep down that more brilliant projects are in the governor’s pipeline. To come from Enugu means that your state is Guinness Nigeria Plc’s first port of call in unveiling the English Premier League Trophy to the entire nation, among others.

Consider these. Peter is relocating slum dwellers in Agu-Owa and Ugbo-Lawrence slums, two out of the 25 slums in Enugu metropolis, with the development of relocation sites at Akpuoga Nike Estate to resettle the occupants of the slums, with each of the families getting a two-bedroom flat and a Certificate-of-Occupancy to the property, all at no cost to them. Peter, together with the seventeen local government chairmen, has initiated the construction of a farm estate per ward, measuring 200 hectares. The idea is this – the council chairmen will fence the estates per ward in their respective local governments, provide equipment for mechanized farming, ensure water, electricity, settlements, etc, are available in these farms, then give farmers in each of the farm estates high yield seeds to plant. At the end of the planting season, Peter’s Enugu State government will handsomely purchase the produce from each of the farmers who are residents and indigenes of their wards, export the same and go on to share the profit from the export between the farmers in those farm estates and their local government. This is no brainchild of a simple mind.

Peter’s mind works in a way that is esoteric. His programs defy logical reasoning so much that it makes sense to doubt them. Yet, for every ounce of doubt you share today, he makes mincemeat of it tomorrow. Reflecting, it only made sense that we did not see these coming – yet with Peter on the saddle, these seem like just a mere glimpse of the whole picture.

On the occasion of his second anniversary, take it or leave it – Peter stands twice as tall, and months from now, when we will head to the polls to re-elect Peter in 2027, the nay-sayers will, on Enugu’s scenic hills, hear the choruses and chants of “victory at last” while the yea-sayers will sing Nathaniel Bassey’s “See what the Lord has done”.

And so, even if in years to come, we cannot remember anything else, we will remember the gusto with which, from 2023 to 2031, we said “I am from Enugu State”. We will remember that Peter reminded us of what Democracy ought to be – a treasure trove for the people.

Onochie Jon-Igwesi, an indigene of Enugu, writes from Omuoha-Obuoffia, Awkunanaw.

May 26, 2025
Onochie Jon-Igwesi Sworn-in as Secretary of Local Government

Prince Onochie Jon-Igwesi has been appointed the Secretary of Local Government, Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.

The appointment which took immediate effect followed his taking of oath of office and swearing-in on Monday, November 11, 2024 at the council headquarters in Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Performing the swearing-in, the Executive Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Chief John Ogbodo, noted that with the appointment of Jon-Igwesi, the council was set to run effectively.

“All these while, we didn’t have a Secretary, but today we thank God, we thank His Excellency our governor for this opportunity, and now our council can run effectively.

“Once you have the secretary to the local government after all other arms are already inaugurated, it means the government is already running and with this team, we can now deliver, and we can be rest assured that executives can now function”.

Accepting the appointment, Onochie Jon-Igwesi also expressed optimism that with the mandate the local government administration has, the team will deliver and make the council one that her citizens will be proud to identify with.

“First, I wish to thank God Almighty who made today a reality because God is the one who rules over the affairs of men and I give Him all the glory.

“I thank the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, the visionary man who has plans that their implementation has continued to positively shock everybody.

“I also thank the Executive Chairman, the man who is driving the government plans at the local government level. Charity begins at home, so, if he can drive them effectively at the local government level, then we are very sure His Excellency’s plans will continue to be noticed at the state level.

“I believe that with the mandate that we have, we will deliver and make Nkanu West Local Government one that we will be impressed about”.

Recalling that donkey years ago, his grandfather served meritoriously as council chairman, Jon-Igwesi expressed confidence to keep the flag flying.

Onochie Jon-Igwesi has a diverse portfolio spanning public service, media entrepreneurship, and community engagement. In 2020, he embarked on media entrepreneurship founding Pacesetter Frontier Magazine.

He holds degrees in Microbiology and Law; certificates in Public Leadership and Policy; International Criminal Law, Journalism, Business Consultancy and Mediation. He is a school administrator, Rotary International member, and Paul Harris Fellow, driving discussions on peace, governance, and development through the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards, an initiative of his Magazine.

November 17, 2024
Surging clampdown on Journalists is alien to democracy – Jon-Igwesi

Following the continued arrests and harassment of investigative journalists in Nigeria, the Chairman of Pacesetter Frontier Magazine, Onochie Jon-Igwesi has appealed to the wielders of political power to be circumspect and more tolerant of the activities of journalists.

Jon-Igwesi who spoke on Afia TV’s ‘News Today’ expressed concerns about press freedom and freedom of speech in the country, noting that the surging clampdown on journalists was alien to the ideals of democracy.

Tracing the litany of journalists that had been hounded in Nigeria from Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dele Giwa, Agba Jalingo, Daniel Ojukwu, to Fisayo Soyombo, David Hundeyin, Jones Abiri and more recently anonymous X whistleblower, PIDOMNigeria and Adejuwon Soyinka, Jon-Igwesi explained that even “the West hasn’t been excluded because as recently as in 2020, journalists who covered the protests that broke out when George Floyd was murdered in the US were also arrested”.

In his words: “Press and Media Laws have taught that the concept of freedom of speech can be likened to a rose with thorns, indicating that even though you’re free to express yourself, there’s also this necessity that you do it within the confines of laid down laws.

“So, what a democratic institution ought to do would be to define those laid down laws and ensure that those laws are not made with anyone in mind to avoid seeming like you’re out for vendetta and not to have a sane society.

“When you look at these journalists, they are not speaking for themselves. They are exposing an ill, something they assume is true from their investigations. I feel that the proper thing should be for authorities to investigate those findings and when true, restore sanity in the system, not clamping down on journalists for even daring to investigate. It would look like the system is encouraging corruption”.

Informing that the incarceration of journalists will not kill a story due to the global network and affiliations of journalists, the Media Executive suggested that investigative journalists may also consider whether certain stories should be leaked and escalated on social media or simply directed to the authorities concerned to avoid the ‘trap’ of accusations of endangerment of the nation’s sovereignty.

“There should be some sort of code that should guide the profession. However, we should actually find out if these laws have been defaulted before clamping down on journalists.

“Journalists should also be guided by the fact that we’re all interested in fixing the nation, having a nation that works and not for the nation to burn. So, if there are ways that could be employed beyond leaking things on social media, that’s good and fine.

“Where journalists tell lies, they should be made to face the full weight of the law, but where you’re hounding them for simply telling the truth, it is not good for any government and it is certainly not good for Nigeria”, he said.

August 28, 2024
[ANALYSIS] Enugu LP Guber Ticket: Issues, Intrigues, Twists, Way Forward

By Onochie Jon-Igwesi

Labour Party was almost nowhere to be seen in the build up to the 2023 political scene before May 27, 2022, when Mr Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and 2019 PDP Vice Presidential candidate, formally announced his decision to join their fold after exiting the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Since that move, the rejected stone, arguably, appears to be the rave of the moment.

Such rapid and geometric growth comes with its attendant issues. It would later go on to reveal itself, first, in the Labour Party Presidential race.

At the Asaba, Delta State, presidential primary election, Mr. Pat Utomi stepped down for Mr Peter Obi to emerge as the party’s sole presidential candidate, unbeknownst to them that a then factional presidential candidate, Jude Ezenwafor, would later go on to challenge the emergence of Obi. However, possibly by divine orchestration, Ezenwafor, after a while, willingly withdrew from the LP presidential ticket claims, citing personal grounds and offered an apology for causing discomfort.

As the campaigns for the 2023 elections draw closer and going by the swelling patronage of the Labour Party by, majorly, Nigerian youths and in recent times, Nigerians from all age brackets, the struggle for who clinches the gubernatorial ticket of the party is almost throwing its different state chapters into serious confusion.

In Enugu State, things are not different as two camps lay claims to being the authentic holder of the party’s governorship ticket.

On one hand is the Chijioke Edeoga camp, and on the other hand, the Evarest Nnaji camp.

Both Edeoga and Nnaji were governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party. While Nnaji formally announced his decision to withdraw from the PDP guber primaries in the early hours of May 25, 2022, the day the election was conducted, Edeoga participated, coming second with a total of 9 votes.

Many observers have wondered why the duo of Nnaji and Edeoga are re-launching their guber bid using the Labour Party, especially when both of them congratulated the PDP standard bearer, Peter Mbah, and even asked their supporters to channel their support to Mbah.

But the staunch supporters of the two camps wouldn’t hear of that, with the Edeoga camp claiming irregularities in the state PDP primary elections.

On the scramble for the Labour Party ticket, their supporters who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak, had a lot to reveal.

Evarest Nnaji’s camp

On August 4, 2022, a primary election was conducted and it announced Chijioke Edeoga as the winner and governorship candidate of the party in the state.

Speaking on the legality of the exercise, the campaign organization of Nnaji’s camp, in a publicly issued statement through the Director General, Okey Ezirigwe, wondered why Edeoga should “appear as the sole candidate as seen in the amateur videos from the purported primary that produced him”. He went on to emphasize that Nnaji fulfilled all the party guidelines and was issued the INEC nomination form by the party.

In his words “The questions Edeoga should answer are, did Nnaji purchase the Labour Party gubernatorial expression of interest and nomination forms or not? Was he given a waiver after he met the party’s conditions for waiver, and did Nnaji fulfill the requirements for becoming the party’s flag-bearer or not? Was Nnaji at any point disqualified from participating in the primaries he fully paid for and met all conditions to emerge the consensus candidate as contained in the party guidelines? How did he (Edeoga) appear as the sole candidate as seen in the amateur videos from the purported primary that produced him and why was the kangaroo primary secretly held in a beer parlour located at the back of his private residence?

“The purported INEC officials who claimed to have observed the fake election did not emanate from Abuja and INEC had since put a disclaimer. The security agents who attended the purported primary election were proven not to have been officially assigned to observe the process and there was no official memo stating that the party had fixed a primary election between the duo of Edeoga and Nnaji. If the party did, there is no way Nnaji would not be present and the venue would not have been in a beer barn located next to the home of Edeoga”, Ezirigwe stated.

Submitting that at first, Edeoga’s preferred interest was to contest for the Senate, Ezirigwe questioned why the outcome of the party stakeholders meeting held in Lagos and led by Prof. Pat Utomi, wherein it was made public that there were two governorship aspirants of the party in the state, wasn’t adhered to.

Chijioke Edeoga’s camp

Reacting to the claims, a key member of Edeoga’s camp who also spoke on anonymity was perplexed as to “why people believe in lies and folktales than truth and sense of reasonability”.

He wondered why Nnaji was raising the issue “after over one month of the conduct of the Labour Party primary election for its gubernatorial candidate for Enugu State”.

He said: “Labour Party conducted its gubernatorial primary election at the largest hall of Top 10 Hotels by SARS office, Golf Estate, Enugu. The place was chosen for strategic security reasons. Again, is it reasonable to hire a stadium for election involving 85 delegates at 5 per Local Government of the 17 LGAs in Enugu state? The hotel is there, whether beer parlour or not, and is verifiable, as our incoming President, Peter Obi will say.

“The primary election was conducted in line with the guidelines of our Labour Party and that of INEC. The election was by open secret balloting under the supervision of the National Leaders of the party led by the National Deputy Chairman, South East, State Party EXCOs, representatives of NLC, TUC and CSOs, including the Press and Security Agencies, and monitored by INEC according to the Electoral Act of 2022. At the end of voting and sorting, Hon. Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga emerged victorious with 81 votes, and returned elected and announced by the Returning Officer, Asst. National Secretary of Labour Party. Edeoga’s Certificate of Return was subsequently presented to him by the National Chairman of our great party, Abure, at the party’s headquarters at Abuja”.

Asked why Edeoga participated unopposed in the primaries, he said, “Edeoga was elected unopposed because in an election where there is not more than one aspirant, the only aspirant automatically will be elected unopposed. Just like I said before, the Team for the conduct of the election announced to the delegates that Enugu State made their job easier by having only one aspirant in the name of Hon. Barr. Chijioke Edeoga. In this situation, should we have manufactured more aspirants or faked some? There is therefore no truth in sidelining Nnaji as no one builds anything on nothing. Odengene (Nnaji) wasn’t an aspirant. The delegates couldn’t have voted for anyone based on rumours of Odegene’s aspiration for the LP’s Gubernatorial ticket for Enugu State”.

On the claim by Nnaji’s campaign organization that Edeoga first wanted to run for senate, the source said “Edeoga never aspired for anything like senate, except governorship position, which he believes is a better crown to do good and contribute his quota in building a better society in Enugu State devoid of class, state of origin, religion, including practical good governance”.

Twists

While the debate as to who the authentic governorship candidate of the party is continued to rage on, it was alleged that Evarest Nnaji was an agent deployed by Enugu State PDP to destabilize Labour Party, being alarmed and amazed by the wide acceptance of Edeoga’s emergence.

In severally forwarded whatsapp messages shared by Edeoga’s supporters and credited to Comrade Kennedy Iyere, a labour party chieftain and national mobiliser for Peter Obi, it alleged that Nnaji collected 2 billion naira from the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in order to cause crisis in the determination of who becomes the LP governorship candidate in the state.

However, in a swift reaction, Iyere denied making such allegations. Iyere however said that Nnaji will surely emerge as the Governorship candidate of the party, adding that as it stands now, there was no Governorship candidate of the party in Enugu state which Mr. Chijioke Edeoga has been holding claim to.

Speaking during the “Charity Begins At Home” conference of Labour Party in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, on Saturday, Iyere alleged that three Chieftains from the state were behind the crisis rocking the Labour Party in Enugu state.

Denying the alleged indictment on Nnaji, Iyere said: “Would I have said such a thing? If they say I said such a thing, let them mention one or two persons who belong to that platform.

“There was actually no primary to produce Edeoga. What happened was that after a meeting of key stakeholders in Lagos, it was discovered that Edeoga was not fit to run for the Governorship because Edeoga is a political dependant. He is not grounded politically to fund himself. Edeoga does not have N10 million to even rent an office, he depends on people giving money to him, he doesn’t even have money to take care of the basic things. He lacks financial and moral capabilities, you see the way he hijack rallies organized by others, he can’t organise his own.

“So, in Lagos, we decided there should be another primary election but Capt Evarest Nnaji (Odengene) was deceived out of Enugu without him properly being invited to participate in the primary election after paying all that needed to be paid and filling all the forms. Most people in Labour Party did not know there was a scheduled primary election. The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state didn’t know there was a primary election and he was the one that would have given the notice.

“Nobody’s name is yet with INEC as the Governorship candidate for Labour Party. Evarest Nnaji will be the candidate because another Primary election will be conducted before 17th September and Odengene will win. The matter is in court”, Iyere said.

Way Forward

A public affairs analyst, Orji Ken, who spoke to our correspondent, advised Edeoga, Nnaji and their supporters to thread carefully to avoid a boomerang on the Obidient movement in the state. He cautioned them to hold on till the October 2 date when INEC would publish the final list of governorship candidates in states of the country.

“It is necessary for Chijioke Edeoga and Evarest Nnaji to thread with caution. The PDP is still a strong party in the state and if this squabble continues, it could definitely affect the chances of Peter Obi in Enugu state.

“Why the unnecessary heating up of the polity by both of them? Did they not even congratulate and host the PDP governorship candidate, Peter Mbah to a reception at the end of the primaries and promised to work with him? Why did they renege on that? They should even be worried that this could affect their public view before the electorates. It shows their desperation to be governor, and at any cost.

“While I understand that they both reserve the right to vote and be voted for, they should exercise patience till INEC publishes their own list of candidates for all the positions in the country. Either of them whose name doesn’t make it to the list or feels cheated can then approach the court”.

September 12, 2022
[Nkanu Today] 41 Years On: Remembering the Life & Times of HRH Eze John Egbo Igwesi

By Onochie Jon-Igwesi

Today, April 11, marks the 41st anniversary of the demise of Igwe John Igwesi

Born in 1921 as the second son of Igwesi Ogbodo Nwa Nvene Achioke Ukwu Nta, a Warrior and Warrant Chief popularly known for his wealth, personality and character, with numerous praise names such as Igwesi Nvene Okpube (a rich man that provides shelter for others), Igwesi Nvene Odo Owo-Anu na agba doyi doyi na etikpo okita onu (Lion), Igwesi Nvene Ntereja (a man whose wealth is as uncountable as sand), amongst others, I recall an unsuccessful attempt to ascribe a foreign meaning to the name ‘Ntereja’ seven years ago, legendary John Igwesi stood towering among men.

HRH Eze John Egbo Igwesi

Late John Egbo Igwesi was an academic scholar, a steadfast civil servant in the then Coal Corporation in Enugu, an outstanding and smart politician, an unrepentant clan/community leader who was widely reputed for championing any course for Nkanu and Awkunanaw, nearly becoming clannish, and a revered first-class traditional ruler. Eze Chinawaeze II of Obuoffia was known extensively for the humble commitment of his life and humble wealth to the service of his people.

Throughout his lifetime, John Igwesi recorded innumerable political and developmental wins for Awkunanaw and Nkanu. He held many positions of authority in Nkanu Land and beyond, positions which may not be exhausted here. Prominent among them were, Honorable Member representing Udi East Central Constituency in the then Eastern Region House of Assembly under NCNC with the likes of Janeth Mokelu, Dike, etc. His stint as a Representative holding a mandate sacrosanctly given to him by his people was remarkable for consistently promoting, projecting and sustaining the interests of his people.

History has it that on a particular day, a day which started like any other, but on which Chukwu okike had a bigger plan for Nkanu, John Igwesi stood up on the floor of the Eastern Assembly, his voice towering above his colleagues, as he courageously moved the motion for the separation of Nkanu Division from the Old Udi Division, backing his motion with unarguable facts and ensuring he gained the needed traction for that motion to scale through, a feat he achieved and for which Nkanu was granted autonomy. Would it be an overstretch if I say that were it not for the intervention of God through Igwe John Igwesi, Nkanu may not have been?

John Igwesi went on to become a Divisional Officer (D.O) and was elected Chairman, Nkanu County Council for donkey years, where he instituted remarkable developments in Nkanu. He was a humanist and philanthropist whose milk and brook of compassion overflowed. You recall that piece I did in 2020 where I narrated how I benefitted firsthand, 39 years after his death, from his good deeds? He uplifted not just the development of infrastructures but also the development of churches, sports and education which he so believed in.

95-year-old Chief Mark Ngene, Egbe a nu-uzu of Attakwu, Akegbe Ugwu, Chairman of the Peace & Reconciliation Committee of Awkunanaw Welfare Association and a walking encyclopedia and repository of our history had a lot to say about John Igwesi. On the history of Awkunanaw and formation of Awkunanaw Welfare Association, he recalled “we were in school, I was in Standard 5 when the association started in 1945 through ’46, ’47 or so. It started because in Awkunanaw, there was no Standard 6 and the only mission in Nkanu was the Methodist mission in Agbani. Our people saw it as a backward development so began to think of how to have Standards 5 & 6 in Awkunanaw. Okeke ede from Umaa, Igwe John Igwesi, David Ani nw’ogbo met and decided to take the problem to one Revd. Wood who at that time was in charge of Agbani circuit in the Methodist church. They met with him and they were given conditions. The negotiation spanned from 1945 to 1948. The establishment of the present secondary school in Akpasha was as a result of that. Then it was a Standards 5 & 6 school. The establishment of that school was wonderful for our people. As far as the modern Awkunanaw is concerned, her development started from these three human figures”.

When asked about people who played major roles in the making of Nkanu’s history, he said “Ah, those who made Nkanu a modern Nkanu, those of us who are old still remember them but we are very few now. Fortunately, some of these things have been documented. Coming down to Awkunanaw, we had the paramount chief Ugwunnaji, Agbowo ebiem, Okeke ede, Igwe John Igwesi and so on. I still remember that in Nkanu, it was Dennis Nnaji of Oruku, Daniel Nnamani of Agbani, Igwe John Igwesi, Igwe Edward Nnaji that were at the fore front of the modern Nkanu and their base was at Agbani where we had the headquarters of Nkanu County Council. They first identified Nkanu because we were under Udi District Council. Nkanu said it was not wise for them to go second to Udi area. These men made it possible that Nkanu stood on her own. As at then, Nkanu had just very few schools, the only Standard 6 we had in Nkanu area was at Agbani Methodist Central School because the Methodist church was quite popular in Nkanu then. These names I mentioned were the pioneers that made it possible for each side in Nkanu to build their schools, and have up to Standard 6, which was the maximum then”.

Igwe John Igwesi may be dead but he still lives on because the fruits of his labour still exist. I recall one of my interactions with an Nkanu West stakeholder who said “Your family is still benefiting from the goodness of John Igwesi.” He was a man who didn’t believe that he alone should stand, a practical crusader of ‘Live and Let Live’.

Grandpa, as we mark the 41st anniversary of your demise, we thank God for enabling your descendants to attempt to sustain your ideals and legacies. You left a huge shoe which we are trying to fill, for who can easily fill in the shoes of a selfless servant like you? We wish to let you know that the Nkanu you toiled for has continued to be great and that just like in your time, she still has some black sheep. But isn’t that the beauty of life? Chinawaeze, you will forever remain green in our memories. May God continue to grant repose to your soul as we hope that one day, you will be given the loud post humous celebration you deserve.

As I drop my pen, I feel I should repeat what I had once written. Like someone once said, carve your name on hearts because legacy is not just leaving something for people but leaving something in people. Leave the inheritance of a good name for your children in a world that will feel indebted to them because of the kindness, goodness and compassion of their parents. It was Jonathan’s kindness that caused his crippled son Mephibosheth to eat at the table of the King, David, for the rest of his life.

Onochie Jon-Igwesi, a grandson of Igwe John Igwesi, writes from Omuoha-Obuoffia.

April 11, 2022
City Guards – By Onochie Jon-Igwesi

In May 2015, the country had, few months back, concluded and announced the results of her general elections. Incumbents were already de-dusting their shelves and files, preparing documents to hand over to the Elects come May 29, 2015. Most elects, with the exception of the President-Elect, as we would later come to find out six months after he assumed office, had already made a list of their intended appointees and presumably notified them of their selection and the offices they would be appointed into in the coming weeks after the swearing in.

In the midst of this atmosphere, in that month, I was driving home one sunny afternoon through the Zik Avenue-Agbani road axis; it was those days when all the traffic lights on the roads of Enugu were operational-it seemed it was a matter of policy then for a faulty traffic or street light in Enugu to be fixed within ten days.

Oh! Those good old days when Enugu had begun emerging as, arguably, one of the fastest developing cities in Africa. People domiciled in Enugu South LGC would recall that then, there was a body responsible for enforcing traffic rules especially apprehending defaulters, known as City Guards. To drag more persons into their net, they had a traffic rule, a very obnoxious one at that, that barred road users from driving on Amber light. It was this rule that I unknowingly flouted at the Zik Avenue-Depot-Agbani road axis traffic light and they quickly gave me a hot pursuit, unknown to me, with their power bikes, finally catching up with me at Eso Bus Stop. They impounded my car and we proceeded to their office at Enugu South LGC headquarters to pay a ludicrous fine of fifty thousand naira. Did I mention that the moment we got to the council’s headquarters they unscrewed my number plates? Argh! It was a terrible experience.

While I waited to speak with their boss, he received a phone call. At the end of the call, he began to laugh and told a friend of his in his office that a certain Commissioner in Barr. Sullivan Chime’s cabinet just called him to quickly release his younger brother’s car that was also impounded by City Guards for breaking a traffic rule. He said he blatantly told the commissioner that he won’t release the car until the fine was paid. At this point, he was laughing uncontrollably. He said the commissioner tried raising his voice at him and he hung up on him. He then dropped the bombshell “it’s like this commissioner thinks he still has powers. He doesn’t know he has few days left to the end of his office”.

You see, no one ever rises to political power by openly affirming his importance or his need to want to enjoy the perks that come with political power. And once you rise, like cubes or grains of sugar will attract ants, you attract peoplei. This is not the problem. The problem is why people in power suddenly become so disconnected from reality, pretending that all is well, refusing to tolerate objections, even the mildest and best-intentioned reprimand, censure and dissidence. They will at first, preach to love the truth, then mid-way, keep at armlength all those who can speak truth to power.

They become so puffed up that they ingloriously assume they have attained perfection. The crude power holders snuff out in pitch darkness these noble ones and the less crude ones buy them over with appointments, monies, contracts and what have you. And when those whose critical voices would have helped shape their government understand the tradition, they hush their tones or criticize loudly to get the attention of the power holders and be rewarded-then all voices die down.

They now forget that the dearth and death of democracy is the lack of naysayers. Any government that publicly celebrates the absence of opposition need not seek a soothsayer to tell her that she is in comatose, for some of those they have surrounding them at that point are what someone has referred to as friends of office. Nna, no one steps on burning coals with a bare foot, stop killing yourself by yourself, don’t shut up opposition.

The reality of what you are doing now may begin to dawn on you, like that commissioner, days just before you leave office. When you leave office and suddenly people begin to publicly say things about you which they couldn’t say to you while you were in office, probably, you caused it. You shut their mouths up for too long and your exit from office has opened it. You think you’re using them, right? Lol! You don’t know they’re actually using you to further their own agenda. Doubt this at your risk. The billboards, newspaper felicitations, jingles and support groups may not be a true reflection of public opinion. They are merely giving you what you want.

To save yourself, you had better assemble a small group of courageous, wise and truthful men and women to routinely tell you where you’re getting it wrong. If possible, please don’t give them appointments. You can pay them from your overhead or security vote but if you must give them appointments for reasons you know best, then give them the leeway to speak truthfully to you.

In addition, find yourself one whom an American Journalist, Louis McHenry Howe, once called a toe holder- a grounding confidant that de-elevates leaders from the isolated and dizzying heights of power. I hope you find this useful.

January 18, 2021
While Wailing, They Feasted – By Onochie Jon-Igwesi

Adaeze finished from a private and reputable secondary school in Enugu at a tender age of 15 and at 16, she had already gained admission into one of the universities in the country to study Architecture, at a time when most of her age mates were just beginning their senior secondary classes.

In school, she was outstanding as her academics witnessed no setback despite participating in virtually every curricular & extra-curricular activity on campus. By her 300level, she already had a CGP of 4.59. She was a good basketball player and as if that wasn’t enough, she had the voice of the heavenlies.

To say that Adaeze was pretty was an understatement; she was fit for only Kings and Princes. As expected, boys were always on her matter-without committing to anyone, she just went with the tide. On social media, she was a hottie and influencer. She had a thriving lingerie & perfume business that fetched her extra cash aside her monthly upkeep from her apparently wealthy parents.

Did I mention that her Dad was a reputable Architect and she already had a position reserved for her in her Dad’s company? One thing was certain-the future was already set for and beckoning on Adaeze.

Fast forward to her final year, she wrote her degree examinations, defended her project and began the usual clearance preceding NYSC. One fateful day, two months into her wait for her call up letter to NYSC, she complained of feeling excruciating pains in her stomach, she got drugs to relieve her of the pains but when the pains wouldn’t go, she was admitted in a hospital. Three days later, she bade the earth farewell in a manner most painful to her family and friends.

(Exhales) After all the struggles and seeming promises of bliss and greatness the future held for Adaeze, she died just like that. Her family wept profusely over her inexplicable death, her mum quickly developing high BP from the news. Her demise shattered the walls of social media, trending for weeks, non-stop. Her course mates were too devastated to believe it was true. It just didn’t make sense that one minute Adaeze was alive, apparently responding to treatments and the next minute she was dead; lots of questions with no answers. Well, life had to go on.

What followed next was the preparation for Adaeze’s funeral. Her family vowed to accord her a deserving last respect. There were invitations to be sent to different groups, radio announcements to be made, uniforms to be bought, distributed and sown, posters to be printed, polo shirts with her face and name to be produced, different kinds of food to be cooked for both the night of songs and funeral proper, drinks to be bought, burial brochure to be produced, cows, goats and fowls to be slaughtered, coffin to be bought, decorators to be consulted, meetings between the church and Adaeze’s family, services of undertakers to be employed; it was as if the list of things to be taken care of were unending.

After months of careful preparation by Adaeze’s family to which the extended family and friends contributed little to nothing, the D-day finally came; the day the gorgeous and promising Adaeze was to be buried. Immediately Adaeze was interred to mother earth amidst the cries and wailings of family, friends and well-wishers, plates of food began flying around the “event”. People were seriously clamouring for their own share of foods and drinks; voices were raised and the attendants were cussed by those who felt cheated by the sharing formula-tears began to diminish & disappear from people’s eyes. Even Adaeze’s parents were so busy doling out instructions to the attendants to make sure that all attendees were satisfied that they forgot they had just lost their gem of a daughter. Hmmm! At that point, barely no one remembered again that the future of a young and promising girl was just snuffed out in pitch darkness by inexplicable events. Needless saying that all attendees were really satisfied because Adaeze’s burial was the talk of the town for months.

This is just Fiction. I’m merely trying to use it to drive home a point. Let us go back in time to the creation story-the good old days of Eden. When God made man, He never intended that man would go down six feet deep after a time on earth but due to the fall of man, He gave us death, not as a revel but as a reminder in strong terms of man’s depravity. Suffice to say that today, it appears death and its inevitability has lost its message.

Funerals have become feasts and opportunities for outrageous merrymaking. The hearts of most are only heavy for as long as the Preacher’s heart-rending sermon during the funeral lasts. You scarcely hear dirges sung in funerals again. Mostly gone are those days when during the funeral of a deceased, family and friends become melodramatic, wanting to jump into the grave and be buried together with the deceased. These things no longer happen. They are now moribund and can only be seen in Nollywood movies.

At present, aside walking down the aisle, one other easy way to bankruptcy is funerals and woe betide you, if the person you are to bury lived up to 85years and above. You know, we call the funerals of those at that age and above “Celebration of life”. I am not saying that it is entirely wrong to give a befitting funeral to an outstanding person. What I am saying is that the grandiosity of a funeral has never, can never, and will never be a criterion for measuring the essence and usefulness of one’s life.

When a man dies, what should be of utmost importance are the things to learn from his life, how to extend and bequeath the memory of his legacies to the present and the unborn, not how to canonize a horrible person using a costly funeral. Sometimes, I wish we could take a cue from the Westerners on issues of funeral.

Even if our funerals should be such revelry then everyone must learn decisively to cut their coat according to their cloth. The rich should bury like the rich and the poor like the poor. I do not see a reason why funerals should put one’s account on red simply because one wants the echoes of a funeral to be heard louder than that of a neighbour.

Let’s try not to forget the cause of death and the clandestine message it carries. We must not forget that no matter the affluence of a funeral, the same fate awaits us all. We must also begin to be reoriented that after we have gone the way of all the earth, the living shall only remember us because of our works.

January 7, 2021
Edebor Foundation Donates Educational Materials to School Children

…charges others to imbibe the act of giving back to the society

“At the end, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” Denzel Washington

Driven by the above quote to leave indelible prints in the annals of history, with a view to leaving the mother earth much better than he met it before the inevitable call from the Great adventure could connect, Egnr. Daniel Okwudiri Ohaa, a recalcitrant-self-sacrificing Civil Servant of Nkanu West descent, thought it wise to co-find the EDEBOR FOUNDATION, a pet project saddled with the responsibility of giving a sense of belonging especially in education, to indigent children, and possibly activate a level play ground for all; such that there could be little or no limitations to the distance the children of the poor can travel in achieving their potentials when compared to their counterparts from a richer background.

Whereas conceptualising this lofty but worthwhile dream was made easy by the rather rough and tough personal experiences Okwudiri had while growing up, notably, during his school days, actualising the Idea became much easier by his unprecedented willingness to give, backed up by yet an uncommon zeal to Search for the most appropriate recipients of his generous gestures. For it is one thing to be willing to give, but yet another thing, which of course is the most important, to search for the most vulnerable members of the society – the downtrodden; for while many are poor, more are wretched. It’s said that he who stepped into the river first, knows where it is deeper, and warns those still ashore of impending danger areas. This young Engineer and by the grace of God, the Enugu State Chief fire Officer, does not stop at signalling the red areas, he goes further to bridge the gap between the threats and the threatened. This, he has shown again today by alleviating to some reasonable extent, the suffering of some parents in paying the Education bills of their children.

On 10th December, 2020, the EDEBOR FOUNDATION, in her maiden outing in Okwudiri’s home town – Umueze Awkunanaw in Nkanu West LGC, hosted over 500 Primary School students from Community Primary School Umueze, Obuoffia Primary School 1 and Obuoffia Primary School 2. Over Six Thousand copies of exercise books, Six Hundred pieces of ruler, One Thousand pieces of pen and Five Hundred pieces of Mathematical sets, were donated to Three Primary Schools in Nkanu-West LGC, in the first tranche of EDEBOR Foundation’s outreach, sponsored singlehandedly by Egnr. Daniel Okkwudiri Ohaa.

In his welcome address, Engr. Ohaa maintained that though the donation was from his personal savings, not as a politician, but a civil servant with a definite income; he went further to explain that the writing Materials were packaged by his foundation to be a source of succour to the parents of the benefitting students for at least one accademic session. He surprisingly insisted that his foundation was even ready to augment any shortfalls that may surface from any benefitting students as a result of the materials being exhausted within the accademic session in view. He finally gave all credence to the Enugu State Governor, His Excellency Lawrence Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi, HELIU, for finding him worthy to serve.

The Nkanu West Local Council Chairman, Chief Nwabueze Nnamani, in his separate speech, emphasized on the irreplaceable importance of quality Education to every child, irrespective of background. He described Education as an inalienable right to every Nigerian Child. He extolled the daring approach of Egnr. Ohaa in always giving back to the society.

The Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Professor Uche Eze, described Okwudiri’s gesture as an ‘enhanced opportunity for Education’. According to him, Education is everybody’s business, as not even the Government can do it all alone. He enjoined other stakeholders to emulate EDEBOR FOUNDATION’S stance on mass Education, as a means of relieving the Government of some burdens.

The Chairman, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, represented in the occasion by the director Quality Assurance Department of the board, Mrs Oby Igwe, could not hold back his happiness for what a Civil Servant could do in promoting Education in Enugu State. He said that Egnr. Ohaa and his EDEBOR FOUNDATION will go down in history as two of the most selfless bodies in Nkanu West in particular and Enugu in general. He encouraged the donor to keep moving and not relent, as they will be remembered positively by posterity..

Other dignitaries in the event include: Rev. Chris Nwadike – Priest incharge, Methodist Church Nigeria, Umueze; Onyema Okoani – Creative Director Black Jaguar Book Club; Rt Honourable Uchenna Ejim – Legislative Aide to Nkanu West LGC Chairman; Prince Onochie Igwesi – Chairman/Publisher, Pacesetter Frontier Magazine; Nnamani Samuel Freeman – Co Convener, Nkanu Concerned Citizens; Hon. Bartholomew Ebuka Okoh – Director, Barth Special Agro; and so many others.

December 11, 2020
Good Deeds Do Not Die; The Legend Yet Lives On

By Onochie Jon-Igwesi

Let us go back in time to the evening of June 9, 2020. While putting finishing editorial touches to the maiden Democracy Edition of Pacesetter Frontier Magazine which was planned to be released on June 12, 2020, I received a call from my father, H.R.H Eze Barr Igwesi O. Igwesi. My father, who had taken to farming as one of his ventures, had called to let me know that his car broke down around Obeagu community, as he made his way back to his palace in Omuoha, Obuoffia from the farm.

My father’s inclination to always call me in times such as what was at hand wasn’t lost on me. Perhaps he had a strong belief in me to always, promptly step up to the matter and get it done, and although working on seeing the magazine released exactly on June 12, 2020 was a priority, I just couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him out there and not being the usual me. By the time he called back to tell me not to bother coming again since his mechanic was on the way, I was already some minutes close to where his car broke down.

Fast forward to minutes later, I arrived at Obeagu-Amechi Road, precisely the junction leading to the palace of the Traditional Ruler of Obeagu Uno Autonomous community, HRH Igwe Linus Okafor, a fine gentleman. I got to know that he is a successful businessman based in Jos; Ah! the typical Igbo man and his pan-Nigerian mindset again. Let’s not wander too far joor; my father’s car, according to the mechanic’s diagnosis wasn’t going to be fixed that evening so the only available option was to push it into Igwe’s Palace so that the next day, the mechanic would fix it. The only problem was that the car was an SUV and the gate leading to Igwe Okafor’s Palace was up a slight hill.

While thinking of what to do, we noticed a locked church compound across the road and a residential building with its gate slightly ajar, adjacent the church. I approached the compound to speak to the owner to permit us push in and park the car till the next day.

“Cast your Bread upon waters, for after many days you will find it again”. Those were the words of King Solomon. As at the time I took decision to enter that compound, I didn’t know that I would see those words play out just as it was written.

When I got into the compound and knocked, a woman, whom I guess was in her mid or late fifties answered and asked what I wanted. I thought it necessary to speak the beautiful Nkanu dialect to see if it would water the ground for the request I was about to make. I introduced myself as Onochie and recounted my father’s experience with his car and all that had happened till that moment but to my chagrin she said “No”. She said “Daddy”, referring to her husband, wasn’t around and as such she couldn’t decide alone. Thinking about it in hind sight, she displayed the nature of a well-bred, traditional Igbo woman who would never attempt to usurp her husband’s powers without getting a nod of approval (Exhales), Nwanyi bu Ife.

I left to tell my father and he decided to speak to her by himself. He introduced himself as Obi Igwesi. The moment the woman heard “Igwesi”, she asked “Is it the Igwesi from Obuoffia?’’ My father nodded in the affirmative. She wasn’t satisfied, she asked again “Are you the son of the late John Igwesi?” My father nodded again and immediately, her face lit up and she said “My husband is Philip Ani. He always talks about John Igwesi. He said your father (John Igwesi) trained him back in the days at Umudike (I feel she was talking about the then School of Agriculture, Umudike which is presently known as Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu). He said that if it weren’t for your father, things would have become really hard for him. He said he wasn’t the only one your father was training at that time. He also talked about how your mother would always give him a very big portion of food because she and my husband were both from Amechi and she always called him her brother”.

HRH Eze John Egbo Igwesi

She said so many other beautiful things about my Grandfather while I just watched and listened in awe and admiration of a man who was a Colossus while he lived. My father went ahead to make again, exactly the same plea I made and this time she quickly gave her nod of approval. While we left to push in the car, I overheard her say to her visitor who was there while all these went on: “Daddy wouldn’t have been happy if he came back and heard that I turned back the son of John Igwesi without rendering him the assistance he needed”.

Yet again, she didn’t disappoint. I think she should be called Obidiya for she could tell what her husband would do at any given situation. Her approval of the request after she came to know whose seed my father was – wasn’t a usurpation of her husband’s powers, it was a strong and undisputable confirmation that good deeds do not die. If they did, how come we came to reap the benefits of the deeds of a man who died many years ago?

His Royal Majesty, King John Egbo Igwesi (Eze Chinawaeze II of Obuoffia) was a civil servant with the then Nigerian Coal Corporation. He represented Udi Central Constituency in the then Eastern House of Assembly under NCNC. He was the Chairman, Nkanu County Council for 7 unbroken years, a record no other has held till date. He led the formation of Awkunanaw Welfare Association. He was a Scholar, seasoned Parliamentarian and a conscientious civil servant. He was the King of Obuoffia and the clan head of Awkunanaw. He will always be fondly remembered for moving the historic motion that bestowed autonomy on Nkanu Local Government from the old Udi Division.

He trained and oversaw the establishment and rise of many sons and daughters of Awkunanw and Nkanu Land, some of whom are still alive till date. He personified Justice as a defiant and strong willed WAWA man, little wonder, a typical Nkanu man who had been denied justice will tell you “I will show you John Igwesi.” He was an Iroko and he came, saw, conquered and surpassed a lot of his contemporaries, a man whose political and historical records have been treasured at the Archives of the Enugu State Ministry of Information. This, in summary, was the man whose name at that moment opened onto us a door that was shut.

King John Igwesi is dead and yet he lives on. Those who are vexed and envious of the great life and times of John Igwesi have at times turned the truth about him and his descendants, to make it stand on its head. Because that position is uncomfortable for the truth, the truth has always, against all odds, reverted to its normal position which is standing on its feet.

Some days after the car incident, I got to know that Mr. Philip Ani died as a result of an illness he had been down with for some time. Ah! (Hisses) I felt so bad, but I still felt somehow happy, happy because fate was very kind to him. Fate kept him alive till he did a last act of kindness to the first son of the late John Igwesi. I’m sure that as he journeyed to the great beyond, he must have felt fulfilled because he was able to say “Thank you” in his own little way to the late John Igwesi for all the good deeds he did to him and many others in his life time.

Like someone once said, carve your name on hearts because legacy is not just leaving something for people but leaving something in people.

Before you die, if you haven’t, ensure that the world owe you a favour, a debt which they would pay to your children and descendants unborn. Leave the inheritance of a good name for your children in a world that will feel indebted to them because of the kindness, goodness and compassion of their parents. It was Jonathan’s kindness that caused his crippled son Mephibosheth to eat for the rest of his life at the table of the king, David.

I have now learnt to at all times introduce myself as Onochie, without forgetting Jon-Igwesi, so that perhaps one would show me kindness because of the good deeds of Igwe John Egbo Igwesi.

Shalom.

Onochie Jon-Igwesi writes from Omuoha, Obuoffia, Awkunanaw.

October 20, 2020