By Divine Nwankwo, Ogunji’s protégé.
On Thursday, 26th November 2020, Ohambele-Ndoki in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State will be agog as government officials and public office holders, clergy and members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, PDP faithful, Ohanaeze NdI Igbo, management and staff of Abia State Ministry of Environment among other sympathizers and well-wishers would gather to pay last respect to their colleague, brother and friend, Engr. Solomon Nkem Ogunji Ph.D, the immediate past Honourable Commissioner for Environment in Abia State, who died recently after a brief illness.
King Solomon in Ecclisiastics Chapter three verse one declared that “To every thing, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. Hence, a time to born and a time to die. In line with the scriptures, Dr. Solomon Nkem Ogunji was born on the 23rd March, 1961 to the family of a renowned Ohambele-Ndoki born Seventh-Day Adventist minister of the gospel, Pastor Ogunji Nwabo of blessed memory.
After completing his primary school, Dr. Solomon Ogunji proceded to Ihie High School where he did his secondary school and later to IMT Enugu, where got his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Building Engineering in 1979.
In 1991, he enrolled into the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and bagged a Bachelors degree in Project Management Technology. The quest for further studies and excellence in academics made Dr. Ogunji to gain admission to do Masters of Science degree (M.Sc) in Project Management and thereafter, Doctorate degree in the same discipline, which he rounded off in 2015.
Dr. Ogunji’s political journey started In 1990, when he resigned as a school teacher after teaching for 7 years and joined the race for the Abia House of Assembly on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP). However, he ended up being the Party Chairman of SDP for his Council, Ukwa East Local Government Area.
A committed party man, Dr. Ogunji served in various capacities. Prior to the return of democracy in 1999, Late Ogunji was the State Secretary of Grassroot Democratic Movement. He had served as State Secretary of All Peoples Party (APP), thereafter, he was appointed State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ogunji was the Secretary General and Coordinator of Otuonu Movement. He played a very significant role though that agitation could not produce Ukwa/Ngwa Governor then, however, he was fulfilled that at the appointed time, the dream finally came to true in 2015.
In 2010, Late Dr. Solomon Ogunji was appointed the Honourable Commissioner for Environment by the former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji (Ochendo). He retained this position, thus served as the Commissioner for Environment twice under the leadership of Governor T.A Orji, from 2010 to 2013. He worked assiduously to ensure that the former Governor completed his second tenure in office.
In June, 2015, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, having known the exceptional qualities of Dr. Solomon Nkem Ogunji, his childhood friend, ensured he was few of the first political appointees he made as Dr. Ogunji was appointed Special Adviser Political and Aba Urban Renewal. Ogunji’s exploit in this particular office was amazing that the Governor further created a special committee known as Aba Urban Renewal Committee and directed that he heads it. In his capacity as the Chairman of Aba Urban Renewal Committee, Ogunji ensured that houses built on drainages and/or waterways were removed. The result of the lawful demolition of illegal structures within Aba and its environs led by Dr. Ogunji is the massive expansion of roads that Aba residents and members of the public are enjoying today.
The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu later appointed Dr. Solomon Nkem Ogunji to be the Commissioner for Environment. There was no doubt of whether Ogunji could perform because, Environment was a well-known terrain for him. Everybody was a witness to the audacity and sagacity with which he monitored the State-wide monthly sanitation exercises, especially in Aba; persuading people to clean their environment. Other assignments given to him as the Commissioner for Environment was handled with vigour and delivered efficiently and effectively. Ogunji’s team of task force brought back people’s consciousness to the monthly exercise. He deployed various strategies including involving his task force team to ensure evacuation of dirt and debris, desilting of blocked drains, sensitization of the people in markets and streets with public address system among others. Ogunji’s committment saw to the securing of the World Bank contract worth 27.4 billion Naira through NEWMAP, for the lofty project that would fix Portharcourt Road, Ngwa Road, Ohanko Road, Obohia Road and its environs with an expected bigger water tunnel to be constructed to further redeem Aba’s environment.
At the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, Late Dr. Ogunji was appointed the Abia State Covid-19 Task Force Chairman and he was always at the front line with his task force members in making sure Abia people and residents comply to government directives to mitigate the spread of the virus.
The political relevance of Dr. Ogunji was copious even beyond Abia State. He was until his death, the acting Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo world wide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization. He was also, an Ex Officio member of South East- National Executive of PDP.
Those who know Dr. Ogunji would attest to the fact that his political vehicle has no reverse mechanism; when he says he is with a particular individual, candidate or party, he sees to it that he stands with such a one even with his last drop of blood, whether he wins or loses, he did not mind. It is worthy to note that, Late Solomon Nkem Ogunji played an indispensable role in the emergence of his bossom childhood friend, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu in 2015 as the party gubernatorial agent, who preferred to spend the whole day and night at the INEC office to ensure his friend was not short-changed but eventually declared the Governor of the State. He really demonstrated and acted as a very good ambassador of the party. Dr. Ogunji was a genius of a sort, a man ready to learn from a younger or junior officer to achieve the organization’s objectives. He would only shout on somene to compel him to do the right thing but forgives and forgets afterwards. He had no stomach for malice. His aggressive pursuit for people to obey government’s orders are done with zeal and zest without fear or favour and this was examplified whenever he storms Aba for monthly sanitation exercise. Dr. Ogunji was always bold and brutally frank in his stand for what he believed in. A political bulldozer and a lion in the political jungle, Ogunji was a star in the political firmament of PDP, a rare gem whose unfettered support and commitment to the party ideals was unparalleled.
Late Dr. Solomon Nkem Ogunji’s political life was characterised with enviable attributes that endeared him to many people. A courageous, vibrant and energetic fellow, Dr. Ogunji discharged his duties with desterity, not minding whose ox is gored. He was fearless and hated bribe taking but insisted that whatever order government gave must be carried out accordingly. No wonder he would always shout on people in a manner such as “Enyi, anyị agaghị eme ya!” “Anyị agaghị ekwe!” “Government ekweghị!” “Enyi, ma imeghi government obey, anyị atụọgi mkpụrụ”, all to ensure that people comply with government policies accordingly.
Undoubtedly, Late Dr. Solomon Nkem Ogunji paid his dues in Abia politics and therefore deserves to be remembered, honoured and celebrated. This Ohambele-Ndoki born building technologist and academic made indelible marks in the sands of time and affected lives positively, not minding one’s place of origin, hence, his aids and members of his task force cut across various LGAs and beyond. He believed in one’s capacity to deliver on programs, projects and services. The State Ministry of Environment and members of various task forces he inaugurated as well as Abia NEWMAP, which he midwifed at the last lap of his second tenure as Commissioner under former Governor T. A Orji would for ever remember him and the legacies he left behind.
Indeed, the PDP family has lost a colossus, an adroit and hard-nosed party stalwart. The Eastern Union Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and Seventh-Day Adventist Church generally, a worthy faithful has been lost and for Ndi Ndoki, it is a monumental loss of a brave son and great hero of Ogunji Nwabo family, particularly, the wife, Mrs. Chidinma Ogunji and children as well as his aged mother, it is really disheartening. As the remains of this political giant and great iroko is lowered to mother Earth, it is the prayer of all that God would grant the immediate family and all affected by his demise, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Farewell ‘AGA-EGBU MMADỤ TAA’!
Farewell Dee Nkem!!
Farewell Dr. Solomon Nkemakolam Ogunji Nwabo!!!
It is Good night!
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