LEADERSHIP, NOT A DO OR DIE AFFAIR – IKPEAZU.

By Onyebuchi Ememanka
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has decried the attitude of some aspiring political leaders who believe that they must occupy public offices at all costs, saying that if indeed leadership is a call to serve, then it shouldn’t be a do or die affair.
According to the Governor, “if you want to serve a people and they refuse, why kill yourself and others in the process? If you offer your services and it’s not accepted, you simply move on instead of trying to destroy the very people you wanted to serve”.
The Governor made these remarks last night at the Governor’s Lodge Aba when he received in audience, a delegation of the leadership of the Aba Sports Club (1926). The Governor commended the Aba Sports Club for maintaining a high standard of decency and maturity in selecting their leaders over the years and tasked politicians to learn from the style of the members of the Aba Sports Club who see leadership selection as a game to be enjoyed. He stated that his membership of the Club and the Rotary Club shaped his approach to politics.
Earlier, the President of the Aba Sports Club (1926), Chief Geoffrey Uzoagbara told the Governor that they came to felicitate with him as their member on his victory at the Supreme Court and to thank him for the support he has consistently given to the club, especially during the 2nd Abia Pro-Am Golf championship which brought top golfers to Aba.
He also informed the Governor that the club which was established in 1926 as the first membership recreation club in Nigeria will be celebrating her 90th anniversary this year and called on the Governor to be part of the celebrations. He also informed the Governor of the elevation of a Past President of the Club, Elder CAN Nwokeukwu to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Speaking also, Elder Chibuike Nwokeukwu thanked the Governor for what he described as his “exemplary humility”, stating that when he leaves office, he won’t have any challenges integrating himself back into the society because he has so demystified the usual officialdom around governance.
The new SAN said that having been around some top officials of government for a long time and knowing their attitude, Ikpeazu is different. He still pays his club dues, attends club functions when he can without any fanfare and still plays his usual roles in the club, something the club is not used to having seen lots of their members who occupied political offices in the past.
Captain of the Ladies Golf Section, Lady Ngodi Nkwoji also asked the Governor to kindly be a part of their Ladies Open Golf Championship taking place soon.
A Past President of the Club, Sir Greg Esotu, Vice President of the Club, Andy Uba Obasi, Membership Secretary, Elder Chris Agbo and Bar Secretary, Daukon Ogba Onuoha were part of the delegation.