Brethren, my last trip to Abuja three weeks ago gave me a thorough insight into the real efficacy of true unionism. During the outing, I was privileged to interact with my old time university friends. There was severe rancour among some members of the gathering during those days in the university; and the rancour was due to our involvement in Students Unionism, which I happened to be one of the staunch leaders. The Abuja professional convention brought us together again just like one single and united family. We were busy sharing and reawakening our unforgotten nostalgias with extreme vigour and passion. Believe me, that togetherness or reunion that lasted for barely seventy two hours, three days precisely, yielded a fathomless and tangible fruit to our greatest surprise.
I want to sincerely let you know that, misunderstanding among partners or members of a certain family is natural. In other words, it’s as old as the world, if not older. Even, lately I’ve come to realize and as well conclude that, misunderstanding helps to solidify any relationship. But, it invariably leads to mayhem when the people involved fail to embrace a rethink and retrench their respective steps for the sake of reconciliation.
Our concern for today remains the epoch of reconciliation and solidarity talks amongst the leaders of Oru East Local Government Area (LGA), which was ably and duly organized by the present Transition Committee (TC) Chairman of the said LGA, in the person of Honourable Barrister Obinna Augustus Amagwula.
Immediately after the assumption of office, the Oru East TC-Chairman made a gigantic move to ensure that normalcy is restored in Oru East in its entirety by indulging each of the aggrieved leaders of the council who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), otherwise known as the ruling party, in a prolonged peace talks, having pleaded with each of them for formidable unity. He let them realize the need for them to come together once more and bear one mind for the interest of the anticipated growth in the council and their children yet unborn. Subsequently, without further delay, the people involved unanimously agreed to dance to the enticing idea and tune of the TC-Chairman.
The proposed reconciliation came to reality on Tuesday march 4 – 2014, when the first phase of the meeting among the leaders took place at the council headquarters – Omuma. On that fateful day which recorded a massive turnout to my enormous surprise, the leaders such as Chief Hon. Nathan Odogwu, Dr. Emma Ogbenta, Chief Donatus Ejimfugha, Prince Marshal Anyanwu, among others who were present, agreed to schedule for the second phase of the gathering, so that, anyone who wasn’t present would be opportune to join the chorus.
The second phase of the reconciliation and solidarity talks took place on Sunday March 9 - 2014, still at the council headquarters. As a social analyst, if called to earn my view, I’ll say that the most impressive and genuine aspect of the gathering was that, it took place on a neutral ground, the council headquarters.
I must commend the TC-Chairman and his co-members for this rare initiative. I also want to seize this opportunity to appreciate all the concerned leaders, for the intense maturity showcased by them; they’ve proven to me that they’re not just leaders, but also, the eyes of others. I urge other TC-Chairmen and their fellow leaders to emulate the juicy and charming gesture.
I’m sure the Oru East TC-Chairman and his impeccable co-members might have embarked on a thorough fasting and prayers before summoning the impetus to call for the solidarity talks, because, some of the persons involved had been at the loggerheads for many years. Suffice to say that, the predecessors of the Transition Committee members must had taken a similar step to no avail. My presumption of having gone for thorough fasting and prayers is not unconnected to what the TC-Chairman told me during a phone conversation with him; during the conversation, when I tried to enquire how he was able to actualize such marvelous dream, he simply told me that, it was a thing of divinity. Let’s ride on!
The remarkable and miraculous thing that transpired on the day of the second phase of the gathering proved to me that, truly, the initiative was a thing of divinity as it was cited by the TC-Chairman. While the ceremony was taking place, it rained profoundly in the vicinity of the council headquarters which was the venue of the occasion, but amazingly, there was no drop of rain witnessed at the venue in spite of the thunderstorms that echoed severally at the venue in question. Surprisingly, the rain commenced at the venue immediately after the ceremony was over. A thing of divinity indeed!
I pray that this mark of divinity will continue to follow the Chairman and his co-members throughout their reign in Oru East, because, the LGA had suffered tremendously in the past due to enmity and treachery.
No doubt, a remarkable history was made on Thursday January 23 – 2014 when Barr. Amagwula was sworn in as the TC-Chairman of Oru East, just as I cited it on this very column, Monday February 3, 2014 to be precise; because with my experience so far, I’m of the view that, a leader who started with reconciliation would surely attain to the peak of his/her dream. Though I’m not surprise, because, a man whose tongue is always filled with praises and worship songs and as well sings praises anywhere he finds himself, which I’ve personally observed in the person of Barrister Obinna Amagwula, is no doubt a true man of God. From my humble definition, a “Man of God” is one who sincerely worships God and follows His rules as well.
If the TC-Chairman of Oru East is gifted with the aforementioned idiosyncrasy, then permit me to say that, the entire people of Oru-East is blessed for having someone like him as their leader. Thus, to have tagged his appointment as Oru East TC-Chairman as “a remarkable history” wasn’t a mistaken utterance; and I’ll continue to thank the lovely and loving Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, for such wonderful gesture displayed by him.
But one thing must be made clear here. Our amiable leaders who were involved in the reconciliation cum solidarity talks ought to note that, they’ve indulged themselves in what Igbo people call “Oriko”. Oriko is a sort of holistic initiation among some/all members of a certain family who are at loggerheads, whereby they willingly accept to dine together which signifies reunion. In Igbo land, having participated in “Oriko”, anyone who goes contrary to the agreement in subsequent time might attract the wrath of God. Even those who were unavoidably absent at the ceremonies, but signified their willingness either through phone calls or otherwise, should have it in their respective minds that they were also involved in the Oriko.
Brethren, even at this juncture, I’m surely convinced that a tremendous achievement have been recorded in Oru East since we’re now sure that peace has come to stay in the area. Just like I said in my penultimate edition that, a formidable unity among family members guarantees peace, and peace alone yields fathomless progress (success). Think about it!
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FDN NWAOZOR
frednwaozor@gmail.com
