Okonkwo Samuel
Ogbuefi Omelora, Tony Nnachetta, Grand Knight of the Order of St. Mulumba, KSM, is my mentor, Counsellor and role model. Some days ago, I ran into him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. He told me of his aspiration to represent Anambra North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
He told me he is running on the mantra of LEADERSHIP, COMPETENCE, CAPACITY AND COMPASSION. My first reaction was to think that a square peg is about to be fitted into the square hole of Anambra North Senatorial District because of his well known integrity. At last, it appears that a Daniel is coming to judgement in the zone. As he made to enter his chauffeur driven car, he shook my humble hands. I wished him good luck and said to him, “Oga TN, if your people truly want credible representation in the 10th Senate, you should be their choice”. He merely smiled.
That was days ago. I have since been thinking about my mentor’s aspiration and asking myself, if Ogbuefi Omelora is indeed competent enough to provide the unique representation the zone has lacked since 1999? It is an open question which I know the answer to be yes but I want the people of the zone to find their own answers.
The Grand Knight holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus and a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Lagos. As if preparing himself for the challenges of today and tomorrow, he pursued and earned Executive Program Certificates from the Lagos Business School in 1997 and Harvard University in 2002.
He received further trainings in Professional and Executive Management Programs, including the Euro-Money International Banking School, Robinson College, Cambridge University; CNN World Economic Congress, Washington DC; Price Waterhouse/Financial Times Capital Markets Workshop, London; The Sovereign Risk Management Workshop, National Westminster Bank, Wall Street, New York.
Cynics, diehard critics and even his opponents would agree as I do, that Nnachetta is very competent to represent Anambra North in the 10th Senate.
I further asked myself if Ogbuefi Omelora has the required capacity, not only to restore hope to the zone but to attract critical dividends that would impact positively on the zone and its future generations? I will again allow the people to find their own answers.
For about three decades, he was an active participant in the Money and Capital Markets. He was indeed the first Nigerian Trader on the Reuters Forex Platform as far back as 1986 and rose to become Secretary of the Money Market. Like a colossus, he also bestrode the Nigerian Banking Industry, serving at the United Bank for Africa, UBA, International Merchant Bank, IMB, African Continental Bank, ACB, and these board level responsibilities were later crowned with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Alpha Merchant Bank PLC.
In a remarkable proof of his versatility, Nnachetta joined hands with other professionals to birth the maiden edition of the Guardian Newspaper, which indeed revolutionized the newspaper industry in Nigeria. As former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association and currently, Member of the Presidential Panel on Football Master plan, Nnachetta was deeply involved in the administration and evolution Nigerian Football, the same evolution and innovation he has promised to deploy in the 10th Senate for the compassionate, capable and competent representation of his people.
Tony Nnachetta was former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Anambra State and former Commissioner for Youth Enterpreneurship and Sports Development, Member State Security Council, State Boundary Committee and State IGR Committee. Nnachetta’s robust experience in the Corporate World, especially in Banking, Money Management and Investments, and in Administration, Leadership and Public Service, coupled with experience in Public Media, Civil Society Organizations and Arbitration endows him with enough capacity to make every indigene of Anambra North proud in the 10th Senate.
Then, my mind drifted to the last cache of his running mantra, COMPASSION. Obviously, the zone has not been represented by compassionate individuals, driven by a zeal to improve the living conditions of its people. The question then is, is Tony Nnachetta a compassionate person? The people will find their own answers too.
Omelora is a traditional title, meaning one who provides for many. Traditional titles are not bought in the markets but bestowed by communities upon deserving individuals, in recognition of their contributions to the development of the communities and welfare of their people. The title of OMELORA bestowed upon Tony Nnachetta is an affirmation by his people that before now, he has been providing for them.
The Ogbuefi title is given only to those who have consistently slaughtered cows for the culinary delight of their people. He was also given this title by the people, in approval of his long time provision of “stomach infrastructure” for his people. Nnachetta is a grassroot person who has well known history of crying with his kinsmen when they cry and laughing with them in their joyful moments. In his many years of Public Service he helped many people from the zone to secure jobs in Banks and in government Ministries and Parastatals. He has given scholarships to less privileged children and empowered widows and people in diverse needs.
Yes, Ogbuefi Omelora, Tony Nnachetta, Grand Knight of the order of St. Mulumba is compassionate and urbane. I believed him when he said that his desire to go to the Senate is to ensure the attraction to the zone of such critical amenities, infrastructures and development that would elevate the living standards of the people of the zone and also ensure sustainable legacies that would cater for their unborn generations.
For instance, he said that the coastal areas of the zone covering 7 Local Governments and sufficiently watered by Rivers Niger and Omambala needs immediate revolution in its farming processes. The revolution will include irrigation projects to ensure round the year farming, Federal Government’s intervention in the provision of free or subsidized fertilizer and genetically improved agricultural products to boost farmers harvest. He promised to attract modern farming equipments like tractors, harvesters etc and to overhaul the entire maritime economy of the zone, to revolutionize fishing, fishery and allied industries. He said he is determined to create a network of well asphalted rural roads to enable farmers in interior inlands to access urban markets with their goods.
This is true compassion not just for elites but mainly for the suffering and neglected rural folks, who provide the entire zone and beyond with necessary food.
This noble and people oriented aspiration needs the support of every individual who truly desires the development and advancement of Anambra North Senatorial Zone in the 10th Senate.
Uchem Obi,
Awka.
