Essential Ndubuisi
By Mezie Akabudu
When I got the news of the impending chieftaincy tittle scheduled to be crowned on Engr Chris Azubogu by Igwe Nnewi on the 28th of December 2020, I felt disappointed, disappointed in the sense that I have never seen Azubogu as one of those title crazy politicians, so what is so special about this title that he should go after it.
In the morning of the said date of coronation I saw Azubogu post on Facebook how he took some members of the senate on an inspection tour of the Nnewi automotive industrial park and from there he took them to IVM all in his efforts to better the lot of his people. I said to myself, I thought this guy was billed to receive a chieftaincy title, I expected him to be deep in preparation for the event but how positively disappointed I was.
I watched his grand entry into the arena, I couldn’t help but notice a decent crowd of supporters who led him into the venue again, I was positively disappointed as I didn’t see a riotous crowd as expected of the average Nigerian politician.
I must confess I loved the display of the PDP flags by the escort crowd.
When Azubogu made his post on his reasons for accepting the honour, I understood the unexciting and forlorn look on his face while receiving the award, I simply agree with him that it’s not yet time for awards rather still time for work.
ICHEOKU Nnewi wrote on Facebook last year when Azubogu buried the younger sister, that he was disappointed by Azubogu for not serving champagne and exotic drinks at the burial, in his words, he said Anambra state would not want to have another Peter Obi neither will the state make do with another Obiano, rather he would prefer someone in-between. I felt so disappointed with ICHEOKU and at the same time fell deeper in love with the person of Chris Azubogu.
So while watching the pictures and videos shared online by friends who attended the reception in honour of Azubogu after the chieftancy title, I noticed the absence of wines, champagnes. I could only see cans of Heineken, malt drinks and other soft drinks on the table. I quickly put a call through to my friend Tai Obasi who was at the reception to confirm if indeed there were no other drinks served there.
And wait for it, Tai told me that what I saw on the tables were what they were served, he told me that Azubogu did not make elaborate preparations for the event. He told me that Azubogu did not invite people specially for the event, he told me how a few of Azubogu’s close associates himself inclusive made Ashebi for the event, how they organized for the dance troupe that led Azubogu into the arena, he told me how they arranged for the reception. According to him they did all these at the back of Azubogu as he would not have approved of it.
Paraphrasing the words of Tai, left for Azubogu, he would just go pick the award come home, entertain the few guests in his home and go in and get a good rest. The much reception I saw there was the making of them, Azubogu’s close associates.
I shaked my head in amazement.
