Essential Ndubuisi
Peter Obi: Understanding The Man We Desire To Be President – Tai Emeka Obasi
Let me start by sharing this experience.
Sometime in early 2017, a boy, about seven then, fell off from the third floor of same residence with mine. He landed on a solidly interlocked ground floor. I heard screams and ran out from my room in only boxers. One of my neighbours was already carrying the boy and rushing towards the hospital two blocks away. I ran after him, half-naked.
Long story short, that boy survived without a single fracture, and, apart from a minor cut on the forehead, no other external injury. That still stands as a miracle I’ve witnessed in my life. God has special love for children and protects them with special care. Our sins as we grow up pushes the Almighty further from us.
I was very attached to that boy because he was, and still is, my son’s best friend. A very good-behaved boy with good parents, who are naturally family friends. That miracle boy calls me daddy till date. God saved me an emotional torture by making sure nothing happened to Dubem.
This happened around 9.00 pm on that eventful day. The following morning we were all at the hospital with his parents, waiting for the doctors to complete all tests. At that time we weren’t so certain of the boy’s condition.
Now, the connection. I had a function I was scheduled to attend with HE Peter Obi that morning. I was emotionally drained and I called him and begged to be excused. Immediately he heard the reason, he responded, “oh no, oh no. I hope he’s in a hospital good enough to save him?”
Eldorado Hospital is one of the best private and specialist hospitals in Awka. I responded in the affirmative.
“It’s okay. Stay and take care. If there’s anything I can do don’t hesitate to call me,” the Boss returned and I thanked him for perfectly understanding. When he got home same night after his always packed activities, he called me to ascertain the condition of Dubem. I reported great news. And the man I say that came far ahead of his generation was very happy.
That gesture of his to excuse me from a very important engagement because of an incident that didn’t involve my own child quadrupled my respect for this great man. It proved to me how far he loves humanity.
I am aware that the United States Government can spend a billion dollars to save one citizen. Israel can even spend more. Should one wonder then why such nations prosper?
Whatever political statements Senator Ike Ekweremmadu made regarding the presidential aspiration of the former governor of Anambra State, the man with a new nickname of ‘Go And Verify’ didn’t take to heart. He knows he is in a political contest and anyone from any zone, religion or tribe has every right to support him or any other opponent. His aspiration is not limited to any tribe. It’s a national project. He’s for all and for every Nigerian.
But assuming there’s any inner feeling of disappointment somewhere in him (I’m sure there’s none) that must have completely vanished the moment he noticed Ekweremmadu and his wife entered their present ordeal because of a sick daughter that requires urgent kidney transplant. Whether the Ekweremmadus committed any crime or not was not the primary issue. The man I know became instantly pre-occupied with saving the life of a young Nigerian. Saving this life depended solely on the parents that are now in custody. And he twitted, expressing his feelings in those few words.
If you have been privileged to come close, you’d understand that HE Peter Obi values lives so dearly and will do everything within his own humanly powers to save any live. When it’s lives placed under his own care, he will go overdrive. As governor of Anambra State, healthcare came second in his priority after education. Among many health institutions he built, equipped and ensured their accreditation all over the state, he also built and equipped Amaku Teaching Hospital, Awka in a record time. Of the equipment, running into billions of naira, is also a whole set for kidney transplants at the fully accredited health institution.
Passion drives performance. Such a man will not allow terrorists, bandits, kidnappers to kill innocent citizens under his watch. Such a man will worry any day any live that could have been saved in his country is lost. Such a man will do everything to ensure security if he becomes president.
Why are people bombarding me with calls across the globe and inbox messages that Okwute shouldn’t have publicly wished a man who spoke ill of him recently to recover from his present ordeals? Let me tell you that you probably don’t know much about the man you all desire to be president.
He doesn’t pretend about his intentions. Aspiring for the presidency will not force him to live a pretentious life. Being a president will not make him to change his principles. He’s a father. He understands what it means to have a child in such medical condition. The parents deserve prayers and he led the way. Nobody can stop Peter Gregory Obi from being who he is. It is what has led him to where he is. Even if the Ekweremmadus are found guilty and convicted, I’m sure Obi’s attention will shift to prevailing on the British Government to do everything within her powers to save Sonia Ekweremmadu.
Just see the statement as that of a man speaking from the heart. Pray for the Ekweremmadus too. Humanity deserves such from all of us. The new Nigeria Obi desires is the one that should bring back our values as a people, where vendetta and hate should take back stage.
#PeterObiIsComing.
