Aide to professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh, Charles Otu has described him as a rare and uncommonly courageous boss —in his felicitation on his 50th birthday, as he reflected on their journey from Ebonyi state.
Celebrating the professor who turned 59 on 5th August, Otu addressed him as a mentor and Ally as he celebrated “God’s effervescent grace, faithfulness and enduring love and kindness” upon his life.
Offering words of prayers to the professor as he walks through the fifth floor, the aide recalled how they met in 2014 and how far they have come along amidst challenges and struggles.
He wrote; “Our paths crossed over a decade ago, precisely in December 2014 when your bold, audacious and inspirational courage made you declare interest in Ebonyi Central Senate. Marvelously impressed by your rare and clear-cut vision and determination to change the political narrative of your zone and indeed, Ebonyi at large, I visited your Umuezeokoha country home where you spoke passionately about your vision and passion for credible and impactful leadership.
“Without reservation and any expectations, I ran the two-paged interview in my CONSCIENCE Newspaper and delivered copies as you had directed. For me, what was of utmost importance is the emergence of a Barack Obama with an audacity of hope, hence I followed the election which you undoubtedly ‘won’ but was manipulated out.
“Following your input and impact on that very first rare political outing, you were recommended and consequently appointed Secretary to Ebonyi State Government in 2015. Though I deliberately stayed off, watching to see if you could swim with the tides as common with regular Nigerian politicians, my eyes were yet fixated on the actions of your office.
“Alas, you never betrayed my expectations and those of many reasonable Ebonyians when you resigned from the same office- an act very rare in Nigeria and African politics. You further endeared yourself to the masses by speaking up on your reasons for parting ways with the government you considered its actions anti-masses with the popular quote: What is ahead of us, is greater than what is behind us!
“You did not leave to pursue your other personal ambitions which could have been the most convenient option preferred by many who are beleaguered by Nigeria’s junky and murky political system. You presented yourself in 2019 for the State’s top job and some of us rallied support even though the evil forces yet prevailed for fear of your rare personality.
“Despite the injustices and manipulations, you yet never gave up. In 2023, you showed up again seeking to govern the Salt of the nation and we were yet passionately committed to the project. Some of us had the conviction that after years of ruinous governance that valued cosmetic developments over human empowerments and futuristic people-oriented agenda, Ebonyi people would have asked their best to redeem the lost image of the then ‘Concrete of the nation’ and demonstrated same with equanimous support for your ambition. It was not to be so however and you all yet moved on with daunting courage.
“But that was not without less than 10 scathing physical and spiritual attacks on your person, personality and even family. We faced open gunshot attacks on 8 or so occasions since you declared your 2023 ambition and you yet survived it. Allegations that were petty and sinister were all leveled against you, forcing you to flee out of the State in safety. Yet, your impacts and capacity gave APGA victory in the House of Representatives and State Assembly elections. The ordinary people proved indeed they were with and for us!
“You had moved on and God yet compensated you with an opportunity to head one of the prominent Ivory Towers and the restless dark agents who fear what the future holds for Odoh yet truncated that. Again, it didn’t take you time to move on.
“These trajectories are perfect reasons I call you ‘His Excellency the Authentic’ because only few men in our current generation can be this resoundingly resourceful and upwardly mobile with focus, vision, passion and vigour. Some of us addicted to following you are actually learning more than a classroom could have taught us in a decade of diligent followership of a man of uncommon courage and determination. We would keep following, learning, unlearning and relearning from your rare footsteps on focus, vision and ambition laced with uncommon passion for excellence!
“It’s wisdom to state that your energy drives the rest of us because one could not have imagined even being consistently consistent with our stands on issues without the unique difference, unbending principles and rare convictions you bring into the polity and life in general. We could have completely given up and perhaps all hopes could have been completely lost.
“But our hope and joy is that perhaps, just probably some day, God MUST definitely fulfill his great purpose of keeping you alive to have survived all the external, internal and even household enemies and betrayals you have been through just for choosing to be uniquely different! Till then and when it may please God Almighty, may your life’s journey on the fifth floor remain steadily impactful and fulfilling.
“Sincere birthday felicitations capacity Boss.”
