By Gozie Ben 080327901004
Last Saturday, inhabitants of Onuaku Uturu Community, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, the country home of Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, President, Masters Energy Group witnessed on influx of admirers of the renowned philanthropist who thronged the serene community from different parts of the country, stirred it up and turned it to a beehive of activities.
For the first time in my lifetime, I saw a people troupe out enmasse irrespective of communal, political or religious affiliation, not minding geographical divide, to woo the man after their heart to join the governorship race of Abia State in 2015. And so Uturu community stood still for hours on end in bewilderment over what most of them described as a millennium wonder and million man-march for their illustrious son and pathfinder. While politicians go cap-in-hand to stakeholders and electorates for their mandate, the masses are in turn going on bended knees to Dr. Uche Ogah ready to hand him over their mandate.
Before 10.00am on the memorable day, Onuaku and the entire Uturu community had been submerged by strangers. Strangers who meant no harm. Strangers who are ready to shed their blood for a brother from another mother. The prophet that is recognized and well-respected in his land. The unprecedented crowd also created (history by causing traffic gridlock that lasted for hours along the Okigwe-Uturu-Afikpo highway. Commuter who traveled through the road that day spent long hours at the Onuaku end waiting for the convoy of over one hundred commuter buses and cars to gain entrance into the Onuaku city gate.
The crowd comprised of youth groups, red cup chiefs, women groups, the academia, politicians and the business class who displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Uche come and continue from where Ochendo stopped”, “Uche must succeed Ochendo”, “Abians will Rejoice under Masters Energy”, Onwa please take us to the promised land”, “Ochendo we know”, etc. Because he was taken unawares, there were neither canopies nor seats for the August visitor’s to relax and be comfortable. Yet they remained undettered and unruffled under the scorching sun as they chanted songs of solidarity that filled the air.
After persuasions from his family members and close associates, Dr. Uche Ogah finally succumbed and made straight for Onuaku playground where his strange visitor’s had been waiting with bathed breadth.
Suspecting he was riding in one of the vehicles advancing towards the playground, they turned the venue into a carnival with various groups in their ceremonial costumes. The women group, ever ubiquitous, looked very gorgeous in their canopy headgears. With a local megaphone, the ceremony kicked off a mellifluous and sonorous rendition of the National Anthem. This was followed with a powerful prayer from a man of God. The supplication ended with a thunderous applause of Amen from the sea of humility that thronged Onuaku wonderland of the Ogah dynasty.
From one speaker to another, tales of Dr. Uche Ogah’s unequalled philanthropy were reeled out in an emotion-laden manner that sent tears of joy down the cheek of many. Although there is no art of reading the mind’s construction on the face, discerning minds saw undying love, abiding faith and sincerity boldly written on the faces of every Tom, Dick and Harry who participated in Onuaku One Million Man-March. In a no-holds-bare manner and without mincing words, they unfolded their package. Their message and mission was simple. Their collective resolve is the mandate for Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah to succeed the incumbent governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Theodore Ahamefule Orji in 2015, Period.
While many of them described him as the “Millenium Moses”, to others, Uche Ogah is the lifewire of the downtrodden, supplier of the oxygen that is sustaining the less-privileged and keeping them strong. Majority asserted th^he is the moon that is steadily illuminating the gloomy horizon of our eclipsed universe. They prided him as a veritable epitome of humility and humanity and promised to wrong blood from stones to realize their mandate, in order to put Abia on a sound development pedestal. They went a step further by expressing their implicit confidence in his ability and competence to perfectly navigate Abia’s ship of state to coast smoothly and successfully to the promise land. While they appreciated the giant strides of Governor Theodore Orji, they reaffirmed their collective resolve to ensure the smooth delivery of their beautiful bride, Dr. Ogah, if he eventually hearkens to their clarion call.
To achieve their dream, they promised to mobilize a huge war chest that will be deployed generously to tackle Uche Ogah’s perceived opponents at the polls. In the end, they indeed justified their reason for the Onuaku retreat.
When the Master Energy president finally elected to respond, there was a rapturous applause that greeted him. Addressing the mammoth crowd extempore, Dr. Uche Ogah who holds the traditional title of Onwa- Na-Etirioha (the moon that shines for the people), in his usual humble nature, apologized for keeping them in suspense. He however thanked for what he termed a pleasant embarrassment and surprise. He glorified God for his providence and using him to put smile on faces of the downtrodden and paid glowing tribute to Gov. T.A. Orji for transforming Abia State and hooking it to the national political grid.
He assured the governor of his tacit support and to further strengthen his partnership with the state government in ridding the state of hunger and crime through increased job creation. While maintaining that the electioneering period is miles away, he however thanked them for the love and faith they invested in him. The Onuaku-born industrialist showered praises on them for exhibiting a high sense of appreciation and reciprocation which he said will motivate him to double efforts in acts of charity.
On the crux of their mission and meat of the matter, Dr. Uche Ogah opted to remain reserved until he communes and consults with God his creator for decision and direction. As a stakeholder in the state, he made unknown his intent to consult widely and respond to their request accordingly. As he spoke, the tacit convenant he unmasked, elicited a thunderous tumult of applause such that the excitement triggered off spontaneous orgy of celebration in the venue, even though they were not satisfied with his answer.
And then lessons from the Onuaku Mass Movement cum human exodus. The composition of the crowd drawn from different parts of the federation. This is indeed a paradigm shift from the traditional crowd renting. Their prodigious believe.and mother-hen attitude towards Dr. Uche Ogah is very symbolic. Their volunteerism to freely exercise their right of association and choice without compulsion and monetary inducement is noteworthy. And again, the rare spirit of reciprocation and appreciation they exhibited. At least, they proved that the poor has a lot of priceless gifts to offer the rich, that poor persons are not ingrates after all. They proved that it is good to be good and that one good turn deserves another. Their gesture towards the Masters Energy president will serve as a lesson to those with divine blessing of the pocket who are stingy to the teeth.
I therefore join participants in the Onuaku Million Man-March in appealing passionately to Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah to hearken to the voice of reason and consider the Save – Our -Soul SOS call from Nigerians who abandoned the comfort of their homes, risked the long journey and sacrificed their time in search of a brighter and better tomorrow. For in the Igbo parlance, “wherever a child is crying and pointing towards, if the mother is not there, the father will surely be there”.
