Ben Nwoye, The Professional, The Politician And His Mission -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

I met Dr. Ben Nwoye, the amiable chairman of Enugu State All Progressives Congress (APC) on my flight to Abuja en route Enugu and after our brief interaction; I was intrigued by his personality and indebt knowledge of Nigerian politics. My brief encounter with him was enough to reveal much about his personality type, values and interests. However, that did not stop me from doing a background check on him as it is characteristic of me and I discovered that he indeed is great.

He bared his thoughts on the Nigerian nation, Ndigbo and sundry other issues. He believed that Nigeria will be great again. On the alleged Igbo marginalization he believed that it was largely in part because of the selfishness of political representation from the South East Region inhabited by Ndigbo. To political apathy is the bane of the Igbo nation. Thus, he advocated greater enlightenment and political participation without which it will be delusional to think that power will be transferred to them by gratis. He does not believe in micro-managing people. He abhors politics of factionalization, rancor and acrimony. He believes in the spirit of Igwebuike: strength in unity necessary for synergy and goal congruence. He decried the spirit of rabid individualism and egoism that is prevalent in South East politics

On the national level, he spoke of effective leadership and stakeholders’ involvement in decision making. He is greatly worried about political thuggery and gangsterism. He does not believe in godfatherism but he believes in mentoring. He was of the view that the youth and the vulnerable amongst must be properly guided to avoid the pitfalls of the last generation. To this end, he advocates positive enlightenment, education, capacity-building and empowerment.
Delighted by his leadership qualities and style, the youths of the state have honored him with an award of excellence. He admonished the youths to shun violence and self-seeking political contractors who would want to use them for selfish political ends.

He was of the view that the Nigerian political environment should be sanitized to weed out pretenders and pettifoggers who see politics as a means of self-gratification. He believes that these political pettifoggers have always had their way because of the high level of poverty and ignorance in the land. And thus, he advocates empowerment of the people and grassroots mobilization through enlightenment campaign.

He was not in any way distracted or by the deluge of political émigré from other parties to the ruling party. He believes most of them are soldiers of fortune whose steps must be closely monitored. As a true professional, he believes in playing by the rules. He wants the professionals and intellectuals to join politics. He believes that part of our problem in the political setting is the aloofness of real intellectual in the political sphere. The involvement of men of ideas will and principles would create the needed ethical and ideological framework to stabilize our political environment befogged by ethnic chauvinism and bigotry.

He thinks that politics at the regional or state level is as complex as that the national level.
Dr. Ben Nwoye is a thorough-bred professional who believes in due diligence and attainment of goals of any environment or entities that he represents. He believes that leadership is about decision-making and attainment of group goals and about effective representation and succession and thus, he advised those nursing the ambition of succeeding him as well as others wishing to occupy various positions to do the needful, such as embarking on thorough campaign and convincing delegates at grass root level (wards), ahead of the congresses.

Nwoye is believed that positions of responsibility in politics should be given to those with track record of performance not political jobbers who are in politics for want of something to do. He, is the Executive Director of Opeans Nigeria limited, a foremost Safety consultancy firm in Nigeria which delivers safety training to those in the oil and gas sector, as well as Maritime, Seafarers, military, and para-military agencies.
Dr. Ben Nwoye has many awards and societal as well as professional awards to his credit for instance, the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, (ISPON), has inducted him as a fellow of the body which is charged with the regulation of safety management in Nigeria.
As I have always hinted in my essays, I am interested in the future of this great country, the youth and the vulnerable groups. I am also very much interested in the distinguished personalities who would act as the catalyst that would propel this embattled nation to greater heights and I have given to myself the task of identifying leaders and potential leaders that will facilitate that and my findings indicates that Dr. Ben Nwoye is indeed a leader we can trust. He is intelligent, ethical and courageous. Enugu state and Nigeria need courageous individuals like him.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK