…I don’t need to verify
By Adim Williams
‘Go
and verify’ has become a new slogan since the eventful emergence of the
enigma called Peter Obi for the Nigerian presidential race. It’s not just a
slogan but actually a new practice; a new culture. Before now, Nigerians used
to take whatever politicians said hook, line and sinker. But not anymore.
With Peter Obi’s ‘go and verify’ challenge, most people
now have their fingers on the phones and laptops to Google whatever claim any
politician makes to confirm, to contest or to counter it. It’s a good
development.
It explains why the other presidential candidates now dread granting interviews, especially live interviews; so that their lies won’t be busted. However, some of us do not need to verify anything as far as Mr Peter Obi is concerned because, we had firsthand experience of his claims. Experience, they say, is the best teacher.
Sometime in
2010, I took a break from movies in order to refresh and re-strategize. By
providence, I found myself in Anambra State (though not indigenous to Anambra,
but Imo State) during Peter Obi’s second term in office, where I took up an
appointment with a corporate organization, Krisoral Group of Companies, as
Human Resource Manager and Corporate Affairs Manager at different times.
Krisoral Group is one of the largest indigenous manufacturing
companies in Nigeria. A company that has hosted President Goodluck Jonathan,
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, governors and a host of top government officials
at different times. It was while there that I had my encounters with the then
Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi.
One fateful day
in 2011, I got signal from the Group Managing Director, GMD that the state
governor was on his way to pay a visit to the company and I was mandated to
take care of protocol to receive him. I rushed down to the Chief Security
Officer, CSO's office to liaise with him about the protocol. But, while I was
still talking with the CSO, we heard a single hoot of siren outside the gate.
The automatic gate swung open and a Hiace (Hummer) Bus drove in and parked.
Then one police escort van followed.
The lone passenger of the Hummer Bus came down and walked
towards me and the CSO with a smile on his handsome face. That passenger was
Governor Peter Obi! He exchanged pleasantries with us and entered the office
complex to meet with my boss (who was actually on his way down to receive the
governor).
No fanfare, no guard of honour, no PAs, no SAs and no
hangers-on. Only that one police escort van with some policemen accompanied
him. Staff and workers of the company were doing their jobs oblivious of
the presence of the state governor in their territory. Within one hour, he was
done with the GMD, and left. How could a governor in Nigeria be this simple,
prudent, efficient and yet very effective! I was in awe of this experience for
a long time until now I think it’s worth sharing.
Another
encounter of note was during the 2012 flooding occasioned by the overflowing of
the River Niger, which affected everything and everybody along the bank of the
River Niger and beyond. The Harbour Industrial Layout at Atani Road was badly
affected. Goods and machinery worth billions of naira were destroyed.
Governor Peter Obi visited to see things for himself and to
commiserate with the affected people and companies. Other dignitaries who had
visited were all taken round in a boat, but when Peter Obi came, he opted to
walk through the flood on foot with his clothes, shoes and all.
His explanation was that people were carrying their goods and
property and walking through the water. So why wouldn’t he? This was a
second-term governor who was not seeking for re-election. He was just acting
from his heart. This happened right in my presence! And he didn’t even feel he
was doing anything extra-ordinary. That is Peter Obi for you.
The above personal experiences with this great man may not be enough to
convince anyone about him, but luckily, I’m not the only one that had such
amazing close quarters encounters. Since his emergence, people from all over
the country have been narrating similar experiences of down-to-earth,
compassionate and altruistic approach to leadership.
These are some of the qualities and characteristics needed by
anyone who wishes to pull Nigeria out of the deep hole we find ourselves in
today, qualities that can create national cohesion, peace and progress so as to
galvanize our collective strength towards one goal. We have had enough of
political brinkmanship through propaganda, mischief, outright falsehood,
deception and pure wickedness by greedy hegemonic politicians.
This is the time for a new beginning; a new culture of
conscientious, transparent, altruistic, compassionate, yet decisive and
effective leadership. The Labour Party presidential candidate, HE Mr Peter Obi
is the perfect candidate for this new dream Nigeria. To God be the glory!
#LetUsTakeBackOurCountry
*Adim writes for PO Express Media, POEM.
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