WHAT EBIE, DUG ARE DOING CORRECTLY, BY CHIDIEBERE ONYEMAIZU

This piece was principally inspired by the catalogue of commentaries that have so far trailed the scheduled welcoming of members of the Delta Unity Group (DUG), to the ruling All Progressive Party (APC), on the Saturday April 12, 2023, by the party’s National Chairman His Excellency Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Senator Monday Okpebholo Governor of Edo State, and Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman, Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), along other notable political figures in Delta state and patriotic Nigerians and members of the ruling party in the country expected at the event.

Indeed, while all that I have so far heard, read and listened to were essentially desirable as they point to the fact that the movement such as DUG is long overdue, my encounter with one pious, self contained and quietly influential Agbor born/resident octogenarian stands out as it revealed something new and different.

This octogenarian who may not want his name printed, started by praising God for the advent of Delta Unity Group (DUG) and the peace, harmony and good governance the group is currently promoting in Ika nation in particular and Delta state in general.

Going down memory lane, the man said: “I have lived in this town called Agbor right from the era of Western region down to Mid West region. From the time of Bendel state to the present day Delta state, I have also witnessed the time of Agbor Division to Ika Local Government and finally the splitting into Ika South and Ika North East Local Government Areas.

“Despite these transformations, political creations and metamorphosis, the principle of one Ika nation reigned supreme. We were never divided but remained united. We neither know Agbor nor Owa. Ika nation was the blanket name and Agbor was the centre of attraction for Ika Indigenes. Those were the good old days as there was no crack until divisive politicians emerged.

“About a decade and half ago, the narrative changed, we started hearing statements such as “I am from Agbor’’. “I am an Owa man’’. “I am not from Agbor”. “I am not from Owa”. This mentality was planted, festered and was exploited by deceptive politicians.’’.

“So, I am happy that finally, God in his infinite mercy choose and endowed Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman, Governing Board of The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with the wisdom to seek and restore peace, harmony and sustainable development in Ika land. I am particularly happy that this is happening in my lifetime. It is my prayers that he succeeds in uniting the two local governments together. The creation of the local governments in my view was not for segregation but for developmental purposes.

“As their name implies, Delta Unity Group stands for unity, peace, harmony and good governance. Ebie and his team are doing well. It is even more fascinating when one remembers that Mr. Ebie is commencing his quest for peace from his Federal Constituency, for charity they say, begins at home’’ he concluded.

Undoubtedly, while this our father may have spoken what has been on the minds of all Ika men of goodwill, I am however not surprised that Mr. Ebie, going by his genealogy, is trailing such an exemplary blaze.

Alluding to this fact is the awareness that his father, late Prof. John C. Ebie, was the pioneer Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital UBTH, Benin City, Edo State.

As the pioneer Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, a health institution established in May, 1973, he navigated the health institution to an enviable world class health provider. He creatively brought together within the same organization different people with different experiences, assumptions, values, beliefs and habits to their work and provided direction, protection, orientation, managed conflicts, shaped norms and possessed the emotional capacity to tolerate uncertainty, frustrations and pains and raised tough questions without getting anxious himself.

In recognition of this sterling and selfless public leadership provision, the late Prof. Ebie was on Friday, 15th December, 2023, bestowed with a posthumous award of excellence by the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Chapter, Benin City.

In a related development, Chiedu Ebie had an uncle, Sir. S. P. O Fortune Ebie who was the Chief Executive of Federal Housing Authority (FHA) that planned and executed the building of what till today is the biggest Housing Estate in Nigeria, the FESTAC Housing Estate in Lagos, Nigeria.

On his part, Chiedu Ebie who currently functions as the Chairman, Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has together with members of the board and management proved beyond reasonable doubt, and to the admiration of stakeholders that they are blessed with wisdom for conceiving fresh beginning and more focused efforts on development of the Niger Delta region and its people like has never been since the inception of the Commission.

Finally, in addition to living a life of integrity and simplicity, shunning the selfishness that has in the past marred much of such positions, Mr. Chiedu, going by commentaries, is Chairing the Board of the Commission with the consciousness that as a leader, he is being watched closely, that people are noting his every move, that his followers are learning a great deal about him and what he really believes in as opposed to what he says.