“Some are born Great, some achieve Greatness and some have Greatness thrust upon them”- William Shakespeare.
His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Lawrence Ugwuanyi, GCON, The Udulekenyi of Orba Udulekenyi and the Dunu Gburugburu of Enugu State happens to be one of the very few individuals who achieved greatness.
Rising from a humble background to become one of the best Accountants East of the Niger and an outstanding Insurance Broker, Obi Nwanne Gburugburu of Nsukka took a turn in his career to represent his people in the Federal House of Representatives in 2003.
At the National Assembly, he did not only succeed in lifting hundreds of his people out of poverty, but became the tiny thread holding the Nigerian Maritime industry together for years, such that as soon as he stepped out, the impact was felt across the country, leading to a sudden rise in inflation, scarcity of dollar and importation meltdown.
Many had argued that if he was still chairing the Maritime Committee where he used his out-of-this-world negotiation skills to keep everyone afloat, Nigeria wouldn’t have entered recession in 2016 due to the meltdown in the Maritime Sector and Dollar Scarcity.
While Nigeria was losing, Enugu State was gaining as he his departure from the National Assembly was occasioned by the summon of his people to come and govern them.
He led the State through two severe Recessions, a global Pandemic, the Endsars Uprising and the Unknown Gunmen/ESN/IPOB/Sit-At-Home Menace.
In all these, through his master skill of negotiation, undoubtedly Goodwill, extreme selflessness, absolute humility and gentility, he was able to keep the state in a stable, free, prosperous and peaceful condition althrough his tenures.
The freedom he granted Enugu people backfired as it gave lots of cowards the boldness to criticize, attack and condemn everything he does and to make the worst off every good thing that happens and rejoice in every bad thing that happens.
That notwithstanding, his absolute power as the Governor never controlled him as he never sought to punish anyone who wronged him, but instead, welcomed them and treated them well.
Today, he completes his 20 years of active service to his people, having planted his name in the sands of time as one of the greatest men ever born in Waawa Land.
Having seen what his exit in the Maritime Sector caused, the Aka na Emezi Obodo 1 of Amụrri knew that it’s of the greatest importance that he hands Enugu State to an extremely capable hand that can maintain his goodness and continue in his goodworks, and lead Enugu State into the next Generation.
This is why he went the extra mile against all odds, against all oppositions, uprisings and betrayals to pick the most capable hand possible in the person of Mr. Peter Ndubuisi Mba, a man of focus, tact, principle and tenacity to take over from him.
It was a hard fought victory, like the one taken out of a burning furnace, but it is worth it.
As the 20 years of Meritorious and Humble Service comes to a close, he can only but sing the Nunc Dimittis Like Simeon when he saw Christ, knowing that his purpose has been fulfilled, thus going home with Joy and Gladness.
Every Generation have that special breed of human sent to teach them an everlasting lesson that Being Good in the worst situation is possible and being humble even with the greatest power, money and influence is still possible.
For the Generation of 20th century South Africa, it was Mandela. For our own Generation, it is His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi , GCON. Omeru Ọha Gburugburu of Waawa Land.
