The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chris Ogiemwonyi

  • Don warns Nigerians to avoid repeat of Biafra

    A university lecturer, Prof. Hope Eghagha, on Wednesday warned that Nigeria should avoid tendencies that would escalate to another war after the bitter experience of the Biafra civil war.

    Eghagha made the plea while reviewing a book, “The Nigerian Civil War, 50 Years After… Reflections of A Younger Generation’’ during the launch of the book.

    He told Nigerians to shun propaganda and hate speeches, to prevent a re-occurrence of the events that led to the war in 1967.

    Information reaching us has it that analysts have often described the Biafra civil war as the deadliest of its type in Africa, having taken the lives of more than two million people.

    Citing the Rwandan genocide, Eghagha, a lecturer at the University of Lagos, said: “Propaganda breeds hate, the civil war was not a pleasant experience as codes of interpersonal behaviour were suspended.

    “Anyone who has gone through a war cannot hope for another, a child that goes through a war loses his childhood.

    “We should not promote the ideology of war by narrative or default.

    Read Also: Biafra: Buhari hails Gowon for restraining troops

    “From the refugee crisis being experienced internationally, the world cannot afford a war in Nigeria,” he said.

    Eghagha praised the authors of the book, saying that they did an excellent job in bringing to light narratives from the civil war as well as the reconciliation efforts of subsequent regimes.

    The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi, described the book as a proof that combat should never be an option to settling national differences.

    “There is a Bini proverb which literally translated means ‘war is never beautiful.’ For those asking for war or the country’s separation, they should bear that proverb in mind.

    “We should never pray for war no matter how hard the discussion will be.”

    Giving insight into the book, Ogiemwonyi, an engineer, said the book was an assemblage of facts from the war.

    “We have read various accounts of the Nigerian civil war from warlords, politicians and eye-witnesses.

    “This account is a compilation of facts as witnessed by victims, who saw part of the war.

    “I will equally like to corroborate the facts as I also witnessed the civil war as a form three student in 1967.

    “The book mentioned a time in Nigeria where tribalism was not an issue. However, with successive coups and the civil war, things started falling apart.

    “The Nigerian civil war brought various hardships to the country,” Ogiemwonyi said.

    The book was written by Ebho Abure and Agbose Akinwole.

    In a remark, Abure urged Nigerians to read the book and give their feedback, saying that the objective of the book was to create a better union in Nigeria.

     

    NAN

  • Chris Ogiemwonyi and the rest of us

    Chris Ogiemwonyi and the rest of us

    Last week, I chanced upon the news of an Edo-based newspaper, The Navigator Newspaper, bestowing 2016 ‘Man of the Year Award’ on Engr. (Dr.) Chris Osa Ogiemwonyi. Engr. Ogiemwonyi, FNSE, KSC, emerged the unanimous choice for the maiden edition award of The Navigator Newspaper for the ‘Edo Personality of the Year’, 2016, the piece of news stated.

    Broadly speaking, Engr. Ogiemwonyi’s pedigree as an astute administrator, carrier civil servant, industrialist, manager of men, humanist, philanthropist and politician of immense credibility has been unimaginably remarkable. As an erstwhile Minister of State for Works and a frontline gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the September 28, 2016 Edo gubernatorial election, Engr. Ogiemwonyi demonstrated that he is a great politician of repute.

    After the less than credible APC primaries election that forcefully foisted Mr. Godwin Obaseki on the party and state, it takes a selfless and unblushing individual to accept such barefaced robbery to remain in the party. In good conscience — which is largely missing in politics as a game of impossibilities — the actors in political manipulation can’t earnestly vaunt for the sanctity of the polls. That is one of the reasons this award is an icing on the cake of Engr. Ogiemwonyi’s nobility.

    The award mirrored and fast forwarded Engr. Ogiemwonyi’s productive and unparalleled carrier at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, where he rose stoutly to the zenith and held the world spellbound as the precursor of ‘Local Content’ and development angel of all time. The psychologist, William James could not be wrong when he said, “One of the deepest drive of human nature is his desire to be appreciated”. This is the crust of this award.

    In other words, those who seek to be appreciated or hope to approach the ‘Hall of Fame’ next time need some lessons from Engr. Ogiemwonyi’s enviable public service during his 34-year sojourn in the turbulent oil industry as a top-notch, and his political carrier of late. No one can deny his philanthropic gesture especially his yearly sponsorship of free Breast and cervical cancer (for women between ages 18 – 65) and prostrate cancer screening exercises (for men above 40years). The event usually happen on the occasion of his birthday anniversary. This programme has saved numerous Edo indigenes and residents who would have succumbed to the deadliness of these terminal ailments.

    As part of his contributions to the economic life and wellbeing of his immediate community, Engr. Ogiemwonyi has a huge palm plantation that provides direct and indirect employment for all ages of peoples, a development that has enhanced the socio-economic standards of the community.

    Adequate and functional boreholes have equally been sunk across the communities to provide clean, drinking water, a situation that has drastically reduced the risk of the people contracting diseases that thrive in unclean and unpurified water, which had hitherto been the only one available in the community.

    The history of award across times to honouring outstanding individuals for their exemplary leadership, groundbreaking work that have impact positively in the lives of people in all space; lasting social change and human development has been long in coming. Through his uncommon abilities, Engr. Ogiemwonyi has strengthened civil society and local communities as a visionary leader who inspires young Edo citizens and Nigeria to become ownership of businesses.

    As unpopular as the Navigator newspaper might seem, it is relieving that it focuses in the areas of industry, character, honest contributions toward alleviating poverty in the society, integrity and sincerity of purpose in the pursuit of people-oriented endeavours, policies and programmes, accessibility and commitment to the advancement of humanity as the basis for its nomination.

    First, I congratulate the 65-year old engineer for this award as the best ‘Edo Personality of year 2016’. Second, I congratulate him for being a generational leader living ahead of his time with celebrated integrity. Thirdly, I congratulate him for not losing his head in the hazing labyrinth of a self destroying nation called Nigeria, a nation of antihero.

    • Ikhide, a social activist, writes from Lagos.

  • Ogiemwonyi, Benin leaders canvass for APC

    Former Minister of State for Works Chris Ogiemwonyi and members of the Benin Leaders of Thought have urged the people of Edo State to reject any monetary offer meant to induce them to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.

    Ogiemwonyi alleged that the PDP plans to use money to hoodwink the people into an unrewarding opposition, with the ultimate aim of destabilising the state.

    At a press briefing yesterday, Ogiemwonyi said a legislature dominated ‘by a poisonous and vindictive opposition is a recipe for strife, instability and retrogression’.

    He warned the people not to forget how Oshiomhole’s first year in office was dogged by deliberate truncation of enabling laws for development, including the non-release of ecological funds to tackle erosion problems in the state.

    He said: “We cannot afford to be in the opposition. The time has come for us to decide. We must have APC in Edo as we have in Abuja.

    “The politics of inclusion as a panacea for attaining sustainable development is gaining acceptance globally and Nigeria should not be left out. The Yoruba nation, having realised the futility of opposition politics, has keyed into mainstream politicking at the centre.

    “It is our belief that our interest in Edo will be better served within the framework of the APC under the leadership of Buhari. Edo people must support this change”.

  • Chris Ogiemwonyi set to give daughter out in marriage

    Chris Ogiemwonyi set to give daughter out in marriage

    Notwithstanding the groundswell of controversies surrounding the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, her estranged husband, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, is glowing with bliss at the moment. Not even the N255m bulletproof car scandal that rocks Stella’s life at the moment would distract Dr. Ogiemwonyi from his fatherly aspirations.

    Not that he is happy about what Stella is going through at the moment. The former NNPC executive and ex-Minister of State for Works is giving out his fourth child, Omosefe Christine, in marriage. Omosefe will be walking down the aisle with Peter Olurotimi, son of a professor of Community Health, Oladapo Hunponu-Wusu.

    The traditional wedding ceremony, a family source said, is billed to hold in Abuja in December while the white wedding will hold in Febuary 2014.

    Ogiemwonyi is very happy at the moment as he seems to have put behind him the intrigues and betrayal that saw him out of the corridors of power three years ago when he was dropped from President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet while his estranged wife, Stella, found favour with Mr. President.