“Engineer Arthur Eze, Ozoigbondu is unarguably the greatest philanthropist from the east of the Niger and probably the wealthiest oil mogul in Nigeria. His philanthropist gestures in the east is the reason the people in the region tagged him, Ozoigbondu(one who comes to the rescue of Igbo masses). On countless occasions, he rescued state governments in the southeast financially. What stands him out is the fact that he is not a practicing politician who talks from both sides of the mouth. He calls a spade by its name. These quality attributes of Arthur Eze, places him in good stead to reconcile President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) with Southeast” – Eastern Collective (EC)
Even though the Southeast did not vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 and 2019 in the presidential elections, it does not mean President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) and the region cannot get along on basis of mutual respect. Events after the 2015 general elections suggested that professional politicians from Southeast elected to feast on the apparent gulf between the region and PMB as evidenced by the presidential election result, by angling for political gains. They go to AsoRock as leaders of Ndigbo in search of what to eat, pretending to be voices of Ndigbo. When it appeared to them that they have failed in their game, they resorted to campaign of hate, instead of making case for the region decently.
The 2019 elections has come and gone with APC making marginal inroad in the Southeast. the scenario means political jobbers from the region will once again, go out for their own gain instead of collective good of the region. This effectively means the relationship between the region and PMB will appear to remain frosty if attempt is not made by patriots like Prince Arthur Eze to lead a powerful reconciliation team to bring PMB and genuine stakeholders in the region together. A kind of frank interaction will surly engenders peace and mutual respect. The meeting will offer the region the opportunity to know what President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has in stock for the region.
One good take away from the proposed Arthur Eze-led reconciliation team is that whatever is agreed upon, will be implemented and properly accounted for as Prince Arthur Eze cannot be bribed to sell out the interest of the region. And as a respected senior citizen, whatever PMB agrees to do for Southeast, this writer is sure, the President will honour it to the latter. The genuine people of the Southeast are tired of being tossed around like football. A situation in which a group of self appointed individuals without any pedigree will just wake up and start talking on behalf of Ndigbo has made Igbo nation a laughing stock in Nigeria.
It is instructive to note that Prince Arthur Eze has sponsored so many politicians into elective offices in Nigeria without tying the sponsorship to any financial or political gain in return. He has also extended non interest loan to political office seekers in the past; this is a gesture which is ongoing. Even, some politicians who benefited from his benevolence defaulted in paying back the loan. There is no doubt that a man with large heart like him is perfectly suited to lead this all important reconciliation.
Perhaps Eastern Collective probably had this quote by famous American in mind when it looked in the direction of Engineer Arthur Eze as only person who can effectively engineer reconciliation between PMB and southeast for now. Ben Carson said:“We’ve being conditioned to think that only politicians can solve our problems. But at some point, maybe we will wake up and recognize that it was politicians who created our problems”. It is no more a matter of choice for Southeast because as par Ben Carson, the politicians from this region are so selfish that they only know themselves and family, any other person can go to hell.
Surly, the time is ripe for Prince Arthur Eze to pick up the challenge and lead a team of patriots in the Southeast in reconciling PMB with stakeholders in the region. There is no doubt that a team made up of state governors, professionals, student union, market women, and other stakeholders in southeast project; under the leadership of Arthur Eze can bring about the needed harmony between federal government and the region, with the zone harvesting a huge gain there from.
Emeka Oraetoka
Information Management Consultant and Researcher.
Wrote in from Abuja
GSM: 08056031187, 0903909436.
