Last week (Thursday, November 12, 2009), I was one of the eminent persons honoured by the Orsu Local Government Area Development Union (OLGADU), Imo State, in Lagos at its maiden Orsu Eminent Persons Awards. The occasion which took place at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, and attended by who-is-who in Orsu LGA also attracted people in diverse fields and professions from the area and other parts of Nigeria.

I was awarded the ‘Most Outstanding Media Practitioner’ from the area in recognition of my many years of robust journalism career dedicated to the service of man and society.
Those honoured along with me include Chief Jerry Alagbaoso, former Customs Area Controller in Tincan Island, Lagos, honoured in civil service category, Chief Val Mbamala of National Automotive Council, Abuja, who garnered the award of the best council chairman, HRH, Prof. Chuka Okonkwo of Imo State University, Owerri as the best in education, Hon. Barr. J.T.U. Nnodum (SAN) as the best legal practitioner and Mrs. Kate Anyadimaju of Chevron as best woman leader.

Others that received awards include Prof. Nwagbo Eze, formerly of University of Lagos as best human resource person, Chief Dr. Celestine Izunobi of U.S.A. for Diaspora personality, Chief E.C Ulom for best entrepreneur, Chief Cyprian Emeti as best in sports, Bro Ben Ihekire (Décor coat) as the best industrialist, Mr. Remmy Henry Egbejimba as the best in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Chief E.A Anozie for proficiency in international business. Chiefs Remigius Nwaokonkwo, Anthony Onwumere, L.O. Ijeh and Ernest Muoghara were honoured in the philanthropist category.

What does the award mean to me?
The award to me was like a prophet being recognized and honoured in his land. I have received some awards in the past but I cherish this particular one because apart from being unsolicited for, it came from my own people. As I later learnt, all the communities that make up the Orsu LGA were involved in the rigorous selection process that gave birth to it. To me, that is exactly how awards should be done to retain honour and prestige. One does not need to submit samples of works before one can be recognized by people and organizations. I hope other bodies giving awards can borrow a leaf from OLGADU.

Above all, the award has demonstrated that my people understand and appreciate what I have been doing in the media for almost two decades. It is a further impetus for me to continue in my media advocacy-giving voice to the voiceless and raising alarm where necessary as well as praising those that deserve it and setting agenda for policy makers while informing, educating and entertaining my numerous readers.

While receiving the award in company of my wife, Edith, I pledged that I will continue to uphold the truth and integrity in everything I write as well as promote the image of my people, my state and the entire country and the black race. From my pen will flow a healing balm and soothing words to comfort the afflicted and galvanize a docile people to positive action that will promote democracy and good government in our time.

I dedicate the award to all my people and friends who have been instrumental to my journalistic career, a career I can conveniently say chose me. One thing I know very well is that since my childhood, I have been addicted to scribbling things on the sand, walls and papers. To me writing, which has become part of my life, is therapeutic and a way of letting off steam. Little did I know that I would eventually make a living and a career out of writing. Yet to make an inroad into the creative writing arena in terms of published works, I am still grateful to the hands that make the universe for the gift of writing, whether creative or commercial. To me all writings have some element of creativity whether fictive or non-fictive.

In the journey to this career path, some individuals have played very vital role(s) that made it possible for me to be in this pen-wielding profession. Apart from encouragement from close family members and relations, input and encouragement from people outside my immediate environment is worth recounting.
I, therefore, wish to express my gratitude to the following people for their various contributions in the course of my career and development. They are Dr. Amanze Obi, Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Imo State, Mr.Tony Onyima, Executive Director, Operations, The Sun Newspapers, Mr. Eniola Bello, Managing Director of ThisDay Newspapers, Lagos, Mr.Ben Tomoloju, ex-Guardian Editor, Jahman Anikulapo, Editor Guardian on Sunday, and Ogbuagu Anikwe, former Editor of Daily Times and a distinguished media practitioner.

I have also profited from the writings of these doyens of Nigerian journalism-Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Publisher, Newswatch magazine, Mike Awoyinfa, MD, The Sun Newspapers and Dimgba Igwe, DMD, The Sun Newspapers. Space could not permit me to mention others. Please bear with me.

Indeed, this award is for you all and all my readers who have kept faith with me all these years.
While the award is a way of recognizing great achievers in the LGA with the aim of stimulating others to emulate the deserving awardees, the people of Orsu LGA were not satisfied with the level of both infrastructural and economic development of the area that make up the council. They are worried that despite the millions of naira that accrue to the council from the federation account every month and some internally generated revenue, there is virtually nothing to show for it. Why is Orsu case like this? Is it in us or our stars? Why can’t we use the money allocated to us to develop the area?

In his lecture at the occasion entitled, “Sustaining progressive spirit in Orsu LGA: Challenges and opportunities”, Prof. Nwagbo Eze lamented that Orsu LGA has not seen the tunnel’s end light yet. According to the erudite scholar, “we are still in the dark alleys of the tunnel groping to find our way out. The traditional family structure has broken down; our physical environment is still dirty, unconquered and unstimulating. Our health care delivery is ineffective and in many cases primitive. Our education system is very low and totally irrelevant to development of intelligence, science and technology. And finally, and most importantly, there is the absence and /or failure of leadership in the society.”

To reinforce what Prof Eze said, some of the speakers at the occasion were unanimous in saying that those who have been at the helm of affairs of the LGA had shortchanged the masses and denied them the needed development. They regretted that after almost 20 years of the creation of Orsu LGA, the council cannot boast of a tarred rural road. Even the link road that leads to the council headquarters at Amaokwe, Awo-Idemili from the Orlu/Ihiala highway is not tarred. Those that have been at the head of the council operate from Owerri, the state capital. All the primary and secondary schools in the area are in shambles. And as such cannot produce the conducive atmosphere for effective learning. Orsu needs change and responsive and progressive group leadership and not one-man show that tends toward tyranny.

The people of the area are opposed to the present tactics of ‘do or die’ politics that obtain in the area and called for an all-inclusive democratic politics that would carry every Orsu indigene along. They want leadership that would be responsive like that of Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State as well as someone who can turn Orsu into another Nnewi in terms of economic development. They called on Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim to see that development gets to Orsu people as tax-paying citizens of Imo State.