Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, ex-Federal Permanent Secretary and a front-line contender in Enugu State 2023 gubernatorial race, paid homage to the traditional rulers of Enugu East Senatorial District in the Palace of Igwe Julius Nnaji, Odezuligbo 111, of Nike Community who is the Second Deputy Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, and chairman of Enugu East Senatorial District Council of Traditional Rulers.
Speaking to the traditional rulers of the 119 autonomous communities of Enugu East, Enugu North, Enugu South, Isi uzo, Nkanu East and Nkanu West Council Areas in the zone, he told them that he knew that, as Royal fathers of all people of Enugu East zone, they are apolitical and, rightly, they should remain so, but as fathers, he had come to pay them a Christmas visit in the spirit of the season, and solicit for their prayers in his future endeavours.
He went down the memory lane, narrating to the Royal fathers the trajectory of his career in the public service of Enugu state and Nigeria, the high point of which was his appointment as a Federal Permanent Secretary in 2015 by President Mohammadu Buhari. This appointment saw him heading diverse Federal Ministries, including, a stint in Common Services in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, the Ministries of Sports and Youth Development, the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, and Power, his last duty post, from where he disengaged without blemish in the first quarter of 2021. He said, God willing, he is desirous to put the wealth of experience and exposure he garnered in the course of this several years to the service of Ndi Enugu state.
The Royal fathers who graced the occasion in their numbers welcomed Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, thanked him for coming to pay homage to them, and thanked God for guiding him successfully as he navigated the, sometimes, complex terrain of the civil service, especially the Federal civil service where some certain sections of the country find it challenging to attain appreciable positions.
Several of the Royal fathers who spoke highlighted how they have come in contact with Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa in the course of his service to the state and the nation, emphasising his humility, philanthropy, and unwavering commitment to improve the lot of any Enugu man, and several others, whoever has a need for his assistance.
The Patron, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Highness, Igwe Abel Nwobodo, the Awalagu 1, and traditional ruler, of Umuawalagu, Nara Unateze, said he knew Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa decades ago as a young civil servant, and had over the years watched his movement through the several, sometimes, rough, rungs of the civil service career, and unto the well deserved position of Federal Permanent Secretary from where he retired meritoriously.
He said that, of all the probable contenders for the governorship of Enugu state, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa is the most qualified even though, he added, there are some other considerations that may be factored into, and as Royal fathers they are insulated from making inputs concerning, the considerations on who becomes what in the politics of the state.
Igwe Edward Nnaji, Odezuligbo the 111, who presided over the meeting, went into reminiscences, recounting how he, then as a practising lawyer, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, and others, worked behind the scene for the creation of Enugu East Senatorial District during the military era. He extolled the virtues and resilient character of Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, his relentless involvement in matters that concern the welfare of Ndi Enugu, and said that Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa is the first and only possible 2023 gubernatorial contender who has deemed it necessary to come and felicitate with the Royal fathers. “It shall, therefore, be well with him,” he concluded.
The Royal fathers, then rose and prayed for Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, requesting God, the Almighty, to grant his heart’s desire as 2023 approaches.
