Jude Ejiogu: Footprints Of An Achiever Says Duruiheoma Of The Union Newspapers

Whenever the history of Owerri geopolitical zone, nay, Imo State is told about the modern political and democratic dispensation in Nigeria, the name of the Chief of Staff to the Imo State Government House would certainly occupy a prominent space. Not so much for his creative intelligence or his empowerment programmes for the youths of Owerri Zone, but mainly for the honour and stability this retired banker has brought to bear on the governance of the state.

Before Ejiogu assumed office as the COS, the state government house was to some extent characterized by intense heat, leading to some level of instability in the governance of the state.

The office of the chief of staff, by its design, is peculiar and unique. It was established for the management of the workforce of the Government House. The chief of staff helps select and supervises the key players on that team. He or she heads up the Executive Office of the governor.

He often controls direct access to the governor. Chiefs generally take a first meeting with important officials and then either give a report to the governor, or allow a meeting to hold with the governor.

What that means is that the government house is in the hands of the chief of staff. And the occupier of that office must be an intelligent fellow who is above reproach and whose knowledge and wise counsel can be relied upon in times of crisis. His responsibility is not only managing the staff of the of the government house, but of mainly the responsibility to ensure stability of governance. To achieve these, he is expected to maintain high level leadership stability.

These are exactly the qualities Sir Ejiogu brought to bear on the Imo State government house since his appointment about a year ago in 2013. Those who know him say he possesses some hidden valuable qualities that are not only admired by Governor Rochas Okorocha, government appointees and all the political leaders in the state but also needed in the state's quest for more democratic dividends. These qualities have wormed many people to him and his leadership style.

Before his appointment as the COS, Ejiogu was the chairman of the state's Local Government Service Commission(LGSC) and prior to that, he was the Special Adviser to the governor on Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) and Chairman Board Of Internal Revenue where he shored up the revenue base of the state from N400 million monthly to over N1 billion. This development necessitated Governor Okorocha to declare that Imo is one of the richest states in Nigeria.

His stint at the LGSC brought heavy relief to the pensioners of the local government system whose arrears of pensions were held up in the past for more than four months. Today that story has changed and pensioners are happily enjoying their retirement. It was here that his trademark humility and intelligence were immediately confirmed by the governor and he was drafted in to head the most important section of the government, generally referred to as the 'engine room' of government.

A servant leader and symbol of hope for his Owerri people, it was not surprising when he was appointed as the COS. Ejiogu has helped attract many developmental projects to not only his Emekuku town, but also the Owerri zone as a whole.

In his community, Emekuku, Ejiogu is rated by the youths as the highest creator of graduate employment despite not being among the richest in the community. Before his incursion into politics, Sir Ejiogu ensured that dozens of young men and women from his community received gainful employment in the banking sector.

In fact, most of the people from Imo State serving as bank managers and senior bank executives in various banks in Nigeria today owe their thanks to him. His personal war against poverty and underdevelopment has resulted in hundreds of undergraduate and graduate scholarships, entrepreneurial training for youths, micro credit for youth farmers, sports development, and special funds for widows.

Sir Jude Ejiogu is a man every state and community will always want to have as their own. But unfortunately, in Imo state, no matter how good one makes effort to be, once, he is serving the public; certain mud must be slung on his integrity by only those whose only business is destroying the image of politicians for others to rise. But this integrity is not obtained by merely destroying others.

I write this because I think it is pertinent to emulate Sir Ejiogu's values of humility, selfless service, determination, and hard work.

Duruiheoma Damian of the Union Newspapers, Abuja