By Josephat Omeke

It was Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States of America who while referring to fellow competitors during his 1969 electioneering metaphorically stated: ‘if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen’ The necessary take away from that famous quote is that certain aspects of human activity should not be an all comers affair.

For example, politicking for the office of president of any country or governor of a state is not for the Lilly livered, green horns or make weights who lack the requisite qualifications, accoutrements and paraphernalia to deliver on promises.

Competence for the most part is an integral part of those accoutrements which is often underpinned by experience and sound educational background, political office being almost always tenured, and hardly designed to be a training ground or for those learning on the job.

Character on its part, is no less important as someone without character is also bereft of integrity which embodies trust in leadership.

Chief Hon. Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga a consummate linguist, publisher, author, lawyer and politician is well kitted in terms of character and competence hence his entry into the 2023 gubernatorial race of Enugu state barely a few days ago has been eliciting an avalanche of encomiums, felicitations and hysteria as though the electioneering time has already come.

Born to the famous O .J Edeoga family of Eha-Amufu on 20th October, 1964, the young Chijioke attended Union Primary School Eha-Amufu between 1971 and 1976 after which he proceeded to the then Adada Secondary School for his secondary education.

He finished in flying colours in 1981 and in 1982 gained admission into the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka, to read English Language; a course of study he prosecuted on record time bagging a Bachelor of Arts degree B.A( Hons) in 1986.

Still desirous of more academic laurels, Chijioke Edeoga left the shores of his fatherland to read law in the University of Buckingham United Kingdom where he obtained a Bachelor of law degree LLB( Hons).

In order to be allowed to practice law in Nigeria, Chijioke Edeoga returned home and got enrolled into the Nigeria Law School where he graduated with distinction and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Barr as Barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Not yet done with his academic expedition and determined to specialize in his chosen career, Chijioke Edeoga went back to the United Kingdom to do a Masters Degree in Public International Law at the University of London; a programme he meritoriously concluded and returned back to his country to use his wealth of knowledge and exposure in the service of his people.

Much later in 2019, Barr Chijioke Edeoga also obtained another masters degree in public administration from the ESUT business school.

From the litany of academic laurels and accomplishments above, spanning over three decades, it is obvious that Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga otherwise known as Okaa Omee began early enough to equip himself for greater heights.

In the area of work experience, the young Chijioke Edeoga shortly after his university education had a brief spell with the Daily Star Printing and Publishing Company before deciding to join politics to touch positively the lives of his people.

Barr. Edeoga’s journey into politics began sometime in 1990 under the distinguished tutelage and guardianship of late Dr Joseph Nnabuchi Nwodo a National Republican Convention (now defunct) gubernatorial\presidential aspirant and acclaimed model and repository of intellectual politics in Nigeria.

Working closely and assiduously at the background and providing special and highly skilled services which spiced up the iconic orator’s campaign to the admiration of citizens of many parts of the country, it was no surprise that Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga took so much after this heavy weight political and ideological mentor in several respects, the most outstanding of which is his ardent inclination to decent and intellectual politics as opposed to politics of identity, bitterness, crudity or violence all of which have today become the bane of the nation’s political development.

Due to the military incursion in 1993 led by the late General Sanni Abacha, Barr. Edeoga’s political dreams just as those of others at the time, got shattered as the new military regime wasted no time in abrogating and terminating the entire democratic process.

That government subsequently commenced its own political transition programme in which Barr. Chijioke Edeoga was elected Chairman of Isi Uzo Local Government Area on the platform of United Nigeria Congress Party (now defunct ) between 1997 and 1998.

Having effectively utilized the office of chairman of local government to endear himself to Isi-Uzo people through delivery of quality services, his rise through the political ladder became quite a matter of time. After the nation’s transition to civil rule in 1999,

Barr Edeoga was expectedly elected member House of Representatives for Enugu-East\Isi Uzo federal constituency. While at the Green Chambers of the National Assembly, he was at different times appointed chairman House committee on information as well as chairman House committee on states and local governments among other positions.

In terms of appointive offices, Barr Edeoga between 2011 and 2019 held the following positions; Senior Legislative Adviser to the Deputy Senate President, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on National Assembly matters \ Senate liaison, the Enugu State commissioner for local government as well as commissioner for environment before graciously heeding the clarion call to contest the office of governor of Enugu state come 2023 a couple of days ago.

One thing which Barr. Chijioke Edeoga’s implacable enemies admit albeit privately, is his amazing intellectual depth, urbanity, sagacity, effervescence, and disarming humility; a priceless asset which has enabled him to conquer his adversaries and interact freely with all manner of persons irrespective of their stations in life.

This is the same attribute which has marked Governor Ugwuanyi out as the most humble, accessible and peaceful political leader of all time.

Taking into account Barr. Edeoga’s intimidating academic credentials, excellent track record, unblemished public service and unimpeachable integrity as outlined above, it is obvious that he stands shoulder high above his fellow competitors for the lion building especially in this day and age when desperate people parade dubious credentials just to impress the electorate when in fact they can barely read and write.

A golden opportunity has therefore presented itself for the people of Enugu State to choose between meritocracy and mediocrity veiled in a deceptive toga apparent only to the discerning.

The incontrovertible truism is that despite being favoured by the zoning arrangement in the state, it would have made no meaningful difference if there was no zoning at all as Barr Edeoga has always been and will remain a candidate of merit irrespective of his place of origin or circumstances of birth.

This is rightly so because a golden fish has no hiding place.

Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga is noble in character and possesses the requisite credentials and competence to effectively and efficiently take Enugu State to the next level. All we need to do is to trust him to deliver to the glory of God.

Source: StreetReporters.ng