Osun toughened me, changed my orientation about life, career – Asiwaju George

High Chief Ihe Onunekwu OkwudiriChukwu George is a Guidance and Counseling Practitioner. But that is not what made him popular. His popularity stems from the significant contribution he makes to the development of Ndigbo in South –West, Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

The multitalented George was recently installed Asiwaju Ndigbo (HH Onyedu Ijede Chinaemeze Chimamanda) of Oluponna Kingdom, a community in Ayedire South Local Council Development Area of Osun State, by his Royal Majesty, Oba Emmanuel Oyeleso Oyebamiji Fadare II. He Spoke with JIDE AKINTUNDE OKE on his life, career and contributions to the development of Oluponna.

Who is Okwudirichukwu George?

I am in my early 50s. I hail from Umuomieze Na Omi autonomous community of Ikeduru, Imo Sate. I am a Guidance and Counseling Practitioner. I went to the Ekiti State University, where I graduated with the Bachelor of Education Degree.

I am currently a post graduate student of Criminology and Security Studies with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). I am a special correspondent with the Limelight News, Ohanaeze Magazine, Lagos, and a freelance writer with many articles published in different newspapers, chief executive officer of Geovera Counseling Clinic and Geovera Travel Agency, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria and manager Scorpio Hotels, Osogbo.

Chairman and the pioneer member of the Association of Imo State Indigenes in Iwo for 10 years, President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo (the apex Igbo Organisation Worldwide) Osun State branch from 2010 to 2018, pioneer secretary – general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo (Africa) from inception in 2009 till date and currently, the vice president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo South-West diaspora.

I am married to Mrs. Veronica Iheonunekwu from Eziamalkeduru, Imo State and the marriage is blessed with children.

What was your early life like?

I happened to be a child that believed discipline shaped one for leadership. So, I was okay. We were taught values, we were taught humility, we were taught the fear of God, we were taught to be patriotic. These values were inculcated into us. All these helped me greatly to be where I’ m today.

For how long have you been staying in Osun State?

This year 2019 makes it my 20 years in Iwo and Oluponna, Osun State.

How would you describe your stay in Osun State in the last 20 years?

Quite interesting. I moved into Iwo, in Osun State, when I was about 30 years old as a motor driver after graduating from the secondary school.

Then, I discovered I have to be a man to survive. Some believed, especially my people that I will end up to no good, because of my condition then. But I believe, I moved over to Osun to continue my struggle, and then I discovered that Osun is a hard place to thrive.

I learnt and later agreed with what my Igbo ethnic group termed the city a long time ago “Osunsi Kwalu Ike, meaning literally that” Osun is hard”.

I remained unperturbed in my progression for a successful odyssey in the city that welcomes visitors no matter the nationality, tribes or language.

It was hard at the onset. Osun toughened me and changed my orientation about my career and life generally as there was no one to turn to for help.

I ran through the experience, working so hard, but despite the boredom that set in, Osun has really changed my life and I thank God for his blessings.

What has been your contributions to Oluponna to merit the Asiwaju Ndigbo title?

After about 10 years of my coming to Iwo, I introduced an NGO (Prolabore Dei) in aid of destitute 2010, with their structure at the back of Iwo Medical Centre, Odori, which has been feeding the poor, giving them drugs and cloths for the past seven years, I also organised the first Ohanaeze Diaspora Congress in Iwo land that witnessed delegates from Kenya, Guinea, South Africa, Ghana and other West Africa countries.

I was the head of the delegation to the Republic of Guinea, Conakry to resolve a 10 year crisis involving Ndigbo which I successfully achieved, and earned a chieftaincy title as an honour for the crisis resolution.

Presently, I am in touch with the founder of spirit of His Word Church International, Bishop Chuks Emereighini JP with branches in the USA and Nigeria, they organize medical check-up and treatments.

I have succeeded in enlisting Oluponna land for the next round of free medical check- up coming up in Nigeria in June 2020.

As part of efforts to ensure the rapid development of Oluponna land, I am also in touch with the Ohanaeze Europe and other chapters towards assisting in having a ZOBIA International Market in Ayedire, a project which its architectural design is already in place and I am convinced that we will have the blessings and support of His Royal Majesty, Oba Emmanuel Oyebamiji, in making the dream a reality. All these and many more have been my contributions to Oluponna land.

How do you combine in juggling career with your marital life?

It is the grace of God for one to have a successful career and a good marriage. It requires the fear of God, patience, commitment and devotion. It is an onerous task.

Here you are, you’ve got to be there for your family and for your wife and children, their problems are your problems. You must be seen to perform your role as a father which is as a loving helper who is there to assist his wife.

At the same time, because of the privilege of your education, the opportunities that abound, you also try to strike a balance. So, it is quite telling on the man to balance it, but with the grace of God and the strength that He gives us; one is able to keep both under balance.

How has marriage been?

I thank God, I’m very fortunate to have a complementing wife, a doting and understanding woman. She encourages me to be myself. She assists and she’s there for me.

Of course, with that quality in her, that has robbed on our children. The children have also played a good role in my life. They help me; they are there for me all the time. We do things together.

A problem for one is for everybody. I thank God for their lives, and that has been keeping us going.

How long have you been married to your wife?

Our marriage is 25 years old this year

Would describe yourself as fashionable?

It depends on what one is looking for or looking at. What I like to do is to appear respectable and neat.

We didn’t endorse Lawan, APC youth leaders cry out. The All Progressives Congress (APC) Zonal Youth Leaders Forum has dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan as sole candidate for the Senate presidency position, insisting that the idea of micro-zoning of National Assembly leadership positions was not in the best interest of the party.

The reaction came on the heels of media reports claiming endorsement for Senator Lawan by some APC youths in Abuja, on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the spokesman of the Forum, Terver Aginde, on Wednesday, the zonal youth leaders expressed concern that micro-zoning the Senate Presidency and Speakership positions will not only erode the independence of legislature but would also alienate genuine party members and senators-elect unjustifiably.

“We are the constitutionally recognised Youth Leaders of the party and we are members of the National Executive Committee (NEC). We are worried about the future of this party. So, the purported endorsement of a particular candidate by some youths is certainly not from us.

“Our position is clear; we do not want a repeat of the 2015 incidence. And again, we maintain that no zone is less important than the others.
“Like we stated in our communiqué yesterday, we are not against zoning, but micro-zoning.

We considered it anomalous to make a pronouncement on the Senate presidency and Speakership to the exclusion of other zones.

“We are yet to receive answers to the questions: How did we get to this avoidable crisis point? How did we arrive at the purported decision on micro-zoning? Who seconded the motion for such a divisive plot?

“Mr. President in his right wisdom has maintained that he is for everyone and the wisdom in that is to give every legitimate party member a sense of belonging. We think that is the route to go,” the youth leaders maintained.