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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Good name, they say, is better than silver and gold and by extension, money. Exactly 40 years ago this year, for four years and some fraction of months, he pranced the entire landscape of the old Imo State, comprising Imo, Abia and some parts of Ebonyi State like a colossus, superintending the area as a governor with unparalleled zeal and undiluted commitment.
Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe (Dee Sam) as many chose to call him, earned the sobriquet of the Weeping Governor as a result of his constant tears-filled eyes while presenting requests to the Federal Government to come to the aid of his infrastructure-stricken state.
As the governor of old Imo State between 1979 to 1984, Mbakwe patriotically set a record that nobody has equaled in the governance of the area. Some of the roads he constructed in Aba, Owerri and Umuahia, three of the main cities of the old Imo State, for instance, have withstood the weather and are still standing 40 years after.
In other areas of governance, he showed his people love, commitment in leadership and above all, gave them hope for the future, doggedly, perfectly and firmly putting on the shoes of Dr. Michael Okpara, the late former Premier of the defunct Eastern Region.
Mbakwe has deservedly remained a reference point exactly 40 years after he left the scene. His leadership style and what he stood for as a governor endeared him to his people who at every turn of event will always want to celebrate this enigma.
So, recently, Imo natives living in Aba, Abia State under the umbrella of South East Cultural Association (SECA) and the Imo National Union Worldwide (INUW) rolled out their drums to celebrate their own, under the 2024 Governor Samuel Mbakwe Annual Memorial National Leadership Day
The day was unique, the gathering solemn and the person for which the creme de la creme in the society gathered was an iconic leader by any scale measured.
In an address presented on the occasion on behalf of Japhet Anyanwu, President General of SECA and INUW, the chairman, National Planning Committee, Dr John Kennedy Osuala described Mbakwe as a “national leadership hero, litmus test, measuring rod, and a benchmark to assess contemporary leaders in Nigeria.”
Osuala said in celebrating Mbakwe, the cardinal objective was not just to celebrate achievements of a hero that are numerous, but to indeed deploy the achievements as a fulcrum to tackle the Nigerian leadership deficit.
“Mbakwe was the only leader in his time who provided basic infrastructure simultaneously in key areas of old Imo State of Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Orlu, Okigwe and Afikpo with no discrimination, no sectionalism, no nepotism and no bitterness of soul and spirit,” he noted.
He enumerated some of the landmark infrastructure provided by Mbakwe to include, the Aba Glass Industry, Mbaise Zenith Paint Industry, Okigwe Clay Products Industry, Owerri Modern Shoe Factory and the Owerri Concord Hotel.
Others were Imo Modern Poultry, Avutu, Obowo; Inyishi Aluminum Extrusion Industry; Ogwe Golden Chicken Project; Imo University and above all, the Amaraku Power Plant, said to be the first Independent Power Plant project in Nigeria.
“But the unique, uncanny or even the strangest thing about all these Mbakweistic accomplishments is that all these projects were generally accomplished within a single leadership term of four years, proving that you do not need two terms of office to perform American or even Nigerian wonders,” he said.
The organizers of the event noted that Mbakwe’s love for his people and exploits transcended his governorship when they said: “Beyond his success as a Project Governor he was also a success as a political governor.
“He was clearly passionate about the sufferings of Imo, and Igbo people in general after the civil war in 1970. At great and grave personal risk, he challenged the military and its Port Harcourt Abandoned Property impropriety, and won.”
Eulogizing Mbakwe further, they said: “He used his mouth and eyes to cry for the people and got a back-handed compliment as Weeping Governor of Nigeria. And for his political associates and contemporaries, and followers, Governor Mbakwe remained a father and friend till the last of his days.”
SECA and INUW, the organizers of the event, were of the view that Mbakwe succeeded as a governor because of his leadership style which anchored on what they called Twin Pillars of Leadership Success – concern for people and concern for production, which they said was what made the former governor of old Imo State to build industries in all the local government areas of the then state.
They said Mbakwe himself strongly believed that the twin goals of massive education, and massive industrialization, should become the compulsory leading pursuit of any genuinely patriotic Nigerian leader in order to catapult Nigeria to the status of a leading nation in the world.
Welcoming guests, Hon Okechukwu Uzoma, Abia State chairman of SECA and INUW, described Mbakwe as a dogged, rugged and indefatigable leader, who showcased his leadership prowess when he was governor of old Imo State.
According to him, “we celebrate Governor Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe today and always because excluding Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa), Dr. Michael Okpara of Eastern region, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu of defunct Biafra, he is one Igbo man whose exploits reverberated around the country for good.
Highlight of the event was the giving of chieftaincy titles to many Igbo sons and daughters who have made indelible marks in their various fields of endeavour.
One of those who received the chieftaincy title is Chief (Sir) Rems Uchendu, who was bestowed with the chieftaincy title of Agunechemba 1 of Igbo land.
While commending Mbakwe for his good works during the short time he was governor, Uchendu said it will be difficult to get leaders in the mould of Mbakwe in present day Nigeria.
He commended the organisers for honouring the former governor of old Imo State who he said deserved every acolyte showered on him.
Chief Uchendu who said he has been challenged by the chieftaincy title bestowed on him, said he would continue to contribute his little quota in turning society around for good.
He dedicated the chieftaincy title to the memory of Mbakwe.
