It is no easy task for a personality of the year, not to talk of the most outstanding personality of the year to be chosen out of a bevy of political leaders, seasoned technocrats, eminent statesmen or corporate titans as many are duly qualified for that appellation as a result of their immeasurable contributions to the growth, development, stability and progress of the Nigerian society in all positive ramifications.
However, out of many, one must be chosen and the criteria utilised for this selection is the time-worn ethos of Character, Integrity, Hardwork, Principle, Competence, Erudity and Sagacity which Hon (Prince) Odianosen Okojie, the federal lawmaker who bagged the auspicious honour of the Most Outstanding Personality Of The Year 2023 possesses in abundance given the fact that he is one political leader who can be taken literally for his words.
Hon Odianosen Okojie’s words as the proverbial saying goes can be taken to the bank, he means what he says and he stands by his words come rain, come shine. Indeed Hon Odi Okojie who has made his indelible mark in the corporate arena as a highly successful oil and gas magnate as well as a high flier in the hospitality and automobile industry through his visionary, creative, dynamic and resourceful leadership persona does not suffer fools gladly for long. The surefooted political titan is not known for careless talk or idle chatter as is common with some in the political class but once he speaks, he resonates with clear authority, clarity, brevity and matchless lucidity.
Hon Okojie’s statements on policy issues and crucial matters of the day are geared towards illuminating, dissecting and resolving complex and contentious issues of national, regional and international implications. Having ridden on a crest of mass appeal and popular acclamation to clinch the coveted seat of House Member representing Esan North East/ Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives in the 2023 National Assembly elections, Hon Odianosen Okojie has moved decisively to impart his unique vision of political leadership and legislative stewardship in order to deliver on his mandate to his beloved people.
Apart from sponsoring a record number of motions and bills, Hon Odi Okojie who is the Chairman, House Commitee on Petroleum Midstream has vowed to tackle the structural issues and challenges facing the petroleum industry and hold accountable those in the commanding heights of the nation’s oil and gas industry. Prince Odi Okojie, the able Chairman/Chief Executive of Henod Group of Companies is a scion of the illustrious Okojie royal family whose ancestral lineage can be traced to the legendary Ogbidi Okojie, Onojie of Uromi and ruler of the Esan people (1857-1944), a fearless fighter against British colonialism.
The revered Esan prince has royal blue blood running in his veins thus he has the inherent personality, confidence, courage, charisma and imbued gravitas to take his beloved people to greater heights in the crucial scheme of things. Calm,comported, articulate, cerebral and sophisticated in all material particulars, a versatile Hon Odi Okojie has seen it all having traversed the various continents in the world thus he has the wealth of knowledge, brevity of experience, professional savvy, academic vigour and intellectual sagacity required to push through needed reforms to recalibrate and revitalize the nation’s ailing oil and gas sector and restore the glory days once again.
Crucially, the result-oriented populist leader has signposted his consensus-driven approach which places great score on extensive consultation and intensive deliberation on issues and matters that directly impacts on the welfare and well-being of his constituents. Thus Hon Odianosen Okojie has taken the bull decisively by the horns in fashioning a range of policies, programs and initiatives geared towards the enlightenment, empowerment and emancipation of the women, youths, students, artisans, traders,the indigent,the physically challenged, the widows and other vital sections of the society. Young, handsome, affable, refined, ably composed and well comported, Hon Okojie is highly regarded and widely admired throughout the National Assembly landscape as a result of his strength of character, force of conviction, sincerity of purpose and fervent commitment to principle and rectitude in all his private and official activities.
The legislative paragon has led inexorably by example and not by precept; many of his peers and subordinates have in due time emulated his laudable character disposition which borders on trust, integrity and steadfastness. At every point in time, you know where you stand with the erudite federal legislator, he is forthright, confident, unassuming, charismatic and compassionate in all material particulars. Indeed his singular purpose of wading into partisan politics is to uplift the welfare and well-being of his hardworking people and thus Hon Odi Okojie relentlessly burns the midnight oil and networks incessantly to fashion out the most practicable means of delivering crucial dividends of democracy to them. With his landslide victory in the 2023 polls, dismantling a coterie of opponents who scampered for safety, a resourceful Hon Okojie is reaching out to key federal agencies notably the Sustainable Development Goals Office,the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, Education,Water Resources, Universal Basic Education Commission,National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and other crucial MDAs in other to garner pivotal road projects, construction and rehabilitation of primary and secondary classroom blocks, hospitals and health centres, provision of 500KVA transformers, water borehole projects as well as employment opportunities for his constituents in the federal establishments and the security agencies.
Also included in this list is the training of women and youths in numerous skills acquisition schemes and vocational occupations. A benevolent Hon Odianosen Okojie has initiated the payment of WAEC, NECO and JAMB registration forms for thousands of students in his constituency as well as providing foodstuffs, provisions and monetary grants for women, youths, widows, the infirm, the indigent, the physically challenged and other vulnerable members of society.
From far and near, Hon Odi Okojie’s private and official residences are a mecca for countless citizens,youths,professionals,artisans,market women, political activists and persons from all works of life keen on benefiting from the the dynamic lawmaker’s deep well of wisdom. An astute parliamentarian, Hon Odi Okojie has been of high moral standing,very vibrant and productive on the floor of the House all through this legislative dispensation.
He has contributed substantially on national issues and has indeed positioned himself through sheer determination and confidence in the Green Chamber where he argues the cause of his people and thereby renders dividends of democracy to his constituency.
In the vital areas of lawmaking, representation and oversight functions ,a highly resourceful Hon Okojie has made his mark as a force for stability and order in the House and his mature counsel, timely and sincere advice as well as his unshakable integrity and honour has brought him in good stead with the leadership and membership of the National Assembly. Just a few days after his historic inauguration into the 10th National Assembly, Hon Odianosen Okojie hit the ground running as he has promised his beloved constituents by tabling a motion of urgent importance in the Green Chamber calling for the immediate rehabilitation of the badly deteriorated Ewu-Uromi-Agbor and Auchi-Ewu-Benin expressways in order to alleviate the hardships faced by commuters and reduce the acute traffic congestion caused by the dilapidated road condition.
An impassioned Hon Okojie called for urgent action by the Federal Ministry of Works as well as the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to effect palliative repairs on the failed portions of the highways. This epochal motion which was tabled on the 5th of July 2023, just a few days after his assumption of office following a landslide victory in the National Assembly polls that sent his numerous opponents scampering for cover, reflects Hon Odi Okojie’s vibrant and purposeful leadership style that has no truck for undue lethargy or aimless procrastination whatsoever.
Young, wealthy, affable, focused and benevolent in disposition, Hon Odi Okojie sees his vantage position in society not as an end in itself but as a veritable means to the desired end of advancing the welfare and well-being of his constituents as well as delivering crucial dividends of democracy to them in the critical health, education, power, rural development, pipeborne water, agriculture, manpower development and women and youth empowerment sectors.
Thus the revered corporate mogul’s primary objective in entering the political arena is to uplift his people and protect their legitimate rights, interests and privileges not caring whose ox is gored in the process. Having hit the ground running thus leaving his motley of traducers behind in the dust, the kinetic Hon Odianosen Okojie is positively taking the House by storm as he has more goodies in store for his beloved people. One of the potent reasons for the extremely high regard in which Hon Okojie is held among his peers is his unequalled reputation as an epitome of rectitude and integrity, a standard bearer of truth, respect and honour who does not engage in rumour or meddlesome hearsay. Indeed all these sterling character traits and dispositional ethos came in to focus when a cross-section of blue chip think tanks, influential apparatchiks, civil society groups, social affairs commentariats, public policy gurus and the media punditocracy under the aegis of the National lnterest Forum overwhelmingly and unanimously selected Hon ( Prince) Odianosen Okojie as the Most Outstanding Personality Of The Year 2023.
To God be the Glory.
COMRADE OLATUNDE KAYODE, A PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCHER WROTE IN FROM MAITAMA, ABUJA
