It took me several attempts to arrive at a surmised and proper headline to truly and sufficiently describe the sojourn of the Man, Osazua Ivbaze in The NIGERIAN OBSERVER since 2001.
This is because, he, Osazua Ivbaze, to a very large extent, mean and represent different things in diverse stead to different folks. To those who are very close to him, he is perceived as a man who loves hardwork and seeks perfectionist on the job. To others, he is a man who loves good dress sense, humble, but could pass for a dependable ally anytime, any day.
Yet to others, he is seen as Congressman, an orator and a political grammarian hence so many of his friends calls him ‘Geopolitical’.
However, when this opportunity came for me and I wanted to formally capture Osazua Ivbaze’s essence in The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, I was at a loss. At a loss, not because I do not know who the great Ivbaze is, but because, it became very difficult for me to summarise his almost eighteen productive and iconic years in the service with just a single word or phrase like a Journalist or an Editor. This to me would not only be a disservice but also an injustice to a man of many parts. Then I critically asked myself – OBOH; What and who do you think Osazua Ivbaze is? This, like I said in the beginning, affected my choice of headline in this tribute.
Osazua Ivbaze is a man you may hate from afar, but when you hear him speak, you have no choice but to fall in love with him. He is blessed with oratory verve and talents. He is a great negotiator, a lover of family, a great husband and a proud father just as he has been an epitome of a good friend and brother. He is a seeker of knowledge who believes in using ideas to get things done. He is a voracious reader as well as a respecter of the law. What else can I say about ‘Ivbaze the Great’?
Ivbaze is a man with immense experience and can pass for the rank of Emeritus in his chosen profession. He is a punctual and respecter of time, who even against all odd; rejects and resists every theories of why things are bound to fail. With this, Ivbaze was able to develop friendship across all spectrums while in the NIGERIAN OBSERVER, ranging from the regulars to the highest of elites – from the academics through to the political, religious and many more. He has successfully mentored and organised hundreds of University students who have passed through his stable.
However, in spite of these qualities, characteristics, experience and capacities, this great man was not too fortunate enough to be adequately rewarded by this ‘thankless’ profession many experts see as a thankless job.
For the period of his service, Comrade Osazua Ivbaze diligently rendered his duties and responsibilities within a system that gives priority to ‘point of first entry’ into the service over capacity. For the better part of his time, he worked within a regimented tradition where unproductive bureaucracy and protocol is unjustly promoted to overwhelm and undermine capability. This system, ironically, attempted to massively moderate his pen, but alas, I am proud to say that Comrade Osazua Ivbaze graduated to become a ‘General’
We are immensely proud of you Sir! Particularly proud that you were here! Proud in the eagerness of your confidence and willing readiness to eminently graduate into the class you now rightly belong – The class of Senior Citizens and Elder statesmen.
Proud Sir that you are leaving the service with your sensory still intact to enable you enjoy your retirement and continue to contribute your quota to the shaping and development of the society either at home or in the Diaspora. I am particularly proud and hopeful that with your irresistible oratory, candour and effigy, many doors would continue to open for you. I believe and we shall testify very soon that God can make you to achieve more in retirement than in service.
Thank you very much for the good representation. From those who truly know your value, particularly the Esan Nation, we say well done.
