Similar to the recent news report that late Julius Kambarage Nyerere, first President of the new state of Tanzania, whose canonization plan for sainthood by the Catholic community in Tanzania, is currently in top gear, comparable media reports on Friday, 15th December 2023, indicates that the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Chapter, Benin City, bestowed a posthumous award on late Prof. John C. Ebie, pioneer Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the UBTH, who passed on to eternal glory many years ago.
Like the former President Nyerere, Prof. Ebie who is the father of Barrister Chiedu Ebie, incumbent chairman of the board, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was honoured for his sterling public leadership attributes showcased as head of the heath institution established in May 1973.
Essentially, while the award ceremony, which was received by Barr. Chiedu on behalf of the family and accompanying celebrations may have come and gone, but not without leaving behind some ingrained lessons. One of such big lessons is that as humans, we must live with the consciousness that every good effort and sincere contribution towards the development of mankind must not go unrewarded.
Separate from such services not going unrewarded, there are even overt reasons to characterize the recognition as not only a triumph of excellence but predicates veritable factors that will covertly assist both ordinary people and those in positions of authority to display extraordinary selflessness in their various positions of endeavors.
As the pioneer CMD of the UBTH who navigated the health institution to an enviable world-class health provider, it is obvious that he must have creatively brought together within the same organization different people with different experiences, assumptions, values, belief and habits to their work. And provided direction, protection, orientation, managed conflicts, shaped norms and laced with emotional capacity to tolerate uncertainty, frustrations and pains and raised tough questions without getting anxious himself.
Undoubtedly, what the above award tells current public office holders in the country is that they are watched closely, that people are noting every move they make, that their followers are learning a great deal about them and what they really believe in as opposed to what they say. What the award explains is that people’s support is the greatest asset public office holders and civil servants enjoy. Most unique revelation by the award is that what binds every follower to their leaders is unwavering fate built on trust.
Take as an illustration, aside from living a life of integrity and simplicity, shunning the selfishness that marred much of such positions, the latest testament by the Association of Resident Doctors, UBTH Chapter, coupled with the great institution he left behind, further supports the global argument ‘that we need good people to have good government, for however good the system of government maybe, bad leaders will bring harm to their people’.
For me, the award more than anything else tells us that Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), should expect from Barrister Chiedu Ebie, an authentic leadership provision.
Going by his father’s antecedent, he will in accordance with the expectation of the people of Niger Delta region, demonstrate passion for his purpose, practice his leadership values consistently, lead with his heart as well as his head, establish long-term relationships and have the self-discipline to get results.
He is most likely not going to depart from this prediction!
The reason for the above assertion is not farfetched; a brilliant father who is blessed with brilliant public leadership acumen can only give birth to a son with, or even a better leadership mind.
Most importantly, there is even an accompanying reason to believe that good public leadership qualities domicile in their family.
As succulently captured by a commentator,; Chiedu Ebie had an uncle, Mr. Fortune Ebie who was one of the founding architects of modern Nigeria, literally speaking. Mr. Fortune Ebie was the Director of the Federal Housing Authority who planned and executed the building of what still today is the biggest Housing Estate in Nigeria, the FESTAC Housing Estate in Lagos, Nigeria. Fortune Ebie was the head of the FHA with Brigadier Olu Obasanjo as Minister of Works and Housing and delivered a housing estate that remains even after a half century, the pride of the black man. It was showcased during the First World and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977and it brought admiration to Nigeria from the rest of the world.
Finally, while this piece therefore, celebrates the posthumous award bestowed on the late erudite Professor, the piece on the other hand prays that Barrister Chiedu recognizes that NDDC was established as a response to overwhelming human deprivation in the Niger Delta.
Like his father, may he be blessed with wisdom to conceive fresh beginning and more focused effort on development in the Niger Delta- as his mission is chiefly to develop the region in terms of infrastructure and human capital.
May he succeed on this mandate!
Utomi is the programme cordinator (media and public policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos
