By Ugwu Onyekachi Ahmed
Leadership is not about political positions occupied. Leadership is about engineering positive impacts, exciting self discovery in people around and about you, and influencing change in someone’s negative world views.
Leadership is about effortlessly commanding and influencing respect and honour. It is about warming up to all and sundry and influencing the greatest happiness of the greatest number. It is about helping people to change their perception of things and molding newer perspective that are productive. It’s about inspiring, motivating and leveraging new levels for people. It is about having open door, wide ears and shoulder to bear burdens.
Barr Ugwu Charlie the Onowu Igugu Ancient Kingdom is not your political careerist. He is a practicing lawyer, a business high flyer and Chief Executive. Regardless of not being an occupier of any political appointment, he nevertheless acts as a bridge for many politicians to reach their paradise. He is a unifier of all shades of political interests and gives rapt attention to any case brought before him and advises as considered needful.
Aa result, he is a politicians idol with far reaching influence and outstanding goodwill. Many a youth in and outside Udenu Local Government owe him a lot for quality interventions in their affairs at a slight beckoning.
Back in Udenu, he stands as a man of the people, a man whose main gate is thrown wide ajar once he is at home.
An evening in his home reminds one of a typical moonlight gathering where men and women from different homes gather to make merry, drawing inspiring lessons from the wise mouth of a grandmother. This unusual style baffles many especially in an era when security concerns is on the high. But you see, Socrates in his wisdom had admonished us to understand that “nothing evil happens to a good man whether living or dead” for the gods send Angels to mount guard at his doorsteps.
A man of towering aura, you can hardly fail to be drawn to him. At first sight, you will be cajoled by his ramrod and no nonsense poise, but on a closer call you will be awed with his enveloping charm, smoothness of conversation and disposition to hospitality.
Like one of my friends with whom I paid him a visit would say…. “At first I felt intimidated by the air of opulence around about him, my wrong impression of his cockiness and additionally, his stern and unsmiling face, but when I sat into my chair directly opposite him, I saw a different person. I saw a personable person, a man whose height in life does not determine his human relationship, a good story teller and a charming and inspiring character. I cherish the visit, as it made me see differently”.
Yes how exact and accurate! Barr Charlie does not felicitate with nonsense and vanity fair. He is straight to the point and prompt, gives you reason to laugh and smoothly deflates you long held but wrong notions about things and persons.
He is a leader who provides leadership effortlessly, makes you see the need for followership and team playing. Unlike your regular politician he does not promise what ever he is not committed to. He neither massages ego nor makes light your burden with words but action..
To cap it up , learning is a continuous process. For me and I believe also of those who flock around him, what I learnt within a year is so redefining and reinventing.
Join me and celebrate this iconic personality as he celebrates his birthday today.
