While entertaining questions on why he had been at the epicenter of forging a workable relationship with his competitors in the US’ capitalist market to the point of lending helping hands to his perceived business adversaries, Frank Guzzetta, the President of Ralph Lauren Footwear Collections had told the Members of the US’ elite Hall of Fame that, “There is nothing more rewarding than giving back and making difference in the life of people in your environment.” What matters to him most is not the bitter rivalry rigorously sponsored against him and his company, but the environment of love where everyone can thrive in fullness of their potential.
In Nigeria where irreconcilable individual and groups’ interests have been tearing our society apart, threatening the fundamental fabric of our existence, and sometimes, leaving us with question on the role of humanity in making a just and better society, we can still look up and heave some sigh of relief.
In recent times, people have been clamouring for the incumbent Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to throw his hat into the ring by declaring for presidential seat in 2023.
The call is drastically gaining momentum nationwide. The reason for this is simple. “Gov Ugwuanyi is a good man and peace-loving, easygoing and focused person” as aptly captured by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. The Rivers State governor only reiterated the known virtue of the governor. A man’s virtue cannot be hidden. While the governor has made Enugu state a haven of peace, he did not stop there. He was careful in appointing those that would work with him and help his administration achieve the template of its mission and goals. It was within this framework that Monday Diamond Ani, a former student union leader and one of the most influential youth leaders in Nigeria was appointed by the governor as his aide.
One can easily appreciate the ecumenical spirit of Governor Ugwuanyi in Monday Diamond as he goes about doing good, forging a peaceful co-existence among communities, towns and kinsmen through his determined spirit of national patriotism. Diamond a youth leader with unequal creative ingenuity and immeasurable followership amongst the youths and highly admired by the elite due to his unique and sagacious nature, has maximally seen such position as an opportunity to bring the youths together under one umbrella, dialogue with warring parties, reconcile rivalry political families and reach out to the general public in the most responsible manner.
Just couple of months ago, the entire Southeast converged in Enugu on the behest of Diamond through the South East Debate sponsored by his NGO; Monday Diamond Foundation. The idea of bringing people of different orientations and ideological leanings together aligned with Governor Ugwuanyi’s doctrine of ecumenism.
The programme could have come and gone, but the bond created by it will continue to resonate love, joy and healing in the hearts of the people in South East and Nigeria.
Toeing that path of continued search for peace in diversity, Diamond went further and brought the whole people of Nkanu Land comprising the six local government areas in Enugu East Senatorial Zone together through a football tournament organized by Nkanu Youth Council tagged; Nkanu Unity Cup. The game saw the whole communities gathering under one umbrella, dining and wining. What more does our society need other than peace, love and progress? It’s only in an atmosphere of love and peace that development, growth and progress can be made.
Today, Diamond has remained a unifying force rallying around people from all walks of life in the senatorial zone. Nkanu Land is blessed with the likes of Diamond, and with more people like him, the state will continue to move forward progressively.
We are equally commending him for speaking for the people; representing the voice for the voiceless; fighting for the helpless and poising greatly as a source of consolation to the needy. Through his scholarship programme is greatly appreciated by the beneficiaries, some of our children without the hope of seeing the wall of education are today doing well in the classroom. This is what we need to make a better world for all of us. We are also lauding his effort for the many artisans and youths he has been able to successfully sponsor in skill acquisitions.
Monday Diamond Ani fondly called Odoziobodo who was recently appointed POCACOV AMBASSADOR by the Nigeria Police Force for his role in peace maintenance and patriotic advocacy is not relenting in his humanitarian services as he Celebrated his recent Birthday at the Nigeria Correctional Services and some primary Schools in Nkerefi, sharing thousands of exercise books and other writing materials,with school feeding in honour of the Governor.
Indeed, we need more youths in Nkanu land for this rare quality.
By Prince Ejeh Josh, Esq.
