Prince Ejeh Josh Esq
Finding people who deliberately go out of their way to reach out to or make personal sacrifice to extend a regenerative hope to those wallowing in the most undignifying squalid shanty and slum of life is incredibly rare in our world of today. The language of the world has been skewed with slanted meaning of individualistic profligacy and propensity to look the other way from those languishing from the miasma of poverty, despondency, illiteracy, and basic lacks. What the world needs to survive the confusion and distortion almost overwhelming humanity is a quick rebirth of love through our actions and characters. The world needs healing, care and hope of survive. Many are perennially trapped by the monstrous grip of destitution, deprivation and abandonment in the midst of wealth. Many are lonely in the midst of the mammoth crowds.
Underscoring the salient impact of love and how extent it could rebuild the battered face of humanity, Warren Buffett, one of the most successful American industrialists and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway, had this message delivered to us: “If you’re in the luckiest 1% of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99%.” His historical speech does not need a mathematical manipulation or calculus to understand the crux of the message he was trying to pass. In a society such as the one we found ourselves, remarkably stratified and known for its uneven wealth distribution, we have a moral burden and responsibility dictated by our conscience to reach out to the less privilege and lend a helping hand. This is a call some have undertaken without blowing even the most dumbest and muted trumpet of their feat for societal praise and eulogium. In their quietness, they keep permeating the society, re-writing the history of humanity in the most dignified and significant path. It has, however, become customary of me to celebrate anyone operating within that plane whenever and wherever I see them.
One of the most outstanding personalities with the above qualities inherent in him is herein having his special day that calls for commemoration and mark of deference. Get it right! He is worth celebrating everyday due to his far-reaching positive impacts on humanity. He has distinguished himself as a friend of the people. He has also historically ingrained himself in the hearts of the masses through his selfless gesture and appeal to human benevolence. I’m, therefore, constrained by the massive and reverent goodwill enjoyed by him in the comity of our people to celebrate his meekness, humility, kindness, compassion, love and philanthropy.
Hon. Steve Oruruo, a legal luminary, oratory maestro, wordsmith, and scholar of stellar pedigree, is a man of many colourful parts encapsulated in humility and humaneness. He is simply a different brand, blend, breed and gift to humanity. From his unblemished antecedent, Barr. Steve has shown his uncanny records of service to humanity, and has, indeed, been serving the masses in different capacities. Steve is a youth who believes in exploring the potential deposits in young ones for self-rediscovery. Many have even described him as a blessing to humanity and a rare gift for a just society.
Steve has always used every opportunity presented to him to brighten the face of the people and lift the voice of the voiceless in the society. A lawyer of outstanding credentials, Steve, while serving as Secretary, Enugu State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, rendered services that keep reverberating his name not only in the party but also amongst the people on the streets. Through his office, jobs were offered to many youths whose hope of ever making livelihoods for themselves had appeared futile. Young men and women were empowered, and many of them are, today, having the best of economic consolidation.
Even now that he’s serving as a Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve has also found his niche as a human rights protagonist and proponent of leftism. He’s gallantry there as an advocate and defender of the Ugwuanyi’s government. He speaks, fights and struggles for a government that would be all inclusive. His works have showcased the uncommon transformation of the governor’s administration. However, one cannot wish away the fact that Steve, where there would be a conflict of interest, would prefer to speak and stand on the side of the people. He doesn’t shy away from that philosophy of people-centrism regardless of the consequences.
Let me note this unapologetically; my love for Steve knows no bounds. This is manifested through his resolve to champion the cause of humanity and try as far as he can to make everyone happy within whatever context he finds them. When he decided to organize an open education empowerment tagged “Award of Brilliance” meant at driving human capital development and intellectual revolution in basic education, he coopted some of us to plan for it. Unveiling his ideas left me wondering where Steve would get the money to execute such capital intensive project. He, however, assured us of his capacity to shoulder the responsibilities. The project cuts across sporting paraphernalia, academic books and awards, gifts, and cash for students numbering hundreds. True to his promise, Steve was able to mobilize resources and had the project seamlessly executed. Before everyone present were awards of scholarships to students from their secondary education to university level. It’s amazing indeed.
This was not the first time Steve has been doing the good works. Many university students in the University of Nigeria, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Institute of Management and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, etcetera, are beneficiaries of Steve’s scholarship scheme through the Steve Oruruo Foundation. Many are graduates today because Steve made it possible without blowing the trumpet. Many are meaningfully employed too because Steve gave them the opportunity. Many are even studying overseas through the assiduous facilitation of Steve. What more has he not given to humanity!
While trying to wish him a happy birthday this morning, I learnt he was already at the hospital defraying bills for the sick. He would definitely visit the orphanage homes, old people’s homes and the less-privileged. That’s what Steve has dedicated his life for. It’s a life to serve God and humanity. It’s a life to champion the progress of humanity and make people feel the reason for their existence. I definitely will also have the cause to celebrate him today and always. Let me join people of goodwill all over the world that have been celebrating him to wish him a happy birthday and many more years. Congratulations!
