Onyeme, The Gold Fish That Has No Hiding Place (FEATURE)
By Fidelis Egugbo
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, Chief Sir Monday Onyeme, celebrated his 58 birthday anniversary. Expectedly, his residence in Asaba, since his emergence as the Deputy Governor-elect in the March, 2023 gubernatorial election has become a beehive of activities.
Last Thursday, I decided to spend a day with Chief Onyeme, who is popularly addressed by his traditional title of Odoziani. From 9.00 am till about 9.00pm of that day, he was receiving visitors. The man has the stamina and at all times, composed.
From the congratulatory visit by members of De Saint International Club to that of his immediate community, Onicha-Ukwuani in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State to members of Lions Club International, the Arewa Community, Umusadege Community and several other groups. That was how a typical day looks like for Chief Onyeme since his emergence as the Deputy Governor-elect of Delta State.
With his 58 birthday anniversary coming less than 24 hours after receiving the Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from 7.00am of Thursday, people of all walks of life thronged his residence to felicitate with him.
As someone who reported the activities at the Deputy Governor’s office for two administrations, that of Chief Sir Benjamin Elue during Governor James Ibori’s tenure and Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN, when Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan was on seat as Governor, Deltans are going to have a Deputy Governor in Chief Monday Onyeme whose office will belong to all Deltans as he believes in open-door policy.
Also, as an individual, apart from the fact that Chief Onyeme is the political leader of my Ward, Ward 5, Onicha-Ukwuani, which he comfortably led to victory in all the elections conducted by INEC this year, Chief Onyeme was my lecturer at the then Asaba Campus of the Delta State University. At that time, he was working with National Agriculture Land Development Authority, NALDA and with Mr Cyril Agbele, former Accountant-General of Delta State, they ensured that DELSU had enough lecturers to groom future leaders.
As a gold fish that has no hiding place, his life is all about movement, positive movement I can hear you say. He has worked in several places and as such, he is vast in knowledge and experience.
When he spoke on the topic, “Effective Tax Administration For The Delivery Of Democratic Dividends” at the year 2023 Maris Annual Public Service Lecture where he was the Guest Speaker, he held the dignified audience at the Unity Hall Government House, Asaba spell-bound with his knowledge about tax administration and democracy.
To the benefits of Deltans, two years after delivering that lecture, he emerged as the Deputy Governor-elect, a position which he will use to implement what he knows about good governance.
That Deltans are comfortable with him is an understatement, he is loved by the people as his philanthropic activities, good relationship with people cuts across ethnic groups and class.
For the records, while we sing happy birthday songs for Chief Onyeme, one can go through his profile below and say, THANK GOD FOR THE LIFE OF ODOZIANI.
The biography below was reproduced from the brochure for the year 2022 edition of Maris Annual Public Service lecture. Happy reading:
