OKADIGBO’S APPOINTMENT, “ROUND PEG IN A ROUND HOLE”
By Charles Iwuagwu
Distinguished Senator Margery Okadigbo is without doubt, a woman of destiny, a go-getter, great achiever and enterprising woman.
A mother, a lawyer, and by the grace of God, Board Chairman of the newly empanelled Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited; a woman who entered the public service to help restore the legacy of “Principled Leadership” which is a principle her late husband Rt. Hon (Dr) Chuba Okadigbo stood for throughout his life time.
Known for her conviction which stems from her burning desire to improve living standard of the people based on the populist philosophy and Latin maxim: “salus populi ex suprema lex”, loosely translated to mean: “the welfare of the people is the supreme law”.
Those privileged to work with her attests of her immense managerial skills and high vision of passion, team spirit, accountability, capacity, transparency, articulate pragmatism, proactiveness, doggedness, sense of unity, peace, resilience and maturity.
A tested and trusted leader who have served humanity without blemish, but with a pedigree of courage and integrity in service.
When she was sworn in as the senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District following a Supreme Court ruling after a long legal battle as the duly nominated candidate and hence, the winner of the April 16, 2011, senatorial election for Anambra North zone, her indelible footprints, exploits and unparalleled successes even in a male dominated Red Chamber apprise of a lady so passionate and a tireless worker who believes in leading by example.
For instance; her humanitarian gesture of offering shelter, providing foodstuffs and other relief materials in 2012 after the people of her senatorial zone was traumatized by an unprecedented flood disaster with the attendant health challenges that confronted the riverine people of Anambra North senatorial zone, mostly living in clusters of subsistence settlements that are fundamentally agrarian continues to resonate even as her tenure was short-lived.
Senator Lady Margery Okadigbo, who took after her late husband and former Senate President, Chief Senator Chuba Okadigbo in representing Anambra North Senatorial District at the senate chambers from 2013-2015, has nevertheless been consistent, unflappable, cool, calm and collected.
She gives her all for any cause she believes in. Her passion and dedication is infectious and therefore motivates everyone around her to key into her vision.
A great believer in the ingenuity of the human mind and spirit, her very fertile imagination and vision resulted in some novel concepts and approaches she has held in the past.
No wonder, her appointment as the Board Chairman of the NNPC Ltd by His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, relying on the instrumentality of power vested on him under Section 59(2) of PIA 2021 is indeed a round peg in a round hole, and she would sincerely not betray the confidence the president reposed in her.
Given her experience, knowledge and vast understanding of the oil and gas sector, many players of the industry are praising the President with deep gratitude for demonstrating expertise and institutional knowledge of the petroleum industry in appointing Distinguished Senator Margaret Okadigbo, the wife of former Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo (Oyi of Oyi), first vice presidential candidate to General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in 2003 general election.
Her capacity was aptly felt when she represented the country alongside her colleagues in the recently concluded World Petroleum Conference which held at Houston, United States, addressing all aspects of the petroleum industry, from technological advances in upstream, midstream, and downstream operations hence her seemless elevation as the Board Chair after major reshuffling.
However, by this appointment for obliging Ndigbo the major slot of Board’s chairmanship position, President Buhari has demonstrated yet again that he doesn’t nurse any animosity against Ndigbo; a vindication that he has not forgotten the ethnic tribe and by so doing proved that he is putting in all his possible best at ensuring equity, fairness and justice in the polity despite what his traducers are bandying against him.
It is a fitting tribute to acknowledge that this appointment has shown the president as being gender sensitive and poised to achieving 35% in female appointments as promised in his Next Level manifesto, and other activities directed specifically to ensure that women are given a fairer chance and opportunity. All of which are deliberate affirmative actions to ensure females benefit proportionately and where they are not able to benefit proportionately, at least they benefit fairly in the distribution of his administration’s policies, programmes and positions.
Our dear Distinguished and indefatigable Senator, a lady of great intellect, immeasurable contributions with boundless energy; “it is morning yet on creation day as far as your stewardship to humanity is concerned”.
We wish you good speed in your dispensation of duties in this significant national assignment.
Congratulations Odibeze Oyi!
