Osita Chidoka at 55: Happy Birthday to a Detribalised Nigerian -By Zayd Ibn Isah

I had been waiting for Chief Osita Chidoka, Esq., to turn 60 before writing a tribute celebrating him for who he truly is. You can therefore imagine my surprise when I Googled how old Chief Osita Chidoka was, only to discover that he is just 55. It appears Chief is aging backwards, like fine wine that only gets better with time.

Don’t get me wrong. Fifty-five years in a country with an average life expectancy of 56.9 years is no mean feat. I am not downplaying Chief’s current age by using the common word “just.” Besides, his father clocked 100 years this year, and I am very sure he would pray that his illustrious son lives longer than he has. You now understand why I used the word “just,” right?

Now, back to the celebrant. I have known Chief for quite a while now, and one thing I can say about him is that his love for Nigeria, and his zeal and passion to ensure that the country and its institutions work effectively, have remained constant throughout the years. It is this desire to build a better Nigeria that inspired him to establish the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership Studies, a non-partisan and independent organisation dedicated to shaping the future of governance, influencing public policy, and nurturing future leaders.

I vividly recall when he discussed the idea with me at his residence about three years ago. Now, I am glad to see what he has achieved with the Athena Centre within this short period of its establishment. Chief is one of the few privileged Nigerians whose palm kernel was cracked by a benevolent spirit. Chinua Achebe, in his classic novel, Things Fall Apart, wrote, “Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.” Chief, who was a huge fan of the late literary legend, has lived by this statement.

Born on July 18, 1971, Osita Chidoka’s story is a typical grass-to-grace story. In his heartwarming tribute to the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the late General Jeremiah Timbut Useni, he wrote that he came to Abuja for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme with just ₦20 in his pocket, although I would have to ask Chief what that exact sum was worth at the time.

Chief served the country meritoriously as a corps member in Abuja and emerged as the Best NYSC Member in the Federal Capital Territory, an achievement that earned him automatic employment with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

He later became Personal Assistant to a powerful federal minister, Ojo Maduekwe. He was appointed Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the age of 34 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, and subsequently served as Minister of Aviation while still in his thirties. Indeed, Chief’s palm kernel was truly cracked by a benevolent spirit. One could even say that Nigeria happened to him positively quite early in life.

So, the next time you shout, “May Nigeria not happen to me,” you should be more specific. Nigeria can happen to you both positively and negatively. Not only Nigeria, but even America or any other First World country that we japa to in search of greener pastures can happen to us both positively and negatively. And I would rather Nigeria happen to me positively, like it did to Chief Osita, than Europe or America, because there is no place like home.

Before you argue this, think of our compatriots who travelled to South Africa in search of greener pastures but abandoned everything and returned to the only country they have as a result of xenophobia. Every day, Nigerians are deported from Europe, America, and even Asian countries. Is this not enough evidence that there is no place like home and that we should pray that our country happens to us positively? And while we are praying for that, we should be like Chief Osita when the country’s fortunes finally smile on us.

The country has served Chief well, and he has repaid it in good measure. At every opportunity he was given to serve, he made a towering difference. At the FRSC, he introduced numerous innovations, and the story of the Federal Road Safety Corps cannot be told without mentioning his contributions. He brought the same Midas touch to the aviation industry when he served as Minister of Aviation.

Chief Osita was one of the young Nigerians who paved the way for youth inclusion in governance following Nigeria’s return to democracy through quality representation. Sadly, some of the young people who have attained leadership positions after him have not represented the youth demographic with the same excellence and integrity that he demonstrated.

Nowadays, I don’t get too excited when I see a young man or woman attain a position of power, judging by recent antecedents. The campaign for the old bloc to leave the stage for the younger generation is not really about service; it is about the chance to have an equal share of the national cake. That’s why, when some Nigerians say, “We don’t want the old people to rule us again,” I ask myself, “Are the young ones better?” The Not Too Young To Run campaign is now sounding more like Not Too Young To Loot.

What this teaches us is that the future of Nigeria is neither in the hands of the young nor the old generation. It is in the hands of men and women who love the country deeply and are ready to serve selflessly, regardless of their age, tribe, or religion.

Back to Chief Osita Chidoka. I will not forget to mention that Chief is one of my biggest fans. I used to visit his house whenever I wanted to enjoy a great meal—that was when I was still a bachelor, anyway. Chief often calls me a genius, but whenever he says that, I ask myself, “If I am a genius, then who are you?”

One day, he invited me to his house. I was excited because invitations of that nature from someone of his stature do not come often. Seated at the dining table, he asked what I was doing in Abuja.

“I want you to be my Media Assistant,” he said. “You write so well.”

You can imagine his surprise when I told him that I was already a civil servant and, at the time, was serving as Media Aide to my late boss, former Inspector-General of Police and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr. Solomon E. Arase, CFR.

After I explained that I was a civil servant and could not accept the role, Chief insisted that I recommend someone suitable. I reached out to a couple of friends whom I believed were capable and eventually introduced Aliyu Jalal, with whom Chief enjoyed an excellent working relationship. When Aliyu later left to take up another appointment, Chief again asked me to recommend a replacement, and I introduced Paul Liam.

He did not stop there. On another occasion, he told me he needed an Executive Assistant. As he described the responsibilities, I jokingly offered myself.

He smiled and replied, “Why? Do you want to leave your job? Please stay. We need good people like you in the system.”

That statement perfectly captures how much Chief loves Nigeria. He wants a country that works for all of us, and he is genuinely passionate about making that happen.

Chief wants a united Nigeria. He demonstrates this whenever he travels to any state. He often posts on Facebook asking people to recommend a good restaurant where everyone can gather to eat. From the many suggestions he receives, he chooses one and invites anyone interested to join him for a feast. They do not only eat but also have conversations where they exchange ideas and discuss ways to move Nigeria forward.

It reminds me of Chinua Achebe’s timeless words in Things Fall Apart: “A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving… We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.”

Chief Osita Chidoka has extended that philosophy beyond his kinsmen. For him, every Nigerian is family, and every shared meal is another opportunity to build bridges across our ethnic, religious, and political divides. That, perhaps, is why I proudly describe him as a truly detribalised Nigerian.

Chief is, without a doubt, a patriot and a national asset who deserves to be protected at all costs. Every Nigerian deserves protection, of course. But at a time when ethnic and religious identities are too often weaponised to divide us, people like him offer a glimmer of hope that the Nigerian dream is still worth believing in. He has shown, through both words and actions, that patriotism is not measured by where one comes from but by what one contributes to the common good.

Happy birthday, Ike Obosi. I pray that this new chapter in your life will be kind to your dreams, your prayers, your doubts, your efforts, and your goals. May you find fulfilment, gain strength, relish God’s endless blessings, and receive immeasurable joy in the years ahead. And one day, I hope to borrow a leaf from your textbook of physical exercise.

Zayd Ibn Isah
Lawcadet1@gmail.com