By Prince Ejeh Josh
While exploring the beautiful world of artistic appreciation to draw inspiration that would enable a graphic, precise and remarkable description of the fascinating qualities that ought to adorn the human existence and shape our world to a just, peaceful, secure and egalitarian society where the spur and urge to live life itself to the fullest would be motivated by the love of neighbors, I found a vast swamp replete with agony and snarls, entrapping and ousting humanity in a display of Hobbesian’s state of nature where life is brutish, ruthless, nasty and short.
My composition of a lyrical serenade in a world where humanity is regrettably running on a treadmill of selfishness compounded by the willful commodification of self and autogenous desire borne by introversion, narcissism and egotism, I could only find solace in the faintest part of the sphere after a flash of luck. After all, all hope is not lost on humanity as very few in the crowd of overlords is still dedicated to the restoration of that pride and goal of being, first and foremost, humankind.
It’s this cradle of hope, though faint but glowing within the globe and spatially distributed even amongst our neighbors that compels me never to be dismissive of the benevolence of the human race.
I found this, first, in the principles enunciated by the governance philosophy of Dr. Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State. His ideal representation of the public service is novel to the practice and reality of the Nigerian state. Right from the colonial era to the post-colonial Nigeria, the pattern of governance is driven by self and the preservation of self-interest over and above the “Ujamaa” project of collective good of the majority in the pre-colonial Africa. In Jeremy Bentham’s Utilitarian theory, the most fundamental function of government, strictly in principle, must be the strive to promote and provide for the common good of majority of the citizens. To do this, uncanny as that could sound, Governor Mbah propounded the concept of “Disruptive Innovation” into the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria. Here, things are done radically different with a paradigm shift from the traditional structure of state-control by cartel or what has notoriously become known as cabal in the country to an all-inclusive structure that gives every citizen a sense of belonging and fulfillment. This is what Governor Mbah is doing in Enugu State – putting humanity first – and making the people of the state the epicenter of the government.
In the journey towards driving the disruptive innovation to the doorsteps of the citizens, we have found a figure that believes in the mission and values of the governance philosophy. For him, it’s humanity first. It’s the people and residents of Enugu first before self. This motivated the campaign of mobilizing public interest to benefit from the countless projects and programmes designed to eradicate poverty, create and redistribute wealth and build a vibrant economy and social service that will put the people of the state atop the map of those living fulfilled life borne out of Mbah’s development trajectory. Dan Nwomeh, a senior media assistant to the governor, is geared towards redirecting humanity to that path of innovation and inclusive growth.
Like the American priest of the Maryknoll Order, James Keller, factually stated, a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. This is where I draw my inspiration and love for humanity. Among people who could have had this philosophy as naturally ingrained in them is Nwomeh; a media scholar and historian.
I have an undefined sphere of immutable deference for this character and outstanding figure whose neighborhood principle is beyond the stretch of imagination. Far beyond the propagation of egocentrism, Chief Nwomeh (notwithstanding his aversion for titles) believes in the philosophy that there is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others; this takes us back to the Ujamaa philosophy of “I am because you are “.
Pix: SSA Nwomeh
It’s often acclaimed that helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person. I could vouch and confidently write, that meeting Chief Nwomeh has been a new turn in my life and has, indeed, changed my worldview.
Not peculiarly for pecuniary reasons; that benefit spans through intellectual inputs, formation, learnings, and attitude to work. It’s a value that I would forever cherish as I sojourn through life. The principle of Ujamaa embodied in the modern disruptive innovation propagated by the governor and nurtured through the creative revolution of the communication unit has also bestirred me to embrace the philosophy as a disciple of the Peter Mbah School of Innovation and Development.
Indeed, we have seen in Dan Nwomeh, the passion, desire and transcendental motivation to reach out to neighbors immaterial of ethnic and cultural consideration once all ethical principles are complied with. After all, Governor Mbah – the architect of modern cosmopolitan theory, thinks less of cultural and ethnic affiliation in running his administration. His immutable sense of what the administration represents is the cosmopolitan nature of Enugu State. He leads, we follow.
Nwomeh remains unassuming, friendly, and lively to work with. I salute your intellectual grits. I celebrate your friendship even with your subordinates and sundry staff. That equal measure of treatment, egalitarian pursuit and undying, sincere love to ensure justice for all, especially for the weak and oppressed is a anchor of hope I have learned from you.
Chief Dan Nwomeh, describing you as a man changing the world in every slightest opportunity that presents itself is not an overstatement. It’s a testament of fact and testimony for us. You’re showing the light and setting the pace for others to follow. I’m proud of you. I have no doubt that the thousands of lives you’ve touched positively and genuinely impacted upon will also be proud of you.
You’ve shown that you command respect through legitimacy and character.
As you celebrate today, I want to state unequivocally that I’m happy working with you. Many more years of God’s goodness and grace, Chief Omenuko. Congratulations.