By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post)- Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has described the late Paramount Ruler of Otuoke, King Lot Justin Ogiasa as a rare breed who went to great lengths to solve community problems.
Jonathan who spoke at the funeral service of the late Paramount Ruler of Otuoke that took place at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke, described King Ogiasa as a selfless and
development-minded leader who introduced creative means of financing
and completing community projects.
He informed that the late Obanema was indeed an exemplary leader and a man of peace who was well respected and loved by his people.
“I strongly supported his emergence as the paramount ruler and Obanema of Otuoke, not only because of the
selfless service he had rendered to the community when he had nothing,
but because I believed that he would, as a Paramount Ruler give more to his people,” Jonathsn said.
While narrating how King Ogiasa
inspired him, Jonathan said, “On a personal note, long before he was made the Obanema of Otuoke, LJ as he was known then, encouraged me to commit to community service as a young man. He was an inspiration to a lot of us in Otuoke and beyond.
Stressing that he was an extraordinary man who was selfless in his commitment to community development.
According to him, “The late Obanema was a leader par excellence. In most societies, people mostly give only what they can afford but in his case he went
to great lengths to solve community problems. He was indeed a rare
breed. As a youth, I worked with him on the issues that related to the
advancement of our community and the relationship continued even after
I graduated from the University.”
The ex-President further described the late Obanema of Otuoke as a man
of peace who ensured that the community enjoyed relative peace under
his reign “as no major community conflict or issues were brought to my
notice as the then President of the country.”
Jonathan recalled how as a young man, himself and King Ogiasa collaborated to
fight the cause of his people,
“Another incident that remained indelible in my memory was when our elders, about twelve women and five men were charged to the High Court over a major land dispute between the Otuoke community and a neighbouring village. Back then, in the old Rivers State, Ogbia was under the Degema Judicial
Division and so all High Court cases would go to Degema. Since there were no access roads, getting to Degema meant all the seventeen defendants had to travel to PH and then board a boat from the Abonema , waterside to Degema, the former president said.”
He continued, “The late Obanema, working in Port Harcourt then as a civil servant saw how tedious and traumatic this journey was for these elderly men
and women from Otuoke, so he suggested that the two of us be joined as
co-defendants in the case since it was a civil case.
“By this action, the two of us would represent the elders and save
them the ordeal of travelling the long distance from Otuoke to Degema
on court days. That was the kind of service and sacrifice he gave that
greatly inspired me.”