Behold, The Leader Who Makes More Leaders

I was a primary school kid the last time I saw him. It took over two decades for our paths to meet again. On the fateful day we met again, I was in the village on my way from one of my many travels while in the employ of TheNews magazine.

He was also around and we met, albeit accidentally. He remembered me without a second thought. However, he had issues with my new name, against the birth name he remembered.

According to him, a new name has cropped up, one that got him confused. He wanted to know if I was the individual bearing the name.

At the time, he said he was fascinated by the news reports filed by the said individual whose name he thought, rang a bell. I did not only confirmed that I was the same individual, I also went ahead to add the reason for changing my first name, something that got everyone, except yours sincerely, rolling in laughter.

Pleasantries done, we left for our various destinations.

A few years down the line, my name was announced as one of the media aides to the then state governor. I didn't see it coming because I never solicited for it. It simply dropped on me.

It turned out that though it came unsolicited, I came to love the appointment the same way I loved my life, a gift of inesteemable value I got ex gratia but will not trade for anything. However, I found out later that "Leader", a man with uncommon goodwill, made the appointment possible, haven followed my career progress in journalism.

I was in the company of this noble individual a few years later, to the GRA home of one of the revered leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo Central Senatorial District. While there, he received a letter from the state governor, asking him to nominate an individual to one of the sort-for state government agencies. I am sure I wrote about this earlier.

Without any hesitation, he gave a name which belonged to someone who previously played Judas on him, not long before then. Of course the person in question had asked for forgiveness, was forgiven, only to fall back after the appointment, expectedly, of course.

I was aghast. Our host was even more so. But he would not be persuaded against his decision, explaining that any personal feeling was not enough to deter him from creating opportunities for others to grow. In other words, God made him someone to make others. His response was a perfect replication of Zig Ziglar's idea of leadership. A true leader, Ziglar wrote, is one who makes more leaders.

How apt!

In, at least, all parts of Esan South East Council Area, there is hardly anyone in the last one decade or so, who made any in-road into any public office, both at the council and state government levels, who did not have him as the quiet, unassuming and unannounced facilitator. To this day, his quest to help those in need has remained as solid as the proverbial Rock of Gibraltar.

This writer is not only a beneficiary of his largeness of heart, he is also aware of the fact that he was of immense help to a lot more, some of whom later played Judas. But as he said, nothing can stop (none has stopped) him from helping others, or even coming to the aid of those who betrayed him whenever they later run into bricks and come back for help. He is always there.

I am here writing a tribute to a compassionate, amiable and kind individual, a leader like no other leader, a man one can count on at all times, a man whose exemplary conducts are too numerous to put a figure. A few examples would suffice.

A time it was when a particular notable political figure in the state ran into bad times. He was in such a bad state of health that without urgent medical attention, a part of his body would soon go gangrene. Leader was told. Without any hesitation, he activated his network and in no time, all necessary arrangements were put in place. The affected gentleman was taken abroad where his health was restored to full function. Unfortunately, the goodwill didn't prevent the same individual from standing against this benefactor when it mattered.

Not surprisingly, the action did not, typically, stop Leader from extending his hand of fellowship and help to the same individual every now and again each he calls for help. 

The cases cited above are but a few. Certainly, no betrayal has reduced his penchant for reaching out to those in need, a baffling trait, if you ask me because even as he has not been fairly rewarded for unending goidwill, his amiable nature keeps heading North.

Ever available for others, ever willing to put his resources, his goodwill to the use of others, irrespective of what pans out later, Leader is one man who, in my view, personalizes true leadership.

Today, his contribution to the lives of those who crossed his path remains innumerable. Today, his quest to make more leaders remains as unquenchable as it was from the first day. Today, the ever forgiving, ever accommodating, ever smiling, ever gentle and dispassionate Leader, who pulls people to himself, like metals to magnets, is a year older.

In all ways, he is worthy of a toast.

Kindly join me as I raise a toast to Leader Victor Otaigbe Eboigbe, VOE