By: Ike Philip Abiagom
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ost Distinguished Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi(SPON), is an exceptional human being and an exemplary one just like the late Martin Luther King Jr. But if I can distill him into one word, he is an enigma. Senator Nwaoboshi is a 21st century builder, national pathfinder, democracy warrior with the farthest vision I have ever seen. He is an architect of the modern Anioma, both in infrastructural development initiatives and human capital development. He is hard work and competence personified.It is fairly reasoned that the challenges and solutions of leadership are inside leaders. This view stands in line with the fact that born leaders don’t just do things, they change things. Reading the life of Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi (SPON), member representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Senate Arm of the National Assembly and Chairman Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, one cannot but agree that, indeed, wisdom is earned better in the den of setbacks than in the coziness of victories.
Perhaps, one of the most telling demonstrations of a leader’s abilities come at a time of crisis. Morestill, Nwaoboshi, at the wheel of Nigeria’s 8th and 9th National Assembly, has not disappointed his admirers nor rivals in the country’s gloomy political landscape. Rather than retreating behind closed doors in the face of the seemingly endless assaults at harming his hard earned status, the scion of the famed Oracle Dynasty of Delta has consistently shown leadership at the forefront, assessing situations, evaluating options, and encouraging colleagues in the Upper chamber to work together for a stable, fair and just society.
Although traits are quite developed for natural leadership, certain individuals are, without doubt, born leaders. Senator Peter Nwaoboshi falls in the latter category. Balancing on his self-assurance and privileged position as Nigeria’s Super Senator, Nwaoboshi stands tall amongst leaders who acknowledge the present reality of the country, he has been very proactive working on problem-solving ideas, managing change and responding effectively to complex, open-ended opportunities, and challenges as they come. Convincingly, at the legislative corner where he holds court, he does not gloss over problems with hope that they’ll just go away.
The expression that says as leaders, we prove our capacity when we gain the ability to focus despite distractions, luckily, is not lost on Senator Nwaoboshi. Distraction seems to have become a standard but one that natural born leaders are fortunate to be well equipped to duck. Their worry is buried in a memo of the late legendary success author, Napoleon Hill, which he called ‘The Magnificent Obsession.’ In the letter, Hill demonstrates that natural leaders avoid the cultural norm of being disconnected from their goals. They do not allow trivialities to become urgencies in their affairs. The author also imparts that leaders set targets and keep trying until they hit the marks.
Beyond the mere rhetoric of master-slave bond, Nwaoboshi, in fulfillment of his electioneering campaign promise, regularly encourages entrepreneurship by empowering women and youths in his primary constituency, Delta North, in his urge to make his people economically self-reliant. Studies show that empowerment materials worth million are doled out to thousands of less-endowed Aniomas every year, apart from cash gifts to support businesses and individuals. Also, recently, the senator unveiled an empowerment scheme that will benefit 5,000 Delta North youths.
Considering the massive support from Anioma people during the recent EFCC case debacle, the Nwaoboshi challenge has shown that the ‘Anioma Accord’ has come too far to be broken by nocturnal politics and no matter the weight of external aggression and gang-up, Anioma cannot be disintegrated along politics line.
Like every good leader, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi’s opponents are plotting to destabilize his leadership. However, in all areas of life, leaders have struggled with the balance of being feared and loved. Remarkably, Nwaoboshi is proving beyond doubts his prowess as a likable leader who is very concerned with every individual, thus he is attracting more ‘likes’ even beyond his loyal camp. This accounts for his penchant for shutting off his emotions in order to push others up the success ladder.
I want to say that his leadership acumen cut across all ramifications. His leadership is entirely formed by his passion for human development, most especially his immediate constituents, the people of Anioma, and the leadership that is unmatched with any person or group of persons that had surpassed any one that I have ever seen in my entire life. Senator Nwaobosh is honest and loyal to a fault. He is shrewd; yet very open to superior opinions. He is a good listener; extremely focused, hardworking and, above all, undauntedly passionate about Nigeria’s development. I have never seen him take decisions without inputs from his team members. I have seen him on many occasions make personal sacrifice for his own team members especially at national level.
Deltans and Anioma Nation now know better that Senator Peter Nwaoboshi,the Oracle turned Miracle of Delta Politics, the Ide of Okpanam Land, Oshimili Lieonye Olie Ogwuaa of Akwukwu Igbo Kingdom and the Ochiaya of Anioma Nation is the best Senator ever to represent Delta North at the upper chambers. His kindness and willingness to reach out to struggling Aniomas is one reputation that will continue to precede him on the match again come 2023.