By Moses Nosike
Barrister Chike Ogeah is Commissioner for Information, Delta State. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, he debunks rumours from some quarters that his boss, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is a miser, rather he believes in empowering people to create wealth.

Ogeah, a former Managing Director of Skypower Aviation Handling Company, SAHCO, says one of his happiest moments in life was when a wasting national asset that was initially valued at N1.2 billion by KPMG was sold for N5.6 billion devoid of any rancour and controversies. Excerpts:

How was growing up like?

It was a very exciting time coming from a multi-ethnic background. My mother was Yoruba from Ogori in Kogi State but grew up in Ibadan. My father, Dr. Francis Uzoma Ogeah, a physician who qualified from Trinity Medical College, Dublin and Royal Medical College also in Dublin, is an Asaba man.

Our home was always filled with relatives from both my mother’s and father’s sides. So I grew up with the full understanding that despite our ethnic or religious backgrounds, we are generally one. My upbringing built the pan-Nigeria mentality I have.

What led to the choice of course you studied?

I first studied psychology at the University of Lagos and later went back there for a degree in Law. I guess I have always wanted to be a lawyer, but studying psychology first equipped me in a special way. I have had the privilege of practising with probably some of the best law firms in the country.

I always felt one should do something more professional. Having found I had comparative advantage in the arts, law provided the real professional platform. I like commercial transactions, conflict of laws, private/international law. At the time of studying law in the University, we had the best of lecturers.

When and what is your happiest moment in life?

I remember the first car my dad bought for me at six years, a fully automated car that I could manoeuver with remote control. As a young boy, it filled me with much joy. I have had a lot of happy moments, but this one stands out because it came at a time one was so young and impressionable.

As an adult, the other moment that stands out was the successful privatisation of Skypower Aviation Handling Company in an atmosphere devoid of controversy and where a wasting national asset which was initially valued at N1.2 billion by KPMG was sold for N5.6 billion. Given the fate that befell other government enterprises under the privatisation programme, that the feeling of unselfish service is satisfying.

Skypower Aviation Handling Company was privatised under your watch as chief executive officer, how did you accomplish that at a time similar exercises were mired in controversy?

Like I said, the company was already a wasting national asset, the workforce was ill_motivated. But in the midst of this was so much potential and endless possibilities. My primary game plan was to engage the workers, motivate them and queue them into the programme of turning the enterprise into one that will improve their income, give them job satisfaction and create wealth for the country.

I get a great sense of satisfaction when I go around airports in Nigeria and see the new SACHOL which has seen more funds from the new owners so active in service delivery in airports nationwide.

Your transition into politics saw you head the publicity sub-committee of the Uduaghan re-election campaign organisation. As the Commissioner for Information in Delta State, are you going head on into politics?

I have always been fascinated with service and I know political leadership offers a veritable platform for one to serve the people. However, I don’t think I will venture into seeking elective office. I am hesitant to run for elective office because the cost of running is prohibitive.

The Nigerian constitution, I believe, should be amended to relieve political officeholders of the enormous burden of be all and end all.

Your saddest moment?

As far as I am concerned, I have had a beautiful and blessed life – the family I was born into and what is now my family – my daughter, Uche, and my two sons – Uzoma and Chike. And I give thanks to God for that. The only sad time came when my mother died at her youthful age. I wish she had lived longer so that I could have taken care of her in her old age. She was such a wonderful mother to us. We would have loved to have given her much more.

Did you  envisage you would come this far ten  years back?

Although you may say I have accomplished some things, there is nothing extra-ordinary about how far I have gone. I have utilised the opportunities I have had to change things to the best of my ability, but for me they are not extra-ordinary. I look forward to touching lives, helping to banish poverty and empowering the younger generation. These are what give me true feeling of accomplishment.

How true is the assertion that your principal (Uduaghan) is a miser?

You see, there is this culture of impunity that is dangerously being considered as the norm – the tendency not to distinguish personal income from state funds. The Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is a man that appreciates the challenges facing the ordinary Deltan.

He knows that it is better to teach a man to fish than give him fish. He does not believe in dispensing goodwill to people who have the privilege of having access to him. Rather, he believes in empowering people to create wealth.

That is why human capital development is a critical part of his three-point agenda. How many people have access to the governor, any governor for that matter? Any goodwill that revolves around that very small number of people is wasted and cannot be used as an index for measuring achievements.

Dr. Uduaghan would rather evolve programmes that will benefit the majority of the people than have a selected few sing his praise. He has embarked on numerous capital intensive projects as part of his programme of building a first class infrastructure in the state. It is only an idle mind that will prioritise dispensing personal patronage that do not create wealth. No, Governor Uduaghan is not a miser to the people.