Dr John Chukwu Nwosu, Ezekwesiri Eze 1 is the royal  father of the Igbo community in Mushin area of Lagos. He earns many titles including the Mayor of Ladipo and Ohamadike of Utuh, Dike di Oranma of Igboland. He spoke with EBUN SESSOU on his aspiration in life and how he attained the position he is occupying presently. According to him, life is a challenge and everyone must aspire to impact positively into the lives of others. Enjoy!!!

Aspirations in life?
One of them is to be a good leader. I have been a leader from my childhood and I am still praying to exceed the position that I am presently.

How has life treated you?
Life has been good to me. I’ve crossed many rivers and I have gone through many ordeals. But, I make sure that I give my best to the people around me. I also ensure that I am at the right place at the right time. My leadership role in ensuring orderliness in Ladipo market earned me Asiwaju Ndigbo of Mushin-land and in 2007 by the Olu of Mushin. I also contested for chairmanship position in Mushin local government but I wasn’t given the opportunity.

Dr Nwosu

…life as a child
I was a village boy. I grew up and schooled in the village. I came to Lagos in 1986. Before then, I was a village boy. Handling things my own way. As a young boy, I was doing some manual jobs to survive and make money. Although, my parents were paying my school fees but I needed more money to keep soul and body together. I was living like a big boy. I never relied on anyone. I struggled on my own to survive and that is the spirit that has been guiding me until this day.

Can you tell us some of the manual jobs you did?
I did what was called ikeketorie (struggle before you eat). I worked as bricklayers. My cousin and I used to offload a trailer of cement within a night. In the morning, we are already digging foundation of a  building. We did all kinds of work to survive.

What was going through your mind when you were doing were jobs?
I was too ambitious to get to the peak of my life. Each time I see people driving their cars, I was optimistic that “one day, I will drive my own car”. Whenever I was working for people, I was optimistic that one day, people would work for me. I used to advise people on why it is necessary to fend for themselves.

What were those challenges you passed through in your school days?
It wasn’t an easy task. The challenges of my life started in the boarding school. Until certain issues starting crippling in. Some boys were coming up with the issue of seniority, so much that I couldn’t manage the situation. So, I quit the boarding house and I moved to Onitsha where I completed my education. Life wasn’t so difficult because I had everything I needed. I was living like a boss because I was a house prefect.

And when I put in for apprenticeship, my lifestyle changed. I was living like a boss and so, I find it difficult to cope. I spent three years as an apprentice instead of seven years. So, I left and went to establish my business. Since, then things have been moving well until I decided to join market politics. Unfortunately, things were not as easy as expected.

Everybody was struggling for power. I played the politics and at the end I got the chairmanship position as well as the Vice President of Ladipo market. And then, I decided to partake in Nigerian politics. So, I went for local government chairmanship but I wasn’t given the chance and I quit.

Why do Igbos picked up interest in learning spare-parts?
Igbos are known to be industrious. They wouldn’t go borrowing and so, it is compulsory for them to struggle. They love trading and that is their major business.

What brought you to Lagos?
When I was in secondary, my desire was to be in Lagos to trade. I like money so much and so, I thought it wise to come and start up business in Lagos. In January 1987, I rushed down to Lagos to embark on my trading desire. I came under the umbrella of  J.C.C Okonkwo investment limited. The company deals on Peugeot spare parts and I was three for three years. In 1991.  I started my business. My master gave me two thousand naira and my father raised five thousand naira for me as well.

I started selling motor spare parts in 1991. I was used to lavishing all the monies I get and so, I don’t have reserve. I was used to clubbing, womanising and there was no reserve. When I started the job, I lived in a hotel for two and half years before I thought of settling down. I left the hotel in 1994, rented an apartment and started another life but I enjoyed life to its fulness.

What instigated you to go and rent an apartment?
It was when I got to know the reality of life. Then, I was living like a boss but at a stage, I girl advised me. There was a day I hosted fifteen girls in a night but two out of them cried for me. And one of them talked to me. After a while, I regained consciousness and since then, things have been moving smoothly.

Is there any connection with both of you till date?
We lost contacts.

What happened to your entourages the moment you quit your reckless lifestyle?
Most of them quit, they couldn’t understand what was going on. But some reasonable ones stayed back.

Did you discuss your reckless lifestyle with your wife?
I told her before we got married.

How did you meet a wife?
I met her on the road. I saw her and offered her a lift. Although, I have made up my mind to marry and I have a mindset of the kind of woman I wanted as wife. I met her at Mile 2 bus-stop and offered her a lift and from there things started picking up. Being a bachelor, there was nothing one can do without a woman. But, it has to be minimised.