By Sam Onuegbunam

​As the world slowly began to reopen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—a crisis that had paralyzed global commerce and grounded international air travel—I received an unexpected notification on my InterNations app. As a premium member of this global network for expatriates, I was informed of a high-profile event slated for September 2021. Organized by the Africa Development Studies Center, the summit was to be hosted at the prestigious Sheraton Grand Istanbul Atasehir.

​Perched majestically on Istanbul’s modern Asian side, the 27-floor, 5-star luxury business hotel holds the elite “Sheraton Grand” designation from Marriott International—a benchmark reserved exclusively for properties displaying exceptional architectural design and top-tier service
​The event was designed for members of Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation. Given my role as a youth leader in Türkiye, I was brought on board to manage logistics for the visiting parliamentarians. It was through this assignment that I first crossed paths with Rt. Honorable Barrister Ogundu Kingsley Chinda—popularly and affectionately known to colleagues and citizens alike as O.K. Chinda.

Navigating a Transcontinental Giant
​Hon. Chinda arrived ahead of the main delegation, flying in from a separate official function abroad. Because he had arrived early and was staying some distance from the official venue, I was personally assigned to guide him through the city before the summit’s formal opening.

​For first-time visitors, Istanbul can be beautifully overwhelming. It is the only metropolis in the world bridging two continents—Europe and Asia—and stands as one of the few cities to have served as the capital for three historic global superpowers: the Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman Empires. Sprawling across a massive 5,343 square kilometers, this transcontinental giant is nearly three times the land area of Lagos. Navigating its historic terrain is famously difficult for outsiders, and it was against this backdrop that I began my role as a guide to the “gentleman giant,” O.K. Chinda.

​A Study in Discipline and Selflessness
From the moment the summit commenced, Hon. Chinda’s work ethic set him apart. While other attendees were navigating breakfast or finding their bearings around the state-of-the-art conference center, he was invariably the first to arrive in the hall and the last to leave.

​Moreover, his focus never wavered. While the buzz among many delegates centered around shopping trips and sightseeing tours, Hon. Chinda was entirely consumed by the substance of the event. Yet, his strict discipline was perfectly balanced by an extraordinary sense of empathy.

​During our afternoon breaks, he would quietly approach me, asking to find out which members of the delegation were craving authentic Nigerian food. Upon finding out, he personally funded my journey from the Asian side of Istanbul all the way to the European side—where the city’s Nigerian restaurants are located—just to ensure his colleagues felt at home.

​The Art of Intentional Giving
​As the event drew to a close, he asked me where he could buy high-quality shoes. Assuming he was shopping for himself, I led him to a premium store. However, I quickly noticed he was inspecting sizes that clearly would not fit him. When I questioned him, he smiled and explained that they were for his governor at the time, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON.

​At that point, Barrister Wike was the sitting Governor of Rivers State; he certainly did not need shoes. But Hon. Chinda didn’t stop there—afterwards he bought clothes for his own as assistants including his driver as well, like who goes around shopping for a driver and a security guard in Istanbul known for quality fabrics. What amazed me most was that he never once called his principal or his own aides to verify their sizes. He simply knew them.

​This encounter taught me a profound life lesson. In Africa, we frequently assume that the wealthy and powerful have everything they need and therefore require nothing from us. O.K. Chinda shattered that assumption, demonstrating that true generosity is not about the recipient’s bank account, but the giver’s heart. He taught me to be generous regardless of one’s stage in life, and that one should never visit a leader or a friend empty-handed.

​A Lasting Legacy
​That lesson stayed with me. Last year, while in Abuja with a group of friends, I visited the most exclusive wine shop in the city. I asked for their finest selection, purchased two bottles valued at over a million naira each, and brought them directly to Hon. Chinda’s Abuja law office.

​Looking at the gift, the high-ranking lawmaker—who has served impeccably as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives—laughed and asked me a poignant question: “Must you always come with a gift?”

​I smiled, knowing that I was simply practicing the very culture of honor he had unconsciously instilled in me years prior in Istanbul.
​Looking back at his track record, his unwavering discipline, and the glowing testimonials of those who have encountered him over the years, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind. Especially now, as he steps forward as a major unifying gubernatorial flagbearer, O.K. Chinda possesses the vision, the humility, and the heart to make Rivers State truly great again.

​​Amb. Prince Sam Onuegbunam, is the National Youth Council of Nigeria’s Ambassador in Türkiye and writes from Istanbul.