Youths watch it, before our time elapses: The Primus Ugochukwu Odili example by Odogwu E. Odogwu, PhD

August 10th every year remains the International Youth Day, and it stands out for celebrating young people across the world whose ideas are transforming and shaping the future in Politics, ICT, healthcare, education, technology, food security and many more for a better society.
International Youth Day came into existence in August 12th, 2000 by the United Nations to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth targeted at efforts by and for youth towards making education accessible and inclusive, thus a true enabler of the SDGs.

Some youths are already making the world proud like France’s Emmanuel Macron who became President at 39; Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, at 37 and Austria’s Sebastian Kurz, at 31; and Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, at 38 as well as North Korean’s Leader, Kim Jong Un, who was 34 when he took over. Of course, we have Primus Odili and others, making youths proud in Nigeria.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state during this year’s International Youth Day celebration in Awka with theme “Transforming Education“, reminded that fifty-two percent of his appointees are youths including his Chief of Staff, Primus Odili, even as he announced that his government plans to establish a film village and upgrading sports facilities in schools, among others.

Primus Odili! Rings bell right? Internet wizard! Online specialist! Netizen! Social media critique! Digital Entrepreneur aka Digipreneur? Computer guru! Social Media personality! Young at heart! Journalist? Controversial person? A fighter? Crusader of sorts? Lover of youths? A goal getter? Diligent, handsome and good looking with cash, even in power and authority? Have you encountered him? Tell me what you know him for, if you do? His other name is Ugochukwu. He is a titled man, Okosisi Aguleri. Amazing!

Just the other day, African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) bestowed on Primus, a Pan African Distinguished Leadership Honour as Icon of Nation Building in Nigeria. According to ASUP leadership with representative across Africa, the Union profiled all the Chief of Staff in Nigeria and found Primus outstanding for the honour as the best Chief of Staff in Nigeria. The honour according to them was unique because he is still a youth doing the nation of Nigeria proud with his diligence and commitment in service.

Primus on his part has reassured ASUP that he will continue to do well and his best to make Nigerian Youths proud always. Similar awards have come from the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), and the Anambra state APGA youths to mention but a few.

Youths are taking over all over the world, but in some climes, they are a disappointment. In others, they are champions of democracy. Their actions and inactions determine the future of other youths. When they do well, there would be chances for other youths, but when they fail, other youths won’t have a chance. Across the globe youths are taking over leadership of their countries like in France and others, but in Africa, the reverse is the case. Youths must stand up to be counted in this 21st century because their forebears like Ojukwu, Gowon, Zik of Africa were leaders in their late 20’s and early 30’s.

Here in Anambra some youths are political urchins, fighting dirty in the cyberspace for no reason. Who and who are youths fighting for their political interests now? Governor Willie Obiano, former Governor Peter Obi, Senator Uche Ekwunife, Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Andy Uba, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, Chief Andy Uba, Senator Stella Oduah, Chief Ben Nwankwo, Dr Okey Udeh, Chief Chris Uba to mention but a few. There are others in business controlling who takes what in governance of Anambra state like Dr Cletus Ibeto, Chief Engr Arthur Eze, Dr. Azudialu-Obiejesi aka ObiJackson , Sir Daniel N. Chukwudozie aka Dozzy Oil, Sir Emeka Offor aka Sir E, Chief Innocent Chukwuma aka Innoson to mention but a few, as well as other former office holders and influential traditional rulers in their 80’s like Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Obi Alfred Achebe among others who have their own strengths in recommending political appointees. Who are youths fighting their political interest, I ask again?

These aforementioned Anambrarians would be retiring politically between next 8 years and next 16 years and I ask, who takes over from them at that point? Internet urchins, throwing tantrums on cyberspace, or thugs in actual political chase game? Who? Most of these people youths fight wrongly for and create enemies for themselves, would be hitting 70 years old and others hitting 80 years of age. A few of them, would be in early and late 60’s, but where would all these e-rats and e-squirrels insulting and humiliating our best in the social media space be? Can they be trusted to take over leadership and governance? Why has reasoning eluded youths of today?

Rather than perfect plans to take over leadership as Primus has done, and now being seen among the new breed of youths gradually taking over governance across the world, some are still stock in hauling abuses on our leaders across board. Political criticisms could be done constructively without insult on a personality and our collective sensibilities as Ndi Anambra than what is obtainable now. Those we, as youths insult on cyberspace, still have time to pop champagne together and laugh at our follies.

Primus Odili was a household name in ASA-USA, comprising of indigenes of Anambra resident in USA. He has served in different capacities in ASA-USA before joining politics. Primus read Philosophy in Nigeria. He did some other courses and a post graduate degree in Computer including Masters; hence he sleeps and wakes in the computer during Chris Ngige and Peter Obi’s era. His peer ruled the cyberspace then. He was not left out. He competed with Sowore , Ikenna and Elombah. He later did MBA. He has a thriving corporate marketing business in medical line with about 47 marketing staff. He is not just a politician, he has a career before being a politician. Now, that he is here as a Chief of staff, his wife takes charge of the business front.

He is against youths creating imaginary lines of enmity in the name of politics. He cautioned youths to know the boundary in relating with other political bigwigs while serving their masters as after their service, they still have their own lives to live and ambitions to meet. He still has relationship with all the political giants and Businessmen in Anambra state and beyond. He is articulate and preserves in pursuing his interest or that of his master in politics without ruining friendship. He has risen to be Governor Willie Obiano’s secretary 2017 re-election Campaign Organization. He was the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties before the election. And today, he is the Chief of Staff to Governor Willie Obiano, a youthful CoS at that.

Is he proud? Is he humble? They said he wanted to be APGA National Chairman. Was aspiration a crime? They said EFCC invited him. Was invitation a crime? Has he been indicted? What the noise? So, I called him to give me audience on some issues. He called me by name and we took an appointment. I honoured the date and he cleared the air for me. Will he continue like that or change sooner than we think? But someone, a youth at that in the House of Representatives I was part of his success story could not pick my calls, severally and never returned the calls. Can’t there be relationships even with different political sides? So, in a family, brothers should be enemies for belonging to different political bodies or religious groups? Why are we youths? Unbelievable is the word!

Why should we as youths not determine the bridge between political campaigns and governance period? We must not all support one person during elections, but, that should not ruin our relationship as youths supporting different camps. Primus understood this unknown to me. I went to him but he gave me more than a dose of the political understanding I was thinking I had. Simple and unassuming, open and straight forward but not without his fang as a ‘political tiger’ he is.

Primus has been busy working unperturbed as Chief of staff to Obiano, particularly bridging the gap that existed in the first term of lack of communication and far from the people. Now, the people’s pulses are known to the government.

Odili’s about two years in office has turned around perception between political office holders and civil servants particularly Permanent Secretaries. He re-jigged the positions and postings effectively by bringing new Permanent Secretaries to Commissioners in other ministries who have stayed two months old. They both became learners on same page and cooperated to move the ministry ahead for the good of Ndi Anambra. The suspicious relationship and bottlenecks previously experienced between the duos were brought to a halt by the ingenuity of Primus in collaboration with the Anambra state Head of Service, Bar Harry Uduh. Turnaround time on attending to files improved, Competition died. Service, synergy, mutual understanding and cross fertilization of ideas enthroned.

Communication gap that existed in first term of Governor Obiano with the public was closed up in the last one and half years of Primus as CoS. Issues that emanated from the public were resolved immediately Primus assumed duties. Individuals had complained bitterly during Obiano’s first term that the government had no time for the opinion and views of the masses, but that is no longer the scenario with Primus. He demystified the office of the chief of staff. I engaged those who were at the waiting room in a discuss. A government House Chief Photographer, Obi Nwosu was emphatic as he summed Primus Odili in a sentence. He said Primus is a man of his words, excellent personality, down to earth and unassuming.’’

But, for Chief Uche Nworah, MD/CEO, Anambra Broadcasting Service: ‘’In Primus Odili, Chief Of Staff to Governor Willie Obiano, His Excellency made a good choice. Uche called him the bridge builder as he relates well with everyone irrespective of age, political leaning or social standing.

He said further: ‘’I have a fantastic working relationship with him dating back to when he was SSA on Special Duties to His Excellency. As Chief of Staff to the Governor, a very busy and strategic position, I like the fact that he doesn’t just sit in his office giving instructions and carrying out His Excellency’s directives, he goes about and visits people and offices to achieve what he wants to achieve. This collegial approach to governance has endeared him to many people.

‘’ He practices what management scholars call ‘Management by walking about’, going down to the ‘shop floor’ and to the ‘trenches’ to rally round the troops. His office is quite busy, you have to feel for him as anytime one visits there for one thing or the other, you will see a huge crowd waiting to see him but we all know that God will not give one a load he or she cannot carry. He has been very supportive of our work at Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS). He used to feature regularly on our programmes but not lately as the demands of his office doesn’t quite allow him much time’’.

Others who for one reason or the other would not want to be mentioned said a lot but in the positive. People now have access to the government through his office. If you see Primus, it is as good, the Governor has seen you. Obiano has complete confidence in him. I witnessed that.

He even educated me on the Primary functions of the government which they are committed to. He is worried that if the state IGR is generated from the publics, why can’t the government give its various publics audience? Hence, he is dedicated and committed to seeing whoever has issues that the government or Governor can intervene. This he believes is the beginning of good governance and accountability. He stays until the last person is seen. Sometimes, he stays till Midnight and beyond to ensure whoever waited gets an audience, even though some abuse the opportunity by coming to see him by 7 pm when he must have finished for the day’s duties, thus delaying him more till late in the night. He has seen 123 persons a day, at other times between 70 and 80 persons per day, before he reduced visitor’s days to three days to enable him do other tasking things. In all these, patience has been his winning spirit. He had left office 1: 45 am. Unhealthy, you said for the young man, but, it has gone a long way to assuaging the feelings that one cannot hear from the Governor. ‘’We are now a listening government and it makes me happy to hear the testimony’, Primus told me.

Primus is a bridge builder and he has continued to build the bridge between the youths and the Obiano administration, bringing them together. He has the duty to salvage the youths of Anambra state. As a youthful Chief of staff, if he fails, youths of Anambra have failed, but if he succeeds, more opportunities would be given to Anambra youths. His failure will shut door for other youths, and it would be difficult for youths to be given opportunity.

‘’How old was Gowon, Ojukwu, Zik, Obasanjo when they were in power as Nigeria’s leaders? In other climes aren’t we seeing how Obama emerged, France leader Emmanuel Macron etc. ‘’…that’s why Obiano should be given kudos for assembling youths to pilot his administration. If I fail, then we as youths have failed but if I succeed, the future is brighter for youths. I am happy we are not discredit to the youths, because we get accolades daily from unexpected quarters’’, Primus informed further.
Anambra politics is hot, but, Primus is a true representative of youths judging by the numerous awards by different organizations particularly from youths for representing the youths effectively.

Obiano gave youths in their late 40’s and others in their early 30’s opportunities like Hon Mark Okoye and Hon Bonaventure Enemali, commissioners for Economic Planning and Budget and that of Lands respectively among others in SSA’s , SA’s and EA’s. Obiano according to Primus, ‘’singles out youths and appoint them. I realized on time that if I do well and other youths in appointment do well, it would be a reference for other youths to the benefit of the state’’.

He has leveraged on his experiences outside government and abroad to resolve issues on security, Information dissemination, Project monitoring , procurement with the help of the government Project management and monitoring unit comprising of over 70 young , energetic, dynamic and able bodied men between the ages of 20 and 35. The same team goes round the ministries, getting real time feedback from the people to the office of the Chief of Staff. The unit equally gives government informed decision on projects and generate certificates for payment of contractors, since they give clearance on projects before payment. The government works on their recommendations which they do without bias. Here according to Primus was why, the government is doing more with less without lowering quality. They never sacrificed quality on the altar of cheap labour.

Odili’s team saw to the establishment of Cost Reduction Unit responsible for going through every single project in all the ministries, evaluate them and shut out third parties as they make procurement exorbitant. This unit is also domiciled in the office of the Chief of Staff to make procurement less cumbersome.

‘’That’s why there is no question of abandoned projects in their own administration’’, Primus maintained.

That’s when he informed that Governor Obiano had gone back to complete the old abandoned government House which then Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Chief Chris Uba had issues with N10 Million monthly irrevocable power of attorney. He said Obiano has resolved all the encumbrances associated with it. He has paid off those who needed to be paid off and hopefully the building would be completed in earnest.

Again, his office has liaised with the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), on how appointments should be streamlined for effective service delivery, hence every appointee now has a designated duty post including the community liaisons. He emphatically informed that the people of Anambra state are now feeling the good governance better in less than two years he is in office. The government now has a human face and people no longer see the Chief of Staff, as someone not approachable. He gets more than 800 calls in a day and answers over 300 of such calls in spite of the exigencies of work. No one would answer all such calls in a day with the text messages.

He braced the challenge to ensure that the government’s human face is not compromised even with the challenges. They have fared well with the support of different groups of youths in Anambra State.

Ask yourself, the politician you are fighting dirty for when last did he or she picked your call? What does he or she care about you? This is Primus Ugochukwu Odili, the Governor Willie Obiano’s Chief of Staff! Primus has warned youths who specialize in throwing mud on politicians without recourse to watch it, as youth’s time to shine is running up.

Odogwu has a PhD in Mass Communication from Unizik. He is a Blogger, Journalist and Editor as well as commentator on national issues @ www.odogwublog.com . Email: [email protected] Phone Number: 08060750240

First published August 2019.