Mike Ejiogu: Three Decades of Service, Impact and Commitment to the People
By Lancelot Obiaku
Not long ago, High Chief Mike Ejiogu addressed a gathering of faithfuls of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his residence in Anara, Isiala Mbano. During that meeting, he recalled what he had begun to do before 1999 and in the early 2000s as one of the founding members of the party credited with restoring steady democracy to Nigeria — first, the active roles he played in establishing and financing the PDP, and then, the initiatives he championed and continues to champion in support of community development and the alleviation of poverty and suffering among many people in his LGA.
According to the Holy Bible, “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” To prove this injunction true, men and women who were present at the gathering testified, echoed with copious certainty, and affirmed the words of Mike Ejiogu about his laudable deeds. A simple mathematical calculation shows that the period he spoke about dates back to well over 25 years ago.
Back home in Okigwe Zone and Imo State at large, Chief Ejiogu is a renowned figure. Many know him as a business mogul, given his vast establishments in Real Estate, Manufacturing, and Hospitality. Others describe him as a philanthropist on account of his documented outreaches to vulnerable people, human capital development, and community development programmes. Beyond these, he has invested his wealth, experience, contacts, and reach in training, empowering, and mentoring countless youths who are today doing very well as entrepreneurs and reputable professionals.
These sides of Chief Ejiogu are tremendous, but what matters most is that irrespective of the prism through which he is viewed by anyone, anywhere, he has remained consistent along that path for at least three decades (30 years). Whether it is his giant strides in the business world, his philanthropy, his investment in youths, or his emergence as a refined political leader, no one can doubt that Chief Mike Ejiogu has consistently shown up in a big way.
Maintaining such a culture of love for his constituency and its people, a culture that has manifested in verifiable impacts, is an assurance of character and capacity, without an ounce of doubt. There is a key fact to establish here: when a man commits himself to a course and remains successful in it for over ten years, then he is not faking it. He is real and genuine.
It, therefore, made sense that when the tragedy of the fire outbreak which recently gutted Eke Okigwe Market and cruelly stole the livelihoods of victims occurred, there was one name many expected to come to the rescue. Chief Mike Ejiogu did not just send words, a donation, or a delegation; he showed leadership by personally assessing the extent of the devastation and empathizing with the affected individuals before proceeding to offer a huge support of N10 million towards rebuilding their livelihoods. This is him in simple terms.
Politically, Chief Ejiogu has made his mark quietly by helping to build the platforms he has found himself in at different times, without appearing to impose himself on them. In fact, given his huge contributions to party building and other socio-economic interventions over the years, questions are silently being asked about why he had never made himself available for the contest of any political position long before now. The answer to such a question is simple: “Then was not the right time, but now is.”
Chief Mike Ejiogu is not a man tossed about by the wind. He does not pursue quick fixes; rather, he believes in process and preparation. The 52-year-old industrialist is collected, innovative, and visionary. Over the years, despite his political involvements, he has spent more time building legacies in business and contributing his quota to development from the private sector, proving that his involvement in politics was not born out of a desperate search for power and wealth. He views leadership as service and a call to give out, not to take in.
High Chief Mike Duru Ejiogu is not a failure because he has amassed wealth and fame; rather, he is successful because he lives not for himself but for others. That is what defines true success.
Looking ahead to the general elections, where he would be contesting for the first time to represent Okigwe Senatorial District at the Senate, he is expected to advance his culture of love, impact, and development by not seeking personal glory, but the general good of his constituents if elected. This is the reputation he has earned, not out of desperation, but through proof of character, consistency, good intentions, and loyalty to his convictions. And after many years of searching, Okigwe Zone may have found that transformational leader who can push it to the next level.