By James Okeke
The Labour Party (LP), has all it takes to restore Imo State to its lost glory. The party is therefore on the cusp of giving the state and its people purposeful leadership.
To achieve this, the party must put its best foot forward. And there is no other person that fits this bill than Major-General Lincoln Keonyemere Jack Ogunewe (Rtd).
So, in deciding who flies its flag for the November 2023 Imo governorship election, the LP must not look past General Ogunewe. Here is a man with all-around experience to pull Imo from the doldrums, one who knows what to do to get Imo on sound footing again.
Indeed, Imo state, the heartbeat of the East, is in dire need of a breath of fresh air having suffered excruciating asphyxiation in the last three and half years.
So, come November this year, Imolite will be presented with the opportunity to break free from the present maladministration and oppression.
All agree that LP is the right party to bail Imo out, conversely, a broad spectrum of the people also agree that General Ogunewe is LP nay Imo’s shining armour.
He embodies the American author, John. C Maxwell’s idea of a leader: “A leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”.
This finds a nexus between the growing need for General Ogunewe to be given the LP guber ticket to contest Imo 2023 gubernatorial election and his qualifications and competence for the job.
As a man who has attained the pinnacle of a military career, who is most experienced and knowledgeable enough security-wise secure Imo if not General Ogunewe?
Evidently he stands out in the galaxy of governorship hopefuls that have so far indicated in the LP guber.
General Ogunewe’s rich academic and professional resume as well as uncanny public service experience spanning nearly four decades make him the knight in the shining armour for Ndi Imo.
He is one of the most decorated Nigerian Army officers having served in the exalted capacity as Defence Adviser, Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations and Chief Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army.
And because of General Ogunewe’s self-effacing and humble nature, it is certainly easier to recognize his deeds more than his face.
Major General Lincoln Keonyemere Jack Ogunewe (Retired) was born on 18 May 1963 to the family of Eze (Lt Col) David Sunday Ogunewe and Ugoeze Stella Lucy Ogunewe.
He completed his primary school education in 1975 having attended St Cyprians Primary School, Umuojima, Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, and Central School Akpodim, (St. Mathias Primary School, Akpodim) Ezinihitte Mbaise, for his First School Leaving Certificate.
He then proceeded to Community Secondary School, Amuzi-Mbaise and later, Mbaise Secondary School, (MSS) Aboh-Mbaise, for his West African School Certificate (WASC). He gained admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy in July 1980 as an Officer Cadet and was commissioned in December 1983 as a Second Lieutenant into the Corps of the Nigerian Army Engineers.
General Ogunewe attended many military and civil courses in Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Israel, Pakistan and USA.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree (B.Eng) in Electrical Engineering from University of Nigeria Nsukka; a Master of Science Degree (M.Sc) in Defence and Strategic Studies from National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan; Diploma in National and International Security from Harvard Kennedy School USA; Diploma National Security Studies from Galilee International Management Institute Israel; Diploma in Construction Management from Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering Makurdi, Nigeria; Diploma in Public Administration from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration Accra, Ghana; and Diploma Nigerian Defence Academy Certificate of Education from Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna Nigeria.
He completed his Junior Staff Course from Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna and was awarded passed junior staff course (pjsc), Senior Staff Course from Ghana Command and Staff College Accra and awarded passed senior staff course (psc) and National Defence Course from National Defence University and awarded national defence certificate (ndc).
Though a prince of the Royal Ogunewe family in Akpodim, Ezinihitte Local Government of Imo State, this refined and revered Army General, philanthropist and now, politician of the nobble hue is humble, unassuming and accessible.
His military background notwithstanding, General Ogunewe is not magisterial, he is a listener and people oriented. He is not the proverbial Eze Onyeagkwala (a dictatorial king that listen to no one), the type that is currently presiding the affairs of Imo.
In a nutshell, what Imo need is Governor in the cast of General Ogunewe. The LP will be getting it right in the choice of a flagbearer for the November Imo guber election if it selects the right man for the job and that right man is General Ogunewe.
It, therefore, now behoves on all Imolites, including LP members and supporters, with the interest of the state at heart, to rally support for General Ogunewe and ensure he gets the party’s ticket for he is the best material for Imo.
– James Okeke writes from Ihioma, Orlu
