By CHIDI MATTHEW NWACHUKWU

At a time when representing the people at the legislative chambers has become a business of self-enrichment and personal aggrandizement, Engr. John Ibrahim Ocheje has decided to answer the call to represent his people effectively as a gesture of his commitment to serving humanity and empowering the common people by bringing them out of poverty and hardship and launching them onto the good and easy life.

Effective representation is the hallmark of Ocheje’s political standing, and he has not failed to exemplify this in every gesture he puts out, whether big or small.

His selflessness and altruism have singled him out as the darling of the common people – a fact that can be seen in the love and adulation that greet him whenever he visits home and his constituents.

The son of an ordinary farmer from Ojiala Village, in Ayah Ward of Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, Ocheje sauntered into prominence and stardom through the dint of hardwork, dedicatedness, discipline, and forthrightness. Ocheje’s career as an excellent and distinguished Petroleum Engineer wouldn’t have reached its enviable heights if not for his strong will and determination to excel in all that he ventures into.

Ocheje’s days as an undergraduate of the University of Ibadan were marked with excellent performances, a feat that stood him out as the best graduating student in his department; little wonder he was rewarded with a Shell scholarship. He then went on to build an exquisite 30-year-career in Chevron, stringing amazing 17 years in management. His expertise in Oil and Gas is not in doubt, and his memberships of both the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) are a testament to his reputation as a thorough-bred professional and egghead.

Ocheje is a born leader whose watchwords are integrity, uprightness, forthrightness, dedication and discipline. His calm and collected mien could give him away as overly simple, until he is met in his serious mood. Everyone who has been privileged to spend time with this Man of Character will attest to the fact that his approach to life is simple yet firm, easy yet unbending, and flexible yet uncompromising.

It is his discipline and excellent character that fetched him the top job of Executive Director at Oceangate Oil & Gas, upon completing his rewarding stay at Chevron. At Oceangate, he was saddled with the task of overseeing asset development and management. Currently, he sits as the Chairman of Fourth Edge Ltd., Fourth Edge Aluminium Ltd., and Ravenstream Properties Ltd., and undertakes his many tasks with the precision of a goal getter and without losing focus of his goals and objectives.

It will not go without mentioning that Ocheje is big in philanthropy. In fact, his most-cherished activity is to put smiles on the faces of ordinary people. He goes out of his way to undertake tasks that are thought to be impossible. For instance, it was never heard of or expected that any politician or aspirant from Idah, Ofu, Ibaji, or Igalamela-Odolu would empower delegates with brand new motorcycles; but that was the feat Ocheje singlehandedly accomplished, and without making any pump and pageantry out of it. Up till today, his praise is still on the lips of the said delegates and his party executives.

He achieves his goals with ease and takes no glory for his accomplishments. One of his most talked-about community projects is the building and furnishing of the palace of the King of Ojiala Village, and the sinking of three boreholes for the community’s use. He single-handedly built a community health centre in his locality, and has maintained a widows’ and less-privileged support program which holds three times every year. In addition to this laudable feat, he runs a scholarship scheme for indigent students in his community.

It may seem usual the feats that Ocheje has accomplished, but when it is considered that he declined a commissionership appointment under former Governor Idris Wada, just to be able to stay focused on the very important job of becoming a legislative representative of his people, then it will be clearer what truly drives this agent of transformative leadership. He bagged a second position at the 2014/15 PDP primaries for the Idah/Ofu/Ibaji/Igalamela-Odolu Federal Constituency, whose purported winner was a government-sponsored candidate, and contested the 2018/19 Kogi East Senatorial primaries.

He won the PDP ticket for the House of Representatives in 2022/23, but was deprived of his victory – a development that prompted him to seek redress at the court of law, even up to the Supreme Court which eventually gave judgment to the party by affirming its (the party’s) supremacy. His pursuit of his mandate up to the Supreme Court was seen by his supporters as a show of doggedness, resilience and a ‘never-say-never’ spirit, qualities that endear him to his admirers and his people.

Ocheje’s exposure and loads of experience in world affairs is top notch, having visited over 20 countries in the last 5 years alone, and lived in all the 7 continents of the world. His work and training were largely instrumental to his many sojourns and interactions with great minds and personalities from all over the world. He also loves to travel and meet people as a major hobby. His vast experience in global politics and world affairs will greatly aid him in being a very effective and resourceful leader and representative of his people.

As Ocheje stands on the threshold of history to answer the call of his people to represent them at the Lower Legislative Chamber in 2027, he is ably armed with the goodwill of his people, his antecedents as a through-bred leader, and his many years of experience as a professional, a manager and a goal getter.

His 2027 ambition is been driven by his passion for infrastructure development, equitable resource development, delivery of qualitative services, and empowerment of the indigent and less-privileged. He hopes to leverage on his overall experience as an administrator and a manager to render excellent leadership by way of effective representation and the betterment of the lives of his people.

For clarity’s and emphasis’ sakes, Ocheje is going to leverage on his experience in Oil & Gas to develop structures for the equitable exploitation of the rich and abundant natural resources inherent in his locality, for the benefit of his state and constituency. He will consciously and deliberately provide quality representation for his people through thorough and knowledge-based engagements with the electorates and with other representatives towards addressing the needs of his people.

He hopes to leverage on his position as a legislator to interface with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and relevant Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) towards bridging the infrastructural gaps that may exist in his constituency – in this case, gaps such as educational, agricultural, road-related, e.t.c. He also hopes to explore other avenues through which he can effectively expand his widows’ empowerment program so that every widow that crosses his path can experience the better life.

One primary goal that Ocheje holds very dear to his heart is the empowerment of youths through a robust and impactful program that will change their lives for good. The said program would include scholarships for indigent students, skill acquisition for everyone, medicare, provision of seed capital for start-ups, and provision of food for the less-privileged. His plans and prospects are sure to meet the people at the points of their needs.

As Nigeria’s politics is currently at a defining moment, it will need young, vibrant, resourceful and regenerative leaders like Ocheje to infuse the revolution needed to launch the Nigerian State on the pedestal of growth, stability and excellence.

May Ocheje succeed!

May Nigeria succeed!!

And may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

•Nwachukwu is an Abuja-based journalist and media consultant

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