Valentine Obienyem
There were just three of us in the car – Mr. Peter Obi, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, and myself. We were on our way to Godfrey Okoye University School of Nursing, and thenceforth to the residence of Bishop Sam Ike (Prof.) of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, who was to take Mr. Obi to inspect some of his initiatives in the health sector. This was part of Mr. Obi’s routine commitment to supporting youth development through assistance to educational, health and other institutions.
Prof. Okunna initiated the conversation, which gradually intensified into a spirited debate. She was criticising some of the things Oga does, saying, “Do it this way, not that way.” I listened quietly as the two exchanged thoughts, their words brimming with wisdom.
But what struck me most was what happened after the debate – heated, as if two enemies had met on a battlefield. Obi turned to her and said: “Prof., this is one of the reasons I love being in your company. I admire how observant you are, and the courage you have to always tell me when I’m wrong. Never mind my arguing – at the end of the day, I reflect on everything.”
This is vintage Obi. Sometimes, when you point things out to him, he instinctively argues. But in the end, he takes observations seriously and often acts on them. Like a true philosopher, he doesn’t swallow advice in one gulp – he sieves before he drinks.
