It was Mario Puzo, the fabled Italian/American, in his 1969 Master piece, the Godfather, who said that “Great men are not born great, they grow great”.
For me, greatness is the capacity of men to break the rules and smash bars of limitations. Humanity is replete with men and women who reached their inner strength, ignored the negative vibes from watchers and bystanders to achieve genuine greatness.
The above, depicts the story of most distinguished Senator Ifeanyichukwu Godwin Araraume. Despite his humble background, having lost his beloved father early in life, with abiding fate in God, he was able to navigate through the storms and thorns of life to become a phenomenal personality.
After the completion of his secondary education at the famous Dick Tiger Memorial Secondary school, Amigbo, he worked briefly before he travelled to the Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.A, where he bagged a degree in Business Administration. Not done yet, on returning home, he later enrolled and completed a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of Benin.
With this leadership preparations, Senator Araraume delved into the world of politics and business at a very tender age. He has exceedingly done very well in both sectors. Exclusive International Ltd, which he founded about 40 years ago, is today, a national brand. He was at a point, on the board of Inland Bank PLC, now part of FCMB and has his pie on real estate, Insurance among others.
From 1989 till date, has been an active player in the political affairs of this country. From state treasurer of the defunct Liberal Convention to becoming the pioneer state chairman of the former All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) And in 1999, he was elected Senator, representing, Okigwe zone, under the platform of PDP, and got re- elected in 2003 because of his superlative outing in the first tenure. With aplomb, he handled all the assignments given to him at the red chamber. He was chairman, Senate committee on power and steel, vice chairman, senate committee on the Niger/Delta commission (NDDC) and chairman, public hearing committee for south East zone on Amendment to 1999 constitution.
Senator I.G Araraume was also the National Assembly, south east caucus on the creation of an additional state in the south east. Chairman Senate committee on local and foreign debts. As the vice chairman of the Senate committee on NDDC, he almost single-handedly ensured that the dichotomy of core Niger Delta was removed from the original bill which was intended to remove IMO and Abia States as part of the Niger Delta basin.
As the chairman of the committee on power and steel, he ensured that the Alaorjii power plant Aba benefited from the Obasanjo’s government intervention on power supply in 2003. New substations were built at Anara and Okigwe. Abandoned greater Okigwe water scheme built by our late sage, Dee Sam Mbakwe was taken over by the federal government.
Senator Araraume is not known to be playing to the gallery. He used his position as the federal commissioner, representing South east zone in the NCC to give sustainable jobs to our people. He attracted NCC interventions to the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. No doubt, the new national assignment given to him as the board chairman of the newly incorporated NNPC Ltd, by the President is going to be a tasking one. But he and his team, have what it takes to turn the fortunes of the place around. As a limited liability company, NNPC Ltd is removed from unnecessary interferences from the Minister of Petroleum. NNPC Ltd, will run like it’s international counterparts like Petrobras, owned by the government of Brazil. They will reposition the place for more profitability as it is the corner stone of our national economy.
The board is also aware that the era of fossil energy as the major driver of global economy is almost all over. Emphasis now should be on new alternatives and how to harness gas that is being flared in the Niger/ Delta region.
In conclusion, will not fail to sincerely thank Mr President for finding our son worthy to be the captain of this noble team with the task of creatively looking for new ways of making our nation benefit optimally from this God given natural resources.
By Mr Emeka Ogaraku
Mr Ogaraku is the Head at Anointed Fingers Ltd.
