Victor Ike-Oye:  Politician, Community Leader of Repute

By Kennedy Okonkwo

The Book of Proverbs 22:29 states that: “Show me a man who is diligent in his work, he will stand in the presence of kings and not in the presence of unknown men.”

One man that has distinguished himself in proving to be a diligent man is the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Ike-Oye.

The APGA boss, who is marking his 30th wedding and 60th birthday anniversary with an Ozo title and Charity Day, has proved without any iota of doubt that he is a diligent man and someone who can be trusted.

Looking at the way he has also managed his personal and political life and community service, Ike-Oye has shown clearly that he is a leader worth celebrating.

Like the words of Dr. Gary P. Hamel, an American management expert and founder of Strategos, an international management consulting firm based in Chicago, which states that: “Trust is not simply a matter of truthfulness, or even constancy. It is also a matter of amity and goodwill. We trust those who have our best interests at heart, and mistrust those who seem deaf to our concerns,” Ike-Oye is wise and trusted person, who has within a short time proven to be leader.

I have known Ike-Oye for many years and I can attest that he is a man who can be trusted and rely on. He has proved on many occasions that he is determined and focused in bringing out the best in whatever task given to him.

He has excelled in all the major assignments committed to his hands. In fact, he is among Nigerian politicians who can stand stall in the polity, without any corruption charges hanging on his neck.

When the mantle of APGA leadership was given to him last year, the party was handed over to him in disunity, but today APGA remains a formidable party, not only in South-East but in different parts of the country.

Like he promised when the immediate APGA national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh passed the baton to him last year, Ike-Oye within one year has transformed the party beyond reasonable doubt for better.

Ike-Oye emergence was commended by many APGA stakeholders including Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State and his predecessor, Umeh. His victory during last year APGA National Convention was also commended by various groups, including different APGA chapters in Nigeria and in Diaspora.

In fact on July 19, 2015 in an interview he granted a national daily, Umeh described Chief Victor Ike-Oye as “somebody who has the capacity to lead APGA. He has enough experience. In electing him into the office of National Chairman of APGA, we were conscious of the challenges that lie ahead of his tenure. We are convinced he can lead the party.

“Dr. Ike-Oye is coming in on a very strong pedestal, on a clean slate, no legal hangover. So, that being the case, he is not inheriting any litigation against his leadership. So, he will be able to concentrate. Dr. Ike-Oye’s National Working Committee will focus on how to build the party, rather than how to contend with internal crisis. We will give him all the support he will need to make APGA a strong party.”

While assuming office on June 2015, the APGA national chairman promised to take the party to greater heights through “building a new and cohesive political movement founded on mutual love, peace and fraternity, devoid of bitterness and acrimony,” and he has been working in line to his promise.

Since his emergence as APGA National Chairman, Ike-Oye on many occasions has acted as an opposition leader by putting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on its toes.

Apart from being passionate and pursing courses that are of national interest, Ike-Oye has also been a leading voice on issues affecting the Ndigbo. He has proved on many occasions that he is a leader to be reckoned with in defending his party members, kinsmen and Nigerians.   

On July 13, 2015, Ike-Oye-led APGA urged the federal government to urgently evacuate the Boko Haram suspects relocated at that period to Ekwulobia prisons in Anambra State.

He implored the federal government to consider the danger posed by Boko Haram members and the fact that Ekwulobia prison is a minimum prison which according to him lacks the appropriate security infrastructure and even personnel to handle the complex class of detainees.

His party is of the view that the continued stay of the terrorist suspects in Ekwulobia will disconcert the people of the community and indeed the entire Anambra State and also the  neighbouring Igbo states that are similarly apprehensive, which the consequences are  multifarious and multi-dimensional.

Because of his passion for a better Nigeria, Chief Ike-Oye in April lend his support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to China, at a point that many opposition leaders were against the Federal Government’s initiatives. He said that the country’s economic partnership with China is in Nigeria’s best interest.

The APGA national chairman in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday April 28 said many countries of the world had started showing interest in China because of the vast opportunities it held and because of the economic giant it had become.

“No man is an island. We need to continue to work together and explore all means to make this country move forward and I think that is what the President has done. He went to China to explore new avenues and new opportunities in the global market and nobody should tell me that we will continue to face a particular direction in the development of this country,” he said.

Dr. Ike-Oye also called on the federal government to take urgent steps to end the clashes between farmers and herdsmen as well as stop further loss of lives and property.

Apart from being an experienced and seasoned politician with wide range of experience in elective and appointed public and party positions, Ike-Oye has proved to be a good husband and father to his family and that is why his marriage has remain intact in the last 30 years.

Today, he is celebrating 30th wedding anniversary because of his commitment to marriage institution. Ike-Oye has also paid his due in his community and this seen to be one of the reason while he is being honoured with Ozo title today.

He has also touched many lives through several philanthropy gestures and community services.

Victor Ike-Oye is well educated with Master’s degree in communications and doctoral fellow in communications from Oxford University.

He has also been around government having served in various public service and party leadership. He is seasoned journalist. To a distinguished APGA National Chairman who has shine like a million stars in a very short time.

We celebrate you on your birthday celebration and wish you many more years of dedicated service to humanity. We really thank God for your life and contribution to the society. We also give glory to the Almighty God for keeping you in good health to witness this great celebration.

You promised to take the party to greater heights through “building a new and cohesive political movement founded on mutual love, peace and fraternity, devoid of bitterness and acrimony,” and Chief Victor Ike-Oye has been working in line with his promise. 

So, as he marks his 30th wedding and 60th birthday anniversary with an Ozo title and charity day, it is my pleasure and privilege to give this short message of good about a wise and trusted guide, who has within a short time proven to be leader.

Good people are rare, nice people are scarce, people like you are scarce. I pray God continue to bless Chief Victor Ike-Oye, favour and grant him his wishes forever, amen.

––Chief Kennedy Okonkwo is the CEO of Nedcom Oaks