Meeting with the Soludo Governor, of Segun Odegbami

It’s yesterday.
The pain from the death of my friend lingers. Weigh me up. I barely sleep all night with headaches.

I am thinking about the independence of life, human mortality and the inevitability of death that “will come, when it will come”.

I wake up soon. My heart beats of pain. I head to the airport for my morning flight to Abuja.

What happens later is fortuitous, a divine script. At the airport, I am assigned the place to number 1c. Soon we start to climb on board. I take my place in the front row. Others follow.

So embark. Its small follow -up of assistants indicates its status. Wear a simple traditional PGI clothing: a red cap on a red isiagu and white pants. This is not a small man. I recognize it immediately.
His place is 1st, right next to mine.

I greet him. The large smile on his face is nothing more than his usual dispensation of courtesies to all those who surround him. He is a very friendly political leader. It is located next to me.

Not to not waste time.
“Accept my sincere condolences, your excellence”.
He looks at me with a certain surprise. Obviously, he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. He also confirms that he does not recognize me.
“The passage of Christian Chukwu”, Guido. ‘I am Segun Odegbami’.
He is quickly added to his head.
“Ah, the mathematician”. The recognition comes and lights up the face.
“Thank you very much,” he says. “How sad situation losing one of the greatest heroes of this country, a legendary football player”.
He talks more about Christian Chukwu brilliant. It promises to support a suitable burial by the country for the NATO and illustrious patriot leader. Remember that President Chukwu has guided a great generation of players of Rangers FC, Iicc, Bendel Insurance and others, teams that played an important role in unwinding the country in the years following the civil war.

I am talking to him about the role of Chukwu, through his exemplary leadership of both Rangers International and Green Eagles, to help heal the wounds inflicted on the Nigerian psyche by the Nigerian civil war.

Then it surprises me. Go back in time to rekindle the magic of the radio comment: “Mathematics. Nor dribble one, dribbed two, turns along the touch line, passes to chukwu, moves, oh, oh, …… ‘.

In reality he is performing a comment from an imaginary football match. Some passengers with our places appreciate his roughing sound voice, imitating the deceased Ernest Okonkwo.

It is obviously very happy to meet me. He says more than once while we are satisfied with a conversation that covers different subjects. It is as if we were long separated friends who run out in time to recover.
We will run through different topics until the plane taxi and lift in the clouds of darkening and pregnancy of Lagos at this time of the year.

Our conversation is as between two friends who have not been seen for a long time, running to recover things.

Let’s talk about Christian Chukwu’s sad passage; His invitation to the former Awka Ranger players at the State House after having become governor; His support for the well-being of the Rangers players, a monthly salary contributed by some governors of the south-east area. Wishes the salary is increased. He tells me about his relationship with football. It is the only addiction it has.
He tells me that he once canceled an international journey while he was in transit to watch the Spanish El Classico on television between the Real Madrid FC and the FC boat. Like me, he is an FC Barcelona supporter.
Up boat !!

In his youth, he played football against his father’s desire, an old scar on his test of cheek of his challenge to play football on Pebbles from Strada.

He speaks a little about his foray into politics, the Onitsha market and his poor reputation, in addition to the re-Model of the city. There are measures to be taken to repair the image of the largest public market throughout West Africa.

I ask him how he is able to manage the state without borrowing a Kobo. It’s easy. He gave priority to his assignment to essential projects and reduced all waste.

He answers all my questions.
I am in his lesson space.
Radiates trust and happiness. His performance registers in almost 4 years will speak for him to the polls in his offer of re -election.

The sound of the engines takes over. We will keep silent. When the plane arrives at the utmost height and starts navigating comfortably, we are both doing a nap.
Abuja.
We resume our conversation while our plane lands in Abuja. Christian Chukwu is back in our mind. He led the eagles in a glorious era in Nigeria, in the 70s and parts of the 80s. He sees those years as a half full of opportunities to make Nigeria the largest black nation on earth.
There is work to do. Our responsibility is not to change the world, but to recite our parts in making the difference.

The only question he asks me is: “What are you doing now?”.
I tell him – a little of this, a little of that.

I am talking to him about my only official portfolio is the head of the sports unit and diplomacy of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs. I am talking to him about the role of “Wall of Fame” and Allen Onyema in that effort that makes me an ambassador of aerial peace.

We both wonder why we never met before when we have several common friends.
We exchange numbers.
Let’s take a photo while the plane finally stops.
We walk together from the plane to the airport’s arrival room where we separate and promise to stay in touch.
Throughout this time, he is greeting everyone around, sharing some words here and there with even total strangers, a smile on his face always. He is a great man.

It is a great personal privilege and an invaluable experience having shared an entire 60 minutes, approximately, with the former governor of the Central Bank and the current governor of the State of Anambra, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

While Guido in Abuja, I’m thinking.
3 members of the 1980 team have died in the last 3 months: Moses Effeiong, Charles Bassey and “President” Christian Chukwu!
They can absolutely find peace with the creator of the universe! Amen.

*Dr. Olusgun Odegbami, Mon, Oly, Afniia, Fnis