I read Ejike Okpa's article on Nigeria's former Vice President and leading PDP aspirant Dr.  Alex Ekwueme and former miliatry ruler Olusegun Obasanjo (here at www.usafricaonline.com) with a great deal of interest.  You already know my opinion of the article and the bias that Mr.  Okpa injected into it regarding the person and integrity of Dr.  Ekwueme.  I have known Ekwueme for over 26 years and have followed his business, academic and political career very closely for all these years.  For the record, I want to state that I do not have blood relationship with him neither have I been under his employment or support at any time.

I write as I now do to correct Okpa's rather subtle smear on this man's character.  I know that Ekwueme is one of the few Nigerians who left office much poorer than when they went in.

Ekwueme was one of the leading professional architects in Nigeria,being active in the industry since the 1970s.  His company, The Ekwueme Associates, has the credit for integrity and fine job.  In his piece, Okpa insinuated that the money Ekwueme donated to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1978 belonged to all Nigerians.  Such a view is not only unfortunate it simply does not demand any second of rebuttal.  For instance, I wonder if Okpa's income in the US belongs to all Nigerians, too!  Okpa also faulted him for being philanthropic!  He wrote: "In the 1970s and part of 1980s when many Nigerians were going overseas, the impression among those of us from the East was that he was a philanthropist.  In those days, many people went overseas under his assistance and the rest of the world thought he was doing it for free.  It was a business venture for Ekwueme".

It is a shame that when some of pick up the pen, we apparently switch off our senses.  By Okpa's reluctant confession, this man used his wealth to lift up others who could not help themselves.  That as far as any right-thinking person can see is not wrong.  Okpa, in my view, maligned this God-fearing man by insinuating that he cheated Nigerians to become wealthy.

Basically, my argument is that Okpa's column and insinuations are not based on any research.  I will challenge him to seek an audience with Dr.  Ekwueme or those who really know him before jumping to conclusions.

Related:
The Problems I have with Obasanjo and Ekwueme
By Ejike Okpa II

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