By Chidi Onyemaizu
Those conversant with the popular nursery
school refrain of the old, “Obi is a boy” will tell you that Obi has since
transformed into a man who can hold his own any time any day. Every birthday of
great men reminds us that they were once an “Obi”. Today is the birthday of a
great man, a great achiever, a good listener and an unsung philanthropist. And
as this former “Obi” reflects on life on his special day, the floodgate of the
memories of his enchanting life trajectory lays itself bare.
On this day over four decades ago, pangs of
labour buffeted a young woman but the pains were mitigated by the joy of the
coming motherhood and somewhat rock-solid instinct that the child in her
womb was marked for great things, with calmness of spirit, she eagerly looked
forward to bringing forth a new life into the world. Soon, shrill cry of a new
born baby boy reverberated through the labour room and echoed in the maternity
ward. That infant’s cry signaled the dawn of unspeakable joy in the family of
the Orims of Alege community , Obudu local government area of Cross River
state. Baby Martin Ojie Orim is born!.His arrival was a pleasant addition to
the Orim family.
The baby boy who would be a poster boy of
unassailable feats is today Hon.Martin Ojei Orim.He is Chief of Staff to His
Excellency, Professor (Senator) Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of
Cross River State. Upon assumption of office on May 29, 2019, Professor Ayade
wasted no time in assembling a team of visionary young men into his then
embryonic government to help him oil the wheels of the new administration. One
of the young “visioners” was Hon. Orim. His appointment as Chief of Staff to
the Governor did not come to those who closely follow Hon.Orim’s antecedents as
a surprise for prior to that, the young politician had variously demonstrated
an uncanny propensity to excel in any given duty.
During his days at Obudu local government,
Hon.Orim showed class. He redefined local government administration, bringing with
him finesse that left eventful impact on the lives of the people of the
council. Three and half years down the lane as Chief of Staff, the birthday boy
has clearly established himself as a political tactician and the engine room of
the administration. His brilliant pun on the game of politics has been a
stabilizing elixir for the government.
Hon.Martin Ojei Orim does not brook
distractions in the course of discharging the onerous duties of his exalted
office but if such distractions approximate to helping his hard working
principal realize the cardinal goal of the administration; that is,
turning Cross River into an industry hub there-by creating jobs and
decoupling the state from over dependence on the crude oil- induced monthly federal
allocations, the Chief of Staff gladly embraces them (distractions).So, when
next Hon. Orim utters his usual succinct lines, “I have work
to do”, to anyone, he is certainly immersed in fashioning better or
innovative ways of assisting Governor Ayade fulfill his social contract with
Cross Riverians.
While some people wear the word,
“philanthropist” like a medal, Hon. Orim goes about wiping tears from the eyes
of the downtrodden without fanfare. Last year, his Foundation, the C.F.O Orim
Foundation, brought sunshine to the lives of many in Obudu. Empowerment
programme instituted by the Foundation has banished despair and anguish in the
lives of some people in the council as they are today variously self-employed,
employers of labour and wealth creators.True to his spartan life and unassuming
nature, rather than throw talk -of -the town party to celebrate his birthday,
Hon. Orim has elected to quietly to mark day with prisoners.
The Chief of Staff does not regard his huge,
life-changing philanthropic gestures as something extra-ordinary. He explains
that helping people in need is ingrained in his nature, a character trait that
comes to him naturally. “My father trained many in school without knowing them;
they were not biologically related to us but as far as you are willing to go to
school, my father was always there to train you. You don’t have to be his
biological child to get trained. I think I inherited the passion to help, and
empathy for the poor from my father,” Hon. Orim says.
Admirers of Hon. Orim are awed by the fact that
the youthful Chief of Staff is still in the morning of his life but has yet
achieved a lot to be cheered and celebrated and are therefore cheering and
celebrating him today as he becomes plus one.Hon. Orim’s fans say a
deafening happy birthday is fitting and proper for a man whose
unwavering loyalty to his principal and commitment to the vision of the
administration are both salutary and exemplary.
*Onyemaizu is the Press Secretary to the Chief
of Staff