By Oseloka Zikora
Ogbuagu Damanze Francis Arthur Nzeribe, Oshiji, Oyimba Oguta, former Senator representing Orlu, Imo State, maverick politician and a one-timeh presidential aspirant under SDP, takes the no-return journey of all mortals.
I stop to pay respects to a man I once served as Media Advisor during the 1992/93 presidential race. Though our association was but for a few months before parting, I give him credit for a hyper intelligent and sharp mind. As a Principal, he was not one that craved sycophancy, he preferred truthful and incisive analysis of the ongoing public agenda and pulse.
But don’t expect that that would dissuade him from set goals. Rather, it enabled him to set up counter strategies to odds stacked against given goals. And he was not particularly perturbed by what any thought of his actions.
He did his things in a grandiose style living in the sprawling presidential suite of Federal Palace Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos for years. For his presidential campaign, he had a fleet of branded exotic cars in a convoy that announced his presence everywhere he went. And he also reached farther than most other aspirants for he flew in his private jet while the convoy went as advance team.
However, the presidency was not what he finally sought. I comment not on the rest of that 1993 adventure or misadventure as some would say, for I had left before the fact. But he also had a soft heart that tended toward philanthropy.
For many of his acts in life, are they not documented in “African legend: the incredible story of Francis Arthur Nzeribe”, an excellent biography penned by prolific author, Dillibe Onyeama.
Ogbuagu Oshiji Damanze, you have done your part, and have bowed out seven months shy of clocking 84. May God grant you His mercies and grant your soul eternal rest.
*Dr. Zikora, Journalist, Public Affairs Commentator, wrote this piece May 8th, 2022
