The Day Imo Celebrated The Man Called Willie Amadi At 60

THE DAY IMO CELEBRATED THE MAN CALLED WILLIE AMADI @ 60.

+ Njoku Macdonald Obinna

Owerri, Imo State.

Barr. High Chief Willie Amadi (Ukwa Achiaka & Omeudo Owerri) is one of those few leaders who had remained relevant as a recurring decimal in the political leaderhip discourse of Imo State having left the Ikedi Ohakim Administration since 2007. He has had the good fortune to rise not just beyond mere success to greatness, but also beyond greatness to the status of a nearly living legend; as a strategic and critical stakeholder that should be consulted in the balance of politics of power transition and change of leadership batons in the Eastern Heartland.

A highly respected community opinion leader and Owerri Clan Chief, Willie Amadi’s roles and actions in the history of Imo State have been decisive, consequential, as well as controversial yet, he has remained strong in his beliefs, principles, ideologies, thoughts-line, convictions and social idiosyncrasies. A man of few words, but good and fierce -looking; you get the impression on your first encounter with him, of still waters that run deep, yet a jolly good fellow who has penchant for hard work and excellence. A man who has seen and experienced much in a turbulent world, but is in no hurry to talk about what he knows and has seen untill ‘The God Of Second Chance’ came through for him during his 10-hours surgery at the heart of Covid-19 in May 2020.

On arrival to Nigeria after his 6-nation European tour in commemoration of his Diamond 💎 Birthday anniversary; the maverick lawyer and politician, High Chief Willie Amadi, was hosted to an amazing Christmas Cantata at the Eko Lê Meridian, Victoria Island Lagos, with a N5M platinum card, single handledly sponsored by the Billionaire ICT Expert and Chairman of Zinox Computers and Konga Consortium, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh; where the birthday boy felt the atmosphere of God’s presence for spiritual cafeteria and rejuvenation as he watched Africa and Nigeria’s leading gospel ministers; SINACH, Judikay, Mercy Chinwo, Nathaniel Bassey, ministered in songs and in a live performance.

High Chief Willie Amadi; a true son and lover of Owerri zone in particular and Imo State at larger, is a strategic promoter of its dialect and critical sponsor of Bongo music in Nigeria. Nda Willie, over the years, has maintained his relationship with friends and associates across geopolitical zones and party lines despite their differences in ideology and individual leaning or interest.
At 60, High Chief Willie Amadi (Omeudo Owerri), has evidently undergone a complex metamorphosis in the intervening decades since the defining moments of his early life as a young man who got employed by Nigerian Breweries Ltd and posted to Port Harcourt in 1982 at the age of 20, practiced law in Lagos in Chief Rotimi Williams Chambers before establishing his law firm the Time Nominee Chambers Ikoyi Lagos before delving into partisan politics.

Omeudo Owerri, Willie Amadi, has been a key player in important backroom political wheelings and dealings in Imo State as captured in his 247-page political memoir; an autography with the title: ` Second Chance. `

Therefore, it is no surprise to see the creme da la creme of Imo business and political class on Friday, 23rd 2022, gathered at the Landmark Event Centre behind Protea Hotels, Owerri, in ecstatic conviviality in celebration of the Diamond birthday anniversary of the Man called WILLIE AMADI. In order to celebrate himself in his life time unlike most people who are only celebrated at death ; Barr. Willie Amadi dictated the pace of his birthday celebration as he embarked on two solid weeks tour in Europe; London in the United Kingdom, Paris, the Republic of France, Instanbul in Turkey, Holland in Amsterdam, Munich in Germany and Czech Republic.

Currently Barr. Willie Amadi is the Chief Technical Adviser on Environment to Governor Hope Uzodimma. He had held other strategic positions before this appointment such as Federal Commissioner/ Ombudsman in the Public Complaints Commission Nigeria but to keen observers of Imo politics, it was a special day set aside to celebrate the man who implemented to the later the Clean & Green Initiative of the Ikedi Ohakim Administration as Special Adviser to the Governor on Sanitation & Transport between 2007-2011; as well as the pioneer General Manager, Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRANCO); between 2009- 2011. He won the cleanest State Capital in Nigeria for three consecutive times, back to back.

Chief Willie Amadi’s birthday, as expected of a man of his class and rich contacts, witnessed a deluge of both business and political class in attendance as High Chief Johnbosco Ozigbu, P.hD, (Ogwuaga of Ogwuaga and Lord Mayor of Nwangele chaired the watershed event amid funfair and gladness of Christmas 🎄 🎅

It was indeed, a day of celebration; pleasantries, exchange of season’s greetings and complimentary cards, as High Chief Barr. Willie Amadi received heartwarming encomiums from his friends, political associates and relations who came from far and near to celebrate the moment with Nda Willie whom God has given a second chance to live again.

While the celebration lasted in an  ambience of social conviviality the media lens of 4thestatereporters.ng,   anchored by Njoku MacDonald Obinna, was rolling to capture diginatries in the roll call, vintage Chief Willie Amadi, who wore a birthday gift of a D’Constantino Italian designer T-Shirt with six pure diamond buttons rated at over $500 never spared the moment and evening cruise as he danced to the different tunes of a mix of beautiful instrumental hymns and songs including Owerre bong lyrics.

Among those spotted at the event included but not limited to:

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, AHAEJIAGAMBA NDI IGBO, His Excellency Dr, Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor of IMO State, His Exellency EMEKA Ihedioha, former Governor of Imo State, Vhief Martin Agbaso, Chief Jude Ejiogu, His Royal Majesty, Eze Cletus Ilomunanya, Chairman of Imo State Elders’ Council, Chief Henry Njoku, Vice Chairman, Freight Forwarder’s Council, Sir Johbull & Dr Mrs Julie Onyeukwu, HRH Sam & Ugoeze Shirley Okwudinma, Chief Dr Victor Onukwugha, Chief Mike Obioha, Chief IBE Nwachukwu, Dr, Ken UBA, Chief Rthel Ukaonu, Chief Jude Egwim, Chief George & Geodora Onwanibe, His Royal Highness, Eze Godwin Ejiogu (Kara of Umunakara),
Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly and member representing Nwangele Constituency, Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu. Hon. Dele Onyemaechi, Majority Leader of Imo State House of Assembly, Evang. Tony Okpe, Commissioner representing Owerri Zone in ISOPADEC,

Dist. Sen. Onyewuchi Ezenwa, representing IMO East Chief Charles Ahize, candidate of Labour Party for Imo West Senatorial District, National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Dist. Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, Ndukwe Nnawuchi SAN, Navy Comandore Osuagwu Ogechi (Rtd).

High Chief Christognus Ugochukwu Okoro, Chief Barr. Obed Anyadike, SA Legal Mattersto Governor Hope Uzodimma, Prof. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, Hon. William Nwafor, Hon. Alex Eneziem, Ph.D, Sir Ambrose Ejiogu, Chief Osita Nwaneri, Barr. Peter Mgbewelu, Gen. L Ogunewe, Mr. Gerald Emenyou, Mr. NNA Otuka, Chief CDB Williams, APC candidate for Owerri Federal Constituency, RT. Hon. Ernest Ibejiako, RT. Hon. Jeff Ojinika, Labour candidate for Orlu, Oru East and West Federal Constituency, Sir Chimdi Ejiogu, Ken NJEMANZE, SAN, Obinna Ajoku, SAN, Barr. Leslie Njemanze, CP Dan Okoro rtd, RT. Hon. Nnaemeka Maduagwu, Lady Ojinika Uchegbu, Barr. George Eke, Barr. Ralph Nwosu, Commission for Works Imo State, Chief Cosmas Madugba, Commissioner for Agriculture Imo State, Sir Emma Ohakim, Mr. Okay Afuruobi, Chief Noel Iheme, Nze Rex Ukonu.

Ven. Duruji Ph.D of Christ Church Owerri, Chief Ben Mere, Barr. Charles Ezekwem, ENGR. Ben Ekwueme, Chief Richmond Osuji, Mr. Kelechi Nzewuihe, Chief Chalk Chukwuemeka, Chief Mrs Angela Akunna, ENGR, Chibuike Achigbu, Dr Vin. Udokwu, Rt Hon Godfrey Dikeocha, Sir Levi Oguike, Barr CJ Ihemedu.

Others included Prince Feddie Akano, Rt.Hon.  Ikenna Elezianya, Barr Marcellinus Nlemigbo, Barr. Emma Ibediro, Chief Ethel Okere, Chief Jude Agbugba, Chief Gibson ACHONWA Njemanze, Chief George Emeghara, Barr Kingsley Ononuju, Chief Mike Nwachukwu, Accord Senatorial Candidate IMO East, Hon Emma Orie, Evang. Mike Ikoku, Chairman All Seasons Hotel, Barr Mrs Nkeiru Ibekwe, Hon Okay Emenyonu, HRH Eze Oliver Ohanwe, Chief Christian Anukam, Agbawo Dike Izu and Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe of the MBADIWE Dynasty.

The high point of the event was the cutting of the diamond birthday cake and formal presentation of the 247-page book written by the celebrant, High Chief Willie Amadi, as his family members, friends, political associates and numerous well wishers joined hands with him to unveil the book while cutting the cake and returning all glory to God of Second Chance.

Njoku MacDonald Obinna

Media Consultant|News Reporter|PR-Expert

Publisher,

4th Estate Reporters