Anya-Ndi-Igbo Celebrates Eleazu On Grand Reception By Abia Gov

The umbrella body of major Igbo organisations, Anya-Ndi-Igbo, has used the occasion of grand reception organised by the Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, to celebrate Dr Uma Eleazu at his 95 birthday.

Speaking at the event, the President of Anya-Ndi-Igbo, Engr. Chris Okoye, described the occasion as “fidelity in its most elegant form.”

“It is not often that political leaders keep faith with their promises, especially when there is no risk of political injury if such promises are ignored. But Dr. Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, is a special breed of politician,” Okoye said.

He explained that the occasion was not Eleazu’s actual birthday, which fell on June 16, but rather the fulfilment of a promise Otti made during an earlier birthday celebration held in Lagos on June 14.

“Governor Otti attended that event and said that while it was good for children to honour their parents, Elder Eleazu, having attained such a venerable position of leadership, must also be celebrated at home in Umuahia. Today’s occasion fulfils that promise,” he added.

Okoye commended Governor Otti for setting “unprecedented standards in governance,” including his gesture of honouring accomplished Abians like Elder Eleazu for their lifelong service to humanity.

“This act aligns perfectly with the Igbo worldview of giving honour to whom it is due, showing respect, recognition, and appreciation based on merit and contributions to the common good—especially when nothing is expected in return. That is the hallmark of transcendental leadership,” he noted.

He observed that both men share a bond of mutual respect, recalling that Eleazu was among Otti’s earliest and most steadfast supporters.

“Even when some Abians were not yet convinced about candidate Alex Otti, Elder Eleazu was unwavering in his belief that Otti’s leadership would bring the long-awaited liberation of Abia from governance paralysis. Today, his faith has been vindicated,” Okoye stated.

He praised Otti’s “sterling performance in office,” asserting that Abia has witnessed more development in less than three years of Otti’s tenure than in the 24 years preceding it.

In a June 2025 interview with TheNiche newspaper, Dr. Eleazu had expressed similar sentiments:

“Since Dr. Alex Otti became governor, I have started having hope that things can change. He is simply a leader who applies what is written in the constitution using public funds for public purposes. Whatever he receives from the federation account, he manages prudently to ensure that people enjoy the benefit of good governance. That is bringing government closer to the people. Others before him brought corruption, not government.”

Describing Eleazu as “an oasis of moral rectitude in an ocean of moral decay,” Okoye extolled his incorruptibility, humility, and sense of humour, noting that his longevity is a divine reward for a life of integrity and purpose.

“In a country where life expectancy is in the lower 50s, to be 95 and still mentally alert and physically fit is a blessing from above. Yet, the essence of his life is not its longevity, but its legacy—defined by the pursuit of truth, service, and excellence,” he said.

He described Eleazu as a model of patriotism, whose unwavering belief in Nigeria’s potential and the cause of Igbo renaissance has earned him a place in the pantheon of national leadership.

Born the son of a Methodist catechist, Eleazu once aspired to be a pastor but was guided instead into academia. A brilliant scholar, he earned a first degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from King’s College, University of Durham in 1962, followed by Master’s degrees in Applied Economics (1964) and Public Administration (1965) from Durham and UCLA, respectively, before obtaining a Ph.D. in Public Administration in 1968.

After returning to Nigeria post–civil war, Eleazu served the nation in both public and private sectors, and though his presidential ambition was thwarted by money politics during the Babangida transition, he redirected his intellect toward writing and civic advocacy.

In his 2020 book, “Nigeria As I See It: Reflections on the Challenge of Leadership,” he wrote:

“It looks as if we are in a vehicle going downhill, and the driver and conductors are fighting, unable to apply the brakes—unaware that they are heading for a precipice.”

Troubled by the state of Nigeria and the neglect of Alaigbo, Eleazu co-founded Anya-Ndi-Igbo, a non-partisan organisation dedicated to equity, peace, unity, justice, and national progress, where he now serves as Chairman, Board of Trustees.

Okoye described the elder statesman from Asaga Ohafia, Abia State, as “one of the last of a vanishing breed of patriotic, honest, and compassionate Nigerians who still believe in the values of respect, justice, integrity, and responsibility.”

“At 95, Pa Eleazu remains a national icon, a mentor, and a moral compass. Anya-Ndi-Igbo celebrates our chairman, economist, policy scientist, administrator, author, and Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). We thank God for his life and pray for his continued health and strength,” Okoye concluded.