“Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it.”-Oliver Cromwell to his portrait painter.
A shrewd businessman. A rugged politician. A bourgeoning intellectual. These three identities converge on, circumscribe and define the Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume singular entity. The identities seized different intersections to crystallize in the definition and consummation of the man whose life and times, so far, have been quite remarkably awe-inspiring.
A proper deconstruction of the Araraume persona and the vagaries of his existential trajectory would show that whereas there is the hand of God in all he does, he has continued to embrace some deliberateness in the pursuit of his life’s goals. Where, perhaps, this deliberateness has found anchorage or vast expression is in business where he started out before venturing into politics, then academics.
He realized early in life that money plays a critical role in the pursuit and realization of plans, programmes and projects. And, so he was strategic about business and ensured that he gradually and incrementally built a solid business structure, pervasive network and then a unique public brand. Whereas, as of today, Araraume is into a multiplicity of solid and productive businesses within and outside the country, which speaks to the pervasive nature of his business interests, it is in the arena of merchandising that his identity is most profoundly located.
His chain of supermarkets-Exclusive Stores-provides the essential validation. Politics would then closely kick in. The business of politics needs a war chest for sustainability, otherwise, the levers of political control of followership would become slippery and ineffectual. With his over four decades of his successful business, investing restlessly in different areas, Araraume has been able to fund a solid political structure in his home state of Imo that presently enjoys a clearly defined direction and goal: to get an opportunity to provide leadership in the state, having once provided quality representation as senator for his constituents in Imo North from 1999 to 2007.
Although, his protracted quest to be governor had, up till as recent as the 2019 governorship election, which he ran on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), suffered some setbacks, the belief in his political camp is that Araraume carries with him the political destiny of Imo people for a certain kind of utilitarian and transformational leadership that would change the governance narrative in Imo. It is evidently on the basis of that belief that his Destiny Organisation operates in the political ecosystem of Imo State. Araraume, as a prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is sagacious enough to plot his plots and plan his plans in contending with the rising complexities in the politics of ultimate control and dominance in the state through the governorship instrumentality. Does he still have his eye on the governorship? The answer is, either, perhaps, blowing in the air or resting quietly in the womb of time.
But in Araraume is a man with an unquenchable passion for political crusading. He had, in the bid to become governor for instance in 2007, taken on President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was opposed to his candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party. His mandate, vigorously secured at the repeated primary elections, was stolen by a presidential fiat. He went to court to retrieve it to the anger of Obasanjo who resorted to anti-party activity by ensuring that the governorship election was rigged in favour of Ikedi Ohakim, a candidate of largely unknown PPA. And that was after the first ballot evidently won by Araraume had to be cancelled for a rerun. Since then, Araraume has remained undaunted in his belief that destiny has a leadership role in Imo quietly waiting for him in the womb of time.
Indeed, in the pursuit of his political goal, his triple identities have been reinforcing one another. With his thriving business empire consistently bolstering his ever-expanding war chest, his politics has continued to enjoy relevance, association and validation by his numerous loyalists and supporters. And in between business and politics, Araraume has found time to expand the frontiers of knowledge by enrolling for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme at the Nile University in Abuja. In a milieu where nonentities have been thrust on to political leadership, anyhow, and thus messing up governance, especially as it is being witnessed in Imo State presently, it is a clear indication that Araraume is set to provide a rounded leadership that meets and satisfies all requirements.
The political voyage of Araraume, who was born on 16 December, 1958 at Isiebu, Umuduru in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, continues. He had begun his educational career at the Saint Christopher Primary School, Umuluwe, Ajirija in Isiala Mbano, Imo State. Consequent upon the successful completion of his primary school education, he had enrolled at the Sapele Technical College, now in Delta State. He would later proceed to the prestigious Dick Tiger Memorial Secondary School, Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, where he successfully completed his Secondary School education.
After the completion of his Secondary School education, he proceeded to the Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States of America where he bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.SC) Degree in Business Administration. He later obtained a Masters Science Degree (M.SC) in International Relations from the University of Benin, Nigeria.
As stated supra about his passion for business, after acquiring appreciable education, Araraume had gone into private business, becoming astute in the field. For those asking questions about who Araraume is and what makes him thick, these would interest them: he is a big-time employer of labour with interests in Real Estate, Insurance, Retail Trade and Construction. He is the Chairman of Exclusive Stores Limited, Climax Insurance Brokers Ltd, Harmony Properties Limited and a one-time Director, defunct Inland Bank Plc (now part of FCMB) among others.
On the political terrain, in which his effects had earlier in the piece been adumbrated, it will be interesting to offer a full disclosure of his voyage and participation in politics: he was the pioneer State Chairman of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP); later ANPP in Imo State from 1998 – 1999. State Treasurer, Liberal Convention in old Imo State from 1988 – 1989, Member, National Finance Committee of the National Republican Convention (NRC) from 1990 – 1993, Chairman, NRC Presidential Primaries for Kwara and Delta States. He was elected into the Senate in 1999 and re-elected in 2003.
While in the Senate, he was: Chairman, Senate Committee on Power and Steel and the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Senate committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Chairman, Public Hearing Committee for South-West zone on amendments to the 1999 Constitution.
He was the Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum and a member of the National Assembly Joint Constitution Review Committee (JCRC); member, Senate committee on Petroleum Resources, Works, Finance and Appropriation. Senator Araraume also held the Chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.
Araraume is a member of the Institute of Chartered Insurance, London; Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture; and Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). He was appointed as National Commissioner on the Board of Nigerian Communications Commission Representing South East Zone by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR in 2016 till he voluntarily resigned in 2019 to contest in the governorship election in Imo State.
Araraume is a Fellow, Institute of Sales Management of Nigeria (FNISM); Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration (FICA); he has Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria (Hon. FICA); he is World Figure of outstanding Leadership, Honesty and Human qualities of Internal Auditors of Nigeria (WFLHQ), Patron, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Grand Achiever, Field of Science, Faculty of Science Students Association, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife (GAFS); Recipient, Justice of Peace; Award for outstanding performance by the Umuduru Development Union, Lagos Branch; Award for Excellent performance by the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM)’ Award for Democracy and good governance by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council; Best Serving Senator of the South East (2003 – 2007) award by Encomium Magazine.
While in the Senate, he garnered some accomplishments, including fashioning and presenting the Presidential Library Bill in the Senate; fashioning and presenting the Bill for the Establishment of Coastal Guards and arming of Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); participating in the resolution of some of the major political, ethnic and religious conflicts in the Country particularly in the Niger Delta between 1999 and 2007; advising the Senate severally on the adoption of the Legislative Approach to conflict resolution; participating in several fora both locally and internationally to press for the cancellation of Nigeria’s foreign debts by Creditor Nations; acting as a key member of a group of Legislators who worked and implemented strategies for harmony between the Legislature and the Executive; participating in the passage of major bills, ratification of treaties and agreement by the Senate between 1999 and 2007; participating in Local and International Workshops/Seminars on parliamentary practice and procedures; participating actively in the conception and passage of the Bill that gave birth to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and playing a major role in the inclusion of Imo and Abia States in NDDC.
He holds the traditional titles of Ugwumba Okigwe; Chinyereugo of Amandugba, Orlu; Ohamadike of Ngor-Okpala; and Ugwumba Mbano. A man of many parts, Araraume is the Life Patron of Catholic Men’s Organization, Okigwe Diocese in Imo State and Knight of Saint John International; he has in his kitty, award of Exemplary Catholic Man of Honour by Catholic Men Organisation, Our Lady Queen of Nigeria, PRO Cathedral Abuja; and award of A Church Builder by The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Okigwe Diocese. He is a member of the Ikoyi Club, Lagos, Benin Country Club, IBB Golf Club and the Owerri Sports Club.
A good family man, who together with his wife, Barr. Lolo Gladys, has disciplined children, Araraume is in court with President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking to preserve his name and/or integrity that his alleged illegal removal, without reasons adduced, by the President, as non-executive chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) is likely to dent or tarnish. It is a courageous quest for justice and obligatory compliance with provisions of statutory laws and regulations by relevant authorities in administering the Company and Allied matters Act (CAMA)-regulated company that NNPC Limited has become. While waiting for the outcome of the matter in court, this is whishing Senator Araraume a happy buffday!
● Ojeifo contributed this piece via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com
