…Says:He was a community builder .
By Williams Odunze
An ace Journalist based in Owerri, Comrade Chidiebere Iwuoha has launched Eleazar Iwuoha Foundation in memory of his father, Eleazar Nwadike who died in 1983 while serving his people.
Comr.Iwuoha, while launching the Foundation at Saint Silas’ Anglican Church Umuduruojije Umuezeabazu Ogwa Mbaitoli LGA Imo State, said that the motive behind the Foundation is to keep alive his father’s legacies.
According to him,his father keeps on appearing in his dreams, telling him that he is not happy on how the immediate family and the entire community neglected him since his death.
The Journalist who is the Imo state Correspondent for BluePrint newspaper went down memory lane and explained how his father contributed to the development of his community.
” He brokered peace among his kinsmen, settling disputes and contributed immensely in the establishment of community hall and the Technical Secondary School in the area.
“As a Councilor he displayed honesty and fairness in discharge of his duties never compromised.
He rejected bribe offered to him by politicians who wanted his support against the wishes of the people.”he stated .
Iwuoha explained that, during his father’s active time in politics, he worked directly with the then Governor, Dee Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe who saw him as a reliable ally and was always in touch with him.
” Mbakwe was deeply pained by the death of my father and while attending his burial, promised to train us in School up to University level, but unfortunately,few months later the military struck.”he further said.
Talking about the Foundation, Iwuoha pointed out that, there are some individuals who volunteered to keep the Foundation alive among them is a former commissioner in the State, Barr.Dan Chibuzo Iwuorie who is also the BOT Chairman of the Foundation.
Iwuoha who is a member of the Imo NUJ state council led by Comr Barr Precious Nwadike and Correspondent chapel also noted that the Foundation has lined up programmes which have already kick started with the donation of 20 bags of cement to the Church in support of on going building project in the community.
The Journalist further informed that there would be other programmes including; distribution of academic materials to schools, grants to indigent widows and giving alms to beggars.