Former Imo State Attorney General (AG), Chukwuma Ume, SAN, has lauded Abia State Governor Alex Otti for appointing Benson Ojeikere, an indigene of Edo State, as the state’s Head of Service (HOS).
Ume, in a letter to the governor dated August 12th, praised the decision as a victory for meritocracy over ethnic considerations.
Ume highlighted that Ojeikere’s appointment demonstrates Otti’s commitment to prioritizing excellence in governance.
Ojeikere, who originally served as a youth corps member posted to Abia in 1999 and received an automatic employment after his service, was appointed a permanent secretary in 2023 before ascending to the HOS position.
“The appointment of Mr Benson Ojeikere… is a rare and powerful statement that the true boundaries of leadership are drawn, not by ethnicity or state of origin, but, by competence, character, and functional contributions,” Ume stated in his letter.
He added that the governor had “elevated meritocracy over mediocrity, progress over politics, and performance over parochialism.”
Ume also noted that Ojeikere’s journey exemplifies the original vision of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), where young Nigerians can contribute and thrive in any part of the country, fostering national integration and a shared sense of purpose.
