.LAUDS TINUBU, UZODIMMA ACHIEVEMENTS
A Frontline Governorship contender in Imo State, come 2027, Dr. Ejike Chukwu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Megadrill Nigeria Limited and Founder of Ejike Chukwu Foundation, on Saturday, June 27th 2026, reeled out his good Governance intent, if given the mandate to become Governor of the State.
Chukwu made this revelation at an interactive Forum, organized by the people of Egbema, as convened by the President of Egbema Think Thank Group, Barr. Prince O. Nwadibia, held at Mmahu, Ohaji Egbema Local Government Headquarters in Imo State.
Setting the ball rolling at the indepth interactive Forum, Dr. Ejike Chukwu stated thus: “Egbema people have the highest contribution as an entity to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is to say that Egbema people have the highest contribution of natural resources to the nation. Being an entity as a Local Government, Egbema has the highest deposit of Gas in the whole of West Africa, as well as Oil, with Oil Companies everywhere in the area.”
Continuing, he said: “But look at the hall we are using today. This is the best hall you can find in our place. It took me almost 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours, to drive from Owerri, the Imo State Capital, down to the Headquarters of Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area, which should not take more than 20 to 25 minutes for me to get here, but it took me close to 2 hours, due to bad roads.”
Furthering, Dr. Ejike Chukwu stated: “I want Government to understand the process the people they are using their resources are passing through. We are using generator to power this event. If you step out here, you will see the kind of generator we are using to power this function. But we are from a place where our natural resources are being used to power this country and to power countries around Nigeria.
“Egbema and Ohaji Egbema should be pitied by the ruling class and I am sure they don’t know the extent of suffering by people from this area. They divided us, Egbema people and put part of us in Rivers State and put part of us in Imo State. But take a look at what we have here, almost all the Oil Companies in Nigeria, starting from Seplat to the rest of them are here. But our roads are not done. Our people are living in abject poverty. This meeting is not for protest. It is a meeting for us to put our heads together to discuss for the good of an Egbema man; for the good of Ohaji Egbema; for the good of the people who are contributing so much for the development of this country but they are being forgotten.
Our brother and Father Chief Mike Okiro, at the level he has attained in the nation as a retired Inspector General of the Nigeria Police knows the pains of our people and he has come to lend his support to the discourse. We are not quarreling with Government but truly we are complaining. We are not happy with the state of our people in Egbema and Ohaji Egbema as a whole; even in Egbema in Rivers State. You barely find our people in strategic leadership positions everywhere in the country.”
Coming to his intent of good governance, Dr. Ejike hinted thus: “So, having said that, it is interesting I say that I came out to run for Governorship of Imo State and I ran for the position under a very not too known African Democratic Congress (ADC) at that time and I made sure that I was in the ballot. We did all we could do but you know elections are not won just like that. Elections are won when you contest under a very strong umbrella.
“So, today, I am still with the ambition to rescue our people; to give a voice to our people and also to help change the status quo among people of this region and the entire Imo State. I am still in the All Progressives Congress (APC). In fact APC is the ruling party in Nigeria. I am not just a politician who is looking for what to eat or for what to get for himself. I am looking for what our people can be affected with because a man that has no resources, a man that has no food cannot do much.
“But if we have 1,000 people today that are in different positions in Government, it won’t be like this and that is one of the things that prompted me to say let me seek for position of power because without power you can’t change the people. With money you can change a few. You can affect your family and affect people around you but with power you can change a people, a State, a Nation.
Drawing attention of Government to the plight of his people and region, Ejike Chukwu beckoned: “I want to call on Mr. President to look at the situation of our people from here because it will be difficult for him to know the situation around our home. You might not know Mr. President and I know you are a pragmatic leader that hears the cry of your people. Please look into something that has to do with our place that is hosting Asa Gas; that is hosting several Oil Companies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
“I am calling on you the Governor of Imo State, the Governor of Rivers State to please direct some meaningful developments to our place. Our people are suffering. We don’t need to be violent but we are using this opportunity to call on Government of Nigeria, Imo State and Rivers State to involve our people. Give our people appointments. There are qualified people from our place. You don’t need to give me. Give our people.
“Having said this, I want to tell Egbema and Ohaji people that we need to stay where the light is and not opposition but rather the political party that is ruling, that is the All Progressives Congress (APC). On that note, I want us to be together on whom to send to represent us. Egbema and Ohaji Egbema must have one voice to send very responsible people to place of power; to place of representation. We have to come together to push our people to power.”
Fielding questions from journalists at the end of the event, Ejike Chukwu opined: “There is need to connect the initiatives of Mr. President with the people. That is the missing link. So much has been done at the Federal Capital Territory and all over the place. When somebody has done well to some extent, we commend him.
“I take out time to advise the President and the Government to close the missing link with the people because it is not that they are not working but there is need for connection between the suffering masses and the initiatives of the President and the Government. There is, therefore, need to do something to make sure that the poor masses feel the impact of what the Government is doing. To address this issue, publications of what we can do are in various online platforms and other media outlets. The Editor of The Onion Newspaper who is here now can bear me out.”
In a citation to introduce him for his talk, the Master of Ceremony, while reading out his profile stated thus: “Dr. Ejike Chukwu is a trained Accountant by Profession, and an accomplished visionary leader. As a seasoned Accountant, business strategist, and Oil magnet, Dr. Ejike Chukwu has built an outstanding career spanning decades of excellence, discipline and innovation.
“As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Megadrill Nigeria Limited, he has made remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s Oil and Gas industry, creating opportunities, mentoring young professionals, and strengthening indigenous participation in the energy sector.
“Beyond business, he is widely celebrated for his humanitarian heart through the Ejike Chukwu Foundation, a platform through which he has transformed lives by empowering widows, supporting the less privileged, promoting education, and driving impactful community-based interventions across Imo State and beyond.”
Several dignitaries across Imo State and Egbema of Rivers State, including the retired Police Inspector General Chief Mike Okiro, traditional rulers, Church leaders, Youth and Women Leaders, graced the occasion.
