It’s no more news that Ekoli Community has been bewildered with various crises bothering on leadership instability and communal crisis.
In this interview with Eze Sampson, the president of Ekoli Band Of Hope Union (EBHU) Engr. Samuel Kalu Ama Mba bares it all from why he took the bulls decision, the process, acceptability of his emergence, present challenges to his dream for Ekoli Edda as a community.
Enjoy!
Can we know you please?
My name is Samuel Kalu Ama Mba, I am from Ezi Ali Ugwuelu Ekolli edda, as well as onye Ibe amala matrilineal family. Thanks.
By your countenance, you seem to be very excited, could your new office be part of the reason for that glow on your face?
Thank you very much for the warm compliment. Naturally I am a very warm person. In fact there’s this popular slogan even in the office in anywhere I used to tell people that “I can’t stop laughing”. So that’s it!
I am presently the national president of Ekoli Band of Hope Union, so if that’s why you wanted to know the reason why I’m laughing, it’s part of it but not entirely.
Thank you sir, your name became prominent in Ekoli during the electricity restoration project, how did you transcend from electricity committee chairman to the national President of Ekoli Band of Hope Union?
That’s an interesting question, I don’t want to bore you with the stories behind my becoming Ekoli electricity chairman.
Cuts in….We would be glad to know
But the fact remains that I was driven by man passion for excellence and delivery.
First, that project was more of technical and being a technical person I saw that as an opportunity to apply my experience from that industry to make sure that we have electricity in my community.
So, it was an interesting moment, with a lot of experiences. First and foremost I was happy on the support I got from people, I was also happy on the level of enthusiasm I discovered from Ekoli people generally, that was what actually propelled me to make myself available for any other future opportunity to serve the community.
Then during my time in the electricity, it became clear to me that what the community needed was someone who is transparent, someone who is accountable, and someone they can actually connect with, so when I saw that the appetite to make myself more available increased. So when the gap in Ekoli Band of Hope Union presented itself, I just felt it was time for me to also present myself, I am also happy about the successes recorded.
When I was appointed as Ekoli Band of Hope Union Caretaker Committee Chairman, to put it straight I was happy at that opportunity again. I saw it that the community needed someone who is transparent and someone who can take responsibility. Whether it’s good or bad, someone needs to say yes I did this or I’m gonna do this, when I saw that, that was why I accepted the position to be the National President of Ekoli Band Of Hope Union.
You accepted to be a caretaker Committee Chairman?
Yes!
Ok, when you noticed what was going on, I mean the wrangling between the then leadership and Nde-Ekoli, was that the reason you said there was no need of ending it at the Caretaker Committee level?
Generally caretaker committees are temporary positions, the events leading to the formation of the caretaker committee was such that the people wanted a transparent and fair election into a substantive Ekoli band of Hope Union leadership. The community also based on their experience for whatever reason lost hope in the capacity of the then Ekoli Hand of Hope Union to organize free fair and credible elections. They came together and said there wouldn’t be any need for elections, let there be a caretaker committee everyone should calm down first then we can now plan for an election. When I look back from where we started and where we are now, I make bold to say that the caretaker committee actually achieved that. We were able to stop criminalities within the community, we were able to stop all these illegal levies in the community, and we were able to stop fighting. For the period the committee lasted and I can’t remember any fight in the community.
Which lasted for how long?
It lasted for a period of 6 months, after the 3 months I think we were granted another extension of 3 months but we didn’t finish that 3 months, I think we spent a month making it a total of 7 months altogether and when we felt that the community was ripe for an election, then we organized an election.
It was an election that was organized or conducted by de-crème dela-crème of the society. It was an election that the chairman of the committee was a professor of great repute.
What’s his name?
By name Prof. Udu Ama, he’s a deputy vice Chancellor in one the federal universities in Nigeria also a devoted Christian, it was also an election that the vice Chairman is a Ph. D and lecturer in Ebonyi State University. It was also an election that the secretary of that electoral committee is also a legal practitioner. So I can name about 5 man committee that organized the election, it was not a child’s play. In that election I contested base on my conviction to contribute my little quota to the community, so I contested, and to God be the glory I won it.
In that particular election, who did you contest against?
Ok, I contested against Mr Chibuzor Agwu, I can remember that Mr Chibuzor Agwu contested also to become the president general of Ekoli Band Of Hope Union I can remember that.
And who else, I mean was there any other person apart from Chibuzor Agwu?
Tries to remember…
…then one Mr Okoro Ibe from my own hamlet (Ugwu-Elu) also contested that election, yes I remember that. There were 3 of us that contested the election into the office of the national president.
It’s interesting, Can you say that the community Ekoli Edda has enjoyed relative peace since you became the National president?
I can say that emphatically that there’s relative peace I don’t want to say, I don’t want to say absolute peace because we are still on a journey. I can say that based on feedback, people are more relaxed now. People are speaking up more, people have that freedom now to express themselves than before. So, I am using that as k.p.i or as a yardstick to measure relative peace. So, most of the vices that people were worried about we are reducing them almost alarp i.e (as low as reasonably practicable).
Before your inroad to the town union presidency, there were various and unpredictable news of attack or the other ranging inter-state to community base attacks, can you tell us little about all that?
To be quite honest I don’t want to dwell in the past, they are all in the past now, so I am looking forward to a greater and more prosperous Ekoli of a business hub that’s where my interest is. We have learnt from what happened in the past, everybody has learnt, everybody in the community has learnt from what happened last and I think that should be enough. We have taken the lesson and making sure that the community does not slide back to where we’re coming from.
Like I said our vision and dream is a prosperous Ekoli, Ekoli that looks like a business hub where our neighbours and even states can come. Look, Ekoli is known for hospitality and we have the environment for it and that’s where my focus is.
Are you saying emphatically that there’s no single news of such incidences that usually scare people away since you took over?
Let me give an example, in August 2023 there was an incident, we organized a new yam festival tagged “BIA HA AYI JE EKOLI”, we invited all the 72 villages in Edda. We did not invite them as a community but as a village, for instance Ekoli is made up 12 villages, we invited the 12 villages and not as Ekoli, same goes to Nguzu which has 4 villages, we invited the 4 villages and we did same to others across Edda. So, I make bold to say that about 40 villages came to Ekoli, some of them have not visited Ekoli in the last 15 years and some that didn’t was on the fact that they were not sure if they come they will go back alive. But those that came are already asking us when is similar event going to happen? That’s to say that the community is already enjoying peace. People are visiting, in fact we are going back to the factory default when there was no boundary between Ekoli and her neighbours which was what it used to be, there was no boundary and nothing like this is where it stops because people were walking freely in and out, unchecked. That’s the stage we are presently.
Towards the end of 2023, there was a step you took towards reconciling Ekoli with her sister communities, what has been the result of that move?
Yes, it’s work in progress, it’s work in progress because we cannot achieve that in one day, you know these are relationships that have been stained over the years but currently our neighbours are happy with us, our neighbours are happy I can emphatically say that. People come to Ekoli without thinking or looking back, so it’s work in progress. I believe by this time next year, we have lots of initiatives we want to execute and the concept is to reengineer and cement the relationships, but like I said by this time next year everybody will be happy at the same time it might be far but all the same we believe that we have made a lot of gains to make sure that Ekoli and her sister communities are peace. If you read my inaugural speech, I made it clear that Ekoli will apologize where there’s need for apology, Ekoli will also compromise where there’s need and safe for Nde-Ekoli because we need everybody.
Ekoli cannot be an island, we also made it clear that Ekoli will negotiate where it favours both parties, if it will take negotiation to make sure that the relationship and the confident is rebuilt and we are doing just that.
Good one there, in consolidating your already made efforts to restore peace in Ekoli, what program or programs do you have as we come to the end of the year?
General laughter… I don’t want to tell you.
Just give us a tip of what to expect by this year end.
Okay, we did “Bia Ha Ayi Je Ekoli” by August during the new Yam festival, and that reminds me. I hope you know that Ekoli Band is 91 years this year?
Ohh! I am just hearing it.
Ekoli Band was formed in 1933 it should be about the oldest town union across the Naija. So, Ekoli Band is an elite town union, if you look at the history and the personalities that have ruled Ekoli Band as town union presidents.
In the likes of Prince Henry Ama Ugoji, the likes of Chief Ude Emgha Okoro, Chief Oke Williams, the likes of Ette Eni all these are men of steel in the community. These are men you can take their words to the bank. We are 91 years in existence this year is part of our celebration, we will also tell our stories. However, Ekoli Day this year is tagged “Bia Lere Ekoli”, we have lined up events upon events, we are going to organize first ever praise night on the 29th of December but before then they are other events that I wouldn’t want the press to water it down, even novelty matches with Nde Nguzu, Nde Ebunwanna with our brothers from different communities, and the arrangement is that they come to Ekoli to play and Ekoli after maybe 30 minutes of fun we will in turn go their community to have the remaining game. So such plans and arrangement are already in place.
You just laid it bare and people would be wondering; In a nutshell, what is your dream for Ekoli Edda Community?
Ok, my dream for Ekoli as Ekoli man, I grew up in Ekoli anyway. I came to Ekoli when Ekoli was booming, if you are a stubborn one you will be calm, they will bring you home and you will get sense by force. I came to Ekoli when Offia-Etiti had the best of teachers, I came to Ekoli when Ekoli had lots of retirees I mean people who have retired from civil service, you see them coming home to come and enjoy the fruits of their labour. So, the Ekoli of my dream is that same Ekoli of our forefathers dream, an inclusive Ekoli. An Ekoli that contains everybody irrespective of your believe system, irrespective of your ideology or anything you can think of. Ekoli that will be a business hub, so I am happy that in the last 48 months or thereabout Ekoli has gotten a hotel, I mean a standard hotel. I am also happy that in the last 12 months Ekoli also has it first ever bottle water factory, first ever in the history of Ekoli Edda.
And they all happening under your….cuts…
They are happening in Ekoli, what I am saying is that these are the kind of dreams I want to see in Ekoli irrespective of who is doing it. The Igboeze Hotel Ekoli people are the ones working there, the Green Spring table water Ekoli people are the ones working there. Currently someone is building, in fact I am building a filling station…
Wow!!!
…and at the same time a gas plant.
Currently I am opening a multipurpose event centre. So we are doing all that to make sure that Ekoli regains her place in committee of villages or communities in Ebonyi state and we have people with the means that will even do more.
You just mentioned the business aspect of Ekoli, your efforts as well as the effort of others, how is your leadership wooing other sons and daughters to undertake similar or invest in Ekoli like you and a few others have done?
Ok, as far as I know Ekoli has great sons and daughters in divers’ fields of endeavour but what is missing now is the assurance, to assure the investment that comes, and that is why we are trying to do everything we can to make sure the environment is safe and secured for any business to thrive. So, first and foremost is to make sure that the environment is secured. Security first and our approach to security is not confrontational. We are being proactive, we are trying to engage, to enlighten people to understand that we do not have any other community except Ekoli and we are making gains.
However we still have few exceptions, anyone that goes contrary to the rules and regulations we will hand over to the law enforcement agency, but our major strategy is to make sure we give assurance to anybody both internal investors and external investors and the community itself because business can only thrive where the environment is conducive.
In other words, your primary assignment is to expose Ekoli to the right people for possible investment?
That’s correct, that’s very correct. One of my primary assignments because I have plenty assignments…general laughter… is to make sure that the people see the need to invest in Ekoli because investment brings employment and employment will reduce criminality. If everybody is gainfully employed no matter how much, they will not be readily available in the hands of wrong persons because they are busy, either something they are looking forward at the end of the month or at the end of the day. So, it gives them that time to think responsibly, they wouldn’t give easily or cheaply to the hands of wrong persons. That’s one them.
Before our last question, what support are you getting from Nde Ekoli Ozuzu Oha, Ma Nde Ukwu Ma Nde Nta
Oh! Wow!! It’s because of support from Ekoli then I will remain the president of Ekoli Band maybe for 100 years …laughs… the support is eeehhh, the support is…. Can I get the right word to use in terms of the support? Everybody is interested now, everybody is in interested in what is going on in Ekoli. I believe the kind of support I am getting, I don’t know maybe because of me. The support is massive.
That’s very good. Lastly, this discussion wouldn’t be complete if we don’t discuss this; what is the relationship with your predecessor Dr. Uka Mba Uka?
Ok, my immediate predecessor is my brother from the same Ugwu-Elu, also my senior brother…
Cuts in… but the community leadership is not meant for the people from Ugwu-Elu alone.
…because Ugwu-Elu people are highly Experienced in leadership…laughs… in fact I can tell you a number of Ugwu-Elu people that have contributed meaningfully in the community development. So, my immediate past predecessor is my senior brother and also from Ugwu-Elu, we have a cordial relationship and private relationship. But private relationship is different from official relationship. When it comes to the community, when it comes to leadership there’s no relationship, you should not allow your personal relationship to interfere with your office.
On that note, I am at peace with anybody that supports the progress of Ekoli. But anybody that does not align with any initiative that will move Ekoli forward, it doesn’t matter who the person is, be it my brother, my sister or my mother, if you’re on the opposing side of the community, you’re on your own.
Your final words sir.
Nothing more but appreciation to as many who are in support and encouraging the peace in Ekoli. I say something that the peace of Ekoli is the peace of Edda and the crsis in Ekoli is crisis in Edda because it has ripples effect. For instance, since the crisis erupted in Ekoli it has rippled down to other parts of Edda.
There you go, what has been the response from sister communities since you emerged the president Ekoli Band of Hope Union?
Okay, you wouldn’t believe this people I never thought in my life called me to appreciate and also to encourage me, it’s unbelievable. People I wouldn’t remember in a normal circumstance, in fact some of them check on me periodically just to enquire if I am fine and I will say I am fine.
Could this be the reason you’ve been walking like an elephant?
Yeah! That’s why you see the level of confidence, you see me behaving like Obasanjo …general laughter… but the truth remains that the support from both in and outside Edda is electrifying and if I should rely on that support alone, people might even want me to stay here until only God knows. On a more serious note I prefer people to see what we are doing than to saying it.
But in all I appreciate both men and women in Ekoli, not only in Ekoli because I have great minds outside Ekoli who are particular about the peace of Ekoli because they know that the peace in Ekoli will transcend to other parts of Edda. Yes!
Kaa Sir, we deeply appreciate your time at this time.
Thank you very much.
