Youths must be ready topay the price for good things of life – Ogaji

BY LAJA THOMAS
Mr Bright Ogaji, the chairman of Oju Local Government of Benue State,
in this interview with reporters in Lagos, spoke on his sojourn into
politics and efforts to develop Oju.
As a successful businessman what informed your decision to join politics?
Nothing motivated me aside the fact that I desired to serve my people
and I have the zeal and the passion to do that. I have seen poverty
and I have relatively handled money even though they may not be my
personal money. I know what it means for someone to be well-fed and
one to go hungry, I know the feelings of both. I have lived like a
well-fed dog and I have lived like a hungry dog so I know what they
both mean.
Ogaji
At the time I donated some transformers to Ota community,
almosteveryone in that community saw me as a big man whereas I was
seeing myself as the poorest person. I had three generators in my
house because I can't sleep in darkness. Since I feel sleeping in
darkness is not good for me, I knew it is not good for people around
me.
The only way I can actually improve on that in their lives is to give
them transformers. Other neighbouring communities felt those people
are enjoying because they have one big man in their community. With
that I decided to reciprocate the gesture to the other communities. I
am from a background in which the poor refers tous as poor, that tells
you how poor my family was.
I grew up in a community where almost everybody is poor but when they
want to refer to the poor, they point to my immediate family. I lived
with that stigma and that was how I decided from a very tender age
that through hardwork and God's blessings,I will be rich and not just
rich I will liberate people from poverty.
I am still praying for more of Gods blessings so I can do more for óur
people. I am not into politics because I need money, infact I often
use my personal money to execute some projects in my community. I
still want to do more for people and one of the ways in which we can
affect lives positively is by participating in governance.
Why did you decide to start at the grassroots?
We all have a root and I think one of the best and practical ways to
affect lives positively is by serving my people at the grassroots.
Don't forget that a plant grows from the root and soI decided to start
from my root.
Looking at your background and present status, what is the greatest
lesson life has taught you?
The greatest lesson life has taught me which I also use in admonishing
people from time to time is that we should all be careful about our
foundation because the Bible says our foundation matters. I took a
great lesson from that and I tell people that it is only God that can
make one rich.
I tell people that no condition is permanent and for the fact that you
are from a poor family doesn't mean that you will always remain poor
and the fact that you are from a rich family is not a guarantee that
you will always be rich. We all need to work on ourselves and continue
to ask God for his blessings because it is only God that gives wealth.
Life has taught me that with God all things are possible.
What projects are embarking on to develop the council given alleged
marginalisation of the area in the past?
Let us forget about what previous administrations did or did not do. I
don't believe it is necessary for me to dabble into things that took
place before now because they are inconsequential to me. I want to
leave the office in an enviable position. I intend to embark on
massive construction of rural roads, electrification and provision of
water.
It is a pity that most of the youths nowadays are not serious and they
are not ready to embark on any profitable venture. They want all the
good thingsof life but they are not ready to pay theprice. Most youths
have turned themselves to professional beggars in the name of
politics. They gallivant from one politician's house to another
telling lies to make immediate money.
So the best thing I think of doing is to sensitize and cosciencetise
them so that their orientation about life will change.
The only weapon I can give them now doesn't end at giving them
education but let them have the understanding of life that you can
make a life without being a liability to anyone.