History is replete with accounts of individuals born great and those destined to be great. Such accounts are jam-packed with vivid descriptions of the interventions of such individuals to the emancipation of their people or the impact of positivity on the society. Such individuals in most cases, face distractions in form travails, challenges, among others. However, their tenacity buoyed by testimonies or vindication of and from their past deeds or actions, make the public seek them to take over their affairs as leaders, opinion moulders, etc.

His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) former Senate President, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation among other distinguished positions is definitely among such men with dates with history. One has lost count of the awards and titles bestowed on the Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi-born Iroko of Nigerian and African Politics. One award however which stood out coming on the heels of glory is the one recently bestowed on charismatic statesman: The political leadership award of the 26th edition of highly esteemed ZIK prize for leadership in Lagos.

The event organised by the board and members of the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PRAC) came on the heels of the Anyim’s declaration that he would contest the Presidency of the country in the 2023 general elections. The declaration which came at the iconic Eagles Square in Abuja during the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 30, 2021, stirred the political nest of the country, positing the grim reality that the one whom the people were truly waiting for, had heeded to their clarion call for salvation.

Anyim has offered great service to Nigeria that the people have openly demanded that he controls their affairs. A man of high integrity, credited with empowering several youths and people across various strata of the country. This is not withstanding, their various demographical distributions. Anyim despite all odds and perceived sentiments, firmly believes in one Nigeria. It is now time for the united Nigeria to pay him back.

The erdudite scholar displayed a quality which is rare in this political clime. He belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and when unauthorised posters of his presidential bid filled the social media, Anyim proved that the peoples’ belief in his integrity was no fluke. He not only dismissed the posters but opined that the time then, was not ripe for politicking in order to give the present administration at the federal level, time to concentrate on leadership. This is a character which can only be found in men who places the country above other personal interests. Unfortunately, such men are few today.

When it was however time to declare, he did it with the tact of a master and aplomb of a seer. He choose the PDP national convention in Abuja and as the party was savouring the euphoria of a successful convention, he dropped the bombshell which ‘Hiroshimaed and Nagasakied’ the nation’s political landscape. Tongues wagged, oppositions’ tempers flared, the social media was saturated and for long periods, few other news made sense, high-blood pressure was developed,…..’This man has come again’--, many wrought with fear were heard saying.

The truth and nothing but the truth remain that the man has actually come again. He has come to salvage the country, to restore sanity in a steadily distraught nation, to bring back hope, to make Nigeria great again, to secure lives and properties, to fulfil the divine Igbo presidency.

While his followers and Nigerians were licking their lips in joy and deserved hope, he gave an endearing assurance. In his speech after receiving the ZIK price for political leadership, the enigmatic father of the nation assured that he would lead the vanguard to entrench a leadership that would change the present challenges confronting the be ination to a success story.

“Such leadership must have vision and capacity, be determined and above all, be all inclusive. For Nigeria to survive and thrive in the years ahead, we must have peace at home and respect abroad. For this to be achieved, we need leaders who must connect and engage with the people especially the youths. They must be leaders who would place the youths at the centre of every nation building effort to move them from the current valley of despair to the height of potentials.

“We need leaders who can build societal consensus, repair our broken social fabrics and show deep empathy for all Nigerians suffering deprivation, poverty and want of any kind. Such leaders must be skilled in science and art of good governance. They must be visionary and ready to keep pace with contemporary social, economic and technological changes. They must be pragmatic and result-driven in dealing with security, education, health and other challenges confronting our nation,”

……Anyim Pius Anyim is such leader. The nation awaits.