As Umeh Turns 52 Today ,Just Amazing

Chief Victor Umeh is the man of the moment and there was no dull moment as he celebrated 52 years old today. Enjoy 

“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice”…. Old Indian Saying.

It was Vince Lombardi who also said: “Winning is not a sometime thing, it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit.”

As the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief (Sir) Victor Umeh turns 52 on July 19, 2014, perhaps, the Old Indian saying aptly describes the expectations of Umeh’s parents when he was born, while Lombardi’s adage is a vivid description of the political colossus the APGA helmsman has turned out to be in his blissful and successful leadership of APGA.

Born on July 19, 1962, to the late Sir Innocent Ofojekwu Umeh (KSM) and Lady Elizabeth Umeh (LSM), Victor Umeh started his political tutelage right from his family. He was born into a strict Catholic family and learnt very early in life that for one to be successful, you must learn the ropes from caring parents who taught him early in life not to depend on anybody for survival.
Umeh was given two names by his parents- Chukwunonyelu (God be with you) and Victor. The two names have played major roles in his life, as seen in all his endeavours.
The story of this man might be too cumbersome for me to tell but suffice it to say that in shaping his life, Victor Umeh had a vision of where he wanted life to lead him. He branded himself a success and went all out to achieve success in all he undertook to do.

Chief Umeh showed great academic promise early in life and entered secondary school from Primary 5 which was a great feat in those days, and was admitted into the famous Bubendoff Memorial Grammar School, Adazi-Nnukwu in 1975. He graduated on top of his class in 1980 with Division One, securing 8 As and one credit in the West African School Certificate (WASC), with As also in English and Mathematics.
While in Class 5 at Bubendoff, Umeh passed JAMB and was offered a provisional admission at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to study Estate Management in 1980. When his WASC result came out, he passed in flying colours, paving way for confirmation his admission into the university. He graduated in June 1984, with B.Sc Hons in Estate Management.

During his youth service, he was lecturer at the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt between 1984 and 1985. He returned to Enugu in 1985 and engaged in the practice of his profession. Umeh, who later became a registered Estate Surveyor and Valuer, was at various times consultant to many financial institutions, companies and individuals.

He was consultant to UTC (Nig) Plc and played a leading role in the company’s restructuring and asset rationalisation programme between 2000 and 2005. He also provided consultancy services to his very good friend, Chief Innocent Chukwuma in his establishment of Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Ltd which has today become the biggest Plastic Manufacturing Company in West Africa. Umeh rose to the pinnacle of his profession when he became a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. He is also a Senior Certified Valuer of the International Real Estate Institute, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
He is also an Associate of the Rating and Valuation Association of Great Britain. Chief Umeh, a director of several companies, was a one-time member of Board of Directors of the Federal Government owned Nigeria Film Corporation, Jos.
Eulogizing him on his life achievements is not the purpose of this piece, but it is important to chronicle his political and life achievements, and his glorious political career thus far. Umeh as the National Chairman of APGA had a vision for the party, a vision that took the party to the centre of Nigeria’s political stage where Ndigbo stood up to be counted in the nation’s political history.

He fought battles, shoved off political blackmails from all angles and went ahead to register his name as the man who led his party from victory to victory in Anambra State. His first stint as a politician was in 1998, as a Founding Member of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), where he was elected State Treasurer of the party in Anambra State.
He was the Chairman of the PDP National Panel that conducted the party’s primaries to select the party’s candidates for the Local Government elections in Imo State, conducted by INEC on 5th December 1998.

He resigned from the PDP in 2001 and was part of the Progressives Team that registered APGA in 2002. He was the Party’s first National Vice Chairman, South East and later, its National Treasurer. Today, he is the National Chairman of the party, and has led the party to record numerous achievements which include election of Mr. Peter Obi for first and second terms as governor of Anambra State, the election of Rochas Okorocha as governor of Imo State, as well as winning one Senate seat, seven House of Representatives seats and 32 members of the state Houses of Assembly in Imo and Anambra states, in the 2011 general elections.

In 2013, his leadership of APGA nominated Chief Willie Obiano and got him elected in the November 2013 Governorship Election in Anambra State.
Chief Umeh, who has a very compassionate heart, derives joy when he puts a smile in the faces of other people. A Paul Harris Fellow, he is a great philanthropist. His Education Foundation has offered scholarships to many underprivileged students who have graduated, among whom is Dr. Elochukwu Afoka, the Special Assistant on Political Matters to the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, who Chief Umeh sponsored his Masters and Doctorate degree programmes in Philosophy.
programme, 120 students in both secondary and tertiary institutions. A man of his people, Umeh has been conferred with over 20 chieftaincy titles…. Ohamadike Agulu, Agunaecheibe of Nri, Dike Anagbaluizu of Abagana, Ochiagha Mbaukwu, Agbawo Dike Izu of  Neni, Okaa Omee of Umuchu, Enyimba of Ozubulu, Ojeligbo of Akwaeze, Ekwueme of Enugwu-Ukwu and Umunri, Ugodike Ndigbo of Ojoto, Osuofia Ndigbo of Igboukwu, Dike Eji Eje Mba of Awka Kingdom, Akajiugo of Nimo, Ikeoha of Isseke, Agunaechemba of Obeledu, Akunesiobike of Umuozu, Ogbatuluenyi of Awka North LGA, etc.

Victor Umeh’s priority before he leaves office as APGA National Chairman in the next eight months, is to leave the party far better than it is now.

In all he has said and done, it is obvious that Umeh’s primary objective is to ensure that APGA wins elections, to the glory and pride of Ndigbo and beyond.

After the recent Court of Appeal victory against Maxi Okwu, Umeh again demonstrated that his principal objective was to live the plans of his political father, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, to ensure that APGA took over the political space in the South-East, and win elections in the other zones of the Country.

He made it clear that he had no time to begin to take revenge on those who wished him politically dead. Umeh rather extended the proverbial olive branch to his traducers and urged them to forget their sins and join him in re-positioning APGA for the political battles ahead, particularly the 2015 general elections.

In a recent interview granted Sunday Sun, Umeh stated that his interest was for people to join APGA everywhere in Nigeria and especially in  the South-East where the Party is strongest.” Those who challenged us should know that it is all over. I have told them that APGA will not be a great party if the only thing you are contesting for is party leadership. Go and contest for elective positions. My tenure is running off in the next eight months, and I am offering myself for election now. I want to run for Senate”. Vintage Umeh!

His decision to run for senate is a design, not by him, but by the people of his zone who believe he had better things to offer them from the centre. In agreeing to run for senate, Chief Umeh believes in the challenges of office, in making his people understand that the major stake in seeking political office, is to do good, to render service.

This could be his parting gift as he celebrates his 52nd birthday. As he attains this milestone, may God, in His infinite mercies, continue to guide him in his total commitment to ensure that he leads his people to the promised land.
True to the character of his parents, Umeh is a Knight of St. John International and an Officer of the Order, with the rank of Major. Married to Lady Prisca Chinenye  Umeh, Lady Auxiliary, Knight of St. John International, they have seven children with the eldest, Chidimma, a graduate of Banking and Finance from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a Post Graduate Student at the University of Warwick, England.

Written by Stan Okeke the special assistant, media, to APGA national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh