Date Published: 12/16/09

Christy Is More Of A Humanitarian Idol

Having read how Christy Essien-Igbokwe (The Lady of Songs) was one of the movers of the attained Littoral States’ oil derivation status and also about the Federal Road Safety Commission which received her intervention that made former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) not to merge it with the Nigeria Police, I am now with the understanding that Christy is just another humanitarian jobber. IBB’s actions on the littoral States and the FRSC at the time, I am sure was not based on sentiments as some persons try to suggest.

I have read much about Christy’s philanthropic and humanitarian gestures in the past. I remember that she, together with one time Nigeria’s Minister for Sports, late Dr. (Mrs) Simi Johnson and others formed an NGO called Essential Childcare Foundation; an NGO that took care of halfway homes for abandoned kids. I recall also that Christy during her Decade on Stage programme (1986) in conjunction with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) handled so many humanitarian activities that benefited many institutions like Rehabilitation Centre for the  Handicapped in Jada, Adamawa State; School for Deaf and Dump, Ogbete Enugu; Home for Retarded in Port Harcourt Rivers State; Plateau State Education Endowment; etc. She is just a person among those that care about avoidable human sufferings.

Suffice to say that having noted that she contributed to the economic wellbeing of her home State (Akwa Ibom) and other parts of the country the way now revealed, why was it that the present government in that State brawled instead of appreciating her? It is definitely not too late for them to make amends.

It is this same lady that President Obasanjo tried to deny her of being decorated as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) but for the intervention of some highly placed persons like Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Ufot Ekaette and Obong Victor Attah who raised alarm against Obasanjo’s evil intention. I was in the hall that day in Abuja when Obasanjo eventually decorated her and even at that, many persons in the hall murmured and uttered words that depicted her deserving more than the MFR, because some “rogues” in government were decorated with high honours at the same occasion.

Dr. Akinlu Jamiu, 164 Akilo Road, Ogba-Lagos