By Mimi Chiadikobi
An Octogenarian, and former councilor, in Anambra, Chief Silas Ejide,has urged Nigerian youths to be self-reliant through hard work and not wealth gotten from ritual acts.
He urged the politicians and the public to bring back olden days principles of apprenticeship where wealth are groomed through life standard principles and where get quick money ways are not glorified.
He urged the youths of present generation to uphold values and morals of life that promote sanity as it pays off goodness, get rich quick syndrome must be rejected.
Ejide, also urged mothers to take the business of home management seriously and develop closer links with their children to achieve good people in the society.
He said that his late wife Mary, raised their children with the olden rules of apprenticeship from home before going to larger society where they individually learned different skills to carry them on in life.
Newsmen reports that Ejide is the father of Austin Ejide, former super Eagles Goalkeeper.
He is a renowned community leader that prides in peaceful resolutions at all times since his retirement from active civil service.
He is a philanthropist who have raised many business men and graduates in his community and environs.
Ejide said that he took active participation in politics in the state as he was made a councilor by Former old Anambra governor, Chief Jim Nwobodo.
“In our time, our major aim was to put facilities in place for public use, not to enrich ourselves which is prevalent in present day politics space.
“It was a taboo to embezzle public funds, so I appeal to present politicians to use the upcoming governorship election in Anambra to rewrite the negative narrative of most politicians in the state.
“Election processes in the south East should be based on continuous marketing of the zone states to get the best in the country polity for people and base to fight a common goal for development of the geo political zone.
He said that it is needed to grant voice to the voiceless and down throdden not the other way,” he said.
He said that with coordinated political plans more democratic dividends should be recorded in this dispensation in the states of the zone especially in Anambra because good leaders have been seen in Anambra since democracy mode of leadership returned in Nigeria.
Ejide said that he witnessed old politics where truth and transparency rules and zeal to serve the public was key aim to joining politics.
“I was among the first councilors appointed by former governor Jim Nwobodo, in local government ares development in Anambra, and I did my best.
“ Having witnessed Nigerian Biafra war, I advised that fairness should be applied in voting and winning process in election matters, sharing of the common resources to avoid conflict which certainly lead to war,” he said.
However, Ejide, urged youths to desist from Culture and tradition abuse and noted that tradition is different from deity worship and ritual killings practices.
He commended Anambra governor, Prof Charles Soludo, in his efforts to sanitise the traditional worship practice in the state.
He said that government urging to stop devilish practices by some native doctor’s in the name of traditional worship is unacceptable to Igbo identity and ritual money making should be stopped with every government powers and real culture, tradition of Igbo’s respected.
All negative act must be condemned. Ritual killings and evil sacrifice are not our culture.” he said.
The octogenarian said that such act was against the core values of hardworking, honesty and diligence, in which Igbo extraction are associated with.
Newmen reports that Ejide spoke from his country home in Nneogidi, Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra, during the celebrations of his 88 birthday on Wednesday.
He was born on March 12 1937, he said, “I am happy to witness the March 12. 2025’’.
“My blessings are countless, I had 10 children, namely Ngozi, Okechukwu, Izuchukwu, Obiora, I am blessed with 26 grandchildren and lovely daughter’s in laws, I feel so fulfilled and I am grateful to God.
“God truly do not lie, he blessed me with good eye sight, all my faculties still in shape and I walk unaided,” he said.
Mrs Ngozi Ofoedu, his first child who spoke on behalf of the family described her father as a man with the fear of God who ensured that they all follow the line of putting God first in all they do.
Ofoedu said that the father’s 88 years on earth is worth been thankful to God and is characterized with philanthropy, a trait they must uphold and pray to God to keep their father longer in good health. ”We appreciate and value him so much for all he has done for us all”.
Mr Emeka Okafor a close relative described Ejide as a personality worthy of emulation and pray for more good health and longer life.End
