Succour may have finally come the way of Mr Osita Chukwuogba, who’s suffering genetic chromosome 21 disorder popularly known as ‘Down syndrome’, as a philanthropist and the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election in Enugu state, Prince Gilbert Chikwado Chukwunta, have provided him with shelter.
The house which is a two-bedroom bungalow was built by the philanthropist on Osita’s family land at Ameabo, Eziama Obeagu in Awgu local government area of the state.
According to community sources, the APC chieftain started building the house for Osita last year December when he learnt that some land grabbers unjustly tried to encroach on the land.
Speaking during the official commissioning and opening ceremony of the completed building on Saturday, Chief Chukwunta stated that what motivated him to extend a hand of assistance to the late Lewis Chukwuogba family was his compassion for humanity, especially to the vulnerable and less-privileged in the society.
He said: “I’ll say that God started it. He initiated it because God gave that spirit in me. From childhood, I’ve been a person who has a lot of compassion for my fellow human beings and it was God that created me that way. I’m only but a vessel.
“Having seen the kind of condition of Osita as you can evaluate yourself, what actually motivated me is out of compassion. He(Osita) cannot do it and he needed shelter over his head. As no one is there to do it for him, maybe if I tell you his background, you’ll also be moved emotionally.”
“Also, I have to do it, coupled with the fact that the land here was in contest. Somebody wanted to take away his land, knowing whom he is and where he is coming from, he still want to take his land. It was on that process that I got to know of the situation. I have to quickly intervene. I asked Osita: ‘where’s the land? Do you have this land?’ and he said ‘I have it but they are trying to collect it from me.’ I asked him to show me the land. And when I investigated, I discovered that the land actually belonged to his late father. So I vowed nobody will take away the land from him. I have to quickly start building for Osita and today, we have all seen what became of it.
“Everything I did for Osita was based on humanity. I have no biological link with him but the first thing I considered was that he’s a human. I will do it again and again if I have the opportunity. I want to live a life of charity because God really touched my life.”
Rev. Fr. Simeon Umah of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Obeagu, who prayed at the opening of the building, in his remarks, called on other well-meaning individuals in Obeagu community to cultivate the habit of rendering assistance to the less-privileged as Chukwunta has done.
“It is my desire that our people learn from this for Jesus Christ when he came into the world, he said: ‘I have left an example for you to follow. Jesus also gave good examples for the people around us, the people in the world and the Christians to follow to help the poor. Jesus never abandoned the poor even when he died. I believe that what Chikwado has done, is a very good example which people of our community should emulate,” the cleric said.
The national coordinator of the South East APC Presidency Project 2023, Dr. Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu, who was present at the occasion, stressed the need for members of the community to continue to support their illustrious son, Chukwunta to get to a position of authority, adding that he would continue to assist them.
Chukwunta’s media aide, Chidi Ozoemena, noted that the generous nature of his principal has continued to put smiles and endeared him to the people of his community.
He said: “Let me use this medium to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency Prince Gilbert Chikwado Chukwunta, the Ezeomeogo 1 for his kind gestures towards humanity. He has continued to put smiles on the faces of the masses, more so the less privileged in the society.
“It, therefore, didn’t come to me as a surprise on why the people gave him the title ‘Ezeomeogo 1’. He has helped a lot of people to start up businesses, he has given scholarship to a lot of people, he has purchased cars to a whole lot of people. This is not the first time he is building a house for the less privileged. I am so happy that he built a house for Mr Osita who is a special person without expecting anything in return. May God continue to bless him.”
Expressing their gratitude, the beneficiary, Osita Chukwuogba and his younger brother, Ogbuefi Ifeanyi Chukwuani, thanked the philanthropist for remembering their family.
Chukwuani disclosed that before the house was built, Osita wandered from one place to another in search of shelter and accommodation, saying that it has come to an end.
“Our hearts are filled with joy over this kind gesture. We really appreciate what His Excellency, Hon. Chikwado Chukwunta has done in our family. It is great and it is only God that will reward him.
“Before now, Osita has been without shelter. He has been squatting in many homes but as you can see today, things has changed. Through the mercy of God, the condition has changed.
“Chief Chikwado is a good leader and a philanthropist who has been giving out to a lot of people, buying and giving people cars, upgrading people’s lives. He has done so many things for the people.
“This has laid a very good and solid foundation because with this, other things will follow. We pray that God will continue to lift him more higher than he is,” they said.
Members of the Obeagu community, comprising of men and women from various settlements, were seen singing and dancing in appreciation for the kind gesture.
