By Isah Ogbebor

The political landscape in Nigeria has shifted dramatically with new actors coming on board. Before the 2023 general elections, the established political parties and players held sway unchallenged for over two decades.

However, the candidacy of Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party and the Obidient movement challenged the establishment and caused a heavy political upset in many political dynasties. The political arithmetic of many gladiators failed and dynamic young actors emerged in different states in Nigeria, especially the South East. Therefore, the need for Nigerians to meet these emerging political actors is the focus of this page.

Today, we beam our searchlight on Honourable Chimaobi Sam Atu of the Labour Party. Hon. Atu was elected in the February 25, 2023 elections to represent Enugu North and South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly. He defeated a three-term incumbent, Hon. Offor Chukwuegbo, with over sixty thousand votes.

Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu is a real estate developer, industrialist and consummate politician. He was born in April 1982 to the family of Mr And Mrs Michael Nnamchi Atu of Umumba Ndiaga Ugwuaji in Enugu South Local Council of Enugu State.

He had his primary education at Community Primary School Ugwuaji. Given his sterling performance in basic science, his teachers recommended that the young dynamic Chimaobi should be sent to Special Science School Ihe, Awgu local government of Enugu State for his secondary education. It should be mentioned that Special Science School, as it were in Eastern Nigeria, was an exclusive reserve of committed primary school leavers with creative minds.

After the successful completion of his Senior Secondary School Examinations, he gained admission to study Industrial Chemistry in the prestigious Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Agbani. Chimaobi graduated with honours (BSc.) in 2006.

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During his National Youth Service in Amoye Grammar School, Ikere Ekiti, “Uncle Sam”, as he was fondly called by his students, displayed rare teaching traits. Apart from his teaching activities at Amoye Grammar School, he played a key role in social reengineering in the community. As a mentor in the community school, he inspired many who looked up to him for direction.

Shortly after Chimaobi completed his National Youth Service activities, he was employed by United Geophysical Nigeria Limited (UGNL) in Agbor, Delta State. As a staff of UGNL, he initiated many projects and led the charge in several site activities.

After gaining the requisite experience in the private sector and given his entrepreneurial drive, he resigned and moved back to Enugu to establish his own company, Chimfloxy Ideals. Since the establishment of Chimfloxy Ideals, the company has radically changed the real estate business in the South East. As the CEO, Mr Atu played a key role in ensuring that people built affordable homes in the South East.

Expectedly, the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi appointed him as an Executive Assistant (EA). After the re-election of Governor Ugwuanyi in 2019, Hon. Chimaobi was again appointed a Technical Assistant (TA). These appointments provided Mr Atu with the opportunity to serve his state with the needed panache.

As a thorough community leader, he played a critical in the establishment of the Community Policing Initiative in Ugwuaji and its environs. He was unanimously appointed the Chairman of the Initiative. During his tenure, he dealt with the growing security concerns in Ugwuaji and other adjourning communities. He received several commendations for ensuring a near-perfect security system in his community. He was also elected the Youth Leader and Secretary General of Ndiaga Ugwuaji. It is worth noting at this juncture that Atu was never a bus driver nor a vigilante as insinuated in some quarters.

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As a philanthropist, Hon. Atu initiated many projects in his native community. He was responsible for the extension of electricity to some parts of Ugwuaji where government power infrastructure did not get to. More so, Hon. Atu provides scholarships to indigent community members at both secondary and university levels. Since 2012, he has been financing the grading of community roads abandoned by the government.

In recognition of these qualities and unwavering contributions to his community and State, he was awarded a chieftaincy title in 2021. To many, the chieftaincy title only explains in part, the doggedness of a young man who braced up to the challenges of mlife and created a niche for himself. To the young men and women who have benefited from the benevolence of Chimaobi, the chieftaincy mtitle re-echoes his unflinching interest in human progress. For those in the religious circle, ‘brother’ Chima is a passionate church leader who has won souls for God.

Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu is a compassionate family man who is happily married to the love of his life, Mrs Ezinne Maureen and they are blessed with three children.

C. Isah Ogbebor, Ph.D Writes from Enugu, Nigeria

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