Toby Okechukwu: Toast to a legislative, administrative enigma at 62

Call him the astute administrator, veteran legislator, ebullient personality or a logical Colossus, you will still be right in describing who the man, the Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, a former Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of the Green Chamber is.

To prepare himself adequately in the demanding world where ideas and knowledge are the propelling forces, the Rt. Hon. Okechukwu earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Literary Studies from the prestigious University of Calabar (1982-1986).

In a bid to further widen his horizon to grapple with the ever-changing society, the veteran parliamentarian went ahead to acquire a PGD & MBA from the then Anambra State University of Technology (1988-1991), an LL.B from the University of Lagos (1994-2000) and B.L. from the Nigerian Law School (2001).

Still insatiable with knowledge, he attended Executive programmes in John Hopkins University and London School of Economics, and MSc in Policy Analysis with PhD in view at the University of Abuja, Nigeria.

While there is always a craze for government job where security and stability are assured, “Iyi Eri Oba” as he is fondly called, took a different dimension and started a career in private sector.

Thus, he joined Fung Tai Engineering Co. Ltd in 1991 as a Business Development Manager and was later the General Manager. The company firmly and steadily asserted its competence in engineering and construction with specialty in oil and gas, as well as underwater and dredging works.

The burning desire to serve his people at a larger scale and to be in a position to attract development to his immediate society and beyond catapulted Okechukwu into politics.

He was the Special Adviser in Economy to former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, where he coordinated the senator’s many interventions and projects in the Enugu West Senatorial District, Enugu State, and the South East. It was an ample opportunity to be grounded in national politics and to learn the rudiments of the legislature.

He was elected thrice into the House of Representatives as a member of the the 7th, 8th and 9th National Assembly, representing the great people of Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency of Enugu State on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While in the House of Representatives, Toby as the gold fish without a hiding place, proved his mettle. The reward for hard work being more work, he was made the Chairman, House Committee on Works in the 8th House of Representatives and capped it up as Deputy Minority Leader of the 9th House of Representatives.

Toby was not found wanting in the discharge of his function as a lawmaker, resting on the tripod of – Lawmaking, Oversight and Representation. On this account, he was instrumental to the reconstruction of the Second Niger Bridge and the expansion of the road network in Nigeria.

As Chairman, House Committee on Works of the 8th National Assembly, he demonstrated quality leadership and sponsored various infrastructure transformational motions and bills including: Need to Ensure Speedy Rehabilitation of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; Need to Investigate the Claims by State Governments of Expenditures Incurred on the Rehabilitation of Federal Roads in their States; Federal Roads Bill, 2020; National Roads Fund Bill, 2020; Engineers (Registration, Etc) Act Amendment Bill, 2017, which empowers COREN to oversight companies engaged in engineering jobs, discipline and prosecute quacks practicing engineering in Nigeria, amongst other objectives.

Other legislative interventions undertaken by Hon. Toby Okechukwu include: Need to Avert Humanitarian and Security Crises Due to the Conditions of Onitsha-Owerri and Enugu-Onitsha Federal Highways; Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria Act Amendment Bill, 2017; South East Development Commission Establishment Bill, 2017; Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu, Bill 2011; Federal University of Health, Sciences and Technology, Enugu (Establishment) Bill, 2021, amongst others.

It is written on the sands of time that as the Deputy opposition leader of the House, Okechukwu did not disappoint his colleagues in the Minority Caucus and Nigerians in demanding accountability from the executive and ensuring the business of lawmaking was done in line with the best standards.

Some of the stances was during the consideration of clause 52 in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, which led to altercations among the lawmakers. The then Deputy Minority Leader had moved a motion that voting, accreditation, and transmission of results shall be done electronically, contrary to what was stipulated in that Section that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the discretion to adopt electronic voting or any other method of voting in any election it conducts as it may deem fit.

Also at consideration of the report on the controversial Twitter ban report, he stated categorically that the committee had not done a prudent work on uncovering the reason behind the decision of the Federal Government to suspend the operation of micro-blogging company, Twitter in the country indefinitely.

The then Deputy Minority Leader was equally right on track in representation via interventions to his constituency. Some of them include, “Payment of WAEC registration fees for students for 2019/2020, 2020/2021, Rehabilitation and building of classroom blocks, Provision of street light, youth empowerment and assistance to the less privileged people including women, Provision of palliatives to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown, Provision of solar powered borehole in various locations such as Obune Inyi, Oji River LGA, Empowerment training of 200 persons in Fish Value Chain Aquaculture, Construction and rehabilitation of several roads in his constituency.”

Toby appeared unencumbered with legislative duties, especially as a Principal Officer of the House as he maintained his scholarly and intellectual bearing as he co-authored a book titled: “Reflections on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy 1960-2020 while remaining active as a member of several professional bodies – Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Infrastructure Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Nigerian Society of Engineers.

When many believed it was over for Okechukwu on the legislative turf, another opportunity presented itself and the enigma who is ever willing to serve, grabbed it.

This time not as a lawmaker but manager of the next most powerful offices in the House of Representatives as he became the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

The Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria is a key administrative position responsible for assisting the Deputy Speaker of the House in managing administrative affairs, coordinating activities, and facilitating communication within the office and with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

Acronymed CoS, Toby, also bestowed with the chieftaincy title, Otuogbajie(Goal-getter), for his capacity to deliver on development needs and targets, serves as the most effective aide or most dedicated officer, who works the closest with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and also the clearing house for all politically-related tasks.

At his 61st birthday last year, the Deputy Speaker, Kalu eulogized Toby Okechukwu, describing him as a legislator par excellence and a big brother.

“When the Speaker saw him, he said if I knew he was going to accept I would have been the first to come for him. Okechukwu is a brother to me and I have always admired his work. I’m very proud and honoured that he agreed to be my Chief of Staff,” the Deputy Speaker, Kalu said.

In the past one year, Hon. Toby Okechukwu (Iyi Eri Oba) has been executing his functions as the CoS with equanimity and touch of excellence, even at 62, proving that as the proverbial wine, the older the sweeter!!!!! Happy Birthday Sir!!!!

Udora Orizu writes from Abuja