It is no easy task for a personality of the year, not to talk of the most outstanding personality of the year to be chosen out of a bevy of political leaders, seasoned technocrats, eminent statesmen or corporate titans as many are duly qualified for that appellation as a result of their immeasurable contributions to the growth, development, stability and progress of the Nigerian society in all positive ramifications.
However, out of many, one must be chosen, and the criteria utilised for this selection is the time-worn ethos of Character, Integrity, Hardwork, Principle, Competence, Erudity and Sagacity which Barr. Chinedu Akubueze, The Chief of Staff to the Senate President who bagged the auspicious honour of Personality Of The Year 2024 possesses in abundance given the fact that he is one political leader who can be taken literally for his words.
Barr. Chinedu Akubueze words as the proverbial saying goes can be taken to the bank, he means what he says, and he stands by his words come rain, come shine. Indeed, Barr. Akubueze who has made his indelible mark in the legal legislative and administrative arena through his visionary, creative, dynamic and resourceful leadership persona does not suffer fools gladly for long. The surefooted political titan is not known for careless talk or idle chatter as is common with some in the political class, but once he speaks, he resonates with clear authority, clarity, brevity and matchless lucidity.
Barr Chinedu Akubueze, the Immediate past Clerk of the Senate, made history with his historical appointment as Chief of Staff to the Senate President, a career trajectory unprecedented in the annals of Nigerian and National Assembly history. Indeed, his hard-work, technical competence, unvarnished professionalism, outstanding performance and exemplary achievements came to the fore and were prime pillars that earned him both deserved appointments.
On November 2020, Barr. Chinedu Akubueze was appointed as Clerk to the House of Representatives while in May 2021, he was elevated to the position of Clerk of the Senate and in both administrative outings, he achieved a commendable degree of administrative foresight, legislative sagacity, bureaucratic ingenuity and technocratic lucidity which ensured that his staff, associates and political superiors were deeply impressed with the level of his technical output which contributed to the tremendous repositioning, restructuring, recalibration and revitalization of the respective chambers where he held forth.
Calm, comported, articulate, cerebral and sophisticated in all material particulars, a versatile Barr. Akubueze has seen it all having traversed the various continents in the world thus he has the wealth of knowledge, brevity of experience, professional savvy, academic vigour and intellectual sagacity required to push through needed reforms to recalibrate and revitalize the system as and when due.
The legislative paragon has led inexorably by example and not by precept; many of his peers and subordinates have in due time emulated his laudable character disposition which borders on trust, integrity and steadfastness.
At every point in time, you know where you stand with the erudite legislative technocrat, he is forthright, confident, unassuming, charismatic and compassionate in all material particulars. Indeed, his singular purpose of public service is to uplift the welfare and well-being of the Nigerian people and thus Barr. Akubueze relentlessly burns the midnight oil and networks incessantly to fashion out the most practicable means of delivering crucial dividends of democracy to them.
Having done wonders, in the administrative sphere, there was no option of early retirement for the legal guru who was universally renowned as Lord Denning during his undergraduate days at the Law Department of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, as the savvy Chairman of the National Assembly Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio swiftly snapped him up for appointment as his able chief of staff in February 2025.
True to form, a proactive Barr. Akubueze wasted little time in getting to grips with the situation at hand, and he has steered the high office of the Senate President gracefully and dexterously through the Senator Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghon saga and the epic passage of the Tax Reform Bills with his usual candor composure, tolerance for divergent opinions and his consistent outreach to all sides of the political divide as well as the critical civil society.
Balancing the complex nexus of the Nigerian parliamentary milieu requires a high degree of tact, diplomacy, erudition, creativity and amity, qualities which this legislative paragon has in proficient supply and his humility, sincerity, loyalty, imbued camaraderie and inherent inclusivity has endeared him to many political actors and technocratic titans irrespective of ethnic, religious or partisan affiliations.
One of the potent reasons for the extremely high regard in which Barr. Chinedu Akubueze is held among his peers is his unequalled reputation as an epitome of rectitude and integrity, a standard-bearer of truth, respect and honour who does not engage in rumour or meddlesome hearsay.
Indeed, all these sterling character traits and dispositional ethos came in to focus when a cross-section of blue chip think tanks, influential apparatchiks, civil society groups, social affairs commentariats, public policy gurus and the media punditocracy under the aegis of the National interest Forum overwhelmingly and unanimously selected Barr. Chinedu Akubueze as Personality Of The Year 2024.
To God be the Glory.
BY FOLUKE ALAKIJA OF THE CITIZENS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, MAITAMA ABUJA
