Soludo: The “Lord Paragon” With Academic & Leadership Qualities

I’ve really never seen my Boss in his “boyish” tendencies like I did yesterday. You know the Igbo saying, “When you look at a King’s mouth and the resplendent splendor that greets his presence, you would never imagine that with the same mouth he once suckled his mother’s breast.”

Catching Soludo off guard amongst his peers and juniors, reliving moments from the 70s when they were all boys, brought back memories of the mischief, hard work, discipline, and every other juvenile exuberance. Being called his nickname “Lord Paragon” by his classmates brought a palpable feeling of nostalgia that took everyone back to what they called “the good old days.” Indeed, Soludo has become a Paragon. For many of his mates, his attributes as a school boy stood him out and left no one in doubt that Lord Paragon, who was their Senior Prefect for two academic sessions, would certainly rule his world.

As such, one can conclude that when he was referred to as a Paragon, it was in recognition of his sterling academic and leadership qualities. A moment played out in the hall, and the Senior Prefect in Soludo shone like the Northern star. The moment he was delivering his keynote address, which was a tale of reveries laced with an account of stewardship, an old boy walked into the hall dressed like a traditional ruler. Soludo paused, recognized him, and sought to know his kingdom. Then the man introduced himself as “Eze Ndi-Igbo na Bauchi.” A passive leader would have allowed that or played to the gallery. After all, an old boys’ gathering is just a social event. Fortunately, that leader is not Soludo.

The calm way he dished out a disciplined reprimand speaks to the quality of his personality is firm and assertive. “Nwokem, asiro m gi a bu na Eze Ndi Igbo ebe obuna osoro gi, ma na i buru Eze Ndi Igbo na Bauchi, once i na bata Anambra, i wu sa ya na boundary. Na Anambra anyi nwelu usoro e ji a bu Igwe or Eze.” The man proceeded to sit beside Igwe Amesi, and Soludo looked at him again and said, “Amaro kwa m ma o ruo lu gi i nodu odu na ebe afu tupu ilo ba oche afu anya.”

Even in the midst of fun and excitement, Soludo would never miss any moment to speak the truth and insist on order, no matter whose ox is gored. This is the quality of Leader under whose care Ndi Anambra have committed their now and their future.

— Mazi Ejimofor Opara.