By Marcel Ngogbehei, has paid tribute to veteran politician and diplomat Oseloka Obaze on his 70th birthday, calling him a true statesman and a key pillar of the Obidient Movement.
Ngogbehei credited Obaze for uniting the original 14 leaders of the movement, a step that mobilized nationwide support for LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the 2023 elections. He described Obaze’s leadership as one marked by vision, integrity, and purpose.
“You brought us together not just with vision but with a rare kind of purpose and integrity,” Ngogbehei stated in a birthday message. “You didn’t just guide us. You led with humility and strategy.”
He further acknowledged Obaze as the mastermind behind the 2022 Obidient Movement and Labour Party Leadership Summit, revealing that the summit’s budget was planned and approved in Obaze’s hotel room, with financial backing secured through direct engagement with Labour Party leadership.
Reflecting on Obaze’s mentorship style, Ngogbehei shared how the elder statesman once used song lyrics to motivate and challenge the movement’s core supporters. “You didn’t just sing that song randomly. It was your way of admonishing us—to hold onto the purity of our purpose.”
Celebrating Obaze’s legacy, Ngogbehei praised his dedication to truth, nation-building, and selfless leadership, emphasizing that his impact on Nigerian politics and governance will remain timeless.
