-By Meche Oswald
“True leadership is not about titles or noise; it is about building structures that outlive storms.”
On this special day, October 2nd, as we celebrate His Excellency Ceekay Igara, we do not merely mark the birthday of an Icon. We celebrate an architect of destiny, a torchbearer of resilience, a quiet warrior whose footprints have redrawn the map of Abia State politics and strengthened the Labour Party nationally.
When you hear the name Ceekay Igara, you hear more than politics. You feel courage. You see discipline. You experience strategy. You appreciate the story of a man who has become a pillar of the Labour Party’s survival and growth, not only in Abia State but across Nigeria.
As State Chairman of the Labour Party in Abia, Ceekay Igara transformed what was mocked as a featherweight into a fortress of discipline and grassroots power. He built the structure that humbled the almighty PDP, relegated APGA, and made APC irrelevant. That was not luck, it was vision, sacrifice, and strategy. With patience, resilience, and foresight, he turned the Labour Party from a whisper into a voice, and from a voice into a roar.
Few will forget that in the build-up to the 2023 governorship election, when powerful forces sought to derail Labour’s momentum, Ceekay was offered hundreds of millions of naira to betray Dr. Alex Otti. He was also offered bulletproof cars and endless financial inducements. But like Julius Abure, the National Chairman who refused to sell out Peter Obi, Ceekay Igara rejected every temptation. He chose dignity over compromise and integrity over betrayal. To him, it was never about money or comfort; it was about Abia’s liberation and the people’s joy.
It was this record of loyalty and courage that lifted him beyond Abia politics. Elevated as Vice National Chairman of the Labour Party (South East), his voice became the rallying force for Labour across the region. In every storm, he proved himself the steady hand, balancing firmness with wisdom, never bending to the lure of money or blackmail.
Today, as Chairman of the Council of State Chairmen, Ceekay Igara has risen beyond Abia and beyond the South East. He has become a national stabilizer, a unifier of factions, and a voice of balance in times when the Labour Party faces turbulence. His colleagues across Nigeria see in him what Abia already knows, a man who builds where others scatter, who steadies where others shake, who leads without shouting.
Yet, like the story of Saul and David, the very success that Ceekay labored for bred envy. The same Governor Otti whose victory he defended began to see his rising profile as a threat. And like Saul, bitterness set in, with attempts to fight him into submission. But Ceekay is not a man easily broken. He is a quiet warrior, too disciplined for petty battles, too focused on greater victories, too grounded to be shaken. He has already stamped his name in Abia’s political history, and in spite of opposition, he has only grown stronger, more respected, and more beloved, a darling of the people.
Across Nigeria, his colleagues recognize him as a man of balance, discipline, and truth. He does not bend with the wind, but he has the strength to steady the storm. He does not chase applause, yet the crowd follows his steps. He does not flaunt wealth, yet his presence commands respect.
This is the substance of his politics: discipline, loyalty, and resilience.
The dignity and hope of humanity find expression in someone who cherishes freedom and democracy passionately. It will be hard to eulogize His Excellency Ceekay Igara in a way that fully captures the essential truth of his personality, his quiet moments, and his unique qualities. I have come to accept him as one of the giants of political history in Nigeria, a man who will always fight for justice and equality.
Given the sweep of his life, the scope of his accomplishments, and the adoration he has rightly earned, Ceekay is a star yet to shine in even greater measure. He is not a bust carved in marble, he is human, flesh and blood, a husband, a father, and a friend to the oppressed.
Ceekay has paid his dues.
When we look at Abia today, we can proudly say: Thank you, Ceekay, for your sacrifices.
When we look at the Labour Party nationally, we can say: Thank you, Ceekay, for your steadfastness.
As Nigeria enters another political season, voices like his will not just be important, they will be decisive. For while others chase ambition, His Excellency Ceekay Igara builds structure. While others thrive on noise, he thrives on results. While others compromise, he holds firm to conviction.
His story is proof that leadership is not about shouting the loudest but standing the strongest. It is not about bending to every storm but standing tall until the storm passes.
Today, we celebrate a man who has fought battles both within and outside, yet has not compromised his principles and values. We celebrate a man whose legacy is already etched in the political rebirth of Abia and in the national strength of the Labour Party.
Happy Birthday to His Excellency Ceekay Igara, a leader among leaders, a warrior among men. May this new year bring you greater wisdom, deeper strength, and the fulfillment of every noble dream.
The Labour Party family, Abia State, the South East, and indeed Nigeria, are proud to call you our own.
