By Chief ThankGod Ntaku
I have tried in vain to remember the particular occasion, event, or situation that brought Hon. Ezedinachi Kanu and I together. It, obviously, was not when I was in primary or secondary school, but I remember, vividly, that there was a group that was popular when I was very young, known as The Circle.
The Circle was made up of exceptionally bright, intelligent, and promising sons and daughters of Asa. Hon. Ezedinachi Kanu was one of its notable members. We craved, as very young boys then, to get close to them for recognition, self esteem, love and belongingness, obviously, in line Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. I think it was in the course of trying to get close to The Circle that I got to know Honourable Ezedinachi Kanu, who is marking his 71st birthday, today, February 1, 2026.
Ezedinachi Kanu, who was one of the male children of the first President General of Asa Improvement Union, now Asa Development Union (ADU), has his early education at Ozar Central School, and Asa Grammar School, now Asa High School. He proceeded to the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri for tertiary studies. He also attended the famous University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he obtained a degree in Education.
From the first day I got to know Kanu, I have continued to see in him a selfless and visionary man; a man of great humility, profound integrity that believes so much in hardwork and perseverance. This writer recalls a night when he was given an urgent message that needed to get to Kanu for him to travel to Abuja for an interview with the Nigeria Customs Service. Since there were no mobile phones then, he couldn’t be reached that same night, but before it was 5am, the following day, the message got to him, and he made sure he was at Abuja before midnight that same day for the interview that was scheduled for the next day. The fact that the outcome wasn’t successful, didn’t deter Kanu in his continued pursuit for a better life.
He spent some of his youthful years as a secondary school teacher with the State Government, and moved on later to join the newly established Bereton Group of Schools, a private initiative in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he continued doing what he loved so much: teaching.
The love and commitment to community development persuaded him into politics, and he became a Councillor with the Ukwa West Local Government Council in 2004. He went back into teaching thereafter, and has remained a teacher and politician till today.
Many that know Ezedinachi Kanu testify to his good nature; that believes in a classless society. Little wonder then that he is accessible to both the young and old. He relates with the young as if they were mates, and this unique character gave this writer the opportunity of getting very close to him.
It is difficult to do a commentary on Hon. Kanu without mentioning the fact that he championed the cause of an Asa man getting elected into the House of Representatives at two different times. The first was with Mr. Eze Nwoloki on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Barrister Nnadozie Okpokiri on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). It is therefore safe to conclude that these assignments he took upon himself with little resources accounted for his appointment as the Chairman of Asa Think Tank, a body inaugurated by the Asa Development Union to, among other things, ensure that an Asa man or woman is elected into the Green Chambers in 2027.
Interestingly, the look and physique of Honourable Kanu betray his age. He doesn’t look 71 at all, and I think that his various engagements, and the quality support of his amiable wife, and three University graduates, including a doctoral degree holder, do not want to give him room for aging.
Happy birthday to you, Honourable Sir. You deserve your flowers because you are a dedicated teacher, politician, mentor, and community leader of rare distinction.
Ntaku is the Chairman of Newsportal Limited.
