Knowing Hon. Eng. Victor Igwe Masi (A Respectable Ogba Son).

By:
Ajukura, Fidelis O.
ajukurafidelisobi@gmail.com
19th May, 2023.

Does the name Victor Igwe Masi ring a bell? Have you heard the name before? Do you know that Victor Igwe Masi is one of the most famous politicians in the history of Ogba land?

Victor Igwe Masi was born on 3rd September, 1940 into the family of Tom Nwaokwogbor Igwe of Umuimegi in Uriem kindred of Omoku, Ogba land. In 1947, Victor Masi was enrolled into St. Michaels School, Omoku where he passed out in 1954. In 1955, he got admission into Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, Nnewi and graduated in 1959. The following year, 1960, he enrolled into College of Arts, Science and Technology, Enugu. At the end of the program, he again, got admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1962 where he studied Civil Engineering. In 1966, during his Industrial Training or Attachment in the Federal Ministry of Works in Enugu, he was privileged to participate in the construction of Niger bridge and other notable projects in the country. While in Enugu, the heart and seat of government of the Igbos, Victor Masi, in order to gain acceptability chose to be known and addressed as 'Mazi' instead of 'Mmasi' of the Ogbas.

After the civil war, precisely in 1970, he engaged himself in a part-time lecturing job in College of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt till 1972.

In 1979, after floating a civil engineering company, Victor Masi ventured into politics where providence smiled at him. On the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), he, under the old Ahoada Federal Constituency won election into the Federal House of Representatives. Incidentally, Victor Masi, was appointed as Minister of Works from October of that year to January, 1983 when he was again appointed Minister of Finance, a position he held until a military coup led by Muhammadu Buhari brought the Second Republic to an abrupt end. With the coup, key politicians or political office holders were arrested and thrown into jail. Those arrested were given varying degrees of allegation. For Victor Masi, he was slammed with a seven count charge bothering on accepting bribes and kickbacks worth more than $1.87million from a company seeking the Nigerian government's guarantee for a foreign loan of $72.3million. The military also alleged that Victor Masi influenced the award of $9.87million contract to a company in which he had a 50% share. He was also accused of taking bribes from other construction companies.

It must however be noted that Victor Masi, prior to the termination of the Second Republic had made significant contributions toward development in Nigeria and Ogba land in particular. As Minister of Works, he initiated the building or construction of several bridges and tollgates across the Federation. He also initiated the idea of constructing many Federal roads as well as Federal buildings across different states of the country. Within Ogba land, he constructed the famous Ahoada road: a road that runs from Ahoada through Omoku to Egbema. In order to establish the presence of the Federal government in Omoku, he did not only influence the siting of a prison in Omoku, he began the construction of the prison along Obrikom road close to the permanent site of the Federal College of Education (Technical). Similarly, he influenced the siting of Federal College of Education (Technical) in Omoku. During his tenure as Finance Minister, he conceived and implemented the 1.5% derivation fund for oil producing communities. Within this period, he established limits for foreign loans for Federal and State governments among others. Within the period, he influenced the establishment of United Bank for Africa Limited, (UBA) in Omoku.

After he was released from detention by Ibrahim Babangida, the new military leader, he steered clear from politics and went into private practice by fully activating his engineering firm, Mangrove Engineering Company. Although, within this period, he had received appointments in the State and also earned national and international awards. In 2003, he passed on to the great beyond after a brief illness.

Victor Masi, during his lifetime was an admirable colossus. He was a philanthropist of a towering height. The people loved him because of his untiring love and dedication towards the growth and development of Ogba land especially, Omoku. Whenever he visits home, his house becomes a pilgrimage site of some sort; individuals and groups rushed to greet him in order to be blessed with cash gift while others go to catch a glimpse of his much talked about gigantic mansion where cars are parked upstairs. To the people, it was difficult to explain how a car could climb staircase: such a shocking spectacle had generated heated arguments among the people.

Victor Masi was indeed a blessing to Ogba land. Although, he is gone but his good works still speak for him.