By Paul Nwosu
Prince Arthur Eze was in fine fettle at his 75th Birthday Ceremony organized by the Anambra State Government at Emmaus House, Awka on Monday, November 27, 2023. Clad in his trademark all-white gear, the inimitable philanthropist and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atlas Oranto Petroleum Limited, Prince Arthur Eze shook up the elements when he announced a donation of the sum of 5 Billion Naira to the Anambra State Government as his contribution toward mitigating the hardship in the country among citizens of the state.
Prince Arthur Eze also doled out N100 Million each to the Catholic Church, the Anglicans and the Methodists.
The crowd at Emmaus House was so massive that Prince Arthur Eze confessed that he had never ever seen such a large audience gathering to celebrate him.
The oil magnet extolled the virtues of the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, stressing that he was happy handing over the N5 Billion for him to handle because “he is a careful man who would know how best to utilize it.”
Prince Arthur Eze urged Ndi-Anambra to support Soludo to govern Anambra State for eight years “because he has been chosen by God, and anybody who fights against a man chosen by God is fighting God.”
As if roused by the words of Prince Arthur Eze, the mammoth crowd of the poor and downtrodden started singing the praise of Governor Soludo as “Governor umu-ogbenye”, that is, “Governor of the poor and downtrodden people.”
The donation of N5 Billion to the Anambra State government is without question a distinctive demonstration of Prince Arthur Ezes unwavering commitment to improving the lives of his beloved Anambra people through his wealth and resources.
According to Achor Isotonu, a renowned public affairs analyst, “Prince Arthur Ezes legacy as a philanthropist and uncommon trailblazer in the African oil and gas industry will continue to inspire many for years to come.”
Born on November 27, 1948 into the Eze royal family of Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Prince Arthur Eze is the CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, the largest privately-owned petroleum exploration and production company in Nigeria.
Governor Soludo extolled Prince Arthur Eze for “his acts of charity and philanthropy which he began since time immemorial till now.” Soludo hailed Prince Arthur Eze with his title of Ozo-Igbo-Ndu and stressed: “Prince Engr. Dr. Arthur Eze has just had his platinum birthday and we decided that the more auspicious occasion to celebrate this is to celebrate him with the very people for whom he has lived much of his life for, and that is the vulnerable, those in need, the person with disabilities and the elderly. In the spirit of our APGA-led government that has one slogan which is leaving no-one behind, my main mission on earth is to do the work of God which is ensuring that our administration takes care of special persons who are in need of our care and love. Ozo-Igbo-Ndu, you have lived a life of charity and philanthropy all your life and it is special that we should celebrate you!”
Prince Arthur Eze duly acknowledged that he has not had such an amazing treat and show of love since all his life, stating: “I am very happy to be here. I have never seen this type of thing in my life, I have been struggling to keep back my tears, and I never knew this type thing will happen in my life time”. He then addressed Mr. Governor pointedly thus: Soludo, the God that created you is a great God. The first time I met you inside Okada Air, you were reading Bible. I knew that God was taking you somewhere. That was before you became Governor of Central Bank, and now you are the Governor of Anambra State. What I want to ask Ndi-Anambra now is, at the right time, they should vote for Soludo to complete his 8 years. It was God that gave him. Don’t fight him or you will be fighting God.
Prince Arthur Eze reiterated that its only Soludo who has the mastery of resource management of how to distribute wealth to impact positively even to the abandoned in our society.
SIR PAUL NWOSU
Commissioner for Information
Anambra State
