After surviving a brutal assassination attempt, Abia Commissioner Chaka Chukwumerije is being hailed for his courage and integrity by his brother, poet Dike Chukwumerije.
Their emotional story highlights the peril reformers face in Nigeria, where serving selflessly is often met with bullets rather than gratitude, but the mission continues.
A chilling attempt on the life of Chaka Chukwumerije, Abia State’s Commissioner for Lands, has stirred deep reflections from his brother, celebrated writer and performance poet, Dike Chukwumerije. The commissioner, alongside three others, came under fire while traveling from Okigwe to Umuahia just two nights ago. Although their car was riddled with bullets, all occupants miraculously emerged unharmed a twist Dike attributes to divine intervention.
Recounting the incident in a deeply emotional post, Dike painted a vivid picture of his brother’s journey, both physically and politically. According to him, Chaka’s appointment as a commissioner under Governor Alex Otti’s administration was not met with family expectations of material gains or favors. Rather, the only request they made of him was to uphold integrity, avoid dishonor, and remain committed to improving society.
For more than a decade, Chaka had been a loyal supporter of Governor Otti, pouring his time, resources, and energy into several election cycles even in the face of electoral setbacks and frustrations. Dike described his brother as someone who, despite political losses, always returned home with quiet dignity and restraint. This, he noted, reflects the values deeply rooted in their upbringing and region.
What initially seemed like blind loyalty to Governor Otti later made sense to Dike, especially after witnessing the remarkable transformation taking place across Abia State. He admitted to being a skeptic of political praise but acknowledged that Otti’s leadership had led to visible, commendable change, something Abians hadn’t seen in years.
Chaka, Dike said, has become fully immersed in the mission of the Otti administration, sacrificing personal and family time in service of the state’s development. “I haven’t seen my brother properly in eight months,” Dike wrote, underscoring the toll that selfless political service can take on personal relationships.
Yet, such commitment comes at a cost. In a society where integrity is often a threat to entrenched interests, genuine reformers like Chaka face not just resistance but real danger. “Unfortunately, it is people like this who are totally, selflessly committed to public service that are too often the victims of our current socio-political order,” Dike lamented, highlighting the persistent issues of nepotism, greed, and tribalism in Nigerian society.
Dike’s reflection went beyond politics it was also spiritual and philosophical. He expressed gratitude for his brother’s survival and urged that those who walk the path of righteousness continue to be shielded by divine protection. He concluded with a powerful message of courage and purpose: “Death does not scare me… When it arrives, it will find me alive, from the very core of my being. And unafraid.”
Quoting the legendary gospel singer Patty Obasi, Dike closed his tribute with the Igbo phrase, “O si mu gaba a tula ujo” translated, “Eyes forward, no fear.”
The attack on Chaka Chukwumerije may have failed, but it has reignited a broader conversation about the risks faced by those trying to change Nigeria from within those who refuse to conform, who resist the status quo, and who, despite the dangers, press on with eyes forward and no fear.
