Special to USAfrica magazine (Houston) and USAfricaonline.com, the first Africa-owned, US-based newspaper published on the Internet.
By Chido Nwangwu. Follow on X (Twitter) @Chido247
First, may God refresh your wisdom and renew your strength as you step forth into the seasoned and remarkable 70 years on July 20, 2026.You have led and served for many decades as an unappointed adviser on constitutional matters to the founding fathers, women of substance, and the young people in many cities and communities in the diaspora.
Second, you have remained, commendably, an unelected but permanent parliamentarian, historian and provocateur extraordinaire.
Third, we appreciate that you’ve not kept silent in the increasing scope of leadership failures and wholesale decades of criminal assault on the pauperized wallets and traumatized souls and senses of Nigerians. Ridiculously, Nigerians continue to witness the devaluation of life and industries. We see the overwhelmed majority of Nigerians, especially its vibrant and creative youth, remain unshaken in their commitment to prove that a Better Nigeria is still Possible!
Fifth, Mazi Benson continues to mentor a younger generation of Nigerians to take over the leadership of the purpose-challenged community and national organizations such as the Nigerian Foundation, Nzuko Umu Aro, in Houston, and several others.
Sixth, let me add that he’s not the typical Nigerian activist and community leader who speaks from three sides of his mouth!
Seventh, I think that the cascading toll of insecurity, kidnappings and escalating poverty have since combined with Nigeria’s peripatetic leadership to give its citizens this agony and madness, popularly known as DemocraZy!
Eight, permit me the privilege, as you turn 70, to Thank You — especially— for the many other actions of fraternal kindness and focus. I thank you for your very affable and grace-filled wife, Augusta! Your son, the NFL star, Ogbo (The African Hurricane) and their siblings.
I applaud your great gift of bonhomie and the iron-clad support you have shown to me since my teenage years in our great city of Aba, to my family, and our shared lineage!
*Dr. Nwangwu is the Founder & Publisher of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com, established USAfrica in 1993 in Houston. He is the author of the forthcoming book, MLK, Mandela & Achebe: Power, Leadership and Identity, and has appeared severally as an analyst on CNN, Al-Jazeera, VOA, SkyNews, SABC, and other platforms. @Chidö247 – #TheAuthoritativeLink
