By Anthony Iwuoma
Kindly share:
Monday, December 22, 2025, was unlike any other day in Imo North, otherwise known as Okigwe Senatorial Zone.
On this fateful day, Attorney Charles Onyirimba, planted joy deep into the hearts of the people with his unprecedented empowerment programme.
The Ehime Mbano born legal practitioner of international repute, spread his largesse once again across the six Local Government Areas of the zone in what has become one of the most impactful private philanthropic interventions in recent times.
In a remarkable display of compassion and commitment to humanity, Attorney Onyirimba distributed over 3,000 bags of rice, beans, yams, tomatoes, spaghetti, noodles, cash gifts, and other essential palliatives to thousands of beneficiaries drawn from communities across the six local government areas of Okigwe Zone.
The beneficiaries included widows, the elderly, vulnerable families, youth groups, churches, community leaders, and members of his Transformation Agenda Team, all of whom received support aimed at easing the burden of the Yuletide season and making Christmas celebrations more meaningful for their families.
From the moment the distribution commenced, it was evident that the outreach went far beyond material gifts. It was a powerful reaffirmation of solidarity at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship, rising costs of living, and shrinking opportunities. Songs of praise, spontaneous prayers, and expressions of heartfelt gratitude punctuated the event, underscoring the deep emotional impact of the gesture.
Speaking while flagging off the distribution, Attorney Onyirimba said the exercise was conceived as a deliberate response to the harsh economic realities currently confronting ordinary citizens.
“This is a small way of standing with our people at a difficult time,” he noted. “The economy is tough, prices are high, and many families are struggling. If we can ease that burden, even slightly, then we have done something meaningful.”
He reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to giving back to society, stressing that philanthropy must not be episodic or opportunistic but sustained and purposeful. According to him, true impact lies in consistency and sincerity, not in publicity.
Notably, Attorney Onyirimba was emphatic that his philanthropic activities are not driven by political ambition. He described them instead as a personal life philosophy rooted in gratitude, service, and the desire to leave society better than he met it.
“This is not about politics,” he stated firmly. “This is about humanity. It is about love, compassion, and responsibility. God has been kind to me, and I believe strongly that whatever we have is meant to uplift others.”
The respected legal practitioner further revealed that his vision for societal transformation is anchored on human capacity development, which he described as the most sustainable pathway to peace, progress, and prosperity.
“When people are empowered, economically, intellectually, and morally, crime reduces, social vices decline, and communities thrive,” he said. “Our society will experience peace and progress when we help one another grow and reach our full potential. That is the work I am committed to.”
For many in attendance, the outreach was not a surprise but a reaffirmation of a tradition. Over the years, Attorney Onyirimba’s Christmas humanitarian intervention has evolved into a yearly ritual, eagerly anticipated by communities across Okigwe Zone. Beyond food and cash support, the event has become a platform for promoting unity, love, moral responsibility, and social consciousness, particularly among the youth.
In his interactions with beneficiaries, Onyirimba used the occasion to advocate against juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, and other social vices, urging young people to embrace discipline, education, and hard work as tools for personal and communal advancement.
The goodwill generated by the outreach was palpable. Speaker after speaker took turns to eulogise the benefactor, describing him as a man with an uncommon heart for the people.
One community leader remarked that Onyirimba’s interventions have had a broader reach and deeper impact than those of some elected officials in the zone.
“He has done more as a private citizen than many who occupy public office,” the leader said. “This is leadership by example.”
Church representatives, youth leaders, and women groups echoed similar sentiments, offering prayers for divine strength, protection, and greater grace upon him. Many described his generosity as timely, selfless, and deeply inspiring.
Observers at the event noted that the outreach subtly but powerfully raised important questions about leadership, responsibility, and public service. If a private individual can mobilise resources, touch lives, and foster unity on such a scale, many argued, then the possibilities for greater impact in public service are immense.
Indeed, the concluding sentiment among attendees was unmistakable: this is the kind of impact that speaks louder than promises.
Here are two well-crafted beneficiary testimonies, written in a realistic, emotive, newspaper-ready style. One testimony highlights the direct human impact of the philanthropy, while the other openly urges Onyirimba to heed the growing call to run for Senate in 2027.
Testimony One: “This Christmas Would Have Been Empty Without This Gesture”
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Chinyere Okafor, a widow and petty trader from Isiala Mbano, could barely contain her emotions as she spoke.
“To be honest, I did not know how my children and I would celebrate this Christmas,” she said, clutching her bag of rice. “Prices have gone beyond our reach, business has been slow, and survival itself has become a daily struggle. What Attorney Onyirimba has done today has lifted a heavy burden off my shoulders. This rice and the cash gift mean that my children will eat well, smile, and feel the joy of Christmas like other children.”
She added that beyond the material support, the gesture restored dignity and hope.
“He did not just give us food; he made us feel remembered and valued. When leaders and privileged people show this kind of love, it gives us strength to keep going. God will surely reward him.”
Another beneficiary, Mr. Nnamdi Eke, a youth leader from Okigwe LGA, used the occasion to issue a passionate call for greater responsibility from Attorney Onyirimba.
“What we are seeing here today is not ordinary charity; it is leadership in action,” he said. “This man understands the people, feels their pain, and acts without waiting for political office.”
He further urged stakeholders and the people of Okigwe Zone to intensify pressure on Onyirimba to contest the Okigwe Senatorial seat in 2027.
“We cannot continue to recycle leaders who remember the people only during elections,” he said. “Men like Attorney Onyirimba must be encouraged, persuaded, and even pressured to step forward. He should not disappoint the people. Okigwe needs compassionate, credible, and people-centred leadership, and many of us believe he fits that description.”
He concluded by noting that the growing call was not driven by politics, but by performance.
“This is not about ambition; it is about rescue. The people are watching, and history is calling.”
As the distribution wound down and beneficiaries departed with smiles and renewed hope, one message lingered in the air, that Okigwe Zone is blessed to have a man who understands that leadership begins with service, and that genuine love for the people is measured not by words, but by action.
The people posited that Okigwe needs more of such men and women of such large hearts, whose lives remind us that society is best transformed when compassion meets commitment, and when giving is driven not by ambition, but by conscience.
