The man, Ogbulafor

By Jackson Udom - 09.03.2008

IN a dramatic twist in fate, a dark horse in the person of a former national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, emerged the national chairman of the party in Abuja on Saturday.

Ogbulafor became the choice of party stakeholders after the two camps within the party decided to support a candidate who did not belong to any of the camps.

The Abia-born politician was said to have immediately fitted into the game plan of the presidency and the governors, hence, the man who did not even campaign became the choice of the party kingmakers.

Born on May 24, 1949, to the family of Eze J.J. and Uzoeze Abigail Ogbulafor in Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, Vincent attended the Lake Forest college, United States of America where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Political Science in 1975.

He later joined the Chemetron Corporation as a management trainee where he bagged a Diploma in Welding Engineering from the Chemetron Institute.

Ogbulafor became the National Secretary of Independence Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria between 1981 and 1986. He was investitured a Knight of the St John Catholic Church in 2001.

As a devout Catholic, Ogbulafor took part in the political process which also saw him hold political appointments at the federal and state levels.

At various times, he was special adviser to the governor of Abia State on economic affairs in 1992 and was appointed commissioner for works, lands, housing and transport a year later.

His first political statement was made in 2001 when he emerged the National Secretary of the party. His tenure as the party’s scribe did not last long as the tenure was enmeshed in controversy, especially the N120 million allegedly demanded by his exco led by Chief Audu Ogbeh to organise a retreat for party executives from the states.

Ogbulafor was also the governorship candidate of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in Abia State in the 90s.

His rich political experience was said to have paved way for his appointment as the Minister, Economic Matters and Special Projects in 1999 by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was also the chairman of the Federal Tenders Board as a minister. In 2001, he resigned and contested for office of the National Secretary of the PDP.