Lagos — Just like many things in life, the initial aim of the manufacturer was always surpassed. Let's take for instance the Peugeot car which was touted as the Nigerian car two or three decades ago, as three out of every five cars on Nigerian roads were Peugeot brands.

The manufacturers in France built a car for three or at most, four passengers or riders. First, Nigerians started overloading it, later customized it to suite other functions outside the specifications of the manufacturers. The springs were changed or reinforced to carry two times the load initially specified. The space in between the driver and the passenger was cushioned for a third rider.. It is possible too that the inventor of gun may have had hunting in mind, but today it has been subjected to criminal usage as many lives are snuffed out questioningly.

In like manner though not on the negative side, the builders and designers of Trenchard Hall in the first university in the country- The University of Ibadan, that came into existence 61 years ago in Oyo State, cradle of Yoruba ancestry and traditional authority, in their wildest imaginations could not have predicted what happened on October 30, 2009.

It was a home coming of sorts- a political and an academic endorsement of a son who to a large extent had raised the name of the institution to greatness as their motto implied. Dr T. A. Orji the cynosure of all eyes was equally surprised and nearly overwhelmed by what he saw - a resounding acclamation and true acceptance by people from all walks of live. When T.A. left that citadel in 1977 with a B A scrolled in his armpit, he would have dismissed any soothsayer or fortune teller who told him that a place he left so boyishly would gather all comers like Abia Students Association(Ibadan), Abia indigenes in Oyo and Lagos States, and the mammoth university community to honour him. A big lesson for Nigerians who like Macbeth and wife are in a hurry to write and hasten the speed of their history. If anybody wrote T.A.'s history in a hurry, he would have missed the trenchant, evocative encomiums in Trenchard Hall.

The Trenchard Hall, probably named after - Hugh Trenchard, pioneer commander of Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) has not in the 61-year history of the school the number it did on October 30. All seats in the hall were occupied and the gallery was full to capacity. The students who hurried back to school after the resolution of the ASUU long-lasting industrial standoff, were slapped with an impromptu examination even when it was obvious that they had not been taught in the last three months. In spite of these cleavages, T. A's. charisma was an irresistible pull to the extent that they abandoned their open text books and scurried off the prep room to catch spaces in the hall.

The V. C. demonstrated how much the occasion meant to him as he presided as chairman of the occasion flanked by other towering dignitaries who did not want to read about the epochal event on Newspapers or make up with TV reports. I am not sure if Bisi Olatilo's Show is still on screen, it would be a good alternative for those who missed the event to catch up.

Sir U.C. C Elekwa, an alumnus and the erstwhile Executive Secretary of Abia Secondary School Management Board, took the rostrum and presented a citation that electrified the hall. Chances are that when he retires from service, political groups will fall over each other to enlist him because of his oratorical prowess.

Dr. T. A. Orji took the stage and had to implore the tumultuous crowd before they quieted down. He delivered his thought provoking lecture with the seriousness of a lecturer, the persuasion of a preacher and the lucidity of a political oracle. Much of his lecture delved onto the shortcomings of our electoral process and proffering a remedial course which made serious references to adopting the recommendation of Justice Uwais' Report and the amendment of our error ridden 1999 constitution.

He decried the situation which was fast becoming a norm where noble ideas and reports of hard working committees popularly known as white papers had either turned brown in safes or dumped on the towering heap of academic waste.

Among other highlights, he vehemently opined that to evolve a formidable democratic culture, all efforts should be sincere, casting aside ethnic, myopic and selfish ambitions. Outside these, well coordinated and articulated reforms will continue to elude our polity. In the same vein, a sound economy and reliable political structure undeniably the springboard of democratic governance and national growth, should be critically and positively restructured to enhance a long lasting democratic structure.

While these are in the works, the autonomy of the judiciary should be sustained. The Independent National Electoral Commission should be elevated as not to be the foot mat of the Executive arm of government. Electoral education should be reinforced to eliminate voter apathy like Obama did. The evils of poverty and corruption should be fiercely chased like a wolf after a flock of sheep. The presence of overbearing personalities with inordinate ambitions and mercurial strategies should be checkmated. There was serious need to automate our electoral system to reduce electoral fraud. The need for Nigeria to regain her leadership position in Africa and the world were issues that needed urgent attention.

Could he have said more? It was indeed a thorough examination of the topic: Political and Electoral Reforms; Imperatives for Survival of Nigeria's Democracy.

For the university whose mission was to "To expand the frontiers of knowledge through provision of excellent conditions for learning and research.. To produce graduates who are worthy in character and sound judgment. To contribute to the transformation of society through creativity and innovation. To serve as a dynamic custodian of society's salutary values and thus sustain its integrity" could not have wished for more. T A, who bagged the title of the Most Distinguished Alumnus certainly made it happen.

Eddie Onuzuruike