By Prof Steve A. Okecha
“The fault is not in our
stars but in ourselves,
that we are underlings.”
-SHAKESPEARE
I have often said that many of our people – Ukwuani and Ndosumili sons and daughters – prefer to be errand boys and girls: professional briefcase carriers, bouncers, stewards, butlers, maidservants, footmen and lackeys. I am pained because our land is replete with stories of the courage, valour and heroism of our ancestors, who fought local wars against our neighbouring communities, and who bravely repelled external aggressors.
Yes, we are great fighters and warriors, but we are horrible politicians.
Our land has not yet produced a politician of commanding stature, such that his house becomes a Mecca for regular visits by politicians from other ethnic groups. Chief Humphrey Ewerebor [a legendary Ika politician] was exactly a man of that mould. He was consulted from far and wide, yet he was a man of very, very limited education. The present crop of Ika political leaders were his disciples.
Those days, all roads led to the homes of:
Chief Dennis Chukwude Osadebay at Asaba
Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh at Sapele
Chief Alfred Rewane at Warri
Chief David Dafinone at Sapele
Chief E.K. Clark at Ekiagbodor
Chief Nosike Ikpo at Ibusa
Chief Francis Spanner Okpozo at Ozoro
Chief James Ibori at Oghara
Chief Benjamin Elue at Obior
I can’t remember any of our people with such commanding political heights. Our politicians usually attended meetings organised elsewhere in other people’s homes.
Our land is now substantially peopled by almajirae [plural of almajiri]: servants/beggars. The almajiri, with a begging bowl in his hand, prays for his oppressor thus: “Allah kara bude hanya” – May God open the way for you so that with your blessing, you can also bless me. This prayer applies to us. We would probably pray for an Urhobo or Isoko or Itsekiri or Aniocha or Ika or Ijaw leader to succeed politically, so that he could assist or “bless” us ultimately. What a shame!
The number of our people who troop to Idumuje Ugboko with their begging bowls is large. Those who besiege Ika political leaders’ homes for survival are uncountable. Honour no longer exists in any dictionary printed in our land. When shall we awaken from our deep slumber?
Our people who ceaselessly coverge at Idumuje Ugboko do so, not because they see their principal as a bright or charismatic politician, not because they love his ways and style, and not because they sincerely believe that Anioma state will be created. They go there because in his house, there is food on the table. So they pretend to render to their principal chants of gratitude and hagigraphic praise – for something to trickle into their begging bowls. I see readily now, that their enthusiasm is warning: No vacancy in 2027. No Anioma state creation, as the project is as dead as a dodo.
The foremost political figure from old Aboh Division was Chief FRANK OPUTE – OTUTU [from Kwale]. He studied pharmacy at the Yaba College of Technology from 1937 to 1941, and was in NCNC. He was a member of the Western House of Assembly, and served as the minority whip of the House. He was Commissioner of Establishments in the Mid-Western state. I remember that I crammed his name and those of other personalities in Western Region when preparing for the entrance examination to the secondary school. Some questions: What are Opute – Otutu’s legacies in Ukwuani-Nosumili land today? Where are his mentees?
Chief JAMES IJOR IZAH [from Utagba – Uno], graduated from the University College, Ibadan, in June 1954, and was elected to represent Aboh Division in the Federal House of Representatives in September, 1954 – three months after graduation. He was a member of the Federal Scholarship Board. Questions: What are his legacies? Who are his politician disciples?
Then came Chief OGOEGBUNEM IDISE DAFE [from Obiaruku], a UK – trained lawyer, who was the Minister of Finance, Mid-West state. He was a powerful Chairman of Nigeria Airways, and he employed a number of our youths at junior and intermediate levels. Again, I ask, where are his legacies today, and where are his political disciples?
We have had many more politicians of note:
Chief PVC Okwesa [Aboh]
Chief Alabo Opia [Kwale]
Chief Anthony Azagalaza Okolocha [Abbi]
Chief Joseph Daphey [Obiaruku]
Chief Comfort Ozegbe [Utagba-Uno]
Chief Joseph Ozomah [Umuebu]
Chief Martin Nwose [Ushe]
Chief Stephen Anoka [Ogume]
Chief J.C.D. Okwelum [Ezionum]
Chief C.N. Ogwu [Ashaka]
Chief Dr Odogwu Egbune [Amai]
Chief Owete [Emu]
Chief Oji Nelson Anamali [Umutu]
Chief Samuel Oti Akpotowho [Obiaruku]
I can’t mention all our past prominent politicians here, as the list is inexhaustible.
Where are the legacies and successors of these great people?
The relegation of our land in political affairs at national and sub-national levels is man-made, caused by low self-esteem, nonchalance, and selfishness. As Shakespeare said, “The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves that we are underlings.”
My other observation is that our land now appears to be devoid of heroes. Many of us don’t respect superiors any more. We are all equal; everyone knows everything. I remember one occasion, when one of us, who had NEVER seen the four walls of a university, prescribed the steps to follow for establishing a university. And I sneezed! Children no longer respect and venerate elders in our communities. Some youths have become ancestors – telling their grandparents the origins of their communities. Children born to Ukwuani parents suddenly become Ibos. Bob Marley once sang, “You can’t run away from yourself.”
The biggest problem in our land today is ILLITERACY. Many among us readily brandish bachelor’s and higher degrees, but they are, in all intents and purposes, illiterates. Our people should take the pains to go to school and study and study. Rascality is no substitute for sound education. Our future lies in education, simplicitier.
The almajiri mentality is essentially the servitude mindset. This is the bane of political advancement in our society, and should be expunged right away from our collective DNA.
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