By Ichie Ezechukwu Umeokwonna and Ichie Umuezenwaka
The best oration, the best eulogy to Okwadike should be to help actualize his dream and vision for Nigeria.
Yes, Friday, the 19th day of April 2024 is the day and the date. That is the day and the date Nigeria’s political leaders shall converge at Awka, the capital of Anambra State to celebrate and bid fare well to a great mind and truly patriotic Nigerian, His Excellency, Chief Chukwemeka, Pius Ezeife CFN (Ph.D Harvard) Okwadike Igbo.
That would not be on the grounds of the usual convention that no one is bad on his burial day. It would be an honor, well deserved. As has been the culture in Nigeria, Okwadike had many opportunities to become a billionaire, but till his demise, he was not counted among them!
A Federal Director in 1980s, Chairman, Presidential Task Force On Import license during Shagari Administration,Federal permanent secretary and the first Executive Governor of Anambra State where he was reported as the governor that left the largest sum in the government coffers at the time Abacha desolved all democratic structures.
As a very strong voice in NEDECO, he was lured with ministerial appointment by Abacha which was turned down.
He stood firm on the principles of NEDECO, while most of his members including Chief Abiola’s brothers took ministerial appointments from Abacha and closed their mouths.
Okwadike sacrificed all, even at risk of his life, fought the INJUSTICE that was Abacha government till the end! etc.
Therefore as Nigeria’s political leaders gather at Awka on the 19th April for a kind of colloquium proceeding the actual burial at Igboukwu on the following day 20th April 2024, they all know that they would be coming to bid farewell to a truly honest man, a purely detribalized Nigerian.
A man whose tribe was Nigeria, Africa his nation and the black world his continent!
A very progressive mind who was always quick to speak out against INJUSTICE to any group in Nigeria.
He truly believed that Nigeria is potentially the Giant of Africa, leader and pride of the black world and a potential world power.
It was his convictions that Inability to stand by the truth, injustice, nepotism and other vices are the obstacles standing between Nigeria and the actualization of all her potentials above.
As an optimist, he was convinced that Nigeria would one day learn, and purge herself of those vices and attain the greatness that was designed in her by the creator of the world. That perhaps informed all the sacrifices and risks taken in his fight against injustice.
To really understand the man Okwadike and his vision for Nigeria, his book, “Remaking Nigeria with Progressivism” is a Must Read.
The youths of Nigeria must read this book so that Nigeria’s Unpatriotic Political leaders / looters that deceived their parents with tribal and religious sentiments do not also deceive them and thereby continue to delay the Actualization of Nigeria’s greatness!
The Best Oration, Tribute Or Eulogy anyone would give to Okwadike is therefore for all of us to join in living out his political values and virtues as preached in his book ” Remaking Nigeria with progressivism” which the he lived out for all to see and which is the only way Nigeria can be a place anybody can call a home.
For now, any human community from where the youths are desperately trooping out by fair or fowl means, with some losing their lives in the process and those that are unable leave, staying back with a feeling of being trapped, can definitely NOT, By whatever standard, pass for a home for human beings.
Come 19th April, the only tribute worth it’s salt, is the one from a truly patriotic Nigerian. Okwadike would definitely not appreciate eulogy from any of those criminals that are responsible for the sorry situation we have presently found Nigeria in. That would be tantamount to mockery and it is our prayer that any unrepentant criminal, big, small or medium that tries to praise a virtue which he lacks and has not resolved acquire, SHALL go back home with a truck_ load of curses
Orations and eulogies on the 19th April should not be all comers affair but an exclusive reserve of truly patriotic Nigerians. Those criminals/looters who use tribal and religious sentiments to cover the eyes of Nigerians while milking her (Nigeria) dry, should better not be there at all.
Finally, as we mourn the demise of this great leader, let us honor him by working to ensure that Nigeria becomes what he very much longed and worked for her to be-The Giant Of Africa, Pride Of The Black World And A World Power.
He identified the albatross standing between us and this great Nigeria of his dream and vision-dishonesty, injustice, tribalism, nepotism, etc.
Are we now ready to put these vices where they really belong-the back seat and have our great Nigeria nation that would benefit everyone much more? If not for anything as a mark of honor to this fallen hero of the great Nigerian nation
This is the only and best oration we can give to this great Nigerian, any other, is hypocrisy.
Ichie Umeokwonna and Ichie Umuezenwaka wrote from Ward 11, Igboukwu.
