Today makes it exactly twenty Years, one of Nigeria’s finest Politicians of our time, Rt Hon Sen Chuba Okadigbo PhD passed on. His death came at a time when the Progressive family in Nigeria were on the March for a new Nigeria.
In the year 2001, in Umuahia, when Oyi of Oyi was speaking to the Nigerian Youths, he said and I quote, ”When one door closes, another opens. A man may rise or fall. Otherwise, he is static and this can be very boring. When you rise, try to hang in there but never abandon principles. When you fall, stand up,dust-upp, and move on.” This particular speech made tremendous impact on many Young Progressive Nigerians who want a better Country.
Born Chuba William Okadigbo on the 17th of December 1941 in Asaba, The Oyi of Oyi hails from Umueri, Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He obtained a Diploma in Trade Economics from the Blankenburg College of Technology, Germany in 1963, and proceeded to the Karl Marx Universitaet, Germany and then the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., USA acquiring the Master der Philosophie and Master of Arts in Philosophy degrees in 1967 and 1972 respectively.
Aged 37 years, Nigeria’s President Shehu Shagari appointed him Political Adviser. He was the schemer cum key negotiator who secured the return of Biafran leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu from exile.
Known as a political strategist and an unrelenting idealist, he was the bridge between the transited old guard of the Awolowos and Azikiwes to the haughty, naughty and impatient new guard.
A philosopher and rhetorician par excellence, he is not one to shy away from topical and intellectual discourses, even though he could be disputatious atimes, earning him plaudits and foes alike.
He was elected President of the Senate after the removal of Evan Enwerem in 2000, a position he was to relinquish almost as soon as he got it after “drawing the ire” of the Obasanjo-led Executive arm. An unapologetic critic of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he defected to the opposition All Nigerian Peoples Party as Vice-Presidential candidate to former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
Arguably, Igbo’s most flamboyant politician post-Abacha era. Love him or hate him, he bestrode our political landscape like a colossus and will always be remembered.
On this day 25th September 2003, the Oyi of Oyi passed on. He is survived by his wife, Sen. Margery Okadigbo, children, family, and vast network of friends, Political associates and protégés.
Rt Hon Chuba Okadigbo was a Philosopher, wordsmith, traditionalist, teacher, scholar.
It is exactly 20 years today you left this world. Those who have followed you in this journey take solace with this, “They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies.” – William Penn
Continue to rest, Ikenga Iguedo na Omambala. CHUBA OKADIGBO lives on …