Preamble:
No matter the relationship, including ties of consanguinity, it stands as honour of inestimable dimension for one to be successfully considered and eventually called upon to present a Paper in a Colloquium organized in honour of a remarkably quintessential personality in the rank of late His Royal Highness, Eze Sir, The Rt Honourable J. E. N. Nwaguru. I feel humbled but equally elated for this outstanding expression of confidence and respect.
By virtue of my clearly specified and defined mandate, I would wish to restrict myself to three core aspects of the Icon, Eze Sir, The Rt Honourable J. E. N. Nwaguru, vis (1) Public Service Career, (2) Erudition and (3) Stint With Elective Politics.
Let me thank Professor Ngwakwe and co for creating this window of convenient restriction for me. Otherwise, knowing the subject of this Colloquium, who I fondly called and still call Dee Nnata, to the extent I knew and admired him, I would naturally have been spurred by euphoria of relationship to write more than a hundred pages on him. In situation like that, I can assure you, my ink would not dry.
At this point, I think it should be necessary to briefly present myself. This highly respectable, respected and also respectful coloured audience needs to know who I am and also the nexus between Dee Nnata and Yours Sincerely, on the basis of which I was close to him, as to know the much I knew about him and, therefore, able to make a Paper Presentation today on this Platform.
I am Sir Don Ubani, a Knight of St Christopher of Aba Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. Interestingly coincidentally, the year 2002, at the same time, with St Michael’s And All Angels Cathedral, Aba as the venue, that Dee Nnata and his Ugoeze, Lady Eva Nwaguru were invested as Knight and Lady, was the same year and venue of my investiture as a Knight, side by side my wife, Lady Anthonia Ubani, by the Bishop Emeritus of Anglican Diocese of Aba, His Lordship, Most Reverend Augustine Iwuagwu.
Perhaps, for my perchance for Truth and Justice, the Abia State Judiciary confered on me the title of Justice of The Peace in the same 2002.
I am a Teacher and an Aborigine of Umuiku-Isi-Asa Autonomous Community in Ukwa-West Local Government Council Area of Abia State.
The journey of love and desire for procreation had taken my late father, Chief Emmanuel Wigwe Ubani, to Umugo in Ugwunagbo, where he became glued to a woman of exceptional beauty and first daughter of a renowned Court Clerk, Mazi Kanu Ezuoaka, late Chief Mrs Mary Wugo Josephine Kanu and one of the products of that journey is the Man very respectfully standing before you and presenting this Paper now at Ovu Ndi Eze here at Aba.
Certainly older, the same journey had earlier taken late Chief Ugorji Nwaguru of Ihie-Obeaku to the same place in Umugo, where he found Daa Ehijiukwu, daughter of Nnayi Ohuoba, as his heartthrob. Dee Nnata eventually became an offspring of that union.
Permit me to state that my late Mother, being a loved daughter of a Native Court Clerk, developed interest in story telling, starting from her childhood. On many occasions that she told me of her school experiences at St John’s Anglican Primary School, Asa-Umunka, she would mention ‘Nnata Nwa Daa Ehijiukwu’. Though I was not sure I was taking special interest in her stories, I did not know that my brain was busy recording her historical narratives. I also did not imagine, much more know, that one day a part of her stories would lay the foundation for my unimagined thrust into the Macro Society.
The decision to build and establish Asa Grammar School, an initiative of Asa Clan Union, prominently advocated for by late Chief Hon O C Ememe and exceptionally financially supported by late Hon Eze J E Adiele, was taken in 1958 and four years later, 1962, the first batch of her students had started studies. The School, which would later be renamed Asa High School in 1971, just a year after the Nigerian Civil War, otherwise referred to as Nigeria/Biafran War, was the pride of Asa People. The success of the School was so paramount to Asa People that every middle-class Asa couple like my late parents prayed to have their children pass through the School. The expectation of Asa People from Asa Grammar School, Asa made them to bring in the Anglican Church for effective supervision and management. They also contracted the professional managerial services of a renowned Mathematician, Educationist and Parliamentarian, Mr Moses N Onwuma, as Principal.
At the end of the civil war in 1970, Mr M N Onwuma admitted me into Class One and, so, my parents’ dream of having one of their children attend and pass through Asa Grammar School, Asa was fulfilled.
Between September and November 1973, being first term of my final year in the School, Class 5, a black 404 saloon car, with registration No ECC 303 E, drove into Asa High School and pulled up in front of the Administrative block of the School. I was upstairs reading when a student in my class, whose name I have now forgotten, came and told me that there was a man who came with a book he had written about the peoples of Aba. He knew I was always excited about History and, so, had concluded that I would be interested to meet with the Man.
When I climbed down the staircase, greeted the Man and went straight to the cover of the Book, Aba And British Rule, I observed that the name of the author was Nnata. The other names; Johnson, Elewemba and Nwaguru were frankly strange to me. The name that spontaneously struck the consciousness of my Mother’s earlier narratives was Nnata.
There and then, I humbly enquired to know if he was Dee Nnata that related to Umugo. That was the magic! He said yes and demanded to know me. I told him I was the son of Wugo Kanu of Umugo, married at Umuiku. He hugged me and exclaimed, Nwa Wugo! Nwa Wugo Daa Ugbala!! Nwa Wugo Dee Kanu!!!
Without my asking for any favour, he asked me to proceed to Enugu as soon as I was done with my West African School Certificate Examination in June the following year, 1974. He, however, urged me to work hard as to merit his assistance.
At Enugu, being optimistic that I would pass the West African School Certificate Examination, he enlisted me, in his capacity as Chief Archivist in charge of National Archives, Enugu, for interview. By January 1975, having obtained the awaited West African School Certificate, I had started working at National Archives, Enugu as an Archive Assistant. I also briefly lived with his family at No 8 Nzekwe Close, Asata in Enugu, where his wife, Ugoeze Eva, exceptionally treated me as a son.
Dee Nnata was a strict disciplinarian. Myself, coming from a father that had zero tolerance for indiscipline, I was determined not to abuse the privilege he gave me. So, I tried my utmost best to adhere to rules and regulations that governed National Archives, Enugu.
Something funny would, however, happen later in the office in 1976 that would sound irksome to his ears. I did not steal because, even if one could succumb to the temptation to steal, there was no money to steal in my Department of National Archives, Repository. Rather, one Staff, a Cleaner, Ogbenyealu, who had friendly disposition to almost all the Staff had died out of maternal mortality.
The Staff Welfare Association of National Archives, Enugu had, as dictated by her Articles of Membership, asked Members to pay a burial levy. Too strangely, I was the only one that refused to pay the levy. Of course, it did not only sound strange but inhuman.
As at 1975, the whole of the present South-East of five States was confined to only one State, East Central State, under Mr Ukpabia Asika as Sole Administrator. Any body that was an Honourable Commissioner in such a very lage State was, to all intents and purposes, a ‘Big Man of Influence’. Dr Ukwu I Ukwu, from in Item in present Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, was the Honourable Commissioner for Finance. His wife was the next officer in hierarchy after the Chief Archivist, my own Dee Nnata. The Ogbenyealu that died for whom I had refused to contribute to her burial fund was of the Ukwu family.
When Mrs Ukwu was told of the ‘nonsensical behaviour’ of mine and ascertaining that I was a relation of her boss, she quickly reported me to the Chief Archivist, Dee Nnata.
I was consequently summoned to his Office to meet with Management. When I was asked if it was true that I said I would not contribute to the burial fund of late Ogbenyealu, I frankly said yes. I was asked why? I told the Management that I was employed the same day with Ogbenyealu and she had developed cordial relationship with almost all the Staff, including me. I went further to state that I was rudely shocked to learn that while under labour of child birth that her husband refused to take Ogbenyealu to a hospital only on religious grounds. I averred that had Ogbenyealu been taken to a hospital and she died there, I would have been pleased to pay even more. Emphatically, I said that her family had conspired and killed Ogbenyealu. I was then asked to excuse the Management for a short period. When I came back, the Management noted my grievance but asked me to be tolerant of other people’s religious views.
Section A; Public Service Career,
From what Dee Nnata told me, after his very brilliant Secondary School Career at Okrika Grammar School, OGS, in 1953, a window of opportunity was thrown open to exceptionally intelligent young Nigerians of his generation and class. Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike, a Historian of global dimension, who would later become the first Indigenous Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, had conceptualized the idea of establishing Nigerian Record Office for Nigeria, using the University of Ibadan as Headquarters. Talented young Nigerians were expected to be recruited into the service and systematically trained in the job, for the soul purpose of preservation of Public and Strategic Records. Dee Nnata, obviously being mentally equipped for the new role in Record Administration, availed himself of that rare opportunity. He sat for the competitive examination and, as would be expected, remarkably impressed Professor Dike who had no hesitation in recruiting him into the Service. Dee Nnata was, therefore, one of the pioneer Staff of Nigeria’s Record Office at Ibadan on 1st April, 1954. Please note that 1st April, 1954 was not a fool’s day. What was established on that day has endured for more than Sixty-Seven years!
As an Officer with futuristic inclination, Dee Nnata did not wait to be told by any person that a Record Office, as contemplated and framed by an intellectual genius like Professor Kenneth Dike, would only have assiduous persons grow in it. Being conscious of that obvious fact, Dee Nnata took advantage of the conducive ambience provided by the Nigerian Record Office, which later became known as National Archives via an Act of Parliament, to prepare for his Advanced Level General Certificate Examination, London and cleared his three Subjects in a sitting.
On the heels of that uncommon success, Dee Nnata, who was employed as a Clerical Officer, was then set to confront challenges imminent in his search for the Golden Fleece.
Taking advantage of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s educational foresight which had given rise to the establishment of Nigeria’s first indigenous University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka which had its first batch of students’ intake in 1960, Dee Nnata successfully got admitted into the University as it’s second batch of students in 1961. He graduated with Second Class Upper (2.1) in Political Science in 1964.
On a lighter mood, Dee Nnata told me that because he was a Federal Government-sponsored scholar, he had the luxury of having a Mobilete on Campus. For those of us who may not have seen a Mobilete before, it is a very small-sized motor-cycle, with a set of pedals that can enable its user to continue with his movement assuming the fuel in it gets exhausted. Dee Nnata had one and according to what he had told me, he was a source of envy and attraction on the Campus because he was considered a ‘rich student’ just for having a Mobilete or Moped as it also called.
With that intellectual achievement, the coast had become very clear for his astronomical rise in hierarchy of the National Archives.
Apart from his attainment at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dee Nnata attended many courses and programmes overseas, including some African Countries, United Kingdom, France and the United States of America.
He was a seasoned and accomplished Administrator. He used his position in the National Archives to stimulate and encourage researches in both Local and National topics. As a very transparent Archivist and Administrator, he guaranteed administrative stability in all the places he had worked, especially at the National Archives, Enugu.
Dee Nnata was characteristically altruistic and patriotic. Unlike today when people hear that some officials of Government allegedly collect thousands of Naira from applicants in search of employment, Dee Nnata had no room for such dirtiness and pettiness of character. All of us that were employed at National Archives, Enugu under his watch were employed free of any charge or extraneous consideration. There was hardly any employment that took place while he was at the National Archives, Enugu that did not have successful Ngwa applicants in their numbers. He was, indeed, a Patriot. I wish the Ngwa Nation will acknowledge, in every material particular, that Eze Sir, The Rt Honourable Johnson Elewemba Nnata Nwaguru was one of her Best and Heroes. He should not leave unsong, even after his burial.
Dee Nnata embarked on recruitment drive to the Old Rivers State and South-East State just to make sure young people from those States were employed in the National Archives, Enugu. According to him, the Zonal Office at Enugu was for all the States of defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria and, so, the two other States of Rivers and South-East should be made to benefit adequately from opportunities available in the Office.
It was under the managerial supervision of Dee Nnata that branch offices of National Archives Enugu were established in Owerri, Port-Harcourt and Calabar. That development created opportunities for youths in those parts of the country.
Section B; Erudition.
HRH Eze Sir, The Rt Honourable Johnson Elewemba Nnata Nwaguru was naturally cut out to grow and glow in academics and intellectualism.
As early as1948, the first sign of being a near genius had clearly manifested in HRH Eze Sir, The Rt Honourable Johnson Nwaguru. It was at St Michael’s Anglican Primary School, Aba where he had sat for the First School Leaving Certificate. Despite spending only two years, 1947 and 1948, that is to say, Primaries 5 and 6, having done Primaries 1-4 at St John’s Anglican Primary School, Asa Umunka, Dee Nnata seamlessly came first out of 58 candidates that sat for the examination. That was a thorough display of exceptional brilliance, when considered he came from a rural School.
Dee Nnata, according to what he told me, was one of the brightest students in his days at Okrika Grammar School and left the School in flying colours in 1953.
For a Man and Public Servant at his age, about 31 years, to have worked so hard as to graduate with a Second Class Upper Division at the famous University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1964, it was a quantifiable testimony that Dee Nnata was, in every respect, an erudite Scholar. He was unambiguously certified worthy both in Character and Knowledge by Nigeria’s Premier Indigenous University, the UNN.
As a Political Scientist of the finest order, Historian and Archivist, Dee Nnata devoted much of his time and even leisure to conduct Researches in many areas of History, Colonial Imperialism and Administration. His works were numerously and severally published in many reputable Journals and Newspapers. Research had availed him the opportunity of going to such places as Rhode House, Oxford, Paris and Kampala in Uganda.
The climax of his erudition culminated in his Book and Magnum Opus, ABA & BRITISH RULE. The Book is a product of many years of relentless research and study by Dee Nnata on British Colonial invasion and coercion of the fundamental rights of the peoples of Old Aba Division and to some extent the people of Old Bende, particularly Arochukwu and Oloko in Ikwuano where the foundation for Aba Women Riot of 1929 was laid.
As an author, he was able to capture organized resistance by some parts of the Igbo to British colonization and their unfortunate defeat and submission to unnegotiated Treaties of Her Imperial Majesty, The Queen of England.
Being roundly scholarstic, Dee Nnata had lately realized that the content of the first edition of his Book could not capture developments between 1973 when it was first published and 2015, he successfully embarked on a holistic review of ABA AND BRITISH RULE, giving rise to the Second Edition of the Book, not minding that he was already an Octogenarian. That singular courageous engagement could only have come from a quintessential Scholar.
Through his Magnum Opus, Dee Nnata eruditely essayed to state migrational patterns and origins of the people of Old Aba Division. He also highlighted Administrative, Political and Economic Developments in the Old Aba Division, sequel to British forceful take over of the area.
Rightly, he pointed out that his Ngwa kith and kin had migrated from Umunoha area of Imo State, in the company of some other persons desirous of land for expansion, probably including Mbaise People also in present day Imo State but had been fast enough to have crossed the Imo River before it rose to a dangerous depth. Hence, their fellow expansionists companions were stuck to the other bank of the Imo River.
Continuing, the author stated that there were three main Ngwa siblings, Onyeukwu, Nwoha and Avosi, in order of their chronological seniority, that migrated across Imo River to the present Ngwa Ukwu areas of Isialangwa-North. The Ntigha and Nsulu Groups, according to him, were probably later migrants and settlers.
In his Book, Dee Nnata admitted that there were original settlers that the three Ngwa brothers met on arrival at Ngwaukwu and that they were most likely to be of the Ibibio/Anang stock. He further expatiated on southern migration of descendants of the three Ngwa migrants.
#WHERE ASA PEOPLE JUSTIFIABLY DISAGREE WITH THEIR SON-IN-LAW AND AUTHOR, HRH EZE SIR, THE RT HON J E N NWAGURU#;
I have had the privilege of having a critical look at ABA AND BRITISH RULE with a cross section of Asa Elders and Intelligentsia. On each occasion I was with them, there was a common denominator amongst us. We have always appreciated the author’s written admission that the Ngwa, on migration, met Asa People as Original Owners and Occupants of Aba and its environs. We also commend the author for admitting that the Ngwa were compelled to resort to Peaceful Approach when they realized that applying violence in their relationship with their hosts, that is the Asa People and Ibeme Clan, was bound to be counter productive. These are obvious Statements of Facts.
It may be necessary to state that it was that later wise decision of the Ngwa migrants to apply caution in relating with their peaceful, kind and loving Asa hosts that has continued to guarantee harmonious co-existence between the Asa Okpoaja people in Aba-South and their majority Ngwa migrants. The same understanding also applies between Asa-Eme People in Aba-North and their majority Ngwa migrants. In Ugwunagbo, Asa Umunka, Asa Nnetu, Asa Amauhi, Asa Umuakwa and Asa Oborie People are also living cordially with their majority Ngwa migrants. Even though by process of cultural assimilation the above mentioned Asa host communities now speak Ngwa dialect, they know they are Asa People. In Osisioma-Ngwa L GA, there are many Asa communities there who obviously were there before the migrational arrival of the Ngwa.
The resume and implication here is that Asa People had historically long occupied, lived and owned Aba before any other group of settlers arrived. Asa people, right from ages, have always been peaceful and accommodating. They had willingly accepted the arrival of the Ngwa and made adequate provision for their accommodation and comfort. It was not by war or any form of aggression.
The fact that Asa People were the original owners and inhabitants of Aba informed the choice of the most strategic road in Aba to be named Asa Road by the British Colonial Administrators. It was not by mere coincidence!
Asa People, however, disagreed that it was the Ngwa that gave a non-existent name, ‘Ashia’ purportedly shortened to Asa to them. That was, in every way imaginable, not true.
Asa, according to Oral History, is a name long associated with our Progenitors. We have, on many occasions, been told that Asa People are descendants of King Asa of Judah from whom, during various waves of Jewish exodus, wandered up to Asa Local Government Area of present Kwara State before finding themselves in Benin Kingdom.
Further migration of Asa People took them through the hinterlands of Niger Delta. Some would later pass through present Ikwerre and Etche territories before settling in their present abode.
Majority of the Aborigines of my Community, Umuiku-Isi-Asa, last settled in Umuiku-Olakwu in present Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It is completely unthinkable and, no doubt, unacceptable that Asa People, who had settled in Aba and South of its environs about the 14th Century BC, very many decades before the Imo River which rises from Umuaku-Isuochi in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia-North meandered up to Omuma, Etche, Asa and Ndoki before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean, were without a name before the arrival of the Ngwa People. Such a claim can never have any bearing with any authentic source of Anthropology. I wish Dee Nnata were alive to listen to my argument. I hope there are no frayed nerves?
Section C; Stint With Elective Politics.
As already highlighted, Dee Nnata started work just at the age of 21 years. Unlike what is in vogue today where public servants constantly reduce their dates of birth, probably for fear of future social insecurity, Dee Nnata lived a very honest transparent life. His age remained his age. As soon as he completed his mandatory 35 years of service in the National Archives, he got retired, not by age but by year of service. We could imagine what would be going on in the upper region of a young man bubbling with ideas and energy yet confined to a state of inactivity and possible obscurity in 1989 at the age of 56!
That was not to be! A relief would come his way as erstwhile Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, aka IBB, would create more States in 1991, including Abia State and had commenced his transition programme, sincere or otherwise, to return Nigeria to democratic governance.
In furtherance of the said transition programme, IBB had, by decree, established two Political Parties, National Republican Convention, NRC and Social Democratic Party, SDP.
Calibrated elections were scheduled to be conducted, starting from Ward Councillors and Council Chairmen, State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and the last was to be the President.
Any electorate that know what they want, will always go for their best, for effective representation. So, for purposes of election into the maiden Abia State House of Assembly in 1992, the people of Obioma-Ngwa West State Constituency, made up of the present Osisioma and Ugwunagbo Local Government Council Areas, desirous of a round peg in a square hole, successfully sent a delegation to Dee Nnata to make himself available for elective representation in Abia State House of Assembly, Umuahia. That was in 1992.
Dee Nnata contested on the platform of National Republican Convention. The election, which was keenly contested, featured a political Amazon, Chief (Mrs) Grace Ada Agua from Umumgbede Asa in present Osisioma-Ngwa Local Government Area as her opponent on the banner of Social Democratic Party. The will of the People overwhelmingly weighed in favour of Dee Nnata. He won!
In the first Abia State House of Assembly, a Golden Fishing having no hiding place, his colleagues, in appreciation of his inestimable qualities, elected him the Deputy Speaker of the House. The Rt Honourable Arua Arunsi was the Speaker of the House, while the current Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, was the Governor.
It should be noted that the present Ebonyi South Senatorial District was in Abia State as the time Abia State was created in 1991 and, so, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu’s people were an integral part of Abia State.
While in the Abia State House of Assembly, Dee Nnata had a long of vision and dreams for his Constituency. Unfortunately, the ‘insincerity’ of the Babangida’s Military Administration did not allow his wishes to materialize, as the transition programme abruptly came to a close on June 12, 1993, following inexplicable annulment of June 12 Presidential Election widely supposedly won by late Chief M K O Abiola. Dee Nnata was visibly and grossly disappointed with that truncation of our transition.
When, after the death of Military dictator, General Sani Abacha, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, as Military Head State, allowed Politicians to start all over again and we formed the Peoples Democratic Party, I approached him in order to rouse interest in him but he told me that he had lost interest in any political transition programme to be cordinated by the Military.
Dee Nnata, therefore, withdrew from partisan politics. He indicated interest in the traditional rulership of a hitherto large Ihie/Iyi Autonomous Community but when he lost the contest to HRH Eze Reuben Nworgu, I consoled and assured him we could get another Autonomous Community. As God would have it, we succeeded in having Isi Ala Ihie created by the Government of Abia State and, to the glory of God, he was enthroned the Achi La Omanyi of Isiala Ihie Autonomous Community.
Dee Nnata, always a grateful character, expressed immense gratitude for my modest role in the realization of Isi Ala Ihie Autonomous Community and his enthronement as the Traditional Ruler of the Community. He conferred on me a prestigious Chieftaincy Title of Nwanne Di N’Asa of Isi Ala Ihie Autonomous Community.
Conclusion;
(1) Dee Nnata was a disciplined and exceptionally patriotic gentleman.
(2) Dee Nnata had an Undented Public Service Career, spanning more than five decades.
(3) His Brilliance was of Exceptional Description.
(4) His Magnum Opus, ABA AND BRITISH RULE Exposed the Unjustifiable Violation of the Fundamental Rights of the Peoples of Old Aba Division.
(5) Dee Nnata innocently Erred in his claim that it was the Ngwa that gave a name to Asa People that had lived more than a Century in Aba and its Environs before their southern migrational arrival.
(6) Dee Nnata enjoyed the confidence of the electorate in 1992.
(7) He was certainly displeased with the insincerity of the Nigerian Military in its botched transition to democracy.
(8) HRH Eze Sir, The Rt Honourable Johnson Elewemba Nnata Nwaguru reigned peacefully as the first Achi La Omanyi of Isiala Ihie Autonomous Community.
Suggestion; The Peoples of Old Aba Division are strongly advised to file a suit at the International Court at The Hague against the British Government for devastating violations of their fundamental rights and unsolicited and unnegotiated exploration and exploitation of their resources and irreparable damages to their economy, including unlawful imposition of taxes on our People
References;
(1) ABA AND BRITISH RULE By J E N Nwaguru.
(2) Oral History Passed From Generation To Generations Of Aboriginal Asa Elders.
(3) Writings of Prof K O Dike.
(4) Historical Permutations By Prof Adiele Afigbo.
(5) Adumbrations By Olaudah Equiano.
(6) Internet Sources
(7) The Holy Bible.
Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa Gburugburu, Oke Amadi Nd’Asa and Okene Ukwu Ukwuu Ugwunagbo.
