Tribute to Dr. Chuba ‘Oyi’ Wilberforce Okadigbo (December 17, 1941- September 25, 2003)

Even for an anniversary of this sort, many pages would be required to stir the memoirs of this great orator and ebullient character, Nigeria’s political mathematician and ‘seer’ who was never in short of words to describe and predict any political situation.

Tight as space may dictate, however, Features Editor, GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR, attempts a short trip down memory lane.

Memorabilia

On Igbo Presidency: “It is contrary to human history that a people who just wriggled out of a civil war would be awarded the presidency. There is no historical precedent. I knew it was not going to happen here.” The political mathematical calculator was right: it didn’t happen. It hasn’t happened.

To his constituency as member of National Assembly after 1993 election was annulled, he said: “Look, I was not elected to go to prison; I was elected to represent my people in the Senate, not at Kirikiri. Did I ever tell the people that I would do everything to represent them – even at Kirikiri? I didn’t say so.”

His political arithmetic and theorem led him to seek power through the Peoples Democratic Party whose slogan is “Power”. After some battles with General Olusegun Obasanjo, Okadigbo lost the first round. After his loss, the Oyi of Oyi rose up, dusted himself and moved to confront his adversaries in another battle. He fought, won, and became the Senate President after Enwerem fell.

Okadigbo’s arrival as the Senate President electrified the Senate, infusing it with fresh life. Okadigbo showed from day one that he could not be any president’s puppet. “I am six feet tall; but they want me to walk like a dwarf. It won’t happen,” was one of his famous quotes.

Some of his pointblank predictions:

Rt. Hon. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo in 2002 predicted President Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence as president and the arduous task he would face in constructing a progressive Nigeria.

At the time, his Achilles Hill, (the then President), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was in his second term, Okadigbo foresaw that OBJ was constructing a one-party state which, he warned, was “very dangerous, unconstitutional and might breed dictatorship. Mark my words,” the Owu Chief said,

“He would want to amend the Constitution and extend his rule.” This was long before the third term imbroglio.

He saw today yesterday

Okadigbo it was that narrated the major news which was that “A decoder” or, if you like, a saviour had emerged. “Am surprised that none of you took note of General Muhammadu Buhari’s entry into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

“Buhari will define politics in the years ahead. Nigeria is lucky, quote me. We are lucky he didn’t join the PDP. The battle line is drawn. It’s going to be a marathon race,” he declared.

Buhari had joined the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) when Oyi perceived the future. Not only did he prophesy, Okadigbo actually went to celebrate that the stage was set for deconstructing the one-party state being weaved by Obasanjo.

Some honest stakeholders who had elementary knowledge of Buhari’s financial war-chest challenged Oyi’s postulation, pointing out that Buhari was greatly handicapped in a stage play of money politics.

But Oyi didn’t page with anyone; rather, he prophesied further that “Buhari is going to construct a progressive Nigeria. He is incorrigible and Spartan, and has the capacity, discipline and courage to battle an imperial dictator that OBJ is and change the old order,” Oyi maintained.

It went down in history that in 2015 presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari won and the former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, graciously conceded defeat and congratulated the winner.

Since assumption of office on May 29, 2015, President Buhari has in measured steps began the construction of a progressive and prosperous Nigeria. This is the foundation for constructing a progressive and prosperous Nigeria, which Dr. Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory, predicted over a decade; a transparent foundation, devoid of corruption and greed.

Highlights

Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo was President of the Senate of Nigeria. He was sometimes referred to as Oyi of Oyi in reference to his local government council area (Oyi); he also held numerous political positions in the Nigeria government. He was known to be opposed to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria, which was led by President Olusgun basanj from 1999 – 2007.

Biography

After graduating in Washington, D.C., Chuba Okadigbo became Assistant professor, and later adjunct associate professor of philosophy, University of the District of Columbia, adjunct assistant professor of politics at the Catholic University of America, and adjunct assistant professor of politics, Howard University. He accomplished all these from 1973 to 1975.

Between 1975 and 1978, Okadigbo became Director-General, Center for Interdisciplinary and Political Studies, and a lecturer in Philosophy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also became a Professor of Philosophy, Bigard Memorial Senior Seminary (Roman Catholic Mission) in Enugu State.

In 1979, he was appointed as a Special Adviser to then president, Shehu Shagari. At the dawn of the fourth republic, he was elected into the National Assembly (Anambra North) and he became President of the Nigerian Senate, after the impeachment of Evan Enwerem. However, in 2000, he was falsely charged of corruption and impeached, officially demoting him from Senate President to a senator.

In 2002, Okadigbo decamped to the All Nigeria Peoples Party to become Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in the 2003 Presidential election, but lost to the Peoples Democratic Party candidates (Olusgun basanj and Atiku Abubakar) by a landslide victory. Because of possible mass rigging, his party later took the matter to the Supreme Court that year.

A day after campaigning in Kano State, he died in Abuja due to breathing problem on September 25, 2003.

Though, some people around Nigeria questioned whether or not the tear gas used during the rally was poisonous.

Reacting to the shocking news of Okadigbo’s passage, Muhammadu Buhari in 2003, declared that the death of Dr. Chuba Okadigbo is antidote he needed to spur him into active politics. Buhari also recounted the episode at the solidarity rally in Kano, and said a canister of teargas was thrown at the former Senate President’s face, which allegedly aggravated a case of asthma associated with the latter.

Son of Chuba Okadigbo, Pharoh, pairing his father’s ideology with ideals of President Muhammadu Buhari, said in an interview that President Muhammadu Buhari would have retired from politics by now if his father was still alive.

Manifesting the political phenomenon that set Dr. Okadigbo apart, Pharoh calculated that, if his father was alive, Buhari would have served out his eight year tenure as president of this country before 2015.

His reading of the situation went thus: “If my father was alive, Buhari would have been president in 2007. So l believe strongly that Buhari would have been a retired politician by now because he would have won the election in 2007 and won again in 2011. Another man would have been at the helms of affairs of this country today. Chuba Okadigbo would have played a great role in making that scenario possible.