dibueze chinyere asika- a life in words and pictures

A L i f e i n W o r d s a n d P i c t u r e s 1

A life in words and pictures

DibuezeChinyere

Asika

2 D I B U E Z E C H I N Y E R E A S I K A

Published by Outsource Media. First published by Outsource Media in 2015.

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All text ©the author, Ed Emeka Keazor

ISBN: 978-0-620-62700-9

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A life in words and pictures

Dibueze Chinyere

Asika

ED EMEKA KEAZOR


Contents

Foreword by Ojinnaka Obi Asika 6

Chapter 1: Early years and family life 9

Chapter 2: Love and marriage 21

Chapter 3: Life in a time of crisis 1966-1970 33

Chapter 4: The first lady of the East-Central State 1970-1975 47

Chapter 5: Life outside Government House 75

Chapter 6: 1994-2004: The true sacrifice of love 99

Chapter 7: Final steps of a distinguished life 115


Foreword

Ever since May 3 2015, I have asked so many questions since my mother passed away that Sunday morning. I knew my

mother as well as any man can know his mother, and I was privileged to have her in my life for over 46 years. For that and so many reasons, I am thankful. For the privilege of being the only biological son of the mother of hundreds. I am proud of the person she was, beyond any titles or public positions, beyond vanity or hubris. My mother was all love. She had an unstoppable optimism about life, about Nigeria, about the capabilities of her many peoples and especially of her Igbo people.

She was a thorough anthropologist and all her collections were connected to the origin and culture of our people. From

books to fabric, from art to antiquities, my mother collected it all. Almost every day of her life, if you listened well enough, you would learn something about Nigeria and Nigerians and the emergence of the Igbo as a global ethnic nation. Her abiding love remained my father and although I had to grow up fast when he fell ill, her actions and love drove the family forward at our darkest moments. With her and my sisters taking incredible care of him and allied with his own indomitable will to live, my father lived a decade beyond his stroke. None of this would have been possible without the love and support of a wide network of friends and family, but I know more than anybody else who suffered the most, and it was her. After my father passed, my mother entered yet another phase of life, calmer, more reflective and still continued to chart amazing firsts for herself and I think the joy that Nwando, my youngest sister, brought to her life, played a major role in all of this. In that period, she enabled me to re-learn my personal and family history and empowered me with the shared dreams of my parents and thousands of conversations, images and documents.

My mother lived a life of service. Service to God, humanity, her community, her people, her family and her country. She never sought honours, titles or awards- which did come her way- but treasured her family, friends and those endless conversations. This mini-bio was lovingly crafted by my good friend Ed Emeka Keazor, my father’s biographer, and over the past four years we have embarked on this amazing journey, through over


20 thousand images and documents. She was always there, guiding, interpreting, and suggesting cross reference sources. My mother was excited to be returning to Tanzania (where she had been a research associate at the University of Dar-Es- Salaam) and honoured to be representing Africa as she put it.

I hope this biography gives you some insight into the life and times of my mother and enables you to reflect, enjoy, share and keep her alive in your hearts and minds. She had a knack of connecting with people, no matter their station in life. From the beginning she instilled humility and compassion as the principle form of engagement and encouraged us to focus on work and the preservation of our father’s legacy.

I truly believe that she was an absolutely good person. Someone who by nature was inclusive and confident enough in herself to celebrate others. She had friends from all over Nigeria and took them as family. She taught us what it meant to be Nigerian and she showed us the sacrifices that were made to preserve Nigeria.

After all is said and done, after the events and ceremonies, the pomp and pageantry, the tributes and eulogies. The one abiding thing about my mother was that she was a pure force of nature, a fighter and consensus builder. Fiercely proud of her origins and people, and if my father’s epitaph was “I was born a Nigerian and I have lived as a Nigerian and I have little doubt I

will die a Nigerian”, then her life journey gave us the compass of my family and its bloodlines. From Yola in Adamawa to Elele in Rivers through Egbu and Onitsha, she showed me not just where we were from, but who we are. She drilled in us, her personal and abiding hope and belief in Nigeria for the greater common good. She was a true believer and made all who encountered her marvel at the range of our languages, culture, clothes, history and evolution. In another life my parents would have lived out their life plan as academics on campus, I am glad destiny intervened and i am proud of their combined service to this country.

I feel a great responsibility to tell the stories of Nigeria and through the incredible lens of Ed Keazor, I hope we have given you some insight into this woman and her life and times. For me and for her children we want to simply say thank you mum, we love you and will continue to honour you in our daily lives.

I have heard that it is good to be full of life when you die. My mother was full of life and left us with that same dignity and elegance that was her earthly manner. We are all grateful to the good lord, for granting her that grace. So while we mourn her passing, I will always celebrate her life and she lives deep within us, sleep well mum and may your soul rest in peace.

OJINNAKA OBI ASIKA


CHAPTER1Early years and family life


Chinyere Edith Ejiogu was born in 1939, the first born of one of Nigeria’s foremost educationists- Nathan Okeoma Ejiogu, the

first indigenous Chief Inspector of Education in Eastern Nigeria.

A narrative of Chinyere Ejiogu would be incomplete without a brief summary of her historical antecedents. Nathan Okeoma Ejiogu was born in July 1911 to Ejiogu Ekeji and Iheoma Nwogu of Umuayalu, Egbu Owerri in Imo State, one of two children of this wood-carver, the other being his sister Christiana Njirigwa. Nathan Ejiogu lost his father at an early age and was brought up by his mother Nwanyiaku, who is described as petite, dynamo of a woman.

Nwanyiaku determinedly brought up her children on her own. She was known for her strength of character and sheer tenacity, she once wrestled and killed a hawk that had attempted to steal one of her chickens. She was as protective over her two children, working tirelessly to bring them up on her own. Her inspirational tale is crowned by her acquiring such substantial wealth from her farming and trading, that by the 1915, she had become a moneylender, often extending loans, with collateral.

When the Church Missionary Society extended its work to Egbu Owerri, she donated land for the Church to build on, they built a School and a Church. Whilst she sent her children to the school, as well as allowing them to be baptised in the Church, she pointedly refused to convert to Christianity herself. The young Nathan was described as a prodigiously intelligent, hard-working child who applied himself diligently to the task of attaining the Western Education, he had set himself. He completed his primary school education at Government School Owerri, after which he

taught for a short while, before moving on to the Bonny Normal College, where he gained a Grade III Teacher’s Certificate at the of age 17 in 1928 and his Senior Teacher’s Certificate at the age of 22 in 1931. In 1933, he travelled to England, where he gained an Advanced Associate Diploma in Education, Organisation and Administration. He was the first and only person in Eastern Nigeria to pass the London Matriculation Examination when it was first administered in 1944 (there were only five successful candidates throughout Nigeria

In the course of his career, he was variously the first Head Master of Government Middle School Owerri (1935), School Master at the Government Middle School Aba and Government College Umuahia between 1949 and 1950. He then served as a Travelling/ Visiting Teacher and Regional Adult Education Officer from 1950-1953. He was the first African Principal of a teacher training institution in Eastern Nigeria – The Teacher Training College Uyo, between 1953 and 1958. In 1960, he was once again the first African Chief Inspector of Education in the then Eastern Nigeria. His gravitas was such that even after his retirement in 1965, he was recruited as an Educational Consultant to UNESCO and the Ford Foundation. He was also to serve as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He had also in 1963, been honoured at National level by the award of Officer of the Order of the Niger, to his contributions to the development of education. He was clearly a distinguished man.

He had a single-minded dedication to both the Egbu and indeed larger Owerri and dedicated himself to Community projects from an early age. At 17, he became the General Secretary of the Owerri Union, serving in numerous other roles throughout his life. He


was also a prolific writer, on a broad range of subjects, of which he seemed at ease and authoritative. Examples being ‘Owerri Mbari Houses’ (The Nigerian Teacher-1935); “The Report Of Comparative Technical Education Seminar Abroad And Recommendations For A National Plan Of Vocational And Technical Education In The Federal Republic Of Nigeria” co-authored with Dr. Adam Skapski, Dr. Tai Solarin and Prof. Babs Fafunwa amongst many others.

In-spite of his eminently successful career, he faced private turmoil, which contrasted with his great achievements in the public view. He had been betrothed to his first wife- Amelia Agbugbua in 1929, who was however too young to be married. He sent to be groomed at a relative’s home, later returning to take her place in her husband’s home. Under pressure from his mother, who quite naturally wanted a grand-child, he married a second wife Margaret, under Native Law and Custom, in 1933. However this marriage still did not produce a child for almost three years. Nwanyiaku, swung into action once more and compelled her son to marry yet a third wife Atuogu in 1936. By 1938, when her son’s marriages still had not produced any children, an extremely exasperated Nwanyiaku reacted in the way she knew best- she searched for and found for him, yet a fourth wife- Esther Egejuru, the daughter of an ex-Policeman from Owaelu, Uratta-Owerri.

Esther got pregnant in late 1938 and when on 19 June 1939, she delivered a baby girl, who was christened “Chinyerenwa” (literally- God has given a child), the wild celebrations at Egbu-Owerri were probably understandable. The celebrations did not end at Egbu, as reflected in the fact that the Eastern Nigeria Mail Newspaper (published at Owerri) of July 1 1939, carried a news story of the birth with the header “Mr. N. O. Egiogu of the

Government Middle School has been receiving congratulations on the delivery on Monday June 19 of a female child by his wife.” The birth of Chinyere Ejiogu seemed to have been the cue family was waiting for. Esther, Amelia, Margaret and Charity, now produced a pretty impressive succession of births- Ahuuole, Ogechi, Chiaka and Kelechi, who was the first male child. He was followed by Ngozi, Kemafo, Nwaejuafor, Ibeayuchi, Agbaku and Ugboaku, Ukwuoma, Nnenna, Oluoma, Akufor, Anagam, Nnamdi, Chimdi, Nwawuikwu (Uche), Nedum, Obiageli and Ijeoma- 22 children in all. In keeping with his profile as an achiever, whatever he had lost in time, he made up for in numbers.

In-spite of the size of the family, Nathan Ejiogu was an exceptionally dedicated father figure and strict disciplinarian, who set rules for his children and enforced them, his favourite mantra being the good old “obey before you complain”. He was totally aware of each child’s progress and monitored them with the same meticulous care he applied to his profession. His wives lived in harmony, as far as that was possible in a polygamous home. On account of the size of the family, like his mother had done, the wives engaged in various forms of trading to assist their husband in supporting the large family. In their own right these were formidable women, at least two of whom were political activists.

The star of the whole show was Chinyere, who was baptised Chinyerenwa Edith Ejiogu, at the CMS Church at Egbu, shortly after her birth. She was quite simply her grandmother’s favourite, as a result of her having “opened the spiritual floodgates” for her son. She was like her father, an incredibly energetic, intelligent child and like her grandmother, exhibited traits of single-minded


determination and independence. She was also the apple of her father’s eye, although that did not spare her from the sharp end of his cane, when she transgressed. However there was an incredibly strong bond between father and daughter, which endured throughout his life.

The Ejiogu family was a prominent family in Eastern Nigeria, with a proud heritage of independence and academic achievement which was reflected in the fact that all 22 children attained a University education. Chinyere was the template for the culture of academic competition that the children of Nathan Ejiogu exercised.

She started her education aged three, in 1942, at the Government Middle School, Owerri. Firstly in the pre-primary section and later in the full primary section, aged 6, in 1945. Whilst there were ordinarily six Standard Classes levels in Primary Schools, at which a pupil would then take the Common entrance exams into Secondary School at Standard Six, she however was permitted, on account of her excellent output to take these examinations at Standard Five and passed them convincingly. She had of course been an excellent pupil, at the top of her class throughout. She passed the entrance examination to Holy Child College, Ikot Ekpene on a full Government scholarship and continued her studies there from 1950, at the age of 11. Her parents were never required to pay her school fees from this point, for the rest of her life, she benefited from full academic Scholarships. Her father, on return from his studies in England, was transferred to the Teacher Training College, Uyo. The decision was thus made for Chinyere to be transferred to Cornellia Connelly College, also at Uyo in 1953. The C.C.C as it was called was an all-girls Catholic School, run by the Mission and had a rigorous academic and disciplinary regime,

for Chinyere there was no let-up, at home with her father (she was a day student). Nathan Ejiogu would enforce extra-mural classes on his already academically excellent daughter.

This regime would only be punctuated by walks with her sister Ahuruole, who joined her at the C.C.C in 1954 and entertainment in form of light reading- Enid Blyton’s classics, Aesop’s Fable’s and Crimius Family Tales, being part of the literary fare they enjoyed for leisure.

Her academic performance at C.C.C was as usual exceptional, once again constantly first in her class, with subjects such as Latin, English History, Geography of the world, English literature. She took her School’s Certificate Exam in 1955 and achieved a Grade 1 performance. The next step being to Higher School. She was directed by her Principal at C.C.C. (the only student in her school), to take an exam at Aba, which she did almost nonchalantly, only to be told a few weeks later that she had passed the entrance examination into the prestigious Queen’s College, Lagos- Nigeria’s premier female Secondary School There she would sit for the Higher Schools Certificate, for admission into University- which then was the University College, Ibadan, the only University in Nigeria, on full scholarship. She was the only girl from Eastern Nigeria, who passed this exam. At Queens College, she chose History, Latin and Geography as her core subjects. She was also given the option of taking a qualifying examination for a Scholarship to an American University, under a programme called the African Scholarship Programme in American Universities (ASPAU) which she did in 1960. She took this exam as well, as her Higher School Certificate, and passed both with flying colours. In the case of Higher School Certificate, only 96 candidates were successful throughout Nigeria, and only


4 were women and she was one of them. Once again, she was the only woman from Eastern Nigeria.

However it was uncertain as to whether she should travel to the USA for her University education. The Nigerian Government, made the decision for her. She opted to go to the USA for her university education, when she was offered a place at the prestigious Mills College, in California.

Founded in 1852, as an all-female College, Mills had a high reputation for academic excellence. In 1961 She and the other ASPAU scholars (including one Nnaemeka Achebe, later to distinguish himself as a Director in Shell Nigeria and even later to assume the Royal throne of Onitsha as Obi and another, Kalu Idika Kalu, later to become Nigeria’s Finance Minister) joined the program and headed for the United States.

They travelled in a four-leg journey, firstly by air from Lagos to Tripoli, then to Paris. Followed by a train journey from Paris to Cherboug and lastly by ship from Cherbourg to New York. She was quartered with a guardian family – John and Electra Prize for six weeks, before the start of the school term.

At Mills, she decided on Government as her Major and Anthropology as her Minor. She assimilated easily at Mills, as she was a confident young woman, who had quite honestly had an orientation at Queens College that prepared her for an institution that did not need to make pretensions to elitism, it simply was. It was not uncommon for four generations of the same family to have attended the College. It counted either as past Faculty members or students, names like Mark Twain, Isabel Allende, Gertrude Stein and John Cage, to name a few.

She was a member of the School Swimming team, as well as a regular speaker at talks, on life in Africa. On an aside she had noted that there were only three other Blacks in the school, which characterised for Chinyere, somewhat uncomfortably, its elite status. She graduated in 1964, with a BA and successfully applied for a Post-Graduate placement at UCLA to study Government. Everything was in place for her to embark on the next leg of her academic adventure. She looked forward to safe straightforward course of Postgraduate study and onwards to a return to an awaiting and equally safe civil service job, back in Nigeria, as had been the plan with her father. However, fate had other plans, as shall be seen subsequently.


Chinyere Asika, c.1957


The Ejiogu family, c.1958. Chinyere Asika, second row, middle. The Ejiogu wives.


Nathan Ejiogu OON c.1964


Chinyere Asika, on-board ship to the USA, 1960.

Chinyere Asika (front row, 3rd from right), with alumni of Mills College, at reunion in 1974


CHAPTER2Love and marriage


Whilst preparing for admission into UCLA, she received word that her ever affectionate father had sent her a package,

through a family friend Sam Nwaneri. Whilst the contents of the package in question was not money on this occasion, she had gotten used to receiving regular cash gifts from her father, earning her the fond nickname “Dollars”. She made the five hour journey from Oakland to UCLA, to meet Nwaneri.

After collecting the (non-Dollar) package, containing letters from home, another family friend, Okwudiba Nnoli persuaded her to spend the day in UCLA, to attend an event organised by the African Students Association. She accepted, especially as she felt it would give her the chance to check in on some of her ASPAU colleagues. She took the opportunity to walk around the Campus, and unlike Mills, was pleasantly struck by the comparatively high Black population. She looked forward to enjoying this and the environment when she commenced her Postgraduate course.

On returning to Nnoli’s apartment to prepare for the evenings function, she found him in the company of a youngish looking man, to whom Nnoli rather over-enthusiastically introduced to her saying, “meet our brother Ukpabi Asika”. The pair shook hands and said “hi”. Ukpabi Asika, asked, in Igbo, how she was, from his accent she was able to determine that he was from Onitsha or its environs.

Nnoli would not be deterred by the seemingly cool response from Chinyere and pressed on saying “Ukpabi here is a postgraduate student of this university. He has been here for the past 2 years pursuing his PhD in Political Science. Besides, he is the President of the African Students Association, the organizers programme we are attending.”

In polite deference to Nnoli’s exertions, she once again greeted the young gentleman, who Nnoli clearly thought a great deal of. After the somewhat awkward introduction, the trio exchanged light chit-chat, however Chinyere found herself observing this reserved, yet confident and young man, who seemed so self-possessed and deliberate in every action. She observed that nothing about him appeared to be effected or calculated to please an audience.

The three left for the event which appeared to be some sort of meeting, combined with a party afterwards. She watched him received by members of the African Students Association, with genuine respect. He delivered a speech at the start of the event, which had his audience in rapt attention and listening to his words, she deduced that he was an extremely intelligent man.

The party afterwards was a lively affair, at which she finally encountered her ASPAU colleagues. They left no-one in any doubt that that they were glad to see her. There was little opportunity for her to strike up an intimate conversation with Ukpabi Asika and he made no attempt either. It did not matter though, she was coming back to UCLA, even though he had been reserved in his contact, he was taken by this vivacious, intelligent beauty. However as with everything he did, he was going to do things at his own pace and in his own way.

Chinyere returned to UCLA to start her Postgraduate Degree in Government. She just happened to bump into the “distinguished” Mr Ukpabi Asika on campus and once again they exchanged pleasantries, he enquired as to her welfare and from then on they kept in touch. He became a regular visitor at her residence, checking in like a big brother to make sure she was okay and giving her helpful tips on settling into life at UCLA.


He was not the only one who had noticed the “hottest” African sister on campus. She became a romantic target for the male Nigerian contingent. The chase was narrowed down to two groups of stakeholders- the ASPAU Group, who felt a certain, some would say, undeserved sense of entitlement to her attentions and other Nigerian students on the campus.

If Ukpabi Asika was aware that he had competition, he did not show it to the said competitors, much less to the “prize catch”. He continued his confident march, spending quality time with her, still in the “big brother” mode. In due time however, genuine trust and friendship grew between the two, such that they increasingly spent more and more of their spare time together. There were no grand declarations of status, if any relationship happened naturally, this did. This was late 1964.

She would spend countless evenings at his apartment, in which they would indulge in their shameless, guilty pleasure- books. The couple were voracious readers and would often spend a whole weekend, reading and not light reading either. Ukpabi Asika, was firmly in his Marxist phase and would gorge himself on Marxist literature, which he would constantly cross reference with Chinyere and vice-versa, reading soundlessly for long interludes, the only punctuation to the blissful silences being the rustling of turning pages and the soft sound of cigarettes being stubbed out or lit.

Their relationship simply happened, two kindred souls united in simple, genuine friendship and deep affection for one another. In due course, they would be seen around campus, constantly in each other’s company. It did not need to be defined, it was clear to all that they were now a couple.

Their conversations now went beyond the present or transient, there were serious issues arising. The first of which was Chinyere’s academic programme. She had, as said, enrolled for a Masters in Government (staunchly refusing to study Political Science). She began to reconsider her choice, largely on account of advice from Ukpabi, which was along the lines that an MA in Government was too similar in content to his own course, he advised that she pursue an MA in Library Science and Information Technology, to allow some career diversity, in their life together, post-University. She saw the wisdom in his suggestion and willingly changed her course of study.

The unspoken implication of this being that he was suggesting a life together and she was clearly acceding to the implied suggestion. The couple nonetheless continued their daily pursuits, in her words their mannerisms and communications were practically as those of a couple enjoying an engagement before marriage, they were simply that close.

Upon changing her course, in January 1965, she buckled down, and got on with her academic work, likewise Ukpabi, who had by this time changed his research focus from the Political System of British Guiana, to a study of the Liberation movements of Southern Africa, a subject truly close to his heart.

Chinyere, as was now usual, successfully defended her MA thesis and made short work of her written examinations. Her course of study was over. It is noteworthy that she is on record, as the first Nigerian, and arguably, the first Black African woman, to obtain a Degree in Information Technology.


In the interim, officials of Nigeria’s Ministry of Labour had paid a visit to UCLA, as was the standard then and sought to recruit some of Nigeria’s finest for the Civil Service. She was offered the position of Assistant Librarian, at the University College, Ibadan, which she accepted.

Her return was fixed for August, of the same year, 1965. Ukpabi Asika, was still however preoccupied with his PhD research and in spite of all his best efforts, he would not be able to return to Nigeria till December. So Chinyere pressed on with her preparations for the journey home.

She was one morning lost in her thoughts of preparation for the journey and also subconsciously contending with the sense of loss she would feel on separation from Ukpabi Asika her constant companion, when he breezed into her apartment, and his first words on seeing her, were as unexpected as they were uncharacteristically delivered, he simply blurted; “Hi Honey, we have to get married”. She dropped the book in her hand out of shock and stared at him in disbelief. Several thoughts passed through her mind at that moment, but fundamentally she searched for clues in his face, to ascertain if he was serious. The words that she uttered next, appeared to be in a voice that was not hers and were equally in form of a question- “Why not?”

As if her words were the valve that released the floodgates of emotion that had been pent-up between the two, they hugged each other tightly, in floods of tears. They were going to be married. All the months of anticipation were over.

The couple did not waste any time, they promptly collected and filled Marriage application forms and got fixed with a civil

ceremony, at the Santa Monica County Courthouse. On July 31 1965, they exchanged vows before the Justice of the Peace, in the presence of two friends and they were now husband and wife. There was a reception afterwards attended by a small group of their friends sponsored by the couple’s friend John Okumu, a Kenyan academic.

Chinyere Asika, revelled in her new status as a married woman, she had no doubt that she had made the right choice. He had been more than a partner, he was like a brother and her best friend all rolled into one. She looked forward to showing off the love of her life to her family, cautiously confident that her father, a man of high intellect would take to his new son-in-law. Both men formidable intellectuals from distinguished families. She did however harbour some lingering fear that her father would probably have wanted a say prior to her wedding. To this end she had written a letter to her father in advance, informing him of the marriage.

In August 1965, the new Mrs Chinyere Asika, returned to Nigeria, via Lagos, where she was met on arrival by her father. She was driven to Ibadan, where she was due to start her new job. Once she had a quiet moment, she raised the subject of her marriage with her father. As said previously, she had harboured slight nervousness about informing her father, but hoped that any discomfort would be minimal, his reaction was not what she hoped for.

He was incandescent with rage and expressed his displeasure in strong, unequivocal terms. This was not the way things were done, he considered it grossly insulting that any such ceremony had taken place without the “proper procedure” having been followed.


She tried to plead with her father, saying that once her husband returned, they would carry out a traditional ceremony. Her father’s response was terse and final “Which husband? It never happened, don’t mention it again!” It would not be an exaggeration to state that he was less than pleased.

Chinyere had never seen her father react the way he did and was greatly shaken. Her father was a strict, conservative man of the old school. He was a man of impeccable character and integrity, whose personal discipline was imparted to his children, in the same manner his own mother had trained him. The modern liberalism of the sunny lawns of Los Angeles, were light years away from the quiet, sturdy conservatism of Egbu Owerri. She chose wisely not to broach the subject further till her husband’s return and in fact for a fleeting moment regretted contracting a marriage that had brought so much pain to this man she loved so much.

Ukpabi Asika had been pre-occupied with matters related to his research and did not return to Nigeria till early December 1965, arriving in Ibadan, where he had now been offered a position as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science. He was entitled to an apartment, but moved into his wife’s three-bedroom flat, on the strength of the fact that they were now husband and wife and thus appropriately entitled to live together.

Nathan Ejiogu through whatever means became aware of this arrangement and was outraged, because as far as he was concerned, they were merely live-in-lovers and such an arrangement was immoral and unacceptable.

Chinyere Asika confirms that her family members took steps to evict Ukpabi Asika from her quarters, but as she expressed in her own words “he was not the type to be intimidated out of a place he considered his matrimonial home). He never budged.” For her this was going too far and for the first time in her life, she took sides against her father, by defending her husband. One person, who was or at least appeared, quite unfazed by the whole matter, was Ukpabi Asika. His mannerisms even suggesting he saw it coming, almost exactly as it happened. His position was very simple, they had to comply with Nathan Ejiogu’s wishes and get married in the manner he prescribed, it was tradition and it was the proper thing to do.

As such preparations for an elaborate wedding took place, after the traditional protocols were observed by both families. The wedding was fixed for Saturday December 18 1965. Preparations were feverish and the Ejiogu family was agog with excitement at what was to be the first of the many wedding amongst the 22 siblings.

Ukpabi Asika had prepared for his big day, and arrived at the All Saints Cathedral, Egbu-Owerri, accompanied by family members and with his old trench-mate and confidante Ukwu I Ukwu, as best man. Mrs Joy Ezeilo, Chief Bridesmaid, accompanied the bride into the Church premises, shortly after.

The hall was filled to the brim with the great and good of Eastern Nigeria, as was to be expected. The Ejiogu’s were a proud family, but none prouder and happier than the old warhorse- Nathan Ejiogu. He had won the battle, and on reflection, a good fight it was. As he led his daughter down the Church aisle, he savoured his victory. The couple took their vows and as they were pronounced


man and wife, Ukpabi’s smile suggested that the victory was actually his. There would be no more questions, he had won his prize, and there would be no more Steward’s appeals.

There was another beaming face in the hall, Rebecca Nwabunie Asika. She had gained another daughter and at least had the assurance that her son had come home.

After the wedding ceremony, entente ensued between the father/son-in-law. From the embers of pre-marital (as far Nathan Ejiogu was concerned of course) strife, a genuinely close relationship grew between the two men, based on mutual respect for each other. They became so close that Nathan Ejiogu became the father that Ukpabi had lost over a decade before. Whilst they would still have at least one occasion to conflict, Chinyere had been right. Her father had gained a new son, her husband- Ukpabi Asika.


The University of California Los Angeles. The Santa Monica Courthouse.


Ukpabi Asika at UCLA c.1963. University of Ibadan, 1960’s.


Chinyere Asika arrives for her wedding, with her father Nathan Ejiogu. Ukpabi Asika and Bestman Ukwu I Ukwu, arrive for wedding.


CHAPTER3Life in a time of crisis - 1966-1970


The couple then settled down to life at the University of Ibadan, he having also been recruited as a Senior Lecturer

in Political Science at this time. Their marriage was barely two months old, when a group of young Army Officers, overthrew the Government of Prime Minister Tafawa-Balewa, killing the Prime Minister, the Premiers of the Northern and Western Regions, the Finance Minister and several senior Army Officers. The result of the abortive coup attempt, being a chain of events that led to the assumption of office by the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army- Major-General J.T.U.Aguiyi-Ironsi. The political crisis deteriorated from May 1966, when riots in the North resulted in the deaths of hundreds of persons of Eastern Nigerian origin. A second coup took place in July 1966, which resulted in the death of Major-General Ironsi, Colonel Fajuyi and several key Army Officers. The core of officers, led by Colonel Murtala Mohammed, installed General Yakubu Gowon as Head of State. There were further riots in Northern Nigeria, in which once again people of Eastern Nigerian origin were killed. This resulted in the exodus of Easterners back to Eastern Nigeria, including those who lived and worked in Ibadan where the couple lived. The political crisis worsened, with Lieutenant-Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu and General Gowon engaging, for several months in a fragile political contest that ended in the creation of 12 new States on 27 May 1967 and the declaration of the Republic of Biafra on 30 May 1967.

On June 30, 1967, the couple travelled to Tanzania, with the aim of finalising Ukpabi’s PhD research into the Southern African Liberation movements. In Tanzania and later Zambia, they spent time with ANC members in exile, often attempting to cross into then Rhodesia with the ANC activists. They later moved to Kenya, joining the couple’s good friend, from their UCLA days, academic, John Okumu. Shortly after arriving in Nairobi, Ukpabi

Asika decided to return to Nigeria- without his wife. It was a difficult decision for the young couple, but mutually agreed. She remained in Kenya, while he returned to Nigeria at the end of September 1967.

His motivation in returning to Nigeria had been simple, in his own words, he sought to return to “do what he could, to stop this madness”. Madness being what he believed to be the Nation’s uncontrollable descent into chaos and disintegration. The details of how he intended to achieve this, were as yet unclear to him. He was however committed to the cause of ‘One Nigeria’ as was the turn of phrase at the time. The complication however was that Chinyere Asika was unequivocally committed to the cause of Biafra. Her sympathies being based squarely on what she saw as the persecution of Easterners in the pogrom strengthening her conviction to fight the injustice. She would religiously listen to Biafra Radio, on a daily basis. Which clearly her husband was less than pleased with.

Inevitably these diametrically opposite positions, resulted in serious tension between the couple. Ukpabi Asika’s concerns in this regard were laid bare, in a deeply emotional letter he wrote to his good friend and colleague, American political science scholar, Jerry Bender in June 1967. In the said letter, he had expressed his deep frustrations and fears of the looming crisis that now seemed inevitable at the time, as well as his commitment to fighting for the retention of the National entity. More specifically however, he had expressed deep fear about the threat, that he and his wife’s opposing views, posed to their young marriage. His words were telling and went thus “Chinyere is still here with me, but I don’t know for how long. Her appreciation and commitment to a Nigerian reality is unhappily, but understandably, different


from mine. Understandably, but alas tragically for me, she does [not] wish to be cut off from her family and to be put in opposition to her people. On the other hand, I now recognize and accept the necessity to fight, more actively, for the survival of my country and hence in apparent opposition to my family and my Ibo kinsmen. But one cannot escape his history.

The present tragedy may, therefore, force a separation between us, though our love remains strong and I hope will long endure. I am trying to delay the separation, if it must be, as long as it is safe to do so. More than that there is nothing I can do. It is all so very sad and painful.”

Chinyere Asika left then for Kenya and settled into a more solitary life in Nairobi, working as a Research Assistant to the globally renowned American Political Scientist and “Nigerian expert”, Professor James Smoot Coleman. The author of the classic work, ‘Nigeria: A Background to Nationalism’. She was in October of the same year (1967) to receive what, in her own words, could best be described as the worst possible news about her husband (other than actual physical harm befalling him). This being his appointment as Administrator of the newly created Central Eastern (or East Central) State. She was deeply saddened by this news, mostly based on deep and very real fears for his safety, as well as her own loyalties to the Biafran cause, which still existed at this time. Coleman and Okumu (having been fully briefed by Ukpabi Asika of course), took time to try and convince her of the efficacy of her husband’s decision to take up the position of Administrator, as well as the importance of her returning to Nigeria, for a brief visit to see her husband (as the two had put it to her).

The duo were able to achieve the latter aim with some difficulty (although she rightly suspected the “brief visit” advanced was a mere ploy), however the former was simply beyond the strong-willed convictions of Chinyere Asika to accept. In truth, the strongest motivation for her decision to return was simple. She was deeply in love with and loyal to her husband, in spite of their ideological differences on the matter of Biafra. With great reluctance, but with a stubborn longing for her husband, she returned to Nigeria in November 1967.

They were reunited in Lagos, where he was operating, out of the old Cabinet Office building, and resident at the Old Government House.

Ukpabi Asika was stationed in Lagos because Enugu, the capital of the East Central State, had been retaken by Federal Troops. The situation at the front was so sufficiently fluid and dangerous as to render Enugu, an unsafe permanent location for the office of the new Administrator.

She was to spend her first few days, in deep discussion with her husband, over various matters relating to the conflict. In the ensuing weeks, she was to adjust her opinion, based on her husband’s persuasive reasoning and most especially, upon becoming privy to certain information, which showed that Biafra would not win the war and indeed that there would be untold suffering and bloodshed occasioned by the conflict. Her husband was convinced even in the first few weeks, that the war was unwinnable for Biafra, and effectively conveyed this. He also made her privy to certain information, which revealed that the senior Biafran hierarchy appeared to be well aware that Biafra would be defeated. This information had come into her


husband’s possession from papers left at Enugu, after the flight of Biafran authorities from the fallen capital. This more than anything cemented her conviction that a swift end to the war was imperative, in spite of whatever sympathy she had initially felt for the Biafran cause.

She slowly got involved in her husband’s activities. Whilst he was not based at Enugu, from November 1967, he paid regular visits to Enugu and other areas in the East Central State, recaptured by Federal Troops. By the early part of 1968, she got involved with the rehabilitation effort that was to become a major and long-standing activity of the Government of the State. This started when a vast number of prisoners of East Central State origin, were released through the efforts of the then Head of the Special Branch (and later Inspector-General of Police), Alhaji M.D.Yusufu.

The man Yusufu, was to be personally instrumental in the release, from detention, of several prisoners of East-Central State origin, well after the end of the civil war in 1970. The initial set of prisoners were dropped off at the Asika’s residence, at which she had to assume responsibility for their feeding and general welfare. In due course, she would engage in Social Welfare and Skills training for some of the less skilled ex-detainees.

In the interim however, she was by October 1968, heavily pregnant with the couple’s first child. It was to this backdrop that Ukpabi Asika had gone on one of his tours of the battle-front. This time, with a team of foreign journalists, which included legendary names like American, Morley Safer of CBS and Briton Peter Sissons, then of the British Independent Television (ITV) and later of the BBC. Also in the party was the Kenyan-Asian Photo-Journalist, Priya Ramrakhar. Ramrakhar had been a good friend

of the Asika’s from their UCLA days. This visit was meant to last a couple of days, upon which he would return to join his wife to await the delivery of their first child. This however did not go to plan, as Chinyere Asika felt herself go into labour unexpectedly during the evening of 2nd October 1968.

Quite uncharacteristically, for the wife of a State Administrator, she was almost completely alone in the residence. In quintessential form for Chinyere Asika, she calmly packed a bag containing clothing and other materials for the baby, went into the car-park, started the vehicle present there and drove herself to the Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos Island. Upon arrival she was rushed into the ward, by the bewildered staff. A message was then sent to her husband, to inform him of the imminent birth of his first child. However before he could arrive from his sojourn to Owerri, his first son was born at 9.50am on Thursday October 3, 1968.

The baby was to be named Obodoechina, which in Igbo means my country must survive. This name, also had a deeper significance. Ukpabi Asika, was compelled to abandon his tour of the front with the International Journalists, as said. This was to be fortuitous, in that barely an hour after his departure, the group was ambushed by a Biafran Army patrol, which left one fatality, Priya Ramrakhar. Peter Sissons escaped with serious injuries. Ukpabi Asika, had in tribute to his late friend, declared by the naming of his son after him, that he (Ramrakhar’s) efforts would not be in vain. On an aside, and possibly illustrative of the cool analytical nature of the man Ukpabi Asika, was his diary entry on the birth of his first child, which read simply: “10 to 10 am. Chinyere gave birth to a boy- 5lbs 12oz”. Which belied, what truly was his intense happiness at his wife giving him a healthy son and heir.


In November 1968 Chinyere Asika was to visit Eastern Nigeria for the first time after her wedding. She was anxious to receive word of her own family. However this was not forthcoming. Nathan Ejiogu and his family, had in the interim endured serious difficulties inside Biafra, where they remained throughout the war. He had in fact been an intellectual stalwart of the Biafran administration, lending his not inconsiderable gravitas on matters of Educational policy to its Government, as well as consulting on a broad range of matters. He thus initially maintained the semblance of normal life with his family, at his residence at Owerri, until the advance of the Federal troops caused him to move his family to Amaimo, where they remained until the very end of the war. He was fortunate that his papers, which had been left behind at the Egbu Comprehensive Secondary School building, were retrieved by a French Mercenary deployed by the Biafran Army. This was a stroke of incredible luck, because anyone familiar with Nathan Ejiogu knew, his academic papers, books and records were second only in importance to him, behind his beloved family.

The difficult circumstances which the Ejiogu family endured during the war, were not assisted by the news, which filtered in during early 1968, that his son-in-law had been appointed the Federal Administrator of East-Central State. In-spite of his immense personal reputation and commitment to the Biafran cause, the great Nathan Ejiogu and his family were to suffer suspicion aroused by the familial relationship with an enemy of the Biafran State.

These thoughts occupied Chinyere Asika’s mind and caused her great sadness. Her husband’s situation was little different, as his mother and siblings were resident at Onitsha, on the outbreak of the war- and indeed remained at Onitsha, throughout the

conflict. Hence the couple were united in shared, but very private despair and anxiety relating to the fate of their families.

However there was very little either of them could do, but hope fervently for a prompt end to the bloody war that everyday claimed new victims on both sides, but especially among the civilian population of what was by late 1969, the greatly diminished Republic of Biafra.

She was to pay several visits to the recaptured areas of East Central State, with her husband. However, these visits were not merely scenic tours. Almost immediately upon resumption of office in 1967, Ukpabi Asika had begun planning for what was surely going to be a gargantuan rehabilitation and resettlement effort. He began mobilising resources within weeks of assuming office. Upon Chinyere Asika joining her husband, she also got involved in this by observing and making subtle suggestions geared towards the effort- this being in addition to her hands-on work with released detainees of East-Central State origin, who were now being released from detention in rapid succession and increasing numbers, as a result of the yeoman’s effort of M.D.Yusufu and Ukpabi Asika himself.

The rehabilitation committee headed by Gilbert Offodile, had busied itself with preparations and had been in action throughout the war, operating in the areas recaptured with the relatively small number of inhabitants who remained in such towns after recapture. She worked informally assisting and consulting with both the committee and her husband in the crucial work at hand then.


Ukpabi Asika was spending increasingly greater time in the East-Central State, as the war drew to a close by December of 1969 the family felt sufficiently secure to spend the Christmas at Enugu, in the Government House with their 14-month old son, Obodoechina. They remained there, even till the first weeks of January 1970. Her husband by the 9th of January, had quietly informed her that the war was not going to last beyond the next week, based on intelligence reaching him. This was to prove correct barely three days later, the couple had been awoken in their bedroom, at 3am by the unusual presence of a visibly excited Alhaji Ahmed Joda, then Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Information,

accompanied by (then Lieutenant-Colonel) Theophilus Danjuma, who announced that Colonel Ojukwu had left Biafra with his family for the Ivory Coast. At 11.45am in the morning of 11 January 1970, Ukpabi Asika broadcast on the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation Radio Service, the departure of Colonel Ojukwu and called the remaining combatants to lay down their arms.

This was then followed a day later by Colonel Philip Effiong’s broadcast of the surrender. The day was January 12, 1970. The war was over… finally.


Chinyere Asika, Ibadan, 1966 The newly wed Mr and Mrs Asika. January 1966 at Ibadan.


Chinyere Asika c.1967.


Professor James S. Coleman. Professor John Okumu.


The Lagos Island Maternity. Ukpabi Asika’s diary entry on the birth of Obi.


With Obi, on his first birthday, October 1969.


CHAPTER4The first lady of the East-Central State 1970-1975


Upon the broadcast of Effiong’s surrender speech, followed by the signing of the surrender document at Dodan Barracks,

Lagos on January 15, 1970. General Yakubu Gowon broadcast, an end of war speech on the same day, which was followed by a further broadcast by Ukpabi Asika, on January 16 1967. There was a deluge of sad, hungry, broken humanity streaming into Enugu. Unbelievable numbers, which could not have been anything less than 200,000 persons, trooped back to Enugu in the days after the war ended. A large number of these arrived to the Government House, Enugu, announcing their desperation. Chinyere Asika swung into action mobilising all resources available to her in personnel and materials, providing cooked food for all and clothing for any who needed same.

Whilst as said the Rehabilitation Commission had been primed and had already been active in several parts of the State, the simple fact was that the sheer number of those needing assistance was mind-boggling and the over-stretched staff of the Commission could not have coped without the assistance of a team of volunteers, of which Chinyere Asika led a most commendable and selfless effort at Enugu in the days and weeks after the war. The Commission, in accordance with the meticulous planning of Ukpabi Asika and Gilbert Offodile, started to distribute the huge stockpiles of foodstuff and clothing from various stores in Enugu.

The Government in recognition of the need for shelter to be provided for the teeming masses, at one stage authorised refugees to occupy any empty buildings they saw, on a temporary basis, pending the return of the owners. Additionally, the usual traditional spirit of the ‘brother’s keeper’, which had characterised the Igbo’s before and during the war, was on full display in those heady weeks of January 1970.

On a purely personal level, the Asika’s had the unfinished business of locating Nathan Ejiogu and the rest of the Ejiogu family. Things had been dire, but the family had in their usual stoic fashion, held firm and endured, under the steadfast guidance and inspiration of its patriarch. They were eventually located and those who were available, were taken under Military escort to Enugu, into the waiting arms of a deeply emotional and hugely relieved Chinyere Asika. Nathan Ejiogu did not immediately travel with the first convoy, seeking first to conclude some personal matters. Ukpabi Asika had already been re-united with his mother, siblings and other family members, after the fall of Onitsha. Ejiogu was to later travel to Enugu, to an emotional reunion with his beloved daughter. Any conversation about the ideological efficacy or otherwise of his son-in-law’s position was understandably placed on the back-burner, while the reunited enjoyed the simple celebration of life, a celebration several thousands of others had not enjoyed.

The couple could however be excused the completeness of relief in reunion with their families, from whom they had separated by the fratricidal barriers of the sad, evil war that had mercifully ended. Stories were exchanged on all sides about the events of the preceding years. As was prevalent then, recollections and sad memorials were relayed of family members and friends, who had not survived the conflict. This once again put into perspective for all, the senseless carnage and attendant misery; this was the price of war. Whilst the resounding and ubiquitous greeting “Happy survival” echoed both in the Asika and Ejiogu households, the silent post-script to this relief and elation was the stark, poignant words, also widespread at the time amongst the Igbo’s- “Ozo emena” (Never again).


In the aftermath of the war, came the stringent demands of the peace, which would prove as challenging in some respects. According to Dr Chu Okongwu, Economic Adviser to the East Central State Government, the State had a population of Seven Million persons needing rehabilitation and in many cases resettlement after the war. The logistical and administrative effort involved in this process was immense and an analysis of the cost of and effort required to rebuild the war-ravaged landscape that was left behind on January 12 1970, is beyond imagination.

There were quite simply only a handful of towns in the State that were not completely or partially damaged by the war. Even those that did not experience land warfare, were exposed to air bombardment. However the time for excuses was over, the responsibility for repair rested with the administration of Ukpabi Asika and he rose to the challenge. The Federal Government had espoused two policy platforms in dealing with post-war East Central State, these were firstly the political policy of “No victors, no vanquished”, an old American civil war adage, meaning simply that there would be no Treason trials for those who participated in the Biafran movement (probably with the exception of Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu). The other being the famous “Three R’s”- Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, a self-explanatory concept. Both of these policies were concieved by Ukpabi Asika.

The Asika administration, which was constituted barely months after the war, was comprised of some of Nigeria’s brightest brains at the time. The East-Central State enjoyed the blessing of their citizenship. The appointments were clearly based on merit, even though Asika himself had known some of these distinguished persons in his personal capacity. What was also instructive was

that a vast majority of these individuals had not just been active participants in the Biafran Government, but had in fact been members of the Biafran Armed Forces. A prime example being Dr Ukwu I Ukwu, who was former Commander of BOF and a world-class Economist. He had also been close friend of Ukpabi Asika and best man at his wedding in 1965. Other leading lights in this cabinet, included Dr Magnus Adiele, Offia Nwali, Adrian Orah, Anthony Mogboh (now SAN), Osita Okeke, the joint first Nigerian female Commissioner, Novelist, Flora Nwakuche and a number of others. This spirit was encapsulated by Dr Ukwu thus, “Having been vested with the full authority of military governor, as Administrator of the East Central State, this quintessential political scientist shouldered the responsibility of reassuring and restoring confidence to a traumatised people, erasing the scars of war, rebuilding the state and bringing it into the mainstream of national life. I was shocked when he invited me, an arch rebel straight from prison, to his Cabinet only to find that most of my new colleagues were also from the Biafran side. By this insightful move he had sent a clear signal that all of us – former “vandals” and former “rebels” belonged together in the common task of reconciliation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. Under his leadership the initial reserve and suspicion in the Cabinet melted away and we were soon able to work together as a team, focused only on the rebirth of our State from the ashes of war.”

This was a simple summary of the spirit and philosophy of the team Asika assembled. To put a fine point on Asika’s application of the “No victors, no vanquished” principle, 12 out of 15 member of his Cabinet, were released straight from detention, through his influence and that of Alhaji M.D.Yusuf, to occupy positions on his Cabinet.


However, the enormity of the task ahead of this team and their performance was equally encapsulated by Dr Chu Okongwu, who was then, Economic Adviser to the State Government. His words were insightful “…. there could not have been less than 7 million persons in East-Central State at war’s end waiting for succour. From the ashes of the war, with this adversarial human material and yet massive pressure of needs, with depleted infrastructure, and in the parlous financial situation, Ukpabi Asika confronted the challenge of recomposing the state machinery and providing nourishment –social peace (law and order), opportunities for productive enterprise, maximal expression of initiative and self-development, and public welfare – the essential responsibilities of the state for the citizens”

The details of the work the administration carried out shall be reserved for Ajie Ukpabi Asika’s biography. However a brief summary of the quantum would be the immense effort in reconstruction of infrastructure, such as the repair and new construction of over 1100 kilometres of roads, the rebuilding of public utility systems such as water, which was restored to and exceeded pre-war capacity (this even being for the whole of Eastern Nigeria), the restoration of Agricultural capacity, (Food and Cash crops) to record levels. The cabinets dogged battle to retain iconic institutions, such as the University of Nigeria Nsukka, which had been threatened with conversion into a Military barracks. The establishment of Institutions such as the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, which went on to perform the first indigenous Heart Surgery in 1974, the establishment of the Alvan Ikoku College of Education and the Institute of Management and Technology, amongst others. Significantly for the Igbo’s were the reconstruction, with financial assistance from the United Bank

for Africa (UBA), of the Onitsha Market, and other commercial sites across the state.

The Government of Ukpabi Asika operated a unique but ancient system of governance, which it termed Olu Obodo, (the work of the community). This being a system of indirect community development, using the facility of community associations. The basis being that the work of reconstruction required hands-on engagement from the local communities, which it believed to be otherwise discounted or non-existent, in the conventional Colonial Civil service, which in Igbo was described as “Olu Oyibo” (the white man’s work). Hence, a Divisional Administration Department was established, which acted as the interface between the community associations and the State Government.

As the ‘First lady’ Chinyere Asika, was a visible presence in the East Central State. She clearly portrayed a glamorous, celebrity-style image, as she graced several State events and functions, as her husband’s companion, likening comparisons with Jacqueline Kennedy. Her glamorous exterior however, belied an extremely capable intellect, a phenomenal work ethic and intense social conscience. She was a veritable intellectual sounding board for her husband, possessing an acute analytical ability, which rivalled her husband’s. However her greatest work in this era was to unfold, in 1971. Chinyere Asika had, as said, been heavily involved with the work of refugee rehabilitation in the State. She had by now become a tireless presence in the on-going effort of rehabilitation work. In this position, she happened upon the concept of organising the women of the East-Central State into strong co-operatives, for the purpose of self-help and sustenance. Her motivation being her recognition of the role of women in


traditional society in her native Owerri Province, as independent farmers and traders, who exercised a strong societal influence. She worked towards reinstating the economic profile that their Traditional role gave women, that which had been diluted by the disruption of Traditional societies following the introduction of Colonial governance. In her view, women could, and should indeed be involved in the crucial work that would be required to rebuild the State, at least in agricultural work. To this end, she conceived the idea of a cadre of women, known as “Otu Olu Obodo”, meaning the Community Development Society or Union. This involved the organisation of women into Agricultural co-operatives around the State.

She swung into action in 1971 with her new project, soliciting voluntary contributions from communities of land and materials, for the co-operatives, which were independent, with the women retaining the income generated from the sale of their produce for themselves. It is important to state categorically, that Otu Olu Obodo, functioned for almost all of its existance, without any Government funding. Under her leadership, at its peak in January 1975, it had gathered a membership of over One Million women, across the State, making it the biggest women’s co-operative association in Nigerian history, up till that time. In recognition of its success, Otu Olu Obodo was granted Government recognition and launched formally in April 1975, with provision in the State budget for the fiscal year 1975/1976.

On a lighter note, aside from the legacy of her work with Otu Olu Obodo, one lesser known fact is her small- some might say- highly significant- but many might also- say important role, in the birth of one of the greatest Institutions of Igbo-land, the legendary Rangers International Football Club of Enugu. The concept of

a Football Team for the State, had been promoted in 1970, by Chief A.W.Ibe and others like Jerry Enyeazu, as a motivational vehicle for the psychologically demoralised people of the State. Ukpabi Asika, was easily sold on the idea, and sanctioned State support for the team. However funds were meagre, with the main priority at the time being the rehabilitation of refugees, so private individuals pitched in. One such being Chinyere Asika, she volunteered to procure Rangers first Jersey strip, with her own funds. She recalled travelling to Aba in mid-1970, where the original strip was purchased and returned to Enugu. There the pioneer Rangers, Cyril Okosieme, Luke Okpala, Godwin Achebe, Shedrack Ajaero, Ernest Ufele, Kenneth Abana, Dominic Nwobodo and others (who ironically were former members of the defunct Biafran National Team) eagerly awaited their launch into African Sporting History. Thus it is on record that the first jersey strip of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu (a white t-shirt, with diagonal red strip), was chosen and bought by Chinyere Asika. It is however important to mention that Rangers alternated this strip, with the pre-war, four diagonal-square strip of the old Black Rocks XI of Enugu.

On a personal note, the year 1972, one year after the triumph of Otu Olu Obodo, served as the year of one of her deepest tragedies. This being the loss of her father, friend, teacher and great inspiration, Nathan Ejiogu, on August 4 1972.

Shortly after the war’s end, Ukpabi Asika had enlisted the considerable gravitas of Nathan Ejiogu as Chairman of the State Public Service Commission in May 1970. Whilst for the usual crowd of hecklers, this was an example of nepotism, what was unarguable was that this man was one of the best qualified in Nigeria, for such a position. As said previously, he had


pursued a highly distinguished career, as one Nigeria’s greatest educationists, a status recognised by UNESCO no less. He had by 1960, become the first African Chief Inspector of Education in Eastern Nigeria, all of which earned him the accolade of the National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger.

To stress his immense profile, tributes poured in from colleagues and associates, from all over the world. Dr Marvin Feldman, former President of the New York Fashion Institute of Technology described him as “clear-minded, thorough and incisive; he was very knowledgeable on the subject of comprehensive education.” Dr Wilbert Lamelle, a former US Ambassador to Kenya, described him as a “pensive, deliberate and thoughtful man, committed to the work of developing education in Nigeria….He was a man who had the public will in his vision by wanting to be of service to his country.” The great Dr Kingsley Mbadiwe, his former student, was not to be left out, describing his former teacher, as “a strict disciplinarian who brought dignity and integrity to the teaching profession.” Ukpabi Asika, described his father-in-law, as “a tireless worker of the finest integrity whose selfless service to his people was unmatched in dedication”.

In further recognition of his contributions to education, the Institute of Education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka was posthumously named after him. Additionally a Professorial Chair was instituted in his name, as a well as a biennial lecture series.

The point is probably well established now, that Ejiogu was one of the finest Educationists and Public Policy minds of his time and consequently, a great loss to his country and his State. However, the deepest loss was felt by his four wives and twenty-two children, for whom he was a completely hands-on, loving and

deeply devoted father to every single one. Nigeria had lost a son, but the Ejiogu’s and Egbu bore the deepest pain of his departure, including his eldest child, Chinyere Asika.

There were also moments of joy, astride this tragedy. The Asika’s welcomed two more children in their years in the Government House Enugu. Their first daughter, Nkiruka (the best is yet to come), named by her father, in consonance with his vision of the future for Nigeria, was born in 1970. She was followed by Obianuju (arrival in the time of plenty) in 1974. Whose name evinced Ukpabi Asika’s belief that the positive portends he had foreseen on the birth of Nkiru were coming to pass. The close knit family was complete, or almost, as was to be seen two decades down the line. The children were bright, beautiful and boisterous. Two highly distinguished parents, the golden couple some said. He the highly visible, intellectually formidable Administrator and member of the Supreme Military Council, whose opinion was sought by no less than General Gowon, the Head of State, on matters of diverse discipline, from Foreign Policy, to Economic Policy.

She, the vivacious, cerebral, feisty bundle of energy and daughter of a National Treasure. She had through sheer determination and effort, founded one of the biggest Women’s Mass movements in African History, One Million strong and growing. The Asika’s enjoyed strong personal friendships, based on mutual respect and admiration (some of which subsisted throughout their lives), with many of Nigeria’s great and good.

They counted on General Gowon and his wife Victoria, as close friends. In fact, both were God-parents to their daughter Nkiru. Likewise, General’s Theophilus Danjuma, Olusegun Obasanjo,


both members of the Supreme Council. They also counted the families of fellow Governors, such as Brigadier’s Mobolaji Johnson, David Bamigboye and others. Ukpabi Asika, on his own cultivated a strong friendship with Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. This in addition to an almost filial bond with Alhaji M.D.Yusuf.

The East Central State and indeed Government House Enugu, was alive in the years after the war, with a constant stream of dignitaries from all over the world. It was also an exciting cultural hub, with a diverse range of events, from the Classical to the Traditional, with acts like Nwokolobia Agu and Felix Nwuba’s Choral groups and the now world famous Atilogwu and Mkpokiti Dance Troupes, which had made the State proud, by winning the Golden Gong in 1970 and 1971 respectively, at the National Arts Festival. State House, hosted the avant-garde, from Highlife bands, on to the unthinkable (in any other such location), the maverick genius of Fela Ransome-Kuti. It was all on display at the State House. The State House also played host to series of successful Sports teams from the State, after each new triumph on the National Stage, such as the East Central State Academicals Team, which triumphed in the Manuwa-Adebajo Cup, one year after the end of the Civil War, Rangers International winning the National League title and Challenge Cup in 1974 and retaining both the following year. The East Central States Women’s Basketball Team winning, several National titles in succession. The State House also witnessed the comedic genius of the legend Chika Okpala (MON), as Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo, performing with his colleagues of the Masquerade comedy programme. This being a product of the East Central State, Writers Workshop, conceived by Ukpabi Asika and run by the late Professor Obi Egbuna, personally recruited by Asika himself.

The States mega-markets at Onitsha, Aba and Nnewi, had by 1975 been open for a few years. From the absence of one single Bank in the whole State by March 1970, the State had several Banks operating, two (formerly owned by the Eastern Region) which had been rescued from Bankruptcy and recapitalised by the Administration. These being the African Continental Bank and Cooperative and Commerce Bank was back on its feet as a Regional commercial hub, generating Millions of Dollars in Internal revenue. The Udoji awards of 1975, at Federal level, had contributed to an all-pervasive feeling of confidence and well-being nationwide and no less in the East-Central State. It could not possibly get any better, unless one considers that Ukpabi Asika, had been billed to assume duty as Nigeria’s new Federal Commissioner (Minister) for External Affairs, later on in the year 1975.

However fate once again, had other plans and on the morning of Tuesday, July 29 1975, exactly 19 years, to the day since the previous Nigerian coup d’etat, the tanks were rolled out on the streets of Lagos and the martial music and announcements on the radio, signalled another change of Government, the regime of General Yakubu Gowon had been overthrown, in a bloodless coup and Nigeria had a new Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, erstwhile Federal Commissioner for Communications. General Gowon, had been away at a meeting of the Organisation of African Unity. Ukpabi Asika had often accompanied General Gowon on these meetings, in his capacity as Ambassador Plenipotentiary for Ethiopia and Senegal, but did not on this occasion. Whatever the circumstances were, Ukpabi Asika’s tenure, as Administrator of the East-Central State had ended.


With General and Mrs Gowon. Government House, Enugu. 1975. Ukpabi Asika, Mrs Betty Bamgboye, Obi Ofala Okagbue of Onitsha, Mrs Chinyere Asika, Col. David Bamgboye, Governor of Kwara State.


Ukpabi Asika, Chinyere Asika, Mr Joseph D Gomwalk Governor of Benue-Plateau State, 1973.

With (the then) Colonel T.Y.Danjuma. Government House, Enugu. 1974.


At State function, 1973. At State function, 1974.


With Cyprian Ekwensi at one of the zonal launches of Otu Olu Obodo in 1975.

With Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson and Ukpabi Asika 1971.


Nathan and Esther Ejiogu admiring Obi’s latent Football skills. Nathan and Esther Ejiogu, 1970.


Ukpabi Asika, Nathan Ejiogu and Major-General Iliya Bisalla. Enugu, 1971.

Nathan Ejiogu and T.C.K.Osuji. Enugu, 1971.


At the funeral of Nathan Ejiogu, 1972


With mother-in-law, Enyi Rebecca Asika. With sister-in-law Sylvia Asika


The couple playing Scrabble. Enugu, 1973. From right, Mrs Betty Bamgboye, Ukpabi Asika, Colonel David Bamgboye, Chinyere Asika and Justice M.O.Balonwu.


With Uju, 1975. Obi and Nkiru, 1974.


At birth of Uju in 1974


At State function in 1974.


At a private function, 1974.


At an Otu Olu Obodo event, 1975 A Divisional launching of Otu Olu Obodo,1975


CHAPTER5Life outside Government House


In the aftermath of the take-over of the new regime family. Life after Government for the family, was to be a sea-change

in circumstance, which would greatly test the family’s resolve, but from which they emerged stronger as a unit. The family experienced a torrent of verbal attacks from citizens of the East Central State that appeared to have been previously restrained only by his occupation of office as Administrator. In simple terms, a large majority of Igbo’s had not forgiven him for his role during the Civil War and clearly the opportunity came to vent their ire. Additionally, the family were to face a slew of panels of enquiry, of which Ukpabi Asika, calmly and methodically, as was his wont, answered the queries as honestly as could be expected of him. He had committed no impropriety and he stood by this position till his demise. Chinyere Asika, as equally was her wont, was fearless and defiant, confident in the knowledge that neither her husband nor herself was in anyway deserving of the treatment, she regarded as a vindictive witch-hunt.

These were extremely difficult times, emotionally and financially, for the family. The couple was compelled to send their children Obodoechina and Nkiru (now aged 8 and 6) to school in the United Kingdom in 1977, to escape the verbal assaults and threats they faced constantly from ostensibly responsible adults. This was sponsored initially by their Grandmother, Madam Esther Ejiogu, who alongside her fellow wives of Nathan Ejiogu, had built a successful trading business.

In-spite of the difficulties, the family pulled together and slowly Ukpabi and Chinyere Asika, stoically emerged from the pall of false accusations and condemnation, to rebuild his and his family’s lives. He was greatly assisted by the kindness and support of close friends and associates- an example being the late Chief

Adebayo Adeleke, who once offered him a job in his company in 1975, on a salary of N15, 000, to enable him provide for himself and his family. He however rejected this offer, whilst genuinely moved by the kindness of a true friend.

The family was also to receive a deeply moving show of support, via a letter from the Elders committee of Egbu, who wrote to them a letter reassuring them that the difficult times would pass, this is copied below

“From Oha Egbu Elders and All Adults at home, Egbu Town. 9th September, 1975

Our Dearest In-law & Daughter, Mr & Mrs Asika,

We, the entire Cabinet of Oha Egbu Elders, all adult men and women at home, wrote this letter to Mr and Mrs Asika.

We had heard all that had happened to you; we had also heard all what many people had said and have been saying both good and bad. We whole-heartedly and sympathetically say to you “Be very very courageous”. “Do not despair”.

Unanimously, we remind you about the wise sayings of some Sages: -

“If you take heed what thou are within, thou shalt not think what men say of thee; man looked on the visage and God on the heart; man considereth the deeds and God praiseth the thought”.

“The storms of life, instead of destroying us can succeed only in making us stronger. Thus our fate depends not on the storms of life but upon how we meet them”.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience”.


Summarily, therefore, remember the following aphorisms and adages and then, take deep courage, deeper fortitude and deepest unabated tolerance.

No one is perfect; and he who boasts of being perfect, is perfect in folly.

After a great storm then comes a great calm. The one sensible thing to do with a disappointment is to put it

out of your mind and think of something cheerful. I banish the past and now live in the wonderful now, where

happy surprises come to me each day. Often the least courage is not to die but to live. Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and

experience, hope. “Pittance is no quittance, “leave my room” does not mean leave

the world”. Heros and heroines are always known, recognised and honoured

because of their exemplary and untarnished fortitude and tolerance with which they resisted many oppositions from within and antagonisms from without.

All these words above are for you and for all entire Egbu people. Very very warm and affectionate greeting from us all to you and your family. We remain, Yours sincerely, OHA EGBU ELDERS & ADULT MEN & WOMEN AT HOME

The words of the elders were indeed to come to pass, as the family slowly pulled itself up from the negative, stormy period they faced in the mid-late 1970’s. Ukpabi Asika ventured into business, founding one of the first Indigenous Information Technology Companies, Sigma Systems, alongside other ventures. Chinyere Asika on her own part exercised her own social entrepreneurial

skills, joining a socio-economic Consultancy firm, where she worked for five years between 1975-1980.

However she never lost her special gift for women’s mobilisation and upon the lifting of the ban on political activity in 1978, she put those skills into effect, by founding a Women’s political group known as Eziokwu bu ndu. Upon the formation of political parties, she joined the membership of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and she eventually rose to become the leader of the Women’s wing of the party in Anambra State. The NPN was initially in opposition, in the period, 1979-1983, when the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) held sway, under the Governorship of Chief Jim Nwobodo. However, the NPN was to triumph in the 1983 elections, with the victory of the late Chief Christian Onoh. Chinyere Asika was appointed Special Adviser for Women’s Affairs. This was an accolade, not just for her contributions to the party’s success in the elections, but most significantly for over 12 years of dedicated service to the mobilisation and upliftment of women. Significantly also, she entered the history books once more, as the first person in Nigerian history, to hold a Cabinet level appointment in respect of Women’s affairs. However the post was purely advisory and did not have any accounting responsibilities

She was unable to fully implement any meaningful programme in her new office, as the Government of President Shehu Shagari was overthrown in a Military coup, which took place on Saturday, December 31 1983. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, assumed office as Head of State and with this as usual, all civilian infrastructures were dismantled. Chinyere Asika was to find herself, held under house arrest, for a brief period, alongside 500 other political office holders, all across the nation. She was


neither charged nor tried for any offence, unlike many others, and was released after a few months.

The Asika family once again ploughed on with its life. Chinyere Asika returned to run her business affairs. She had been by her husband’s side, when he took on the prestigious Ozo Title of Onitsha, in 1980. She was also by his side in 1985, when he was elevated to the cadre of the ‘Immortals’, by his installation as the Ajie Ukadiugwu, a High Chief and member of the Ndi Ichie Ume, of Onitsha. She was to shortly afterwards, receive similar honour, when she was conferred with the title of ‘Iya Meto’ of Ibadan in 1986, alongside her sister Chief (Mrs.) Queen Babalola. However she was to receive her most cherished traditional accolade, when she was admitted to the prestigious ‘Odu’ Society of Onitsha in 1994, taking on the title of ‘Dibueze’, at a lavish ceremony held in the ancient city.

The Asika children in-spite of all they had experienced, were progressing academically, under the loving and patient guidance of their father and the equally affectionate, but strong, disciplinary hand of their mother. The children described their mother, as one who would enjoy a good bit of banter, in lighter moments, but who brooked no dissent, or bad behaviour. She demanded and always received, absolute commitment and application by her children to their education. Ajie Ukpabi Asika on the other hand, expected the best from his children in all they did, and they delivered.

Both parents had deep interaction with their children, engaging them in some of the long intellectual conversations, which had been their habit as a young couple in their UCLA days. The coupled imbued into their children, a strong independence of

thought and a cosmopolitan orientation. To embrace the vast opportunities for knowledge acquisition, which their education and environment afforded them. However all of these were grounded in a strong sense of their true identity, as Africans, indigenes of Onitsha, with necessary bias to their maternal roots at Egbu, but most fundamentally, as Nigerians. The couple never wavered in their unalloyed love for their country, in-spite of the heart-break and disappointment, they had faced in pursuit of service to it.

The children would spend their holidays sharing their time with their much-loved paternal Grandmother Enyi Rebecca Nwabunie Asika, at the family home at Onitsha and with their Grandmother, Madam Esther Ejiogu, and their Step-Grandmothers, and several uncles, aunts and cousins, of the formidable Ejiogu clan. These holiday options were not negotiable. Family was extremely important to Ajie and Dibueze Asika and their children greatly enjoyed the communality that characterised these periods spent with their extended families.

Chinyere Asika was extremely close to her beloved mother and confidant, Esther, who was a constant presence, and indeed her step-mothers and other siblings. Her brother Kelechi Ejiogu, the eldest son of the family and de facto head after the demise of his father, described her as a truly affectionate sister. Who, he said, would often lose her temper, if she failed to receive a call from her beloved family. However she would be promptly pacified by a sheepish apology and revert to the lively, affectionate banter that endeared her to all. She could spend endless hours chatting with on the phone, or busy herself with visits to and from the family..


She also maintained a very close relationship with her mother-in-law Enyi Asika, who loved her like a daughter and who the Asika children greatly adored. The family was however shortly to suffer the loss of this great matriarch. Enyi Rebecca Asika, passed away in 1985, joining her husband, Edward Asika, who died in 1952. For Ukpabi Asika and his siblings, their mother had been a loving, comforting presence and an emotional link to their late father. For her it was the same, the loss was deep and the couple comforted each other privately, whilst keeping up a brave face in public, and playing the leadership role that was required of them.

On a different note, the family was to experience some form of catharsis from the trauma of Ajie Asika’s stint in public service, when the regime of President Ibrahim Babangida, in 1993, by a decree titled Forfeiture of Assets (Release of Certain Forfeited Properties, etc) Decree No. 24 of 1993, rescinded the 1976 instrument seizing some of his assets. The seizure being as a result of the findings of the Asset Investigation Panel Enquiry of 1975. This was the end of a long and tortuous road for Ukpabi and Chinyere Asika, the greater value of this being less in the material benefit accruing from the re-acquisition of the properties, which

specifically were Bladi Court, Warri, Delta State and land at G.R.A. Onitsha, Anambra State and Shares in Glaxo Nigeria Limited (Now PLC) and Diversified Investments Limited. The greater significance being in the seeming vindication of his protestations of their innocence of the allegations levelled against them for several years.

There was of course the usual cynical side-bar comments of Babangida’s gesture being geared towards garnering support for his own selfish ambitions. These were of course irrelevant considerations to the family, which placed value on the vindication of their stand. It is also instructive, that General Babangida, neither sought nor received any form of payback from Ukpabi Asika for the return of his properties, in cash or in kind. It is also important to place on the record, that the Decree covered several former Public Officers, of which he was just one. Others including, for example, Governor’s Joseph Gomwalk, Audu Bako and former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Kam Selem, all of whom were deceased and hardly in a position to offer any purported political favours to General Babangida.


Studio Shot. 1978.


Obi, Uju and Nkiru. London, 1979. With Obi, Nkiru and Uju. London, 1979.


With Madam Esther Ejiogu and sister Obi Pax-Harry c.1979. With family friend David Raphael and brother, Ibe Ejiogu .London 1979.


At a function. London, 1979. Nkiru and cousin Nini Chikwe, 1980.


Nkiru, Obi and cousins with Uncle, Kelechi Ejiogu Christmas at Egbu.


At Ukpabi Asika’s Ozo Society admission ceremony. Onitsha, 1980


On the campaign trail for the National Party of Nigeria, 1983


At Ukpabi Asika’s installation ceremony as Ajie of Onitsha, 1986. Nnabuenyi Edmund Asika formally unveils the bust of Edward Obiozor Asika, after the Installation of Ukpabi Asika as Ajie. Onitsha 1986.


Newspaper article on installation as the Iyameto of Ibadan, 1986. With the Olubadan Oba Yesufu Asanike, after installation as Iyameto of Ibadan.


Installation as Ochendo of Owerri, 1992. Installation as Ochendo of Owerri, 1992.


Obi Asika at Eton College. 1984. The family at Obi’s 18th birthday party in London, 1986.


At Obi’s 18th birthday party. London, 1986 At Obi’s 18th birthday party. London, 1986.


Enyi Rebecca Nwabunie Asika


Performing the Traditional greeting, during initiation ceremony into the Odu Society of Onitsha in 1992.

Madam Esther Ejiogu, greets the Ajie. Odu Initiation ceremony. Onitsha, 1992.


At admission ceremony into Odu Society of Onitsha At admission ceremony into Odu Society of Onitsha, 1992


CHAPTER61994-2004: The true sacrifice of love


A s was becoming the cruel pattern in this family’s life, every period of celebration was soon to be marred by tragedy,

which occurred in 1994, when Ajie Ukpabi Asika suffered the first of two major strokes. The first left him unconscious for several months. He was flown to the United Kingdom for treatment and recovered soon enough regaining most of his facilities, although marginally speech-impaired. Chinyere Asika was at his side throughout, managing his care and tending to him personally. He was to recover sufficiently enough to celebrate his 60th birthday in London in 1996, with his wife and children and several close family friends. In his ex-tempore birthday speech, he paid tribute to his wife and family, of which the relevant excerpt of his words was “After the trauma of a stroke, and when I then rejoined the world, I was filled with joy. The joy of recognition, of recognizing my friends, my family. I believe that if you are lucky, you die in instalments, and so get to know your true friends, your true family. I was struck very much by discovering my family to know that they cared for me and were prepared to make sacrifices on my behalf. And not just my immediate family, but my extended family, my in-laws and my friends; friends who are more than friends, who have become family in the truest sense and meaning of the word. So I feel that maybe we should all die in instalments and have the privilege of experiencing what I’m talking about.”

Chinyere Asika, on her part had penned a moving tribute to her husband, which more than any transmitted words from the cleverest biographer, outlined in an intensely emotional and sensitive manner, the happenings and substance of their journey together. It read thus:

Dearest, Many happy returns of your 60th birthday. It is hard to believe we

have become so old. I remember our first meeting in November 1963. I had travelled from San Francisco, California to Los Angeles to see

Mr. Sam Nwaneri who was visiting from Nigeria and who had brought letters and messages from my parents. On arrival, we ended up in your quaint Spanish-type villa in Westwood village – a most beautiful part of Los Angeles, adjacent to the University of California (UCLA) where you were a graduate student as a Rockefeller Scholar. You were such a gracious host. We spent most of the day discussing African politics and the emergence of new states. In the night you took us to the Malawian Independence ball, organised at your behest as the chairman of the African Students association of UCLA. The events of that weekend and your prompting helped me to decide on a graduate programme at UCLA.

When in the spring of 1964 I arrived in Los Angeles to register as a graduate student, it was natural that I should seek you out. Our relationship slowly grew from co-students in the same department of the social sciences to intellectual companionship and finally to love and physical attraction. We spent hours on end reading aloud to each other, enjoying the same authors interested in the same world events. We read Karl Marx and Mao Tse Tung; we carried around the ‘little red book’ which had become the bible of the radical intellectuals. We read Durkheim and Radcliffe-Brown. We read D H Lawrence, W.E. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Lawrence Durrell. We just read and read until we practically became an extension of each other.

You were the rallying point of all the African students at UCLA. People met in your house every evening for discussions. It was at your


house that I met most of the policy makers of post-independence countries of East Africa and some leading members of the African National Congress (ANC). American students of the African Studies department and some of your professors joined quite regularly in those brainstorming evenings. It was a learning process for me -I probably learnt more in your sitting room, with the glorious fire burning and an abundance of drinks and cigarettes than I did in the classrooms of UCLA. Sometimes, it became all too much for me and I would break out, attending parties and engaging in some frivolous activities. You would allow me to go, never forcing me to retreat until I felt silly and came back to your guiding intellect.

You were always the sane voice in any altercations. You were always the clear thinker. You were the intellectual, the master of language, but you were gentle. You never gave anyone a complex because you imparted knowledge without being aggressive. I was, on the other hand, restless and turbulent – the direct opposite of your disposition. People have often wondered how two people who have such different personalities have managed to stay together for so long. The answer, of course, is that we grew to be friends and companions before we became husband and wife. Sometimes my cultural conditioning made me submit to you as an older brother since in my culture I would never have addressed you by your first name. Some other times, your quietness, deafening silence made me control my outbursts. And over the years you have succeeded in calming me down.

When we got married on the 31 July, 1965 in Los Angeles, we had a dream. We were going to spend our lives in a University environment. We were going to retire at 40 and move to Barkin Ladi, Jos, your birthplace where we were going to establish a sort of Intellectual Academy and write poetry. You also said you were going

to die on your 94th birthday. Two years later, you found yourself in government where you remained for eight years. That was a real threat to our planned intellectual growth and dissemination of knowledge. Luckily, you were able to cling on to your books. You continued to read prodigiously. You continue to learn until you outgrew most of our generation. You were retired at 39 instead of 40 but it was close enough. And since that retirement, you have carried on reading and growing.

In October 1994, you were struck down by a stroke. As soon as I heard the news, I knew someone had misread you. You said you would die at 94, not in 1994. An energy came into me and a voice said that you would survive it. No one who saw you then believed you would be alive today. But you have always been prophetic. I knew you would make it. After all, everything else you had forecast had come to pass.

Friends and relatives rallied round and your children were wonderful. As we now celebrate your 60th birthday, we do so with the realisation that you are going through renewal. And the greatest gift of all is that you came out of it with that precious gift – your mind and intellect – totally intact.

Darling, this is a period of renewal. We have been made to sit and re-examine our lives. You have resumed reading and I, on my part, have started to re-educate myself. I know I fell by the wayside, involving myself in all things worldly, unable to keep up with your high intellectual standards. When you said you wanted only one child, I knew you did not want me to be diverted from our relationship. You desperately wanted me to remain an intellectual, to continue reading with you, discussing with you, travelling with you and analysing world events with you. I knew you were


frustrated at the prospect of me becoming illiterate by focusing on those things which you didn’t consider important – parties, local politics, clothes etc. But I can say that the period of your illness has purged me of such concerns. I am on my way back to you. I am slowly getting back to those ideals which bonded us together and I look forward to a happy old age with you as my soul mate. God bless you. I love you as always.

Yours, Chinyere

Her emotional prayer was partially answered, in that his recovery lasted three precious years. However he was to tragically suffer a second stroke in 1999, which left his speech impaired. He however remained active, communicating by writing and keeping constantly abreast of events by voraciously reading newspapers and journals.

As usual, Chinyere Asika was by his side constantly tending to his needs, which were substantial. She was lovingly and conscientiously assisted by their daughters Nkiru and Uju, who virtually put their lives on hold to tend to their father. For Chinyere Asika, her worst fears were being realised before her very eyes. However she soldiered on. She would religiously, cut out relevant newspaper articles and paste on paper sheets, faithfully indexing them and making them available to him to read and keep abreast of news back home in Nigeria.

In the interim, their son Obi manned the ship of the family business back in Nigeria. He had already shown strong entrepreneurial ability, whilst still a student in the United Kingdom, it was nonetheless an extremely tasking time for the

young man. However he lived up to all expectations. This was a family that had seen adversity in the past and knew the best way to overcome it, by working together.

The family received solid support in this period from their loyal friends, with visits, letters, prayers and gifts. General Yakubu Gowon and his wife Victoria, as ever were regular visitors. Lieutenant-General Danjuma, Alhaji M.D.Yusufu, his cousin, Nwofili Adibuah, Chief Philip Asiodu, late Chief Tayo Akpata, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, late Chief and Mrs Godfrey Eneli, late Chief Hope Harriman and his wife, Dr Ukwu I Ukwu and many others, whose listings, would fill the pages of this book, showed their true love and support for a dear friend, in his time of need.

His condition however continued to deteriorate and Chinyere Asika was virtually at the end of her tether, in-spite of her incredible personal resolve. As the cost of long-term private medical care was simply overwhelming, the stark choice facing the family loomed ominously, the need to return to Nigeria.

Divine help however emerged, in the form of an old friend of the family, who had in the year of Ukpabi Asika suffering his second stroke in 1999, been elected as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was none other than, Aremo Olusegun Obasanjo.

President Obasanjo, had sought out and visited his Ukpabi Asika, at the family residence in London and the tough old soldier, had been reduced to tears at the sad physical state of his old friend. President Obasanjo, in an act of heart-warming benevolence, immediately requested that he be returned to Nigeria, to receive Specialist treatment, anywhere in Nigeria, at Government


expense, as a former senior public servant. After a long search, Chinyere Asika reported back to the President, expressing a preference for the National Hospital Abuja. President Obasanjo swung into action, facilitating his admission and settlement at Abuja.

The President himself, also recognising Chinyere Asika’s individual and proven ability as a public policy expert, recommended her for appointment as Chairperson of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). NEPAD, by its own description is an African Union strategic framework for pan-African socio-economic development. Further described as both a vision and a policy framework for Africa in the twenty-first century, spearheaded by African leaders, to address critical challenges facing the continent: poverty, development and Africa’s marginalisation internationally.

She was to assume her duties in 2001, relocating to Abuja for this purpose. Here she was also able to attend her husband, now hospitalised at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Almost in a deluge of recompense for the heartache of the past, the Nigerian Government in recognition of his contributions to the nation, awarded Ajie Ukpabi Asika, the National Honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic in 2002. His tears and those of President Obasanjo, during the award ceremony, were one of the most moving moments at this State event. The country he loved unconditionally and which at certain moments seemed to have repaid him unkindly had finally paid a debt of gratitude- which only matched the gratitude he likewise felt to his nation for its gracious gesture.

Chinyere Asika recalled how her husband refused to have his Medal removed from his neck, even at the after-party held at their residence at Abuja that evening. Such was the deep significance of the award to an ailing but proud man.

Ajie Anthony Ukpabi Asika passed away peacefully on September 14 2004. His funeral was attended by a massive throng of dignitaries and citizens alike. His former associates and dear friends- General Yakubu Gowon, Theophilus Danjuma, M.D.Yusuf, Ukwu I Ukwu, Chu Okongwu and many others were present to bid farewell to a true friend and great Patriot.

Chinyere Asika’s words in tribute to her late husband, were a fitting epitaph to the story of the man she had loved for almost 40 years to the date of his death:

“At the worst moments during the Civil War, and many other serious problems which we all faced from time to time and when everything seemed hopeless and when all of us would become despondent and down hearted, discouraged and tending to give up in desperation, the one to first recover and urge us on was always Tony.”

Dressed in the traditional white attire of mourning, at his funeral, she was a picture of deep sorrow, mixed with her now characteristic stoicism. Long gone was the glamour and youthful energy of the 1960’s and 1970’s. In its place was a strong, mature mother and grandmother who had lost her husband, best-friend and partner of 40 years. In her eyes though, were the steely determination to perpetuate his legacy. In her eyes also lay resignation and relief that a great man, proud of mind and solid of gait had now been spared the indignity of his incapacity. Ajie


was gone in body, however those close to Chinyere Asika knew that she was still spiritually connected to him, as only a couple who loved each other so deeply could be.

Chinyere Asika’s grief was not to end with the death of her husband. In this same year, she lost her beloved mother Madam Esther Ejiogu. A lioness of a woman, who had stood by her husband

Nathan Ejiogu and opened the floodgates of his pride. She, who had been her daughter’s rock, throughout her life. A strong, silent, but towering influence, not just in the life of her own children, but in that proud, vibrant communal setting that was the Ejiogu household of Egbu. Esther Ejiogu was laid to rest in the Ejiogu compound at Egbu, her work was done. The task of mourning was left to those she left behind, led by her eldest daughter Chinyere.


A daughter’s unconditional love. With Uju, after first

Stroke episode, 1995.


At Uju’s graduation ceremony. London, 1995. Nnenna Onyewuchi (2nd from left). Ajie Ukpabi Asika, surrounded by family at his 60th birthday party.


Ukpabi Asika and then Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo. Enugu, 1970. Ukpabi Asika and President Olusegun Obasanjo after conferment ceremony of National award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) IN 2003.


During the traditional mourning, at the funeral of Ajie Ukpabi Asika. Onitsha, 2004.

Former Vice-President Dr Alex Ekwueme pays his respects.


Nkiru, Obi and Uju Asika at the

funeral of Ajie Ukpabi Asika.


General Yakubu Gowon signs the condolence register at Ajie’s residence at Onitsha. Funeral cortege. From left Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Chinyere Asika and Chief Ufot Ekaette (Secretary to the Federal Government) at State house Abuja, 2004.


With a proud mother, Madam Esther Ejiogu,

at conferment of Traditional tite, Iya Meto

of Ibadan, in 1986.


CHAPTER7Final steps of a distinguished life: 2004-2015


In the aftermath of the loss of two of the closes persons she had left in her life, Chinyere Asika dedicated herself completely to her growing brood. In-spite of her own sense of loss, she had unfinished business, which was to support those her husband and mother had left behind. The prize of maturity, in her view being sacrifice of one’s own emotions. Her children continued to make her proud in their personal achievements and character. Obi, who had benefitted from the best education, available with secondary education at Eton College, as a contemporary of British Prime Minister David Cameron and Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, had gone on to study Law at Warwick University, after which he embarked on a career in business, with interests as diverse as Oil and Gas, Media and Entertainment, Telecommunications and Sports, to name a few.

He soon became a household name in his own right, with his iconic Storm 360 enterprise, a media company which was only the front-face of the diverse business activities of the workaholic polymath. He was involved in the production of several globally recognisable media brands, including Big Brother Africa, Big Brother, Nigeria, The Apprentice Nigeria, Felabration, Social Media Week Nigeria, of which he was Chairman, to name a few. He was also appointed to the Board of the Copyright Society of Nigeria, Spinlet Nigeria and the Smithsonian African Museum New York, to name but a few. His central business focus being towards projecting his country in the strongest possible light. He got married in 2010, to the former Yetunde Bakare, an International Lawyer and daughter of a career diplomat. Together they were to become the proud parents of a daughter Kpari Anwuli Asika, in 2011.

Nkiru on the other hand, excelled in her academic career, studying History at Oxford University, obtaining both Bachelors and Masters Degrees. She went to a career in Journalism, obtaining another Master’s Degree in Journalism from the Syracuse University, New York. She then started a career as a writer and journalist with Smart Money Magazine (The Wall Street Journal’s Personal Finance Magazine) in New York, winning an award for outstanding writing from the prestigious National Press Club of America in 2003. She was also a Personal Finance Columnist for Guardian Nigeria and a Member of the Media Strategy Group of the relaunched Daily Times of Nigeria in 2005. She was also appointed by the then Minister of Information onto the Editorial Board of Nigeria Monthly Magazine in 2004. Nkiru was also a partner and producer with her brother in Storm 360, supervising numerous audio-visual productions and projects. She was also to establish Outsource Media which has handled major media consulting projects for the Nigerian Government and local and foreign blue chip corporate clients. She also launched a social enterprise, Enterprise Creative, building capacity for entrepreneurs and professionals in Nigeria’s burgeoning creative industries, forming strategic partnerships with the British Council, First Bank, UK Trade & Investment and the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office amongst others on initiatives to develop Nigeria’s creative economy. From her marriage to Jide Oluwasanmi, she became the mother of two children, Mayowa and Seyi.

The third child Uju, who was also showed the closest resemblance to her father, was to follow a similar path to her sister. She obtained a B.A in English Literature, from the University College, London in 1995, as best graduating student ( just as her father did, 35 years earlier at the University College, Ibadan). She also


obtained an M.A in Journalism, from New York University. She embarked on a career as a writer and journalist, she was to carve a niche for herself as an Arts and Lifestyle Editor in a number of publications, creating and managing content for diverse media outlets in London, New York and Lagos, such as Time Out (Visitors Guides), AOL Time Warner (AOL City Guides), the Guardian Nigeria. A published Poet, her works are contained in several anthologies including IC3: the Penguin Anthology of New Black Writing in Britain. She also became an accomplished Screen-writer, and her catalogue, was to include the award-winning Nigerian Soap opera, ‘Tinsel’, which is broadcast in 47 countries, as well as conceiving her own drama production, for the Regional Media giant Mnet. She however found her greatest individual niche, as a Blogger, with her popular ‘Babes about Town’ blog. This being a website dedicated to providing information on leisure for parents and children in and around London. This gained strong national recognition in the United Kingdom, earning Uju appearances in UK Television, as well as listings on promotional platforms. Her hands-on-experience on the subject, coming from her own two children, Jed and Ezra, products of her marriage to Anglo-Nigerian businessman, Abiye Cole.

There was to be another addition, to the Ukpabi Asika clan, albeit post-humously for its patriarch. The explanation, simply being thus, a month after the Ajie Asika’s funeral, Chinyere Asika had confided in her eldest daughter, Nkiru that she was thinking of adopting a baby and seeking her opinion on this. This had been inspired her brother-in-law, Rev. Dr Ekeleme Ordu, married to her sister Ogechi and whose Hospital at Aba often came across abandoned babies from teenage mothers. Nkiru, though surprised, expressed her full support for the idea.

In January 2005, Chinyere Asika was contacted by Rev (Dr) Ordu, informing her of a new born-baby girl, whose mother indicated she wanted to give her up for adoption and asking if she would be willing to adopt the little girl. She excitedly expressed her willingness and the legal process of adoption, commenced, taking three months in total. The little child was named Nwando Ifeyinwa Asika and she became Chinyere Asika’s baby, growing up as her right hand companion/handbag. Little Nwando was lovingly and fiercely protective of her mother. Nkiru Asika recounts that the feisty little girl would often fight the older kids if they looked as if they were laying too much claim on her. She went on to describe her as a ray of sunshine, in Chinyere Asika’s life after the trauma of losing her husband. Nwando’s siblings, all testified to the joy she brought into the family and their account bears equal testimony to the love and affection her older siblings feel for their youngest sister.

Chinyere Asika may have lost her beloved partner, but she gained a whole new clan of grand-children and in-laws. She doted on her grand-children, but was equally doted on by her own children. She was their friend, confidante, adviser and mother figure all-rolled into one. Obi, with all his achievements, would regularly consult with his mother, on a daily basis, likewise Nkiru and Uju. From her they could expect frank, straight, opinions and advice. She loved her children, but significantly would hold them to account in respect of their conduct, and mince no words in stating what she disagreed with. However she was lavish in her praise and admiration, when they excelled, as they almost always did.

This was not a role in which she restricted herself to just her children. Her doors and ears were open to her beloved siblings


and in-laws. She genuinely loved the company of her family and as the years ticked by, her homes at Abuja and Onitsha became a hub for family members and friends, sure of a good session of family banter and stern advice, where necessary. She had an uncanny memory for facts and historical events, with which she would often hold an audience spell-bound, as she relayed dates and statistics, often jealously preserved by so-called experts in diverse fields.

In 2012, disaster was to strike, once again, when she was involved in a serious motor-accident at Abuja, in which she was thrown out of a vehicle conveying her from the airport, after returning from a business trip overseas. She was taken, quite ironically, unconscious and to the National Hospital, Abuja, where her late husband had died in August 2004. However tragedy was averted, when she emerged from the coma, after a few days and, to the relief of her family and friends made a full recovery.

She was to emerge from this near fatality, stronger and was to further receive the momentous news of her having been selected to receive the award of the National Honour of Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR). This time, by the Government of President Umar Musa Yar-Adua. This in her heart was the final step in the nation soothing the pain of the difficult years, she and her husband had suffered, in consequence of their public service. This honour was also significant, in that it was almost equivalent to the honour conferred on her father, 36 years earlier in 1963. As she received her award at the Presidential villa, one could sense her pride in fulfilling the legacy of the two men she had loved the most in her life, Ukpabi Asika and Nathan Ejiogu.

After her tenure as Chairperson of NEPAD Nigeria expired in 2010, she began to spend the greater part of her time at Onitsha, where she involved herself in community activities as well as spending time with her in-laws. Her relationship with her husband’s family had always been especially cordial and she was treated with the utmost love and respect by the Asika family. In an interview with Nnabuenyi Edmund Asika, older brother of Ukpabi Asika and the present Head of the Asika family, he stated clearly that as soon as she was introduced to the Asika’s upon her marriage, she was accepted unequivocally as one of their own. She was more than just an in-law, she was a sister.

She was also a much respected and valued confidante of the present Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe CFR, both in her position as member of the Odu Society and indeed as a distinguished daughter of Onitsha, by marriage.

In 2012, she was to be further honoured by appointment to the board of Directors, of Zenith Bank Limited, as a Non-Executive Director and with the conferment upon her of an Honourary Doctorate Degree, by the Commonwealth University in Belize.

Inspite of all her achievements, she still harboured one deep yearning, which was that her daughters, Nkiru and Uju, daughter-in-law, Yetunde and niece, Nnenna Onyewuchi, be admitted into the ancient Odu Society of Onitsha. For her this would be the fulfilment of her husband’s dream’s. He (Ukpabi Asika) had expressed the same fervent desire in respect of his own female siblings, several years before, such that they all were admitted into the Odu Society.


This was to come to pass on December 19 2014, at Onitsha, when the three ladies in a lavish and colourful ceremony, typical of good old Onitsha. A proud, beaming mother and aunt welcomed her daughters and niece into the exclusive cadre that she had enjoyed for 22 years. This was not the only cause she would have to celebrate in the ensuing weeks.

On 8 January 2015, her son Obi was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to President Goodluck Jonathan. This was a great surprise to all concerned, including Obi himself, in that he had neither lobbied, nor even contemplated a Government appointment. The simple fact being that his tireless work as a Government Media Consultant, his global reputation as a promoter of brand Nigeria and his pioneering effort in bringing the world’s foremost Social Media event to Nigeria, had come to the notice of those in authority and he had been duly conferred with the responsibility of National service.

Chinyere Asika in an emotional conversation with her eldest son after learning of his appointment, expressed her deep sense of

pride in his achievements, and indeed that of all her children. This was hugely significant. As said before, the couple had never wavered in their love for their country and in fact in-spite of their trials, they had consistently instilled a sense of pride in their children in their National identity. Whilst they did not ignore its failings, they always pointed their children’s faces to the future horizon towards a time when the nation would fulfil its great potential and all that they asked of them, was they be part of the process steering the ship of nationhood to that destination.

Chinyere Asika passed away peacefully in her sleep on 3 May 2015, after returning from a visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, where she was elected Vice-Chairman of the African Peer Review Mechanism of the African Union. An institution, she had participated in founding.

After broad consultations, Friday July 24, 2015 was fixed as the date of her funeral. Africa and Nigeria had lost one of its finest daughters. May her soul rest in peace.


At the wedding of nephew Osazuwa

Bazuaye.


Nkiru with children, Mayowa and Seyi . Uju and sons, Jed and Ezra, with Nkiru.


Obi, wife Yetunde and daughter, Anwuli


With Nkiru, and grand-children, Mayowa, Seyi and Anwuli


With grand-children Jed and Ezra With Nkiru and daughter-in-law, Yetunde


Nwando Asika and her nephew, Ezra Cole.


Obi and Nwando. Aunty Nwando and niece, Anwuli.


With President Olusegun Obasanjo at her 70th birthday party. 2009. Cutting her 70th birthday cake with Lt-General T.Y.Danjuma and Senator Daisy Danjuma. Officiated by General Gowon and Mrs Victoria Gowon.


With Obi, Nkiru and Uju, at 70th birthday party. 2009. With Obi, Uju and Nkiru. Onitsha 2014.


Television Interview, 2009. Fulfilled at 70.


Obi and the Reverend Jesse Jackson.Nkiru, at Social Mediaweek Nigeria.


Uju with Jed and Ezra, the two superstars of her hugely successful

Blog, Babesabouttown.


Certificate of award of Honourary Doctorate from the Commonwealth University Belize in 2012

With sister, Dr Kema Chikwe, former Aviation Minister and Sir Richard Branson


With some of the Ejiogu sisters With her siblings on her 75th birthday, in 2014.


Odu Initiation ceremony 2014. From left to right, Nnenna Onyewuchi, Yetunde Asika, Obi, Nkiru and Uju, at the family residence at Onitsha.

Odu Initiation ceremony 2014. Initiates with Nnabuenyi Edmund Asika.


Odu Initiation ceremony 2014. Iniriates with Kelechi Ejiogu, leading the Ejiogu delegation from Egbu.

Odu Initiation ceremony 2014. Initiates with Chief Chulo Asika, the Akpe Olodi of Onitsha.


With Chief Patrick Cole, Chief Osita Chidoka (Hon. Minister for Aviation) and Chief (Mrs) Obasanjo.

With members of the Asika family and former Vice-President Dr Alex Ekwueme.


Yetunde Asika performs the Traditional greeting at

Odu initiation ceremony.


With Nkiru, at the Odu Initiation ceremony. With Uju at the Odu initiation ceremony. With Nnenna Onyewuchi at the Odu initiation ceremony.


Dibueze Chinyere Asika


The Life and Times of Ukpabi AsikaThis is a multimedia project, crafted over the last three years. The project comprises a website, a full archive of documents, letters, important policy information and private communication. Our intention is to debut this project in 2015, as a multimedia project. This will involve the fllowing elements:

The website

The documentaryAn insight into the man and his life.

The InterviewsOver 60 interviews with friends, family and principal actors from all sides of his life and work.

The book launches‘Ukpabi Asika in his own words’. A compendium of speeches, letters, policy and other important work. ‘Ukpabi Asika- A Scholar among soldiers’. The biography.

The exhibitionThis comprises over 30,000 images, documents, artifacts and antiquities and memorabilia.

This project has been conceptualised, driven and funded by the family, without any external support. We hope to bring it to life in 2015 and thank all of those who have already given their time to this important project.


Chinyere Asika’s place of prominence in Nigerian History, would ordinarily have been cemented by her status as the first Nigerian and most probably, Black African woman, to obtain a Master’s Degree in Information Technology. She would have been guaranteed a place of equal prominence, by her involvement with the Black power movement in the United States, as a spokesperson in the early 1960’s. However these were merely the preface to an incredible life of adventure, sacrifice, duty and love, which saw her founding a Million- woman strong co-operative, movement.

Her story is inextricable from that of her life’s love, her husband of 39 years, Anthony Ukpabi Asika, in the same measure that his own story cannot be told without her indelible influence on his own journey. Her story is however one of an individual, whose devotion to her country was only rivalled by her complete love and affection for her family. Her story is contained in these pages in a simple, tribute to a woman who can rightly be described as one of Africa’s finest daughters.

About the authorEd Emeka Keazor is an historian, barrister and writer, who has been engaged in research over the last 20 years, into historical outposts in the development of modern Nigeria. He is the author of the critically acclaimed work, 120 greatest Nigerians we never knew, as well as a number of other biographical publications on icons of Nigerian History. He was Consultant Historian to the official Nigerian Centenary documentary, “We are Nigerians”, and has acted as a commissioned author on Nigerian History for a vast range of institutions, ranging from Google Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Field Society, the Lagos State Government and the Nsibidi Institute, to name a few. He has since 2011 been engaged with the production of a biography on the life of Ajie Ukpabi Asika, which publication this year was only delayed by the sudden demise of Dibueze Chinyere Asika. He is the proud father of two teenage children.

dibueze chinyere asika- a life in words and pictures

Education

d i b u e z e c h i

i f e i n w o r d s

n d p i c t u r e s

foreword e ver

family life

distinguished life

life outside government

mother of hundreds