56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014
FOOTPRINTS OF A STATESMAN: The Life And Times Of CHIEF DANIEL OKUMAGBA A biography by Bernard Oboatarhieyeren Okumagba
The Leader
The real leader has no need to lead, He is content to point the way — Henry Miller, American writer and painter
Y
ESTERDAY
We presented the second part of Chief Okumagba's journey into political limelight. His entrance to mainstream politics, his contributions and concern for justice were projected in that section of his biography.
T
ODAY We see The Leader. A
peacemaker who believed strongly in inter-ethnic harmony and peaceful coexistence amongst all ethnic groups.
M
Y father played vari ous leadership roles in the institutions that he featured in. He played leader-
groups, with clear consideration that no community can live in isolation. In this regard, he was friendly with people from the constituent tribes of the Warri area and beyond. Those familiar with my grandfather ’s household knew that it was a mini-commonwealth of sorts – the children were conversant with the languages and traditions of the neighbouring tribes. Some of them even had Itsekiri and Ijaw middle names and spoke the languages fluently. It was the evidence of a time before the advent of micro-nationalism, when tribe and tongue played scant roles in relationships. My father was appointed Secretary of the Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu Kindred Families of Okere-Urhobo in 1950. This was a position of responsibility that meant he had to perform this role creditably, while carrying out other roles.
Ohwotemu - who founded Okere-Urhobo in Warri. The Kindred Families continued to own the lands in its areas in Warri. In 1968, this was challenged when a suit, Number W/48/1968, was filed at the High Court of Midwest State sitting in Warri, against the Kindred Families. The plaintiffs were: “D.O. Idundun, Chief P.O. Awani, A.E Hesse, C.A Lorie and J.D. Oruru (for and on behalf of Ogitsi Family of Okere, Warri); Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees; and Erejuwa II, the Olu of Warri.” The defendant was: “Daniel Okumagba (for himself and on behalf of Olodi, Oki, and Ighogbadu Families of Okere, Warri).” The suit Number W/48/1968 at the Midwest State High Court, Warri, was heard by Justice E.A. Ekeruche and decided in July 1973. The plaintiffs asked for the following:
About the Book Chief Daniel Okumagba, who lived from 1922 to 2000, was widely acknowledged as a man of truth, courage and discipline. From 1960, when he won election to represent Warri East Constituency at the Western Region House of Assembly in Ibadan, Chief Daniel Okumagba played major roles in Nigeria’s national development. He was a member of the National Council for Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), a foundation member and foundation national executive committee member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic, governorship candidate of the party in Bendel State (now Edo and Delta states) in the 1979 general elections and pioneer chairman of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited. Chief Daniel Okumagba was a teacher, legislator, politician, businessman and frontline Niger Delta leader. In all, he was a man of peace, who believed in peaceful coexistence among various ethnic groups, a statesman and nationalist. In this biography of Chief Daniel Okumagba, Bernard Okumagba (former Delta State Commissioner for Finance) tells of a father whose life has not been fully chronicled and of values and circumstances that shaped the public identity of his father. Bernard’s story of one of the key players of the First and Second Republics in Nigeria is a compelling narrative. Footprints of a Statesman: The life and times of Chief Daniel Okumagba, is a son’s appreciation of his father, and the lessons therefrom.
Rights (Vesting in Trustees) Law 1959 and the Warri Division (Itsekiri Communal Land) Trust Instrument, 1959. 2. A declaration that, in accordance with Itsekiri Customary Law, defendants have forfeited their rights of user and/or occupation and any other rights or estate in or over that part of the land in dispute marked Area ‘’B’ and any right they may have in or over that part of the land in dispute marked Area ‘A’ in
All the claims sought by the plaintiffs were dismissed by the High Court in a judgement, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Justice E.A. Ekeruche in the judgement of the High Court, delivered on the 17th of July, 1973, stated as follows: “Considering first the traditional evidence in the case, my view of that aspect of the evidence in plaintiffs’ case,
He was an outspoken critic of injustice and inequity. He was an advocate for peace and reached out to people of all tribes and faiths without discrimination
ship roles in Okere-Urhobo, in Warri, the Urhobo nation, the Western Region, Midwest/ Bendel State and the Nigerian nation. He was an outspoken critic of injustice and inequity. He was an advocate for peace and reached out to people of all tribes and faiths without discrimination. He was a peacemaker and believed strongly in inter-ethnic harmony and peaceful co-existence amongst all ethnic
Yet, his ability to fit into the demands of the Office and lead, while dealing with his other responsibilities as Teacher (from 1947 to 1976), Parliamentarian (from 1960 to 1963) and other public offices that he held, was widely acknowledged as remarkable. Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu Kindred Families are descendants of the three brothers - Idama, Sowhoruvbe and
“1. A declaration that in accordance with Itsekiri Customary Law, all that piece or parcel of land at Okere, Warri, described in Plan No WE.2367 filed in this suit and verged pink is the property of the Ogitsi Family of Okere, subject only to the overlordship of the Olu of Warri now vested in and exercisable by the Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees by virtue of the Communal Land
the Plan No. E.2367 filed by the plaintiffs in this suit. 3. An order of injunction to restrain the defendants, their servants and/or agents and any other person or persons purporting to claim under or through them from entering the land in dispute and/or interfering with plaintiffs’ rights and interest in and over the said land in dispute and in particular from granting leases or other disposition of the same to any other persons or collecting rents or any other dues from any other persons in respect of the land in dispute.”
whereby plaintiffs have sought to establish that the land in dispute and even also Okere Village were part of the kingdom founded by Ginuwa I and also their evidence that Ogitsi owned the whole of Okere land including the land in dispute, in this case is that it is unconvincing. “I do not believe that any kingdom founded by Ginuwa I extended to Okere. Plaintiffs’ evidence and also evidence in the whole case do not prove such extent of any kingdom founded by Ginuwa I. “I am satisfied and I find as Continues on page 57