Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014—57
FOOTPRINTS OF A STATESMAN: The Life And Times Of CHIEF DANIEL OKUMAGBA A biography by Bernard Oboatarhieyeren Okumagba
The Peacemaker, Social Justice Crusader He did not believe that any ethnic group should dominate the other. He believed and preached mutual respect and cooperation Continues from page 56 a fact on the evidence before me that Okere was never part of the kingdom founded by Ginuwa I. I am also satisfied that Ginuwa I never exercised overlordship rights over Okere, and that the overlordship rights of the subsequent Olus did not extend to Okere. “A point which plaintiffs and their counsel have tried to urge on this court is that because the land in dispute is in Warri and so in Warri Division, the Olu of Warri has rights of overlordship over it, because, as Olu of Warri, he has rights of overlordship over all lands in Warri Division. The whole argument or view is erroneous. The Olu, by title, is Olu of Warri, but his rights of overlordship relate only to land of Itsekiri people… “As between the evidence in plaintiffs’ case and that in the defendants’ case, I accept and believe the evidence in the defendants’ case as truthfully stating how Ogitsi family and the defendants’ people came to be in Okere area. “I accept and believe the evidence of the defendants that three persons, namely, Idama, Ohwotemu and Sowhoruvwe, first came to Okere and founded various
fendants and that they have been such owners and in possession of the land from the time their ancestors founded the land. “Having found that the defendants own the land in dispute and that they were never
About the Author
B
tenants of anyone, plaintiffs fail on their claim for forfeiture. “Plaintiffs having failed on the claim as to ownership of
When Chief (Dr) Frederick Esiri became the PresidentGeneral of the UPU, my father was elected the Secretary-General and served from 1984 to 1993. He was diligent, compassionate and patriotic tracts of land.” “I also accept the evidence of the defendants as to how and when Ogitsi got to the waterside area of Okere and made his sett1ement there, and as to how the settlement and that of defendants’ people grew until they met in Okere. “I am satisfied and find as a fact that the land in dispute in this case, including the area where rubber plantations are shown on plaintiffs’ plan, Exhibit 2, and also where Madam Esale’s rubber plantation is, belong to the de-
Justice Mohammed Bello, who also retired as Chief Justice and Justice Andrews Otutu-Obaseki; held, in the judgement delivered on October 8, 1976, that the appeal lacked merit. Justice FatayiWilliams and the other jus-
tive in the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) from as far back as the late 1950s. By the early 1960s, he was a participant in many UPU events. In 1964, he accompanied Chief T.E.A. Salubi, who was the President-General of the UPU, on a tour of the union’s branches across Nigeria. At occasions where he addressed the gathering, such as in Benin City at a visit on June 2, 1964, his message centred on the importance of focusing to achieve the objectives of the UPU. Peter Ekeh in his book,
the land in dispute and for forfeiture are not entitled to the injunction they seek.” “The plaintiffs have failed to prove their claims in its entirety and I accordingly dismiss same in its entirety. Not satisfied with the High Court’s judgment, the plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court, the only appellate court at that time, in suit number SC/309/1974, reported in 1976 Volume 10 Nigerian Supreme Court Cases (NSCC). The justices, led by Justice Atanda FatayiWilliams, who later became Chief Justice of Nigeria; with
tices of the Supreme Court in the unanimous judgment ruled that: “On the whole, it is sufficient to say that most of the matters canvassed before us were examined meticulously and rejected by the learned trial judge for reasons upon which we cannot improve and to which we do not desire to add except, perhaps, to say that whether taken separately or together, none of the points urged upon us by learned counsel for the appellants would, in our view, justify any interference with the findings and decision of the learned trial judge. Consequently, we are of the view that the appeal has no merit and is accordingly dismissed.” My father (even after the judgement of the Supreme Court in favour of our Kindred Families) continued to advocate peaceful coexistence amongst all ethnic groups. He continued to preach inter-ethnic harmony and mutual respect. He did not believe that any ethnic group should dominate the other. He believed and preached mutual respect and cooperation. My father was equally ac-
T.E.A. Salubi: Witness to British Colonial Rule in Urhoboland and Nigeria, records the encounter as follows: The second speaker was Mr Okumagba who reiterated Mr Rerri’s advice that affairs of the Union be insulated from party politics. He was keen that people should not allow their personal political affiliation affect their communal interests. His passion for Urhobo affairs transcended politics to the level of culture and he cut a distinct image as not just a political ambassador of the nationality but a cultural ambassador as well. When Chief (Dr) Frederick Esiri became the PresidentGeneral of the UPU, my father was elected the SecretaryGeneral and served from 1984 to 1993. He was diligent, compassionate and patriotic. From his days at Urhobo College Effurun to his work as community shepherd and politician, my father had become known to many as an iconic figure in the advancement of social justice and equity.
To be continued.
E R N A R D Oboatarhieyeren Okumagba was born in Warri, Delta State on April 7, 1967 to Chief Daniel Okumagba and Mrs. Dorcas Okumagba of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State. He attended Government College, Ughelli from 1977 to 1982 and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1983 and 1987 where he bagged a B.sc degree in Accountancy (2nd Class Honours, Upper Division). Subsequently, he undertook the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) professional examinations and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1991. Bernard started his working career at the international financial services firm Arthur Andersen & Co (now KPMG), in 1988. He later worked in several banks from 1991 to 2007. Bernard held various positions at these banks, including Senior Manager, Corporate Banking Division; Head of Internal Control/Audit Division, Bank Chief Inspector and Principal Manager, Consumer and Commercial Banking Division, amongst others. He left United Bank for Africa Plc in August 2007 following his appointment as Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning. He served as Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning from August 2007 to November 2010 and was subsequently appointed Commissioner for Finance and served from November 2010 to May 2011. Bernard was reappointed Delta State Commissioner for Finance in July 2011 and held this position until July 2013. He is presently Chairman of Regents Consults Limited and Noly Insurance Brokers Limited. He is also currently a Director of Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc. Bernard holds the traditional chieftaincy title of Eruvwu R’Ovie of Agbarha Kingdom, Warri, Delta State.