By Dorncklaimz Enamhe
This Morning I was looking at the political class in the country and the various issues going on, and my mind went to John and I said to myself what kind of man was John. He got to height of his career but remained selfless.
No house to his name (just a 3 bedroom flat him and his beautiful medical doctor wife Ivy lived with their children Joanne and Vayda before being elected as Deputy Governor of Cross River State).
His was a meteoric rise to the plateau of political power, howbeit an orgasmic sojourn that ended before it could be enjoyed.
Chief John Okpa started out in politics in 1986 and within just a few years, he had mixed with the high and mighty of Nigerian politics. He was a focused, intelligent, determined, self-driven and disciplined man who graduated with a 2:1 in Economics from the Usman Dan Fodio University (formerly University of Sokoto) in 1982.
I have been in the political turf my entire life, from my days with student unions. I have seen all kinds of politicians but I have remained awed by the personality of a single politician, John Okpa. One has to wonder if this man chose the wrong profession when he entered politics for if I were to name one politician whose reputation was not tainted with bribery, it would be John Okpa. He knew everyone by their names. If I were to name a politician who was not mentioned amidst controversies and conspiracies, it was John Okpa. Women and wine were never his vices neither was the quest for more money his priority. He did not want to take the lion’s share though he was often the lion. He was a politician who, doubtless, left a legendary mark in the hearts of many across the country.
Could it be that our world is cursed? For we have seen good men live to fulfill their days and impact their world in other climes but not in Nigeria.
My consolation is that while the physical lives of people who held values of friendship, loyalty, integrity, good morals and humility like Late John Okpa might be short, years after they are gone, odes to them continue to rend the air. We will speak of his doggedness and determination. We will trumpet his service and sacrifice. We will not stop adoring his small but wonderful family until someone with a good heart and means joins the adulation for the world to see that no labor of love is lost.
John Okpa, self-effacing as he was, moved in leagues as many of Cross River’s greats will only dream to attain. It was the revered General Shehu Musa Yar’dua who nudged him in the direction of politics as a young graduate, and nicknamed him (the young shall grow).
Subsequently he took part in the formation of the People’s Front and was the Cross River State Chairman of PF (which emerged the best organized group in Cross River State). In 1990, he emerged the State Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and later in 1994 he became a member of the National Constitutional Conference, where he joined the formation of the famous People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) becoming its national treasurer under the leadership of Gen Yar’dua.
Following the non-registration of Peoples Democratic Movement, he joined the UNCP and got elected its National Assistant Secretary in 1996 using the platform to win elections into the house of representatives. Being industrious, after the death of General Abacha, he invested his political goodwill with other Nigerians like Dr Alex Ekwueme and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to birth the People’s Democratic Party, a platform on which he was elected Deputy Governor with Governor Donald Duke.
Can you remember the days when Governor Donald Duke will always start any address or conversation with “John and I”?
Recall after running for office against Mr. Duke he came back to Calabar, drove with all his supporters to the Governor’s office met Governor Duke and they made up (that was the last time he can to Calabar, the next time he came ,it was in a casket) as he was killed in an auto crash with his younger brother Emmanuel and his orderly on the Asaba/Benin highway on the 8th day of September 2004.
This was more than 15 years ago, yet he still lives in us.
He died without material wealth but he has remained alive in the hearts of his friends (both older and younger) whom he believed in.
The picture of the house you see is the only house he owned in the world. He built it with the support of His Wife Dr. Ivy Okeene-Okpa, before he became Deputy Governor.
Many live for themselves, but not HE Chief John Oyo Okpa JP; this man chose to live for others!
After he passed, recall three of his very close political associates became president
President Yar’adua
President Johnathan
President Buhari
Stay safe
The question now is why are present day politicians accumulating so much of what they may never need to use in their life time?
May his gentle soul continue to Rest in Perfect Peace Amen!
