Remembering Uche Chukwumerije (1939-2015)

Although he has exited this planet earth, Uche Chukwumerije’s contribution to the development of the Nigerian nation cannot be glossed over. As one of his sons rightly said in the circular that announced his father’s demise, Chukwumerije’s “life is many volumes, which can only be told with care and time, of dedication and focus, integrity and discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity”.

Chukwumerije was a man of many controversies. He was fearless and never shied away from airing his views, no matter whose ox was gored. By virtue of his works and values in life, some people had at one point or the other disagreed with his views or manner of approach to issues in some cases.

While he lived, Chukwumerije rec­ognised the place of education in nation-building and human development. He used his position in the upper legislative chamber as chairman, Senate Committee on Education to further the cause of education in the country. In August 2013, following the move by the Federal Government to scrap the National Examination Council (NECO) and the UTME, Chukwumerije described the intention as a continuity of the pattern of policy somersaults that have consistently limited progress in the education sector.

“It is my view that government should open the subject up to full discussion in order that the best interest of Nigeria and its teeming student population is primarily served,” he said.

As a political encyclopaedia, he engaged in heated debates over the unity of the country, and at times fell short of being branded a tribalist.

He headed the propaganda machinery of the de­funct Republic of Biafra. The Ibrahim Babangida military regime recognised his cerebral endowments and oratorical skills and appointed him minister of information during the turbulent period that witnessed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by the late MKO Abiola.

It would be recalled that in January 2014, the senator, who represented Abia North senatorial district in the red chamber of the bi-cameral legislature for three terms since 2003, had faulted the plan by the Ango Abdullahi-led Northern Elders Forum (NEF) to drag Azubuike Ihejirika, a lieutenant-general, who was exiting office as the chief of army staff, to the International Criminal Court of Justice in The Hague over alleged killing of civilians at Baga town, Borno State.

Chukwumerije had reminded NEF that the move would amount to “a national ill-wind that will do no one any good”. He had observed that the “approach of the group to a national problem is selective, patently biased apparently in search of preconceived culprits, pointedly indifferent to the demands of national unity, and highly provocative to the sensibilities of all who genuinely desire the unity and stability of this federation”.

“As Ango Abdullahi’s team opens the doors and walks into the hall of the world court, let them realise that they have at last opened the Pandora’s Box. The indigenes of Odi, Zaki-Biam and Katsina-Ala will in quick succession file into the hall. At the same time, Ndigbo of South East and Anioma will dust their files and head for The Hague. Let it be emphasised ab initio that senseless sacrifice of a human life is indefensible. Violations of human rights have remained the bane of Africa. A society that has no respect for human life is nearer the status of a community of animals,” he had said.

Chukwumerije was a passionate organiser and leader of movements. In 1960, he founded the Pan-African Volunteers for Protection of Lumumba, the Congolese patriot who was betrayed and murdered by Tshombe, Kasavubu, Joseph Mobutu (later known as Mobutu Sese Seko), etc.

He founded or led various other bodies, among which were Movement for African Union 1962-1965; Socialist Agit-Prop Group 1964-1966; Progressive Thinkers Forum 1965-1966 and Christian Unity Band 1991. In 1961, his socialist vision inspired him to join the Socialist Workers and Farmers Party (SWAFP) led by Tunji Otegbeye.

At the end of the war in 1970, Chukwumerije founded AFRICOPE, the first continental mouthpiece of the African continent with circulation all over Anglophone Africa. By 1983, when the magazine folded up, Chukwumerije had emerged the first journalist to interview presidents or heads of states of all independent African states. He, in fact, spearheaded a successful media campaign for Nigeria’s recognition of the regime of Augustinho Neto in war-torn Angola.

For three years, as the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) laboured against odds to win seats in Nigeria’s two national elections, Chukwumerije rose from the post of publicity secretary to secretary-general. Till death, he valued Aminu Kano and the PRP as the role model for Nigeria’s political class.

A visibly religious man whose life was greatly influenced by spirituality, God and Marxism, he took a Diploma in Theology at Faith Bible College, Otta between 1991 and 1992. He was in fact in the middle of a degree programme in Theology when he was appointed federal minister of information.

By every standard, Chukwumerije contributed his quota to the development of the Nigerian nation. As he joins his ancestors, it is deserving enough to say, take your well-deserved rest, comrade.