- His legacy
- What Nigerians say about him
- His yet-to-be-published book
It is no longer news that foremost historian and former Chairman of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Pa Johnson Oritsegbubemi Sunday Ayomike, passed on earlier this October 4, 2017. A statement signed by the younger brother, Mr Joseph Ayonmike, indicated that Pa JOS Ayomike, as he is popularly known, “passed on peacefully in a Warri private hospital at about 9pm. He was aged 90 on April 7th 2017.”
For the USA-based eldest child, Mr. Bawo Ayomike, it was an irony of sorts that he arrived Nigeria shortly before the passing of his father to attend the burial ceremony of a friend’s dad, attend to some personal matters, spend some time with his parents and return to the USA towards the end of October 2017. However, his friend called to inform him that the burial had been rescheduled for the second week in November. He was ruminating on how sadly he was going to miss the burial (because he had to return to the USA by the end of October) when news got to him that his father had passed. He would have to stay in Nigeria longer than he expected after all!
Similarly, the Alpha May Club Lagos enjoyed a special relationship with Pa Ayomike, which lasted until his death. Not too long before his death, he sent a word through Chief Edward Ekpoko and Sir Amorighoye S. Mene, to some senior members of Alpha May Club to come to see him in Warri in order to receive some parting words of advice and information on Itsekiri matters from him to the club. Unfortunately, due to health and synchronization of scheduling issues, the meeting could not take place before Pa Ayomike passed. How very sad?
Many other individuals, clubs and associations perhaps had similar experiences with this exceptional icon of our time during his last weeks on earth. He was a good, good man. A sneak preview into the life of this quintessential historian would be appropriate at this point.
Pa Johnson Oritsegbubemi Sunday Ayomike, simply known as JOS Ayomike was born on 7th April 1927 at Ogidigben in Ugborodo in the present day Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. He finished his primary school at the First Baptist School, Sapele in 1945 and joined the staff of the District Officer (Education) in Warri, following the death of his father and an inability to enroll in Edo College, which had offered him admission. He began his teaching career in Warri in 1947 and later proceeded to the Government Teachers Training College, Abraka. He went to teach in Jakpa after his initial certification and returned as Headmaster in 1957 after obtaining Teachers Grade II Certificate in 1956.
He continued his educational quest, obtaining his G.C.E. O.L. & A.L. and then transferring from the Secondary Modern School, Koko, to teach in Hussey College, Warri in 1960. He later obtained a job as a salesman in the Nigerian Tobacco Company Limited. Mr. Ayomike later went to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with Honours in June 1966.
He was a Management staff of the Nigerian Tobacco Company Limited from 1966 – 1980 where he rose to Senior Management positions and had experience of, and exposure to, several training courses in Nigeria and Overseas. During this period, upon secondment, he was a Civil Commissioner in Midwestern/Bendel State from 1975 – 1979. He served as Commissioner for Health from 1975 – 1976, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources from 1976 – 1978 and then Commissioner for Information, Culture and Sports from 1978 – 1979.
He held numerous honours/awards for his contributions to the development of his Ugborodo Community, Itsekiri, Bendel State (now Edo & Delta States) and Nigeria, which cannot be fully captured in this piece.
When the Warri and Kaduna refineries were being built and pipelines laid by Russian contractors to carry crude oil from Gulf Oil Co. (now Chevron Nig. Ltd) Tank Farm at Ugborodo to the refineries, a grave incident that put the project in jeopardy occurred. Following a complex dispute over destruction on their fish-ponds, shrines and crops, the communities along the way stopped the project and drove away the contractors for over three (3) months. On the advice of the then Head of State, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (1976 – 1979), he was dispatched by the State Governor, as Commissioner for Warri, then in Bendel State, to sort out the complex problem. After about two (2) weeks, he resolved the problem and the pipe-laying work resumed.
In 1977, he led the State Delegation to attend the World Fishing Festival in Halifax, Canada in the Fall of that year and was admitted for one day as Honorary Citizen of the city by the then Mayor of Halifax. He was one of the leadership trios for the Itsekiri at the Vanguard of the Peace Efforts on the Warri Crisis; attended all the meetings at Warri, Asaba and Abuja.
The establishment of the Nanna Living History Museum in Koko, commissioned by the then Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha in 1996 was through his vision and tireless efforts. This effort was in furtherance of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments national mobilization strategy to encourage communities, private and corporate participation in the preservation of our national heritage.
His Excellency, Late Brig. Gen. S. O. Ogbemudia (Rtd.), a former governor of the then Bendel State on his visit to the Nanna Living History Museum, Koko, on 19th December, 2013, had this to say about J. O. S. Ayomike: “The Itsekiri Nation is an abiding study of how quality can roundly trump quantity. In the long unbroken chain of excellent leadership, right from the epochal exploits of Nanna to the recent Rewane phenomenon and the current robustness of Ayomike and his peers, the Itsekiri Nation has a lot to be proud of.”
A writer of distinction, a wordsmith and historian, he authored eight (8) books in History and Ethnography (available in the National Library, most Embassies in Nigeria and Overseas Libraries, including the Library of Congress in US and the London Library). The books are:
(a) A History of Warri (198-page) 1988, (b) The Itsekiri at a glance (18 page) 1990, (c) The Ijaw in Warri (102-page) 1990, (d) Nanna-British Imperialism at work (58-page) 1992, (e) Benin and Warri: Meeting Points in History (79-page) 1993, (f) Selected Essays – A Mixed Grill (132-page) 2001, (g) Editor and Major Contributor – Warri: A Focus on the Itsekiri (159-page) 2009, (h) Prince Ogbe Yonwuren 2015. His yet-to-be-published book is about the history of the Ugborodo Community. Family and friends are poised to get this book published soon after the burial ceremonies.
He wrote several published Essays (over 2 dozen) on Economics, Oil and Politics, Liberty and Democracy and favourable reactions to these publications (Books and Essays) came from several persons and institutions including the Vatican, the Oba of Benin, His Majesty Oba Erediauwa, Arch Bishop (now Cardinal) Anthony Olubunmi Okojie, US Library of Congress, State and University Libraries in Nigeria and several Embassies.
- JO. S. Ayomike was a founding member and the immediate past Chairman of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), the foremost socio-political organization formed since 1974. As a leader of the Itsekiri people, he set the pace in everything. He was a workaholic with a huge appetite for scholarship, and very resourceful. Anytime you were with him, you learned something new either in the history of the Itsekiri people, the Niger Delta and Nigeria or the economic and historical development of Europe in the Medieval and renaissance era.
Even at 90 years of age, he still had his hands on the plough. He pushed the younger ones to work harder. He abhorred laziness. If he gave an assignment, he wanted it done within a given time, if not earlier. “In fact, some of us used to say that Daddy, as we often called him, would give you an assignment that he wanted done yesterday,” Bawo Ayomike reminiscence. Such was his knack for hard-work and service.
He read at least two (2) Nigerian newspapers daily and international magazines like the Economist, Time, Newsweek, etc. A devoted family man, J.O.S. Ayomike, inspite of his busy schedule still found time for his family – both immediate and larger ones. He was married to his adorable wife, Mrs. Utsaghan Ayomike (Nee Nanna) whom he simply called “U.J”, for over sixty (60) years. They were chosen as Delta State Model Couple of the year in 2006. They are blessed with lovely children – Bawo, Ojo, Ayo, Jolomi, Amaju and Tosan, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Nigerians from all shades of opinions have different good things to say about him. A high-powered delegation of the Palace of the Olu of Warri led by the Ojomo of Warri, Chief Yahaya Pessu, wrote: “A visit from the Palace on a delegation from Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri. The news got to the Palace as a shock. What a great loss to the Itsekiri nation. A leader and astute historian. A sage and builder. We shall miss his contributions to the Palace and pray that God grant his gentle soul perfect rest in Jesus name.” For the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the nation mourns the passing of a great Nigerian. “A man of steadfast principles, iron will, exemplary intellect and morality. A man who stood firmly for Nation, the ‘Midwest’ and the Itsekiri Nation.May God grant his deserving soul well deserved rest and grant the family he left behind protection and comfort.” For Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Pa Ayomike was “A good Deltan, a patriotic Nigerian, and Itsekiri modern day Joshua has transited. History will be kind to him because he wrote it. He left his mark on the Sands of time. I pray the good Lord to grant my aunty his wife, children and the family the fortitude to deal with the loss and may his soul rest in peace.”
Prof. Benson Bafor simply asked a question, “Whence come another like him? Rest in Peace, JOS.” The Itsekiri National Heritage laments, “Though a major loss to the Itsekiri nation, we are consoled by the fact that you led a deeply impactful life.” Olorogun Otega Emerhor, OON, said “Our daddy is gone. A great man who left his footprint in the sands of time. A unifier, a builder, a great Nigerian. May his many legacies sustain us.” The Ijaghala Management Committee said, “We value your unquantifiable contributions to the Itsekiri cause. You were a reference point and a trailblazer in protecting our cultural heritage and much more. Your name cannot be erased from Itsekiri nation’s history.”
Chief Francis Omatseye: “Papa, you were a symbol of unity, a nation builder and a great leader. God called you to Himself. Rest in the bosom of the Lord.” For Chief Dr. Joseph Otumara: “A great man has passed on. Papa elicited love, interest and admiration to all that came across him. He was an epitome of courage, truth, non-resentment and of course infinite peace. May his soul rest in perfect peace.” Chief (Madam) Olivia Agbajoh simply said: “Most proper man. Always correct. We will miss you.” And for Justice (Mrs) Gbesimi Akperi, it is: “Dear daddy, we as a nation have lost a rallying point. We would miss your cherished role.” On his part, Charles Ajuyah, SAN, said: “Papa, you lived a worthy life for us. A great historian and full of wisdom and histories, who wrote the Itsekiri nation forward. Rest in perfect peace Papa.” For Lawrence Ajuyah, it is: “Dear Dad, you gave me an assignment. I completed it within the deadline. I submitted it to Bawo and mum because you were not in a position to review it at the time. I told mum that I’ll be back to review, only to be told that you passed on that night. Rest in peace with the Angels as Saints. Adieu!” Engr. Okode Mackson Meldrick puts it this way: “Greatest historian!!! May your gentle soul rest in the bosom of the Lord. Itsekiri as a nation and Nigeria as a whole will really miss your inputs as a role model in the history world. Adieu, greatest historian.”
For the former Governor of Delta State and in-law of Pa Ayomike, it is simply, “Adieu Pa JOS Ayomike. You lived a fulfilled life.” Veteran filmmaker and media consultant, Comrade Alex Eyengho captured it this way: “Pa JOS Ayomike was one of the few legends of our time. An icon. A hero. An exemplary leader. A mentor. A patriot. A dogged fighter. An unrepentant advocate of truth, justice, equity and fairplay.A family man per excellence. A flawless historian. A quintessential lover of humanity. A deep thinker. A bridge-builder. This is a great loss to Ugborodo, Itsekiri, Delta State, Edo State, Niger Delta and Nigeria. Indeed, a big tree has fallen in the world. Rest in peace, Omi neghen-neghen! Ejele! Arogun menite!”
For Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Justin Okoroji, who wrote on behalf of the First Baptist Church, Warri: “Daddy always say, ‘I have fought the good fight of faith’ His hymn – Higher Ground. Pa JOS Ayomike, was a father, family man, Community leader, an icon, statesman, a social reformer and a hero. A man of incomparable integrity, agent of transformation, a man of truth, simplicity and passion. A humanitarian, intellectual giant, critic, historian extraordinary. As a man of truth, he speaks the truth without looking at faces. We miss you but your legacies will remain in our hearts. We love you and God loves you most. Rest in the bosom of the Lord.” For Pastor Gabriel Oritsegbubemi Agbitsekomi of the Redeemed Universal Church, Warri, it is: “Beloved Dearest Daddy! We, the Itsekiri, Nigeria and the entire world have lost a great father of fathers. An elder statesman. A man who stood and fought for truth. A leader incomparable. A counselor, advisor and a man of integrity and yet, a lover of God. Daddy, may your soul rest in God’s bosom. Adieu daddy! The voice of the voiceless. We will always have you in our hearts. Rest in peace beloved daddy.”
