Mr. Anthony Ukpabi Asika

NOVEMBER 19, 2004: State Funeral for the late Chief Anthony Ukpabi Asika, Ajie of Onitsha and former Administator of the defunct East Central State, at the Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu. Click here for details ...

Governor Chimaroke Nnamani and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dr. Sam Egwu shortly before the arrival of the remains of Chief Asika from Abuja.

AND so, on the 14th of September 2004, His Excellency, Ajie (Dr.) Anthony Ukpabi Asika, scholar, wordsmith, loyalist, former administrator of East Central State (now comprising Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi States) and civilian star of Gen.Gowon's Military Government (1967-1975), took his eternal leave to join his ancestors at the age of 68.With his departure, Chinyere and her children, the famous Onitsha town, Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria, Nigeria as a whole and the continent of Africa lost an illustrious son; a talented academic, patriot and nationalist.

At the young age of 31, Mr. Asika, then a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, was appointed first as Administrator of the liberated areas of Eastern Nigeria in 1967 and later as Administrator of East Central State at the end of the Civil War in 1970.
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These were the circumstances under which Asika was appointed.Thus his acceptance to serve was seen by many Igbos as service against the interest of the East.Only a man of Asika's boldness, broadmindedness and vision could have accepted to serve at such a delicate period.

Asika learnt fast and soon established himself as a firm, decisive and effective administrator, who had the courage of his convictions.Asika's intellectual sophistry reflected in his many presentations to and contributions at the Supreme Military Council where he was the only Civilian Administrator (Governor), all of which earned him our respect and admiration.

But perhaps events, or some other inexplicable reasons, brought us close to each other.I recall that Asika was among the Governors I invited to Benin City for the flagging off of the Midwest Institute of Technology, MIT (later renamed University of Benin, UNIBEN).In an earlier consultation with him over the Institution, I told him of a Professor at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, who declined my invitation (to lecture at MIT), saying that he could not leave UNILAG for a glorified secondary school!The following year, the same Professor applied when we advertised for post of Vice Chancellor!Asika's response was "you know we have some illiterate professors."That was the level of Asika's academic confidence, understanding and exposition of contemporary issues, which many saw as intellectual arrogance.

I remember the issue of take-over of private schools, which Asika and I agreed to do.I insisted that Government needed to intervene in order to improve infrastructure, increase the facilities and broaden the school curriculum, which are not things the private proprietors could easily do.Asika was vehemently against the systematic spread of "colonial mentality" and foreign religions through the missionary schools, which were sponsored by the Anglican British and the Catholic Irish.He didn't think that their religion was superior to ours!Both of us were eager to use education to reunify our people who had been divided by the war.

Asika and I also shared other similar ideas and visions.After the war, I gathered some "Biafran Engineers" - people who had performed incredible feats under extraordinary difficult circumstances of war.My programme for them was sabotaged and stopped.Asika picked it up and set up the Project Development Agency (PRODA) with some of the Engineers.

Sports was another area where we agreed.We both used sports to mobilise and galvanise our people, and it worked wonders.While I used Vipers (which later became Bendel Insurance), he used Rangers International.Both dominated the country's football scene in our time!It is doubtful whether Asika got (or is getting) his just dues from history, and this can be traced to his own inter-personal relations, especially with his kinsmen, as opposed to his performance in office.It must be to Gen.Gowon's eternal credit that he decided to appoint a civilian in Asika's mould at that time.Not that a soldier of Eastern extraction could not be found.Or that a soldier from elsewhere could not have been appointed.But he chose Asika with whom he had been close, and whose judgment he could trust.On hindsight, many agree that the perceived abrassiveness and, perhaps, brutality of a soldier, in that circumstance, could have worsened the plight of the emotionally broken and socially devastated Easterners and it could have been counter productive.

Gen. Gowon gave Asika all the support he needed, especially after the war when he accepted Asika's suggestions of "No Victor, No Vanquished" and the "Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction" policies, which were vigorously pursued.You could finger their personal relationship in the implementation of these programmes.It is equally to Asika's credit that Igbo businessmen, artisans, farmers, etc., quickly found their feet after the war.He was indeed one of the solid bridges that re-linked his people with the rest of the Nigerian people.He became the symbol of justice for the Igbos for whom he saw a great future.

Asika was also a man of peace who was eager about the end of the war right from when it started.In his first broadcast in Enugu in 1968, he declared, "Enough is Enough."It was, however, curious that he carried his "intellectual arrogance" to the domain of the great Zik of Africa, who had "defected" from the Biafran side to help him (Asika) and the Federal side to quickly resolve the crises.When Zik was confronted in London in August 1969 and asked why he fled, he declared: "When a tree is about to be cut down, it stands still, but a human being in danger moves away."It was gratifying that after the skirmishes, both great men settled and became very friendly before their death.

I should also say that Asika was an honest and prudent Administrator.Although he always had the mien and pre-disposition of the aristocratic class, it was nothing but grand elitism.Later, when I was appointed Federal Minister, Asika and I met regularly to discuss Nigeria's future and also see what we could do together.As his health began to send danger signals, he left for the UK for treatment.When later I visited him in London, I met Chinyere, his admirable wife, showering love, extreme care and total devotion to her sick husband.She is an example to other women and pride to womenfolk.But death is an inevitable end, which will come when it will come.

Onitsha, the home town of Zik and Asika and many other great sons of Africa; and Anambra, their State, today bear sad tales and uncomplimentary of testimonies to their sacrifices and leadership.Today, Onitsha, the reference point of trading and the commercial nerve centre of the East, has broken down.Today, Anambra State (an integral part of Eastern Region, which Zik led, and later a considerable portion of East Central State, which Asika administered), has become the country's example of how not to run a State.The resolution of these contradictions and reversal of the ugly trends would be a fitting tribute to the memory of His Excellency Ajie (Dr.) Anthony Ukpabi Asika, who gave the greater part of his youthful age to the selfless services of his People, State and Country.

And so, on September 14, 2004, His Excellency, Ajie (Dr.) Anthony Ukpabi Asika, scholar, wordsmith, loyalist, former administrator of East Central State (now comprising Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states) and civilian star of Gen.Gowon's military government, (1967-1975), took his eternal leave to join his ancestors at the age of 68.With his departure, Chinyere and her children, the famous Onitsha town, Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria, Nigeria as a whole and the continent of Africa lost an illustrious son; a talented academic, patriot and nationalist....

So, when Anthony Ukpabi Asika, political scientist and former administrator of East Central State, died September 13, many Nigerians were not so surprised.He was 68.The former university don had been bed-ridden for several years.
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Asika was born in Jos, Plateau State, June 28, 1936.He was educated at Saint Patrick's College, Calabar, 1949; Edo College, Benin, 1951; University College, now University of Ibadan, 1956-61; University of California, Los Angeles, United States.

He was a clerk at the Onitsha Town Council, 1953; clerk, department of marketing and exports, Lagos; lecturer, political sociology, University of Ibadan, 1965-67.He was made the administrator, defunct East Central State, 1967-1975 and a member, defunct Supreme Military Council, 1970-75.

He was chairman and director of many companies, including Sigma Systems and Communications Limited.He held traditional title of Ajie Onitsha and more than 30 others from various communities in Nigeria.He was a Rockefeller Foundation Scholar and recognised honorary doctor of law and letters degrees from Ahmadu Bello and University of Nsuka, respectively.He also had foreign honourary awards from Senegal, Sudan and Togo.

Please, permit me to display in your website Anthony Ukpabi Asika's Obituary written by an organization that holds a different view on the role of Asika in the Nigeria Biafra Crisis.May I make a correction on the views held by some of your subscribers regarding Asika's position on the Nigeria-Biafra question?I asked Late Mr. Asika in 1992 why he did take the stand he took in the 1967 political Crisis.He replied that he was aware that certain elements in Northern Nigeria went beyond the threshold of civility in their response to the 1966 military coup.However, he did not believe that secession was the answer to the Nigerian problem.

He went on to say that his position was one of whatever device that the Ibos constructed as their collective response to the Nigerian problem should be within the context of one Nigeria.In principle, he was opposed to secession as a means of solving the Nigerian problem.Don't we all respect this position, given that hind sight is twenty-twenty?

Mr. Anthony Ukpabi Asika was never anti-Biafra.Neither was he anti-Ibos, he just had a different view on how to solve the Nigerian problem.Anyone who has the opportunity to read Asika's history would understand why he took that position.Asika was among the very few Nigerians in 1966 that studied in the United States of America.Back then, American College degrees were equated with Nigerian High school education.

Because he studied in the United States he was exposed to the best experiment of Federalism ever conducted by man, hence he took a federalist perspective to solving the Nigerian endemic problem.Mr. Anthony Ukpabi Asika is a Federalist and this accounts for why he vehemently opposed secession as a solution to the Nigeria/Biafra question.It may interest your readers to know that Asika was not the only one that held this view.
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President Becca Orunta presided over an electronic conference which was held this morning for the purpose of adopting suitable resolutions on the death of the late Anthony Ukpabi Asika, the administrator of the then East Central State of Nigeria.
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" To the Hon. Becca Orunta, chairwoman, of the Ejirika Foundation, Inc, Texas: We, your committee appointed to draft suitable resolutions of respect to the memory of Anthony Ukpabi Asika, deceased, the administrator of East Central State, beg leave to report as follows:

Administrator Anthony Ukpabi Asika, the scholarly, humorous, nature-loving, sociable and ever seeking justice statesman lived for sixty eight years.He not only witnessed the passage of those years, he lived them vigorously.For example, he was to travel to the United States in 1994 to witness the Green Eagles soccer matches during world cup series before he became ill.Modest and unassuming by nature, he, at no time, pressed himself to the front, but was never known to fail in the performance of any duty incumbent upon him.
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Given that our system of governance is yet to be imbued with the virtues of accountability governor Anthony Ukpabi Asika, had a choice to keep all the money due pensioners, civil servants and teachers at the end of the civil war to himself but he did not.Similarly, all tertiary institutions of learning, i.e. ATTC, Owerri, MIT, Enugu and University of Nigeria, Nsuka, which had previously, laid fallow for the three years of the civil war were jump started within two months of the end of the war.All of these reconstruction initiatives were largely due to the executive abilities, honesty and sincerity of purpose of late Anthony Ukpabi Asika.Uncle Tony Asika was dedicated to education and donated much of his personal time, income and property to this cause.In order to help resuscitate the economy of the East Central States, at the end of the civil war, Administrator Anthony Ukpabi Asika coordinated with World council of churches, International Relief and charitable organizations to provide aid to those in need during those difficult times.Above all, there was no intergenerational unemployment during his watch as the chief executive officer of the East Central State of Nigeria.His place will be hard to fill as a citizen, a statesman and as an official.Much more could be said in favor of his character, but this will suffice.

* Anthony Ukpabia Asika, 68, political scientist and former administrator of East-Central State, September 13.

AJIE (DR) ANTHONY UKPABI ASIKA

Dr. Anthony Ukpabi Asika, the Ajie of Onitsha, was born on the 28th June 1936 at Barkin Ladi.He was educated at St. Patrick,s College, Calabar, 1949-1951; Edo College, Benin, 1951-1953; University College, Ibadan, 1956-1961; University of California, Los Angeles, U.S.A., 1961-1965; and University of Ibadan, 1965-1967.

He began his working career as a Clerk, with the Onitsha Town Council, 1953; and moved to the Department of Marketing and Exports, Lagos, as a Cleark in 1953.He was appointed Associate Professor, Political Science Department, University of Ibadan, 1965-1967; Administrator, East Central State, 1967-1975; Member, Supreme Military Council of Nigeria, 1967-1975; Chairman, Technical Committee on the Review of the National Census, 1973-1975; Commissioner, Economic Development and Reconstruction, East Central State, 1974-1975; Team Leader, Presidential Delegation to Niger, Chad and Cameroon to Re-Open Nigerian Border, 1985.

Dr. Asika has also made remarkable contributions in the private sector notably as Chairman/CEO, Barkin Ladi Property and Investment Company, 1975 , date; Director, Guardian Press Ltd; and Guardian Newspapers Ltd., 1983; Chairman, Industry Skoda Limited, 1985; Director, TNT Express Worldwide, 1992; and Director, Oilscan Nigeria Ltd.
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Dr. Asika made remarkable contributions throughout the Civil War years towards the rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation programme of the government necessitated by the civil war.He holds over thirty five (35) traditional titles from all over Nigeria, notably: ,Ndichie (immortals) in the ancient Kingdom of Onitsha, 1985; Ajie of Onitsha; Ajie Ukadiugwu and Member, Obi-in-Council, Onitsha.

He is married with children.

In recognition of his immense contribution to national unity, Ajie (Dr) Anthony Ukpabi Asika, a distinguished Patriot, an Academician and an astute Administrator is conferred with the award of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu is one; another is Anthony Ukpabi Asika, who later became the Administrator of parts of the defunct East Central State that was under the Federal army occupation, mainly around Enugu.

»THE ORBIT: Anthony Ukpabi Asika: 1936 - 2004Vanguard Online Edition : THE ORBIT: Anthony Ukpabi Asika: 1936 - 2004
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THE ORBIT: Anthony Ukpabi Asika: 1936 - 2004
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Never mind that as Ajie Onitsha, there will be those who will accord him the rites of the Ozo; the Anambra State Government might even force the markets in Onitsha to close, there may be long drums and canons to herald his final rites, but in the Igbo mind, Anthony Ukpabi Asika belongs elsewhere.

An Igbo in Dallas with whom I had a long conversation about Asikaâ€s death said to me: “I hope the Onitsha people guard his grave constantly, or else, grave robbers will excavate, and dump him in ajo-ofia, where he truly belongs.†I thought that was most unkind.I called another person, a Professor of Physics who was a sixteen-year old soldier in Biafra, and he put me through a melodrama: “Who?I do not know that man. Did you say he was Igbo?Iâ€m here with some Igbo men, and we are having a meeting, and eating “ofe-onugbu,†but no one knows or remembers him.Maybe Iâ€ll google him for you…†I thought that was the height.I called Professor MJC Echeruo, his close friend and contemporary at the University College Ibadan, in Syracuse, New York, his voice quivered with pain: “talking about Tony, now in the past, upsets me…â€

“What would you say were his greatest achievements?†I asked. “Frankly, I donâ€t know.†It was telling: Asika is a name the Igbo have committed to a part of their communal memory, where silence reigns.He would be a fragile person in Igbo history â€" and that is where it matters most, for all history is local.He does not belong to the pantheon of Igbo ancestors â€" ndichie â€" for he broke with his people long ago, and they ostracised him, and abandoned him in the wilderness of history.
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My subject is Anthony Ukpabi Asika: scholar, public administrator, businessman, and one of the few truly sophisticated and original minds to have served in Nigeriaâ€s political life.But he is a man, accompanied by the hubris of his one significant action, and in spite of his great mental endowment, might really have left nothing of significance in his sojourn through this life, except that he betrayed his own people.That is what the Igbo think of him.So who was Ukpabi Asika?

Asika was a far more complex, and multi-dimensional person.What led him to his choice of action?Echeruo said: “partly idealism…he had the heart of a tiger!.There was a certain aristocratic arrogance about him.He wasnâ€t going to go with the crowd†Asika was a thoroughly educated man. By the time he got into the University College Ibadan in 1956, it was obvious that his path was leading towards scholarship.He was an intellectual aristocrat.Widely read.Cosmopolitan.Good wine and all that.His intellectual energy imbued him with a quality of presence which could be described as intellectual arrogance.Asika was assured and certain of his marbles.He graduated with honours from the University College Ibadan in 1960, and went on for graduate work at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).He was a lecturer in political science at the University of Ibadan, and was preparing to return to the United States to defend his doctoral work when events overtook that aspiration.The Ifeajuna coup of January 1966 was followed by the Northern coup of July 1966, and the pogrom against the Igbo commenced across the country thereafter.

In the confused state of events, Ukpabi Asika was one of the numerous Eastern Nigerian intellectuals who flocked to the East, and was certainly one of those who enacted the convivium that marked the early days of the return to Enugu, especially with the evenings at the bar of the Government Rest House in Enugu, where the discussion often was the death of the old federation, and a clamour for a new nation to be born.

Asika apparently did not share in the new nationalist enthusiasm of his fellow Igbo, and Eastern Nigerian intellectuals who had returned to Enugu.He did not believe in secession.The renowned professor of Medicine, and university administrator, Professor Gilbert Onuaguluchi recollected in his memoir, The Giant in Turbulent Storm (New York: Vantage Press, 1990) the last time he met Asika just before the war commenced.It was on a Sunday morning in September 1966, in the home of Professor ANA Modebe, in Onitsha.The displaced staff of the University of Ibadan had started meeting in Modebeâ€s house, mostly to put their fingers on the pulse of events.On this Sunday in Modebeâ€s house, Asika came in early to the meeting.

It was his first time to the meeting, and the three of them â€"Onuaguluchi, Asika and Modebe -commenced discussion about events in the country. “Asika said he did not think our lives were in danger in Lagos or Ibadan or even Zaria in the North.
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It was at that point that Professor Modebe walked Asika out of his house.He never returned.Asika found his way back to Ibadan, discovered that it was inconvenient, and moved on to East Africa, and it was from exile that he was made Administrator of the East Central State, some say, through Olusegun Obasanjoâ€s intervention.