BY JULIUS OWEH
The greatness of a nation is the
collective product of the greatness of
her citizens. Among the citizenry are
people propelled by patriotic and
nationalistic zeal to push the frontiers of
development through industry and
maximal use of their resources. It is a
fitting tribute that the first generation of
politicians neatly falls into that unique
category. Unfortunately, the January
1966 coup cut short the towering
dreams of such people. This was the
golden era of political evolution of the
country with the great Zik of Africa,
Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar
Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo,
Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh and Chief
Anthony Enahoro holding the political
forte in Lagos and telling the British
colonial masters that their brains were
not smarter than those of Nigerians.
Historians and political scientists would
continue to pontificate on the
achievements of these great men and
the benefits or otherwise of military
incursion into the politics of the nation.
But one thing is clear. That the hand of
development was taken aback and the
nation is yet to recover from it despite
what revisionist historians would say
about that unfortunate military incursion.
Thus last week, in the hallow chambers
of the House of Representatives, the
ghost of that January 1666 coup came to
remind us that the nation is yet to fully
recognise the patriotic service of one of
the illustrious sons of the nation. I am
talking about Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh,
the first Finance Minister of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. Moving an emotion
laden motion on the life and times of
Okotie-Eboh, the member representing
Warri Federal Constituency, Honourable
Daniel Reyenieyu lamented that it was
only Okotie-Eboh among the first
generation of politicians that does not
have an institution named after him. He,
therefore, called on the federal
government to name any of the federal
universities after him. The motion was
seconded by Honourable Idris Kutigi.
Honourable Reyenieyu said that he
would not want to believe that Okotie-
Eboh was not so honoured because of his
minority status. The honourable member
said that Okotie-Eboh as the first Finance
Minister was instrumental in the
establishment of the Central Bank of
Nigeria, Nigerian Security Printing and
Minting Company and that the Nigerian
pound was produced under his charge.
Listen to his emotions: `Okotie-Eboh
represented Warri Federal Constituency.
In short he was my predecessor. Of all
those that were killed during the coup,
Okotie-Eboh is the only Nigerian that had
not been immortalised. Okotie- Eboh had
the opportunity to escape but refused to
do that, instead he was repeatedly
asking the security men “where is my
boss, the prime minister“ before he was
assassinated. Even the policeman who
recovered the bodies of both the prime
minister and the finance minister is still
alive but very old.`
The motion is a sad reminder to
Nigerians that those who fought for
justice and fair play today are victims of
injustice and discrimination. The
honourable member has stroke the
embers of a very sad chapter of our
history and it is now left for the present
generation of leaders to do the right
thing by naming one of the universities
or international airports after this
nation’s illustrious son. It would be
recalled that the late Okotie-Eboh in
establishing a secondary school in
Sapele, Delta State named it Zik
Academy after the first president of the
nation. He had the opportunity to name
it after himself but the nationalistic
flavour would not allow him to do that.
That is why the executive arm of
government should listen to the
resolution of the House of
Representatives as regards giving due
honour to Okotie-Eboh for he paid the
supreme price for the nation. It is true
that there is Okotie-Eboh Grammar
School in Sapele, but that really
diminishes the man`s stature as a
towering national figure. It would not be
out of place for the present Finance
Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to
listen to the voice of reason coming from
the House of Representatives. It is fitting
tribute that Okonjo-Iweala is also from
Delta State and it would not be asking
too much of her to put her weight
behind the motion of the honourable
member.
The Delta State House of Assembly
should take further that legislative
initiative by passing a similar resolution
in the house and embark upon
aggressive lobby at the federal level.
Those who have institutions named after
them and their pictures adorning our
currency are not greater that the great
Okotie-Eboh. Okotie-Eboh brought
finenesse and style to politics in the
1950s and 1960s. He carved a niche for
himself by his high style of debate in the
House and his mode of dressing that
caught the attention and imagination of
the British press. His flowing wrapper
with a personal aide carrying part of it
was repudiation of the notion that a
gentleman then was only known by
wearing dark suits from Liverpool. But
beyond that, his sense of patriotism and
service was unequalled and there are
still testimonies to that effect today. In
honouring Okotie-Eboh, the present crop
of politicians would realise that there is
enormous joy in serving one`s
fatherland. There is practically no
justification for denying the first finance
minister his place in history. The truth is
that a sauce for the goose is also a sauce
for the gander. The ball is in the court of
the federal government.
On the part of Delta State Government,
apart from the legislative arm embarking
on aggressive campaign to immortalize
Okotie-Eboh, the government can also
set the ball rolling. The Delta State
government can name the state
university or one of the colleges of
education after him. Make no mistake
about it; some people may now say that
we are trying to localize a great leader.
But what can we do since the federal
government is not willing to honour one
of our forebears. This argument can only
make sense if the federal government in
deed and in truth listens to the
legislative pleas of Honourable Daniel
Reyenieyu and truly treat Okotie-Eboh
as the true hero and nationalist that he
is. This is not time for ethnic sentiments.
The man was a great leader in the
league of Ahmadu Bello, the great Zik of
Africa and Chief Obafemi Awolowo. If the
trio are so honoured and revered, there
is no reason in the whole wide world why
the great Festus Okotie- Eboh should not
be immortalized.

NO!

Source
thepointernewsonline.com/?p=16348

0lumide: NO!

How I wish I am a mod...ban is an understatement!

isnt same Okotie-eboh the first popular corrupt public figure who got himself nickname of "10%"? i guess in another 40 years, Bode George and Maina people too will be pushing for their sons to get national recognition. Late Okotie-eboh will be happier if his family will stop fighting over his estate from stolen national wealth he abruptly left behind over 40 years ago.