It was Shakespeare who said, “when beggars die there are no comets seen: The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. The aptness of this Shakespearean saying for me and in connection to the Enigma that this piece is about finds expression and essence in the events that proceeded his death, the veil of gloom and darkness that spread over the Igala nation at the announcement of his death and the never-seen-before burial that marked his final exit. For if the dead were permitted to witness their own funeral and then be able to talk about it, then Dr Steven Makoji Achema would surely be speaking about the size, grandeur and pomp that characterized his burial at the availability of even the slightest opportunity.
I knew Dr Achema as a little boy while growing up in the defunct AADP quarters. It was a triumvirate of Dr. S.M. Achema, Chief John Odawn, the late Engr Yahaya Awodi, Engr Osian Attah Ahiaba and my Dad, the inimitable Damodu Attah. I watched the drama of the movement for the creation of Kogi State and the fallout . Their efforts, the drive, and the zeal with which the late ALAPA, Dr. Steven Makoji Achema galvanized other patriots to fight the cause of the people leaves an imprint of his sense of vision on the tablets of my heart.
Then his foray into partisan politics, first as an elected Chairman of Idah Local Government Council under the zero party platform, to his move to the then Social Democratic Party all come to me as fond memories. The defining moment of my love and admiration peaked with his active and front row participation in the formation of the G-18 that became G-38 and transmuted to the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I followed keenly, this time as an adult, his struggle for the Governorship of Kogi State under the platform of the PDP and the treachery of his brothers, who for either lack of foresight, sheer envy, or the unfortunate crab mentality, truncated that ambition. We haven’t fully broken free from the consequences of that misbehavior.
He stamped his ideology in my heart with the historical “Ukanukpoda Accord” where unlike the Biblical Esau he refused to sell his birthright for a plate of porridge. In Camaraderie and extreme solidarity, he stood with and by his people to the costernation of even some of his friends, emphasizing the inextricable place of love amongst people of the same heritage and destiny. His journey of love was what sealed his fate culminating in the epic battle that cost him his life.
Dr. Achema was the man that saw the future and did all within his powers to avert the sorry state we find ourselves in as a people in Kogi State and by extension Nigeria.
And this brings me to the part of this tribute where if I had my way, I would like to make certain reports to the late Enigma…
I will like to report to Dr. S.M Achema that all the things he feared will happen to his beloved Igala nation came to pass, all enabled by his Brothers and Sisters.
That while he has been away, Igala brothers fought themselves up to the Supreme Court all in the bid to occupy or displace one another from the Lugard House. The culture of holding the “anukwu meeting” to resolve differences and reach a common, united front before coming to the public seems to have gone with the wind.
That while he has been away, a heresy in the form of political philosophy of ‘Enemuneme’ was propagated by our own brothers and used to subjugate the Igala nation.
That although, I make these reports from. The place of pain, I am also happy to inform him that the popular Igala refrain of “akpane oñwu ane akpa” came to pass in the lives of all the propagators of the heresy of ‘Enemuneme.’ They were consumed by the fire that they had stoked for selfish reasons. Today, they are a forgotten people while still alive.
I also want to tell him about an abomination that occured in Ochadamu, where a helpless and defenceless woman was incinerated along with the entirety of her house and all she ever owned because she rejected the heresy of ‘Enemuneme.’ It is with joy that I report further that all those agents of death have gone to meet with their makers courtesy of the machinations of their master.
However, in all of these, I will like to sadly report to Dr Achema that his beloved Ane’Igala lies desolate figuratively and in real life, depending from what prism desolation is being contemplated. And that the dearth of quality leadership is more pronounced than ever before.
I am glad to tell Dr Achema that we dared to mark the 25th Anniversary of his passing and we succeeded despite all the treachery thrown in our paths by some of our brothers and sisters who are still intimidated by his influence and clout. We do believe that his spirit lives on and that these little efforts of ours will stoke the fire of patriotism among the upcoming generation and that they will rebuild the ruins of the walls of Igala land. His sacrifice was not and will never be in vain.
Adieu the Great One, a giant among men in courage and vision.
I doff my hat for you Alapa Tika Tika!
-Awulu Attah
