Tribute To: A.I.G. Johnson Uzuegbuna: Farewell To A Countryman Super-Intelligence And Policeman Exemplar
Mr. Johnson Uzuegbuna was my maternal grand person, otherwise called Nnaochie, a friend and a countryman police and security professional per excellence that retired as Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG). Though, his transition came to me with shockwaves; his funeral which took place on Friday 8th August, 2014 was massive and tells story of a great lost.
Yet happy I am that he lived a fulfilled and testimonial life and left befitting legacy.He was over friended and commendable that his professional services went with unwavering service to the state and helping friends, relatives and oppressed sort and solved problems with eagerness and no strings attached.
He was born to the linage of the prodigious Patriarch, 'Okparaukwu', progenitor of Umuokparaukwu village Ukpor in Anambra state, through the distinguished family of Okpara OmeokachieUgboma and Lolo Ejenene Uzuegbunam as Okpara (first male born) and married to Mrs. Kate Uzuegbunam (nee Anunobi) from Ebe Ukpor. The marriage is blessed with children. He was until his transition an Ozo initiate of “Okparaukwu” with Okenwa (Worthy or Great child) as titular name.
To this Ozo naming tradition of his, he lived a befitting humanitarian, proficient and gallant force life crowned with zeal that professed living traditions of Jesus of Nazareth “life lived touching that of another with love and neighbourhood concerns”, whom he served as a Christian.
I used to be his regular visitor and friend that indeed received good hospitality from him and he always not like I, leaving at mine preferred time. Night time used to be our best time for discourse. When he was posted to Nigeria Port Authority, NPA Lagos we friended well that I even helped to convince him coming to re-enroll into our town's Ukpor Improvement Union, Lagos branch and he was given a standing wavier that anywhere his professional service may take him that he remains a member so far he pays his dues.
When he was posted to Kano as Commandant, Nigeria Police Academy, and on receiving my call that I was in Kano he bade me not to go without seeing him.
My going to Wudil was troublesome because I entered a bus peopled by non-literate Northerners but my coming back was splendid because he drove me back from Wudil to faraway Sabon Gari where my hostcousin Prince Gilbert Okoli lives. This unexpected visit made me ringed my cousin to come home and also began his process of identifying with townsmen and UIU Kano.
During one of our nightlife stories at Nigeria Police Academy Kano I was stunned to learn that he was a Biafra war veteran and wore the rank Second Lieutenant in the People's Biafra. Where his love life with a white lady clashed with that of his commander leading to several frustrating relationship between him and his commander because the white lady detested having relation with his commander; and latter transfer to the section of Engineering Department that produces shore battery arms efficiently used to countermand Nigerian soldiers entry from River Niger. Such is the lively story of man who the plight of his was his a tender age!
Another interesting story of his was how he had brotherly relationship with one of his kin's sister when we were discussing the menacing sex life of today that makes people living immodest lives. He told me a story about the sister in question that their relationship began from childhood and was purely brother–sister relation against what obtains today. His love for her made him think he might eventually marry as a child and this saw him asking his father what it takes to marry at a tender age.
On hearing that paying dowry is one of the foundations of marriage he saved six pence and went to the father who happens to be one of his uncles and told him he had come to marry his daughter. His uncle asked him what he came with and he presented him the six pence and so he busted into laughing. And thereafter, taught him that they were brother and sister and cannot marry each other and the lesson he garnered that day has carried him all through his life.
When the war ended, with the many challenges facing Ndi Igbo, AIG Uzuegbuna,opted for Nigeria Police and joined the police force where he had a meritorious service climaxing with been the Founding Commandant, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Force headquarters, Abuja; Officer In charge, Nigeria Port Authority Lagos; Commandant, Nigeria Police Academy, (Wudil) Kano; and AIG in charge Oshogbo Zone, Osun State from where he retired in 2012. Since the history of Nigeria Police Force, only three persons had receive the Police Service Medal(National honour), and this includesour role model AIG Johnson Uzuegbuna, current Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Diko Abubakar and one other fellow I could not remember his name now.
He was a well-grounded intelligence officer that trained locally and abroad in the United States of America, Europe, Israel, and other places before assuming duties laying the foundation of the Anti-Terrorism Squad, ATS of Nigeria Police as Commandant; and from there to Nigeria Port Authority, and later to Nigeria Police Academy as Commandant that he helped to professionalizeit as a first degree giving Academy.
Okpara Okenwa, was nearly illegally dismissed form NPF when M.D. Abubakar, junior officer to the then DIGs and AIGs was appointed and in a Nigerian style discredited as nonperforming officers instead of honourable retirement. All the DIGs and AIGs senior to MD Abubakar were said to be unperforming and were called up to come collect their dismissal letters at Force Headquarters Abuja. Some AIGs and DIGs went and collected their forceful retirement letters but not for Uzuegbunas'.
He did not go! Rather, he protested and his protest saw his unlawfully retired colleagues joining force that public hearing were conduct by the two chambers of National Assembly leading to the nullification of their unlawful sack and even President Goodluck Jonathan queried the then Chairman, Police Service Commission, Parry Osayande. Even those who had earlier-on collected their retirement letters were along with Johnson Uzuegbunas reinstated excepting those that have reached retirement age.
When asked why he waged the fight against his near unlawful retirement by the Nigeria Police Service Commission, he said: “As at today (referring to 2012)I have best and clean records, and ever the history of Nigeria Police I am among the three people holding Police's highest honour, Police Service Medal. I fought to redeem my name and personality because it was unwarranted attempt to tarnish my image”. It is noteworthy to say that AIG Uzuegbuna got his first major recommendation when he was serving in Benin City as one of her Divisional Police Officer.
There was no vehicle in his division. He went for a dilapidated Peugeot station wagon at his Police Command and after being given the mandate to take and fix it, he through his Ukpor townsmen based in Benin got it repaired to the envy of all. That one day he went for a meeting with his then Commissioner of Police along with others and his CP on sighting the car asked who came with the new police station wagon car and how comes?
On hearing that it was Mr. Uzuegbuna that took and refurbished a dilapidated car from the Command's abandoned vehicles CP narrowly collected it from him but for one of the CP boys who ordered him to leave with it immediately. Later on things worked better that CP on hearing that he did so with the help of his kinsmen coupled with his other efforts got him a police commendation.
I cannot forgot that he was in 2012 (or thereabout) promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and after its publication in the national dailies he was dropped for a certain favoured woman who allegedly had the ear of the first lady to become DIG. Such is part ofNigeria wonder! However, one thing unique with AIG Uzuegbuna, rtd is that whoever saw or did one or two things with him will come having a positive opinion of Nigeria Police. I meant the much tormented and dampened Nigeria Police that always get United Nations honours and plea for retention at foreign peace keeping force.
AIG Uzuegbuna was also honoured by his Ukpor community in 2010 with “Ukpor Professional Merit Award” telling well that he was also a prophet honoured at home. Regrettably, I didn't know his health has gone so bad to the extent that transition come calling not too long into his retirement. It was in February that he told me that he had been in and out of hospital but asked me not come that with access to drugs and treatments he would be okay.
Then clock began to tick for him that when I called his line few weeks to his transition it was his wife that picked telling me he was sleeping, and another time he was on drugs. Then I knew that all is not well since he would not on a good day give his phone to anyone. Few days later in May, I heard that this great soul and servant to God and humanity that his likes will scarcely pass our land again has gone.
I tried to cry but remembered that a great soul needs not such but celebration of life well spent. Then I remembered that he at a point revealed to me that notwithstanding the fact that he was over-friended and loved by friends and relatives but to his greatest surprise: those whom he so much friended and cared for in their time of needs deserted him on a sick bed. Nevertheless, he was not complaining.
I remember Bro Johnson told me two months to his departure that “No one should cry for him if he eventually verves the way all the earth shall pass because he lived a fulfilled and happy life with merit”. I appeal to his wife and children and Uzuegbunam family to keep faith with his meritorious life and legacy and not cry like people without hope. His, is indeed a celebration of life!
On this note, I weep and sorrow no more.And wishes AIG Uzuegbuna, a better journey home to where to die is to begin a new life journey and to be born is to start a struggling life and dying process. Jee nke oma, Okpara Okenwa!