Chief Agums, Hard Worker for Justice, Adieu!
“HE OPENED MY EYES, TO THE PLIGHT OF RIVERS STATE/ NIGER DELTA AND HIS PEOPLE; TO THE SEVERE NEVER ENDING POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION THAT EXISTS IN THAT PART OF OUR COUNTRY, AS A RESULT OF OIL EXPLORATION AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES, AND THE POOR RESPONSE OF SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS (PRESENT COMPANY INCLUDED), TO THE DETERIORATING SITUATION”
The Road to Eternity Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what’s to be, A resting place along the road To sweet eternity. We all have different journeys, Different paths along the way, We all were meant to learn some things, But never meant to stay.... Our destination is a place Far greater than we know. For some, the journey’s quicker, For some, the journey’s slow. And when the journey finally ends, We’ll claim a great reward, And find everlasting peace, Together with the Lord. Unknown
The Sad News
On the morning of Friday, August 10, 2018, I attended the funeral service and interment of Dr. Gabi Williams, the father of my childhood friend, Olatoun. As I walked into the house from the cemetery, I received a telephone call, informing me of the demise of the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice (he preferred ‘of Justice’ instead of the usual ‘for Justice’), Rivers State, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN. Was this a sick joke? No! Not only was the caller not the unserious type, I realised that, he was sobbing like a baby. But Attorney-General told me that he had an excruciating back ache which had refused to subside, and he was travelling to the UK for further treatment, as the Doctors here had been unable to resolve the issue. The sad news, was the last thing I had expected to hear.
Port Harcourt NBA-SLP Conference: Our Last Meeting
My mind started to race. I thought about how sudden death could be. I saw the Attorney- General at the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Legal Practice Conference, which took place in Port Harcourt, in April. He looked hale and hearty, and was his usual ‘larger than life’ self. The night before the Conference started, he had taken time out of his busy schedule (I remember he told us that, he was just coming from their weekly Exco Meeting), to host some of us Lawyers, who had come from different parts of the country, to attend the Conference. We all sat by the Hotel’s poolside. I recall that, among those who were present, were Arthur Obi-Okafor, SAN, J. S. Okutepa, SAN, Boma Alabi (NBA-SLP Secretary), and myself. Little did we know that, that would probably be our last social interaction with him (it was mine anyway).
The next day, at the Conference, he chaired the session that deliberated upon the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. When I saw Attorney-General passing by during one of the breaks, I asked our photographer, Mr Kola Alli, who was there with us to cover the event, to take some photographs (little did I know that, it would be the first and the last photograph we would ever appear in together). The day after the Conference, he had sent me His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike’s Opening Address, which we published along with other Conference materials. I had chased him around a bit for the Address; he had mentioned that he was extremely busy, because aside from the mountain of paperwork he had to complete, and various meetings he had to attend, he was scheduled to go on an official trip to Asaba, Delta State that weekend, and possibly on to Lagos; he also had to prepare for the trips.
A Monumental Loss
The death of Chief Agums (as he was fondly called), is a monumental, indescribable loss, to his family, to the Legal Community, to his beloved Rivers State and to his friends. He was a brilliant Lawyer, who was always willing to share his knowledge and expertise. To me, he was a Mentor of sorts, who despite his enormous responsibilities, would still have time to send me authorities, when I was doing some research or the other for my work. He opened my eyes, to the plight of Rivers State/Niger Delta and his people; to the severe never ending pollution and environmental degradation that exists in that part of our country, as a result of oil exploration and other related activities, and the poor response of successive Governments (present company included), to the deteriorating situation. He was an incredibly hard worker, who drove himself beyond the limits of normalcy, to ensure justice and development for Rivers State. Sometimes, when we spoke on the telephone , I would laugh and hail him - “Commissioner of Everything!”, as he seemed to be involved in everything concerning Rivers State, and not just only the legal aspects. I remember in my presence, someone asked him whether he did any form of physical exercise. Chinwe responded that, the frequency with which he went on project inspections with Mr Projects, was more than enough exercise for him, as they would end up walking long distances during such inspections. Chief Agums was an astute Politician. He was fiercely loyal, a dependable friend.
To all of us who mourn Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, he would probably smile and say:
“....Don’t dwell on the thoughts that cause you pain, We’ll see each other once again. I am at peace.... try to believe, It was my time.... I had to leave....” Genie Graveline
We take solace in the knowledge that, God gave you the grace to make your peace with Him, and that you have joined the saints triumphant. “.....A o pade leti odo (Yes, we’ll gather at the river)
Odo didan, odo didan na; (The beautiful, beautiful river) Pel’awon mimo leba odo, (Gather with the saints at the river) T’o nsan leba ite na.” (That flows by the throne of God)
Till we meet to part no more, Honourable Attorney-General, ‘Good night, good night, good night’. May you find everlasting peace with the Lord. Amen. As we say in Yoruba, Sun re o (Sleep Well).