Tribute to Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN: ‘President General’
Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, was like the elephant, indescribable by only one person. Many people who came across him in life, had different stories to tell. So many others, as well called him different names. I didn’t meet him early in life. His stay at County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche where I would have met him, was brief. I was in Lagos and didn’t practice law in Rivers State, and again, we didn’t quite meet too although his name kept cropping up in Port Harcourt Bar Politics. I didn’t know if the Chief Agums many called him, was borrowed from his father Late Chief Emmanuel W. Aguma, a cabinet Minister of the 2nd Republic. It’s also not clear if his prowess and mastery of law, foray into partisan politics, spotless decorum or borderless friendship spectrum, played a role in that name, but it was one well merited. He was indeed a chief in everything he touched.
PG However, I fondly called him PG (President General) and he called me DG Gburugburu. The two names arose from the various informal roles we played, when we worked together to support Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who, then as Minister of State for Education, had assumed a new role as Conscience of the people of Rivers State, to end the scandalous era of the administration at that time. It was then, that I went to his chambers for the first time.
I had worked briefly in Chief Gani Fawehinmi Chambers, and had also been led in a few cases by Ladi Williams, SAN, for Chris Okolie of blessed memory. I had visited many traditional law offices in Lagos, and a few in England. PG was of the traditional school in law office setting, furnishing, decors and content. I was very proud of him, and didn’t need a soothsayer to label him a serious minded person. Even his dress sense, reflected his purity of vision and distinction. His wife Mrs Inime Aguma ( Alternate SAN), who has to carry the new cross, flowed in the same direction with PG.
Down to the work of redemption at a time when many were afraid to dare a sitting governor, PG showed courage and capacity, that transcended law practice. He wrote brilliant articles, spoke at forums, and dazzled his audience. He humbled my posturing as a columnist, and one who had done some media work in the past. He composed and typed some of his works, directly. He was organised and conscientious.
After the elections, all fingers pointed at his direction for the job he knew well. Eventually, he was sworn in as the State Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on June 12, 2015, alongside myself and two others. When the cabinet was dissolved in 2017, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma was hurriedly reappointed, ahead of other cabinet colleagues, because of the sensitivity of his line of duty.
At work, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, was a tireless horse. He was clinical. He was smart, passionate, determined, dogged and industrious. Given the plethora of cases that touched the State Government since 2015, and the dexterity with which he successfully conducted them, PG proved that his private practice background became an invaluable asset to the State. The rank of SAN which was bestowed on him while in office, was a huge value added to his valour. He did more than he was asked to do. Many people ran to him for one legal problem or the other, and he joyfully proffered sound opinions and solutions pro bono.
It is an understatement to say that the success of the Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike’s administration in Rivers State, is largely attributable to the exemplary contributions of Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN. The implication is that, by his death, a part of the Governor has also died, and the State will deeply miss his invaluable contributions, friendship and personality.
PG was friendly with many, from the low to the mighty. His amazing sense of humour and easy adaptability to circumstances, brightly coloured the after-hours acceptability of this great man. In the social circle, he remained a jolly good fellow until his death at 57. His demise has left a vacuum that may not be easy to fill.
My towering PG, good bye. Your death has dislocated all of us who are mourning, but our joy and strength is that you lived well, and this is the measure of a man.
Emma Okah, LL.M, Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications, Rivers State
“HOWEVER, I FONDLY CALLED HIM PG (PRESIDENT GENERAL) AND HE CALLED ME DG GBURUGBURU.... DOWN TO THE WORK OF REDEMPTION AT A TIME WHEN MANY WERE AFRAID TO DARE A SITTING GOVERNOR, PG SHOWED COURAGE AND CAPACITY, THAT TRANSCENDED LAW PRACTICE. HE WROTE BRILLIANT ARTICLES, SPOKE AT FORUMS, AND DAZZLED HIS AUDIENCE”