Oronto: Painful Exit of a Comrade and Patriot
He was battling with the pains of cancer; yet he was rather interested in discussing the memories of two of his fallen comrades and the welfare of their survivors. That was the huge irony that defined my last solidarity meeting with Oronto Natei Douglas who died yesterday morning. In a way, the essential Oronto was exemplified by the experience of the few hours I spent with him early in the year as he prepared to go to the United States for medical attention. He was a good man. Exceptionally selfless and genuinely humane, he was an exemplar of comradeship.
As he lay on the sofa, he told me the visit was an opportunity to discuss the details of the plans to immortalise Chima Ubani and Bamidele Aturu. Ubani and Aturu were doubtless leading lights of the Left of their generation.
Like Oronto they discovered the generation’s mission (in the true Fanonian sense) and strove assiduously to fulfil it in an inspiring manner. To be sure, they never betrayed the mission. Ubani died in 2005 in a road accident in Maiduguri while on a protest against fuel price increase led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Aturu, a lawyer like Oronto, died suddenly in a tragic morning last year as he prepared to go for the business of the day. Oronto’s idea was the building of a centre to be named after the two comrades. The centre would serve the dual purpose of providing a venue for activists of social justice and progress as well as generate revenues for the welfare of the survivors of Ubani and Aturu. He expressed so much passion about the consummation of the project as he urged comrades to be interested in the welfare of the families of the deceased in an acknowledgment of their “immense contributions to the struggle.”
Oronto was also remarkably courageous. Perhaps nothing illustrates this point better than the manner in which he elected to take control of his last days in the battle with cancer even as he was conscious that the end was near. When I spoke to him on phone less than 48 hours to his death, he still struggled to have a conversation about Nigeria despite his failing voice.
In some respects, his case was reminiscent of the British actress, Lynda Bellingham, who died of cancer of the colon in October last year. Bellingham said giving up chemotherapy was a “huge relief” and she appeared on television programmes to promote her memoirs a few days to her death. Oronto chose to live as much as his physical health permitted.
When he joined the presidency in 2007 as Special Assistant, Oronto told his associates in the civil society that his telephone numbers would remain the same unlike the culture of those who change their lines as soon as they get into government so that they would become unreachable.
His friends would attest to the fact that Oronto could be reached all his days in government. As a result, he was a friend who was close to the president that you could call and express sharp criticisms about the government.
Oronto took the criticisms in good faith even as he was absolutely committed to the success of the Jonathan presidency. He would rather engage you in civilised intellectual arguments.
He defended the Jonathan administration with all emphasis at his command, always drawing attention to the need for all to be patriotic. Sometimes, he would retort: “Comrades should not forget that even in government I remain a progressive in the positions I push”.
Truly, Oronto remained a progressive in government. Highly cerebral and always at home with ideas, Oronto was indeed an asset to the administration. His major strength was his thorough comprehension of policies and the ability to articulate them. So he took pains to explain policies and actions of government to even the most sceptical critic.
Even when he disagreed sharply with your views of the government he served, he was never tempted to severe relationship.
Beyond his formal designation as Special Assistant on Research and Documentation to President Goodluck Jonathan, Oronto did a lot more at the background to garner support for the administration. He skillfully reached out to many quarters to win support for the administration. He was good at informal public relations.
Before he joined government, Oronto had made his name as one of the intellectual dynamos of the struggle against injustice, exploitation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta. Along with his other equally dedicated comrades in the Environmental Rights Action (ERA) a logical case of the condition of the Niger Delta had been made to the world even before “militants” took over the situation of things.
As a distinguished member of the THISDAY Editorial Board, he enriched discussions with his perspectives on the Niger Delta.
It is a matter for eternal regret that I can no more interrogate Oronto with this question: how will it be explained that after the presidency of a Niger Delta man the central questions of the struggle of the people persist? I asked him questions to this effect many times and he offered intelligent defence.
Meanwhile, it would be said of Oronto that he played his part well within human limitations.
Our condolences go to the wife and the young children.
May his tribe increase.