Posted by By BEIFOH OSEWELE, EMMANUEL OGOIGBE and TONY OSAUZO on
The demise of centenarian, Pa Michael Imoudu, Nigeria's foremost labour leader has transformed Oke-Ora, an otherwise sleepy town in the northern flanks of Edo State into a Mecca of some sort.
The demise of centenarian, Pa Michael Imoudu, Nigeria's foremost labour leader has transformed Oke-Ora, an otherwise sleepy town in the northern flanks of Edo State into a Mecca of some sort.
The modest bungalow built for the foremost labour leader by the Nigeria Union of Railways and commissioned by Col. John Inienger, then governor of defunct Bendel State, October 24, 1987 has lately been playing host to people from all climes. They come in droves, not necessarily to sympathise with the family of the deceased, but to ‘rejoice.' For a man who led a worthy and enviable life and passed on at quite a ripe age, the feeling is understandable.
Early callers to Oke-Ora included Gov. Lucky Igbinedion, his deputy, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, Admiral Mike Akhigbe, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Olukare of Ikare, Oba J.A. Alaojo, among others.
Governor Igbinedion in the condolence register described Pa Imoudu as a great nationalist of our state and nation, while the Olukare extolled him as "Hero of Nigeria's independence and labour".
Similarly, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, a kinsman to the late labour hero, said Pa Imoudu was a pride not only to the Afemai people, but also to the state and the nation as a whole. Before signing the condolence register, he had thanked the widow of Pa Imoudu for her love and devotion to him.
"You have been a devoted and wonderful companion. We appreciate you deeply and honour you for what you've done for Papa. I know you've lost a wonderful person. We're all with you. Papa was not just Papa of Oke but a distinguished son of Afemai. It's because of him that Afemai is respected. He showed a good example by standing on principles even in the face of great threat, dangers, and poverty. Today, he's a citizen of the world. There's no better life anybody could live than that. The reaction (to his death) has shown that even the death of presidents would not touch people as deeply like Papa's demise has been. His life is a challenge and example for all of us to emulate. For the fearless and exemplary life he lived, he'd remain a symbol of struggle for the emancipation of the common man in Nigeria."
The deputy governor who also made a whistle-stop at the palace of Oje of Ora, HRH, Matthew Ehijiagbon Portia Imonah, Ohian 1, in an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, said the life of Pa Imoudu poses a great challenge to every man in position of authority and otherwise.
"Pa Imoudu would forever be remembered as a foremost nationalist who lived for others. You can also describe him as one of the fathers and patrons of good governance of this country. He fought for the rights of workers. He'd forever be remembered as the greatest labour leader we've had in this country. I see him as a wonderful example. One of the pillars and patrons of good governance in this country.
Good governance is not just about sitting in government, he made contributions in all areas of human endeavour. Through the labour movement he was able to extend positive quality to good governance and of course, that translated into government's responsibility to the people. Like I have said, the simplicity he exhibited is an example for all of us to emulate. You can imagine what it was to be number one in anything. He set positive example. As a state, we're proud that he was our citizen. He exhibited the qualities of an Afemai and Edo man."
Oghiadomhe said although his personal encounters with the labour leader were few, the man left a great impression on him.
"Well, I never knew him until he became a very old man. My encounters with him had been principally during his birthdays. I remember on one occasion I had the privilege of running an errand for the President to salute the elder statesman; even at that old age, he still exhibited the vigour and alertness of a fighter. He lived a very simple life. He never converted that exalted office and position he held for self-aggrandizement. He lived his life for the people. He was a very simple person."
Former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, also paid glowing tribute to the late hero who he said lived a very good life. "He was a defender of the oppressed. He was a man of not too much means, but he risked and dedicated his life to the cause of the ordinary people. As a matter of fact, Pa Imoudu exhibited principles in every Afemai and Edo person. All of us have been brought up to realise that attainment in any human endeavour is only through hard work, commitment, and honesty of purpose. These are the principles that have guided all our lives. He taught everybody around him that he's a very decent man."
Lesson from his life
Akhigbe is of the opinion that Nigerians have a lot of lessons to learn from the life of Imoudu.
"The struggle that is being played out now over the resource control issue does not only represent the desire of Edo State but that of the South-South people. What we are fighting is that each man must be given a fair share of what God has given to him. Each man must be given a fair share for his contribution. It was in that same spirit that Pa Imoudu in the early 40s fought for the Nigerian workers.
His belief was that anybody who contributed his own fair share for the welfare of the nation must also be adequately remunerated. It is the same struggle that Oshiomhole is championing today. It's the same struggle that the people of the South-South, Dappa Briye, and many others fought for. It is the same struggle that E.K. Clarke, the M.T. Mbus, the Horsefalls, the Diete-Spiffs, the Etiebets and indeed what the governors of South-South are fighting for.
The only thing we can do to keep the memories of Pa Imoudu is for all of us as a people not to deviate from the principles under which we were brought up; that is to fight injustice anywhere either within our community, our state, nation and indeed the world. I hope that Nigerians will emulate these principles in the life of the man for the benefit of the society."
According to Akhigbe, a befitting epitaph for him should read: "Here lies a man who lived all his life in the service of his people and fought for the welfare of the common man."
As far as Dr. Tunde Lakoju, a former member of the House of Representatives on the ticket of ANPP and delegate to the just concluded national conference is concerned, Imoudu may be dead, but his name and deed would remain etched in history. According to him, the man deserved to be canonised as a saint by the labour movement in the country.
"I believe one day, Imoudu's name would come back to the centre stage of our history," he told Daily Sun in Benin city. "For those of us who are coming behind, Pa Imoudu was not just a role model, he is a mentor, somebody that history would forever remember in a very positive way.
He's a man who had all kinds of opportunity in his life, he could have easily compromised along the line, but he never did. He stood firmly for the things he believed in. He fought gallantly for the labour movement in Nigeria and gave it its colour and shape. That was a man who ended his career without a house to live in, no estates, no flamboyance, no cars, nothing. He is a man who simply served with his heart.
"He'd forever remain an example for the younger ones to emulate. I just hope people would be able to do a proper documentary of his life so that we can keep playing it over and over, and see how that would influence the minds of the workers who are coming behind."
If Lakoju were asked to inscribe an epitath on Imondu's tombstone, he said it would read thus: "Here lies a man who lived his life, every minute, every day for humanity."
Septuagenarian younger brother of the deceased, Mr. Moses Omiunu, described the death as not only shocking but also a big loss to the nation. The retired school Headmaster noted:
"His attitude and achievements are yet to be equaled by any living person. But we take consolation in the fact that he lived a good life, he detested bribery and was upright till death."
He recalled when Chiefs Awolowo, Zik and Dr Olorunnibe visited Ora community in 1946 and Chief Imoudu hosted them, noting that it was "there and then they mustered courage to fight for the independence of Nigeria with other notable Nigerians".
The head of the family also recalled with nostalgia how Pa Imoudu got annoyed and slapped a white man for calling a Nigerian black monkey. He did not stop there as he made sure the expatriate was repatriated. According to him, Pa Imoudu was jailed several times for fighting for the cause of Nigerian workers and expressed satisfaction that workers are now entitled to so many benefits.
"I remember in 1945, Chief Imoudu was treated like a king, when he rode on a white horse to Lagos with people singing his praise. Today, a big pillar is gone, a hero is no more."