A nonagenarian, Sir Elder Godfrey Ode Okpe, is one of the few Nigerians who have received the graces of God not just for long life, he also enjoys good health and prosperity. He shares his life experiences for the good of generations as he spoke to The Voice Newspaper’s Deputy Editor, James Shim in an exclusive interview. Read excerpts.
Brief profile: I am Sir Elder Godfrey Ode Okpe, born in the year 15 September, 1933 at Ogbaya, Otukpo-Icho in Otukpo Local Government Area. I lost my father at a tender age so I was not enrolled in school at the time my age mates did. But in 1949, my cousin, late Stephen Ejegbogo, an auxiliary primary school teacher, picked me up and enrolled me into primary education at the age of sixteen and half years at St Charles Catholic School, Okpanehe, Adoka. The idea was to train me for Standard one or two, then, withdraw me for tailoring work. I, however, had the flair for military work. I also loved and participated in cultural activities and received Christ at that tender age.
So, in 1952 I went for recruitment into the army, that time it was done at local government headquarters. I was selected twice but my friend was not selected so I withdrew because I couldn’t go without him. I continued with my primary education until 1954 when it became extremely difficult for me to pay my school fees. I would have to go round and work on building sites to earn money for my school fees. I nevertheless graduated with the First School Leaving Certificate (Standard Six) from Saint Mary’s Catholic School, ( now Saint Augustine), Otukpo in December 1955 at the age of 23.
I was thereafter admitted for a two year vocational clerical training course at the Clerical Training School, Otukpo and graduated in December 1957. On 18th January, 1958, I was appointed into the civil service of the North Regional Government as Ungraded Clerk and I was posted to the Administrator’s Office, Kaduna Capital Territory (KCT).
I worked there from the department of Administration and ended up in the Lands Department. I attended several development training courses within and outside the country, notably, Judicial and Administrative Training Courses at Kaduna and Institute of Administration, Zaria, Courses on Advanced Administrative Management Services, including Organization and Methods (O&M) at the Royal Institute of Public Service, (RIPA), London, Professional Course Study on Public Management Development, Institute of Public Service (IPS), University of Connecticut, Hartford, USA. I worked in various ministries in Benue State and I spent 35years in service.
How would you describe the way life treated you?
I will say life is interesting to somebody who dedicates himself to work. I found the Civil Service very interesting. I enjoyed my work and I am proud of it. I retired as Director and I am living the life of Director.
Who would you say was your role model in your service life?
Chief Obafemi Awolowo because he was a dogged fighter. He doesn’t tolerate nonsense. I like his works and three of his books are with me and I like his courage. He was the only person who established free primary education. He was the first person to set a television in Nigeria but people didn’t like him because he was energetic and pragmatic. Up till now I cherished him as the leader of Nigeria. He died and somebody described him as “the President that never was”. It was after his death that people started to know the value of that great man.
So in what way would you say the principles you share with the late Awolowo affected your decisions and actions while in the civil service?
I can not praise myself otherwise I would say I am an incorruptible officer. If you are not hardworking you cannot work with me. As a Senior Officer, I parked files and worked in my home. If you visited me in my office after a while I tell you, “please allow me to attend to these salient visitors”.
Did you receive any reward or award while serving?
No, but I received accelerated promotions. I gave my whole self to the service. Yes, people said Ode Okpe had nothing, that I built one small home at Otukpo, but by the benevolence of the government I have this house here in Makurdi. I am a happy person and I enjoyed my service to my country.
Can you compare the service under colonial masters and that under self rule?
I joined the service two years before independence but that time promotion was by merit, salaries were paid from the 19th of every month to 21st and promotion was earned. You were also paid leave grant and things were moving systematically. That time civil servants were attending hospitals free with their wives and children, government paid for all these. The service in those days was better than what we have now- that you must have as “godfather”.
Does that suggest we have thrown away the foundations laid by the British or colonial masters?
We have thrown away. That time, to be a Permanent Secretary you must have to be an Administrative Officer. But nowadays a principal of a secondary school can be appointed a Permanent Secretary. The service has fallen down. That time you must have the Civil Service Rules which was referred to as Civil Service Bible, financial regulations and the file for establishment, and if you were making a recommendation, you referred to the G.O. (General Order).
How is life in retirement?
Life in retirement here is boring. We are treated here as lepers. We are neglected. This is where a retired civil servant is not paid pension up to a year. Payment of salaries to them here is an achievement. But retirement benefits are personal emoluments that must be paid to an officer. Some years past, we were paid the pension three or four times in a year. Retirement benefits like gratuity should be given to you as you are going. Some people have retired years ago and have not been given not to talk about those who died in service.
Your book “A guide to Idoma traditional marriage”, what was your motivation for it?
Marriage is a divine institution. It is full of roses and thorns. Once you are going into marriage be prepared for the roses and thorns.I am also happily married with children. I am happy with my wife, a very industrious woman, very intelligent. I married before but the marriage didn’t work and we separated. But I married this woman who we are living today very happily. If not at 94, do I look haggard? This is the handwork of my wife. I am also a Fourth Degree Knight of St. Mulumba.
What would you say is your contribution to governance and community development?
As a civil servant I was a reformer. As a citizen I belong to so many societies.
Do you see anything good in the country’s independence?
When Benue and Plateau State were created, it was optional for you to go to your new State. The administrator of Kaduna, Dabo Sambo, a very calm gentleman because of my performance called me to his office, locked the door and asked me: “what do you want here that I cannot give to you, don’t go to Benue Plateau State, but I proudly said I would rather be a slave in my State. The Hausa man quietly signed my letter. Whatever we have today is better than colonial rule. Let us come together and prepare our bed so that we can sleep very well. And service to God is the most important thing. Once you give your life to God, you are lacking nothing.
What advice would you give to leaders of today and citizens in general?
Children of nowadays are in a hurry but life is in stages. My advice to these upcoming youths is that, patience and endurance are golden. You have to go stage by stage to reach the highest level. See me now, I belong to the last stage of life. Then, honor thy mother and father. It is not just your biological parents, honor those in government. For those who are in a hurry, they say, hasty climbers have sudden falls. God has given everybody his or her opportunity but if you are in a hurry you will fall.
The roots cause of our problems in Nigeria today is CORRUPTION. The national assembly gave birth to corruption, the judiciary is the grandfather that gave birth to corruption in Nigeria. At independence, there were shadow ministers to each of the ministeries, they were from opposition parties, nowadays there is nothing from opposition parties. And in those days a member of the national assembly could go to any ministry or department to find out what is there, there is nothing like that today. I have lost confidence in the system. So unless we fight this corruption. Corruption has brought Boko Haram, it has brought Fulani herdsmen, it has brought kidnappers. Our leaders are self seeking leaders. They don’t border what happens to Nigeria. Look at elections, before elections are conducted people are declared winners. The gentleman who would deliver the people is never elected. Again, in the past we have Departmental Vote Account, now there is nothing like that.
What suggestions would you advance for the nation to fight corruption?
We need a leader. A good leader. Obafemi Awolowo had information from all the ministers. There must be control of the resources. The governor spends money as he like because there is immunity. But once an example is made of one person others will withdraw. We need a good and determined leader that is also a man of the people, a messenger and not a lord of the people.
As an Idoma man you are keeping children who are of Tiv nationality, why?
God created me to be an African and an Idoma man. But we are all creatures of God. So tribalism is not in my way. One thing that is killing Nigeria is tribalism, ethnicity. If these children are trained under me, they will grow and do the same thing to others. Some of them are now in universities. You can imagine how happy they are, you can hardly know whether they are my biological children or not. Help the poor and the needy with the little resources that you have. Some people are hoarding money and people are dying by their sides and nothing bother them. It is not so with me, the children are happy with me and I treat them equally as if they are my biological children. After this, they will have to go and multiply what I have done to them. In those days we had so many of the Tiv names in Idoma land like “Ichan”, ‘Aondowase’, others, but politicians are trying to put the wage between us. I am happy that if these children can be educated they will not forget me.
What poser would you leave for Benue people?
Benue State was created in 1976. Within the four years of Aper Aku as first civilian governor, he had established Benue State. The State Secretariat and each local government had a hotel. This Staff Quarters I am living in was the handwork of Aper Aku; Ikyogen Cattle Ranch and many others. The coup came and Aku was overthrown, since then, we have never had a government like him.
The people cried to God for a leader and God, hearing our prayers gave us a man who will savage the economy of the state in person of Governor Hyacinth Alia. Alia has now given us flyovers, dual carriage roads, salaries are been paid as at when due. He has given us this young man to be our leader; let us join together and pray for him. Politicians are trying to pull him down but the grace of God is with him and I enjoin him to continue in the foot steps not minding what other people are saying about him