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MEMORABLIA OF VENERABLE LATE CHIEF S.O.A .ENYIDI aka S.O AMADI,"EJIGHI UTUTU AMA NJO AHIA" 1920- 2007 OF OKPATU OJEBEOGENE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.FORMER PATRON MASSOB UDI LOCAL GOVT.AREA ENUGU STATE NIGERIA.(A PACE SETTER)

I feel very little this day and highly honored, to write on the life history of such a truly great man as my dad, venerable Chief Sylvester Okonkwo Amadi Enyidi. Dad was best known as Mr S.O Amadi by his contemporaries in the Nigerian Railway coporation.He is fondly called Papa Baby at home, and “Ejighi ututu ama Njo ahaia” by his mates.

Unequivocally dad was a great institution. Events and sibling con-specific characterizations pervading this aristocrats life, is such that even the greatest literary icon will find it hard to tease out .The paradoxical configuration of his make up is such that, one wonders how a figure of his type emanated from such a humble and pagan background as his family.In his life time he was founder of different groups ,hairman of development union,youth organisations,trade union and memeber of Igw's council in Okpatu.

As is popularly said some are born great, others achieve greatness, but some have greatness interred in their bone. Dad was neither born great nor did he achieve greatness, but he had greatness inherent in him. He was like Abraham Lincoln, rising from a very humble background to become precursor and primacy of civilization in Okpatu as a town. He lived a life that affected men and women across Nigeria. From Alhaji Kachallah’s family,(father of former governor of Bornu state), to the Yoruba’s in the west of Nigeria. From Ibos in eastern Nigeria to the restive indigenes of Rivers state Nigeria.

Dad was born sometime in 1920 to the family of Enyidigwe of Okpatu Ibite in Udi local government of Enugu state. He was the third born of a family of five. I will not fail to state that events in his infant life shaped his future life. As a baby his elder sister late NnenwaEnyidi, had him tied to her back. She went to collect something from the shelf made above a fire place in their kitchen, just then tender Sylvester slipped off her back and fell into the fire. Frightened and fidgeting young Nnenwa Enyidi ran to call people to help her leaving dad in fire. Ere the people came dad had sustained second degree burnt. It took the grace of God for him to use his eyes again in seeing. This made dad to always to himself in his usual colloquial language as rustic. He always says he is like a dry tree that never falls and was roasted from childhood.

However at an early age he lost both of his parents and was left at the mercy of his uncles and cousins. Here begins the maze of perils, bizarre experiences and life of this great aristocrat. Little Sylvester was going to church; he refused to go to the idol worship that was the order of the day in his child hood days. This refusal to go to the idol worship and to stop going to his late sister’s house drew serious anger and venom from my uncles. They irate uncles went berserk and tied the young Sylvester hand and foot. They dragged him from his late sister’s house to his fathers compound a distance of one kilometer and gave him serious beatings.

After the beating, dad got up from the savagery, bleeding and bruised he ran straight to the church and latter to his sister’s house. At this his uncles forsook him and he was left at the mercy of his grandfather Amadianyinya.

Grand dad was very tolerant. Events in the formative years of this aristocrat were precursor and foundational basis of the resilience, pragmatism, and visionary leadership style, educational, religious and socio-economic reforms emanating from this icon. Grand dad had cattle (Cow, horses, sheep and goat), so dad was taking out the cattle and in return had his academics taken care of by grand dad. Dad and grand dad developed such symbiotic relationship till dad took up grand father’s name. He continued answering the name Mr S.O Amadi, till he retired from the Railways.

Though dad had little time for studies he was most brilliant of students in his time. My uncle late Mr Ochu Uchuri told me that dad wasn’t always in school but when ever exams were taken he always comes first. It was also on record that he was the first to pass standard six in Okpatu in the year 1936.He was also among the first set of students to gain admission into the College of Immaculate Conception ( C. I. C ) Enugu. However the death f dada guardian led to his early dropping out of school. This formed the bedrock of his unalloyed help to as many as had academic problem in his time. He never wanted any to experience the shock of dropping out of school.

Dad paid the school fees for many students. He helped so many to get admission into different schools. He was a selfless philanthropist. Most of help were done in secret. The rigors of cattle rearing, no doubt taught dad to be tolerant to rightist opponents, the wise the foolish and ignorant. He was a LEFTIST LEADER. He was given to making sure the masses were satisfied and benefited, not just leaders.

The death of his mentor made him to go and live with the Catholic priest. From there he went to live with a relation and eventually to Lagos.There at Lagos he joined the Nigerian Railway after attending several trainings at the railway training school.He was eventually posted to Zaria . It was while working at Zaria that he met his wife former Miss Roseline Nkeji Ebuo.This marriage marked a mile stone in his life.It was mum that kept disturbing dad to go down east which he latter did .This momentous decision to go down east was the beginning of his exploits in developments of Okpatu and in the collaboration in affairs of people.

Though Venrable S.O.Amadi was not earning so much ,he spent much of his money in helping othersa. He was a strong believer in education,he did not relent in sending his children to school.In the late 70s he was promoted to senior service position in the railways.This made him to even expand his arms to people outside Nigeria.It is strange,paradoxical but true.

Chief S.O Enyidi was a linguist. He spoke the three major Nigerian languages with perfect fluency.He spoke Hausa like the Hausas ,Yoruba like the Yorubas and so many Ibo dialects. His exposure in the Railways no doubt must have contributed to his linguistic tendencies and ability to mix with people of all cultures.

MAJOR PROJECTS INITIATED AND MIDWIFED BY CHIEF ENYIDI

On Sunday 15th November 1992,dad wrote the following events diary down .He titled it his achievements for Okpatu under the following subheadings;

IBITE YOUTH ASSOCIATION

On the 15th of October 1961, dad formed the Ibite Okpatu youths association in conjunction with selected youths from Ibite Okpatu.This union was in other for Ibite Okpatu to have arrow head in execution of forth coming developmental projects. It was also meant to be a vanguard in decision takings.

OKPATU POSTAL AGENCY

Chief S.O .Enyidi was the pioneer of the Okpatu postal agency. Dad achieved this feat by liaising with citizen’s teachers union in Okpatu. They met appropriate Government agencies and Okpatu was granted the postal agency. The agency was first cited in late Mr James Obutes compound at Amani village Okpatu.Note that an age grade latter built the post office but we initially had a postal agency.

WATER BORE HOLE AT OKPOMOBODO

On the Sept.13th 1962 chief Enyidi went to Port Harcourt as a Railway guard. On reaching Port, he went to the house of one Mr Onyejiaka who was residing at Port Harcourt .Okpatu indigenes were meeting in Mr Onyejiakas house with late Mr Eluka as chairman. In the cause of the meeting Chief Enyidi opened his folder and red for Okpatu citizen his proposal for Okpatu to have a borehole water supply. This proposal was welcomed by all present with joy.

The chairman Late Mr Eluka then requested Chief Enyidi to advertise this proposal in the name of the union.

On reaching Enugu, dad consulted with the Okpatu youths and read his proposal for them. He also intimated them on the decision of the Port Harcourt group. The bid was advertised same time in the Outlook Newspaper. In response to this bid, a civil engineering company called Messrs Balkani Water Engineers applied. Balkani had its office opposite First Bank Okpara avenue Enugu.Balkani sent for dad and he defended the feasibility of the water project at Okpatu .The company accepted to take up the job and supply water to Okpatu.

On the 7thOctober 1962 Chief Enyidi in company of Chief Charles Offiahdiegwu And Mr. Francis Egbe led the white man to Okpatu. Water prospecting at Okpatu began immediately. Prospecting for the water started at Iyi Nwa Enyima to the compound of Chief Ochu Nwaebeke near the road a distance of 12 km.Burrow pit depth was 720 ft from stream. At Obiagu Okpatu it was 620ft at late Chief Ikeyi’s hospital it was 620ft.The white man warned the head water at a spot in Obiagu was too much that drilling could be dangerous. Okpomobodo was latter chosen.

After the survey series of meetings were held with Okpatu local councilors. Then decision was reached to hand over the job to the mission. They were also vested with the responsibility of educating the masses on water supply issues.

It took some time before water vision was realized for Okpatu. Bishop Anyiogwu invited Chief Enyidi for a meeting at Holy Ghost cathedral Enugu. At the meeting bishop told daddy that he heard Okpatu wanted water. Dad said he was the one that advertised it. The bishop now told dad to hand over the documents to Rev Fr.Gilade. Bishop told dad that Rev Fr .Gilade will supply Okpatu water, as he did at Enugu Ezike. Dad handed over the project materials to Rev Fr Gilade.FR Gilade now joined Umulumgbe, Ukana and Awhum to the project and twin borehole was sunk at Okaptu. Chief Enyidi recommended Summor diesel engine for the water supply.

HEALTH CENTER AT OKPATU

The health center in Okpatu was initiated by Chief Enyidi in conjunction with Chief Charles Offiahdiegwu in 1963.Between 1963 and 1964 dad applied to the health management board for a 16 bedded hospital for Okpatu. Advert for this project was made in the sentinel newspaper. The then government approved the project for Okpatu and Messrs Nwachukwu Agbonos Construction Company, took up the construction of the hospital.

Onuekwu Obiagu was chosen for the site and seven foundations were excavated for the hospital to take off. At this point some rightist leaders in Okpatu started claiming that Chief Enyidi and Chief Offiahdiegwu have sold the site Onuekwu .The duo of Chief Enyidi and Offiahdiegwu replied by making public their proposal. The entire masses saw in plain view that they meant no harm, but were only developing the site for entire Okpatu citizenry.

Following the civil war there was no money to continue the house. Messrs Nwachukwu Agbono took Okpatu to court. He won the case on ground of breach of contract. Chief Enyidi with the help of Chief Matha Ajoiyi and Offiahdiegwu secured release of Okpatu people. Mata Ajoiyi then single handedly paid for the bill and built the hospital.

            SECONDARY SCHOOL AT IBITE OKPATU

The establishment of secondary school at Ibite Okpatu was midwifed by Chief Enyidi almost single handedly. He made due consultations with the appropriate authorities in the state ministry of education at Enugu leading to Okpatu Ibite being granted the secondary school. It must be stressed that our people the Ibite Okpatu youths made great financial contribution together with the whole community to erect the edifices which today are used for the secondary school. Nevertheless this was after the community has been granted the right to have the school by the then state government Anambra state government.

OKPATU CATHOLIC PARISH

As at 1961 there was no parish at Okpatu.Between 1961 and 1962 Okpatu was under the Eke parish. A white man Rev Fr. Odoharthy was in charge of the whole area.

In 1962 report came to Chief Enyidi from Okpatu youths concerning the untold behavior of Rev Fr.Odoharthy against Okpatu people. Dad consulted with the youth movement at Enugu branch. He told them that he will see to it that Rev Fr.Odoharthy is removed and not just that, that Okpatu will have a parish. Dad Solicited support from Okpatu people as he pursues their case. Okpatu youths gave dad their unalloyed support, this led to implementation of removal strategies.

On the 12th of September 1962 Chief Enyidi selected six Okpatu youths and they followed him to meet Bishop Anyiogwu at Holy Ghost cathedral.

Dad told Bishop Anyiogwu that Okpatu doesn’t want5 Rev Fr. Odoharthy any more. He said that Rev Fr.Odoharthy should be removed from the parish at Eke and requested that Okpatu should have its own parish thenceforth.

Bishop Anyiogwu was alerted ,he sprang up and came to chief Enyidi ,knocking him on the chest saying,…TEKWURUTE TEGIDERE EGWU TEKWUTE UGWO NNA YA JI….Dad replied bishop ….ANYI BU TEKWURUTE KWUA…. Bishop said he will come to Okpatu to see if Okpatu is one and really want a parish. Dad went round and consolidated Okpatu. An injunction was given to the youths to make sure nobody talks of Ibite or Ikeghe when Bishop comes.

On the fixed day Bishop came and met with Okpatu .He narrated how one Mr. S.O Amadi stormed his office demanding for removal of Fr.Odoharthy and for a new parish. He asked if Okpatu wanted a parish every body replied yes. The Bishop now said that he will give Okpatu a parish. He said the priest at Enugu Ezike was on leave and will resume at Okpatu.

After Bishop Anyiogwu called Mr. S.O Amadi gave him a hand shake and said he saw Okpatu wanted water. Dad said yes that he was the one who advertised it. Bishop now said dad should hand over the particulars for the water project to Rev fr.Glade .He said Fr.Glade will supply Okpatu water with water as he did at Enugu Ezike.This dad did and Fr.Glade joined Umulumgbe, Ukana and Awhum to the scheem.Okpatu then had the parish in 1964.The building of the pro cathedral started in 1964-65.

Chief Enyidis life history was a maze of ideas, intuition, visions and selfless service to humanity. His love for Okpatu community was blazing. He was a great lover of Catholic Church. Dad was sold out to the betterment, social -economic and political emancipation of Okpatu citizenry in general.

POLITICS The political life of Chief Enyidi is another wonderful maze of events. In 1963-4, dad Was a front line political activist in the then Eastern region? He championed the WAWA cause. He was a front line vanguard of Barrister Nnaemeka Agu.The political tussle between Nnaemeka Agu and Chief C.O.C Chiedozie was led by dad. The political strategies used C.O C were all hatched in the home of Chief Enyidi. This led to the winning of Chief NnaEmeka Agu. However in the early eighties dads first son Obi got admission to Nike grammar school. C.O.C Chiedozie was the principal. Dad could not go because of his previous role against C.C. He had to send Chief Utondu from Okpatu to stand as Obis dad. This was how Oby was not disqualified from Nike grammar school.

Chief Enyidi was a front line politician. He was a member of the defunct SDP .He was an elected delegate to the SDP convention at Udi local government area. His delegate certificate was duly signed at Abuja by SDP national secretary Chief Eyoma Ita Eyoma.

MASSOB

The latter part of Chief Enyidi life was spent in regional politics. He was a foundation member of Biafra MASSOB.He was a leader in Massob at Okpatu and Enugu. He attended high powered meeting with notable and Prominent Ibos men in charge of the Biafran struggle. Dad always lived ahead of his days. He was visionary and believes strongly that the Biafran struggle will be a success.

Classified information he gave were authenticated in the national dallies and the world news in the internet.

Nevertheless the coming years has a lot to proof in the mercurial, foresight and primacy ideologies of this illustrious son of Okpatu.

The memoirs and memorabilia of this icon are too vast to be exhausted in this write up. The Lord alone knows all he has achieved for humanity and will reward him openly. At this stage I challenge the teeming number of men and women whose life has been touched by this aristocrat to give him honor and recognitions. He was selfless and always loves to give. He gave when it was most inconvenient for him to give.

Sequel to this ,WHAT HONOR AND DIGNITY IS ENOUGH OR AT LEAST SHOULD BE ACCORDED THIS ICON BY OKPATU COMMUNITY AND IBITE OKPATU IN PARTICULAR?HIS DOSSIER TESTIFY TO HIS ECHELON. HISTORY HOLD US ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGRAVINGS AND IMMORTALISATION OF THIS LANDMARK ACHIEVER ON MARBLE OF OUR FUTURE AND PRESENT.YOU BE THE BETTER JUDGE….

HOWEVER WITH TEARS, WAILINGS AND NOSTALGIA I SAY A PACE SETTER IS GONE .THIS DAY A DEMOCRAT, A LEFTIST LEADER, A SERVANT LEADER IS GONE.MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE IN JESUS NAME AMEN.

ADIEU PA-BABY,EJIGHI UTUTU AMA NJO AFIAH.GOODBYE,REST IN PEACE ,NUKU HYVIN ,HYVA YOTA ,SLEEP ON TILL THE RESURRECTION MORNING ,YOU DIDN’T LIVE long enough,TO SEE THE GLORY OF YOUR LABOUR.NUKU HYVIN .GOD BLESS YOU IN JESUS NAME AMEN.Risingsun008 (talk) 12:51, 26 March 2008 (UTC)