KUNIRUM OSIA: THE IBUSA "SAVIOUR' THAT IBUSA IS YET TO HONOUR - Emeka Esogbue

KUNIRUM OSIA: THE IBUSA "SAVIOUR' THAT IBUSA IS YET TO HONOUR

- Emeka Esogbue

To those that know, Dr. Kunirum Osia could just supremely pass for one of the greatest patriots that the Ibusa community has ever seen in its entire history of existence yet, he was not an indigene. Who was he and how did this happen? 

Kunirum Osia, PhD was an indigene of Obomkpa, an Anioma community in Delta State. He was a student of the Humanitarian and Social Science: Philosophy and Theology at the SS Peter and Paul, Major Seminary, Ibadan, affiliated to the Political Urban University, Rome. 

He thereafter obtained his M.A in Social Anthropology and Political Science at Howard University, Washington D.C, M.Phil and PhD in Political Science at George Washington University. He was to later obtain Advanced Diploma in English and Literature, Latin, European History and Economics from the University of London.

Osia has other professional training in Counseling and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and the United States Civil Commission and Research & West Virginia University. As it stands, he was one of the most educated Anioma of his time. 

Dr Kunirum Osia was coincidentally the Parish Priest of the St Augustine's Catholic Church, In USA during the Nigerian Civil War and together with Obi Mordi, the Diokpa of Igbuzo sacrificed a lot to the community. But it was Kunirum Osia who hid many Ibusa indigenes inside the church much to the threat of soldiers. 

In the hit of the war between the Biafran troop that first invaded Ibusa and Nigerian troops on  revenge mission, he stood firmly for the community even with military threats to exterminate his life. He was also the man that lived in a refugee camp for 9 months, taking care of thousands of refugees from Ibusa and environ at the St Patrick's College, Asaba. 

The Diokpa of Ibusa, Obi Mordi, under his watch at the camp became sick and few minutes after he brought him back to Ibusa, the Diokpa died. It was also the period he buried several Ibusa people inside  the farm in the hit of the war single-handed. But the surprise for most Ibusa people is the attraction of the General Hospital in the community. He influenced and attracted the hospital for the Ibusa people from Gen Gowon, his friend. 

Noteworthy is that the hospital though in neglect, till date remains the largest in the community. It is also the hospital through which a great number of the Ibusa people have been born. Until the establishment of Admiralty University, the hospital remained Ibusa's biggest project. 

In 2012, he launched "Anioma in Contemporary Nigeria", the book authored by him and grateful Ibusa indigenes such as Prof Pat Utomi, Chief Peter Eloka Okocha and Dr Nosike Agokei were there to thank him on behalf of their Ibusa people so was this author (Emeka Esogbue). 

Others that played meaningful roles, starting with the foundation of an Anioma Association to help lay agro-economy base for the region and its people and eventually assisting to support the public presentation of the book, "Anioma in Contemporary Nigeria" include Dame Winnie Akpani, Ben Ejete, Dr. Anselm Nwanze and current President-General of Ibusa Community Development Union, Dr Austin Izagbo. 

They had recognized the role played by the Rev Fr in averting massacres for their Ibusa community and had decided to support him on the strength of this uncommon heroism for the community. Hence, he received their individual supports. 

At the book launch, Chief Okocha, in particular stood up and said "I was young but I have heard all that you did for my Ibusa people during the civil war and I am here to say thank you to you sir".

A year later, Dr Osia connected with this author through Ms Lauretta Onochie and expressed disappointment that I didn't come personally to him inside the hall despite all he had heard about me and I apologized. I would then grant him an interview that has since been documented. 

For the average Obomkpa person, he does not count in their community. The orientation is that he did nothing for them but Ibusa. I was therefore sad when one of them told me personally and blatantly that they owe him nothing. In death, Ibusa never sent delegates to pay him the last respect.

Charles Kumolu wrote of him:

 As a child,  I heard so much about "Fr. Osia" as he was widely known by those,  who were around at the time he was the parish priest of Saint Augustine,  Ibusa. 

There is also an old Enuani song that was dedicated to his exploits in Ibusa. I love the ssong. And the lyrics... "Fada Osia ya melu ka Ibusa dili.. Odika abu zia ya nta wa wulu Ibusa gbulu sie... "

"It was when I met Professor Aina, that I came to know about Fr Osia and the magnitude of humanitarian work he did in Ibusa during and post Civil war. Professor Aina was then a young man posted to implement and oversee the RRR programme of Gowon's government. He had all the assistance and collaboration needed from Fr Osia. He too became a great devotee and lover of Ibusa affairs" said Tony Odidia in his own reaction.

"Fada Enwenji would write "Pat Utomi (Prof) gave me his numbers in the USA. I contacted him in the beginning to help fashion my dreams of recreating Anioma role models which he did. That was the myth surrounding the book Anioma national biography supposed to have been launch June but for the pandemic. Rev. Dr. Osia was always willing to help even to his last day on earth. He saved Ibusa during the war as well as did his best in Asaba".

Sadly too, the Ibusa community has not also honoured him. On April 2016, the Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU) in a gala night and award held in the community, honoured some Ibusa personalities but Dr Osia was not named. The Ibusa community owe him; for choosing to stand before life and death, and best of all, for averting for Ibusa, massacres, the like those suffered by Asaba, Igbodo, Ogwashi-Uku and Isheagu, the community owes him. 

In responding to this author's call, Prof Osy Osadebe who hails from Nkpayala Quarter of the community but based in USA lamented: 

"My brother Emeka Esogbue, once more you have demonstrated through this masterpiece on Dr. Osia, your mastery of Igbuzo history and culture. There are other omissions of shame worth mentioning alongside this “tragedy”. Most prominent of all is that Igbuzo has never deemed it fit to thank the indigenes we met here coming home from the North as refugees. Majority came back with NOTHING but only the clothes on their back and less than 100 Naira earmarked for launch on the day they ran for their dear lives. Many have never seen bushes before talk of farming. Many do not have a house yet they provided them a place to sleep. Uncles and their wives opened up their farms from where we fetched firewood, vandalized their yams and cassavas in the name of fetching food which of course is strange to most of the returnees. Uncles’ incomplete buildings were secured with wrappers and banana leaves to provide a den for us. Fast forward to the end of the war till today". 

"When these philanthropists ask for for help we complain about the number of kids they had, ask us for feeding money, we blame their maker, not even a market square ceremony to thank them for their hospitality when we had NOTHING. Would it hurt if you or your kids take up one of their kids as a thank you gesture? OR assist them in upgrading that house that once harbored your father and his family during the war? No. What you see is a show off of who you are now. Igbuzo, like our good Pen Master said, Okuku adi elofuquenu onye kwue ugbene na udu nmili".

If only Ibusa would decide on a post humus honour for him in which case naming a road or an institution after him in the community wont be a bad idea for as they say, "okuku adie olofu onye kwue oduu na udu mmili".