Mentor of Ibusa and Anioma Nation: A Biography of Obi (Senator) Nosike Ikpo (1929-2021), Distinguished Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria

Mentor of Ibusa and Anioma Nation: A Biography of Obi (Senator) Nosike Ikpo (1929-2021), Distinguished Senator of Federal Republic of N

igeria

By Emeka Esogbue

In 1979, Ibusa had just made a landmark entry into the Senate representation of Bendel East Senatorial District of the defunct Bendel State through Nosike Ikpo, an illustrious son of the soil who had just been elected under the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), one of Nigeria’s leading political parties of the time as the Distinguished Senator representing the people of this District.

The Ibusa community, though rich in human capital as she sustainably remains today, did not join the Nigerian politics early enough especially in the First Republic as did other Nigerian communities but the personality of Ikpo was to launch the community to attention with the 1979 legislative position held by him so that from 1979-1984, Ibusa bore the senatorial mandate of their group. The area of political picture itself, that he was to represent administratively, delineated as Bendel East Senatorial District of Bendel State was the ‘Anioma’ area though known at the time by different names “Western Igbo” (in collectivity) or “Ndi Enuani” (in part) but they had variously been colonially gathered from “Western Division” to “Asaba and Warri Divisions, later “Midwest region” and finally fused together in Bendel State indigenous idea of the Nigerian Government.

Born in 1929 to Ibusa parents; Pa Ikpo Ajudua, father from Umuokonogwu, Umuodafe and Madam Nwabueze Ataa, mother from Isieke, Umuekea both in Ibusa, present Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, young Nosike Ikpo had been born in a family of eleven but by fate, only him and his sister, Beatrice would survive the premature and impulsive deaths that claimed the rest of his 9 siblings. Early in life, Nosike spent his days with Obi Nwabueze Ataa, his maternal grandfather in Isieke who was a Warrant Chief, appointed by the British and sitting at the Native Court, Ibusa also established by the British colonialists. However, he pursued his life early enough being an orphan who was not parentally favoured.

Ikpo was a student of St. Thomas’s Practicing School, Ibusa. He assiduously, meritoriously and sedulously pursued and obtained his GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels and Inter LL. B Degree as a private student. Immediately afterwards, Nosike Ikpo advanced to pick up a job with the Nigerian Railway Corporation in Offa, Kwara State in 1950 where he worked commendably and occupationally well as a Plant Boy.

It was four years later that he would patriotically emerge the General Secretary of the Ibusa Union. The Ibusa Union would in turn transform to the Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU) as known today. By 1958, he had joined politics to become a member of Action Group, rising promptly in 1961 to become the Principal Organizing Secretary of the newly formed Midwest Region. Added to his rich profile is that he was from 1964 to 1973, the Midwest Sales Representative of Longmans Nigeria Plc, covering the then Ondo Province aptly.  

Brilliant, conscientious and out-and-out Nosike Ikpo became the first Councilor that represented Ibusa at the newly created Oshimili Local Government. Having been a crony and strong follower of his counterpart and compatriot, the ace Nigerian nationalist Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Ikpo became one of the few Awolowo friends that founded the Unity Party of Nigeria, also rising to become the State Organizing Secretary of the same party. The Ikpo-Awo relationship appeared to surpass political dealings considering that the former would stand for the later in his dark years of his political career. In 1963, Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo, leader of Opposition in Nigeria’s Parliament and 17 of his other disciples were found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison for plotting to overthrow the government of Tafawa-Balewa and Nosike Ikpo was defence witness number 12 in the trial that followed.

By this time too, Nosike Ikpo had become not only popular but the favourite choice of his people. It was not therefore surprising that he would be elected as the Senator representing the Bendel East Senatorial District of Bendel State in 1979, later re-elected in 1983 under the platform of the National party of Nigeria (NPN), the ruling party but had his senatorial ambition and political representation of his people precipitately truncated in 1984 by the military coup that followed. However, this ugly end did not come until he had stunningly obtained legislative approval for the creation of Anioma State which was the topmost quest of his Anioma people.

Mr. Philip Elueme, an Ibusa native and Legislative Aide to Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, the present Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, another senator from the community recalled that in a short ceremony that took place at the Technical College, Agbor, Chief Dennis Osadebay charged Senator Nosike Ikpo to secure the creation of Anioma State for the Anioma people. True to the words of legendary Osadebay and indefatigability of Ikpo, Ikpo would at the joint session of the Nigerian National Assembly achieve the feat, waiting for referendum before the military coup. Senator Nosike Ikpo had delivered on his people’s ambition but only had it cut short by the military incursion in politics of the time but it was a tremendous achievement considering that Senator Nosike Ikpo had accomplished this exploit. It was also here that Chief Osadebay handed the chairmanship and presidency of Anioma State Movement to Senator Nosike Ikpo that he would carry on profoundly.

Being a Politician, Administrator and Elder Statesman with a difference, legendary Distinguished Senator Nosike Ikpo is unarguably one of the greatest contributors to the foundation of the defunct Bendel State, Anioma nation, Izu Anioma and Delta State of today. the Eder Statesman was indeed a force to reckon with as acknowledged by several other politicians within and outside the Anioma area. It has been said that Ikpo played mentorship roles to different Anioma politicians of today who rode on his wise and trusted guidance to achieve fulfilled careers in the representation of their people.

Describing the late sage as the last of the Titanic Senators of his set, Hon Christopher Onyeayana Okafor, a former Oshimili North Council Boss, enumerated Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Rt. Hon Victor Ochei, Hon Paschal Adigwe, Mr. Adizue Eluaka, Chief Mrs. Adaora Giwa Amu, Mr. Peter Okocha, Chief Tony Azuya, Mr. Uche Ugeh, Dr. Austin Izagbo and himself among the Anioma politicians mentored by Obi (Senator) Nosike Ikpo. Hon Okafor was corroborated by Prince Ned Nwoko who confirmed:

“We all had one thing or the other that we learnt from the great politician…”.

The Idumuje-Ugboko former member of House of Representatives further affirmed:

“The pioneering Anioma Senator was a man of courage, truth integrity and patriotism. He was passionate about the progress of Anioma in particular, Delta State and Nigeria in general…. indeed, he left an indelible mark in the service of humanity”.

Hon Ned Nwoko would seem to have enthusiastically taken the examples of Anioma advocacy from the mentorship of Obi (Senator) Nosike Ikpo as seen in political principles.  

Archetypal of the average Ibusa indigene, Obi (Senator) Ikpo exhibited brilliance and braininess in his career. This peculiarity was confirmed by Chief James Ibori, the former Delta State who communicated his sadness over the passing of Ikpo in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, praised Ikpo for standing out among his peers early in life, as the best pupil in standard six certificate examination at St. Thomas Practicing School, Ibusa. it was his early contributions of articles to the West African Pilot newspaper according to the former Governor that afforded him the platform to assume the position of Under Secretary and later Secretary of Ibusa Union (Ibusa Community Development Union).   

Laudably, yesterday February 11, 2021, his Ibusa senatorial successor, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi moved a motion in his memory at the Nigerian Senate in which he prayed the Upper Chamber to:

·         Observe a minute silence in his honour

·         Open a condolence register at the Senate Chamber’s foyer

·         Forward a condolence message to the family

·         Appoint delegates, comprising Distinguished Senators to pay condolence visit to the bereaved family, on behalf of the Senate

·         Urge Delta State Government to name a monument in his memory

This came after Distinguished Senator Nwaoboshi acknowledged the late Senator Ikpo on the floor of the chamber as one of his impactful mentors and father-figure who nurtured and tutored him politically as his Personal Assistant, the platform that enabled him (Nwaoboshi) hold various other higher positions in and outside the country.

It would also mark the first time the Ibusa people would in unison stand before the outside world to present the honour of one of their own in that manner and spirit. Maybe too, the first time, the Anioma people would officially ask from the Government of Nigeria any recognition for one of their own in that enormousness. This is coming as the Anioma people anxiously look forward to the honour of naming a worthwhile monument after Elder Statesman and Sage, Obi (Senator) Nosike Ikpo, one of the founders of the Anioma nation and Delta State, by Governor Okowa-led Government of Delta State.   There is no doubt that the people of Delta State will miss the Ibusa High Chief, Obi (Senator) Nosike Ikpo, in the words of Distinguished Senator Omo Agege.