Anthony Okonji: Remembering the Ibusa Man Whose Evergreen Pharmacy Was Ibusa Political Mecca.

 Anthony Okonji: Remembering the Ibusa Man Whose Evergreen Pharmacy Was Ibusa Political Mecca.

- Emeka Esogbue

For the Ibusa community in Delta State, it was not an early political emergence or participation as her indigenes joined the political endeavour only during the nation's second republic era. However, once the indigenes showed interest, there was no stopping them.  

By this time, Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo while working with a few other friends of Chief Obafemi Awolowo had formed the Unity Party of Nigeria in 1979, also emerging as the Senator representing the Bendel East Senatorial District of the defunct Bendel State. On his part, Hon Chief Willy Ikolodo had also been elected a member of the House of Representatives while Obi Hon Vincent 'Ngadiolu' Obiekea was elected into the Bendel State House of Assembly hence, the Ibusa community at the time occupied all the available lawmaking institutions of Nigeria of the time, a record no other Anioma community has matched till date.

What many do not know is that the foundation of Anioma is closely tied to the early political history of Ibusa as shouldered by Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo, the representative of the Anioma people at the Nigerian Senate who eventually moved the National Assembly to approve the creation of Anioma State before the 1984 military coup truncated it. 

Incidentally, so much focus is laid on early proponents of Anioma foundation such as Chief Dennis Osadebay who in 1951 at the Western House of Assembly and Midwestern House of Chiefs, moved the motion for the creation of separate province for Anioma people, F. H. Utomi, Oputa Ututu and Oki who are both Ndokwa, Obi of Akumazi and Senator Nosike Ikpo who moved his own motion on Anioma in 1983. In contrast, rarely do writers of Anioma history remember the ordinary contributors who from the grassroots mobilized to bring to fruition the Anioma dream in their hey days probably because written materials are unavailable on their political past.

Born on September 19 1937 to the Okonji family of Isieke in Ibusa, "Tony" was an active Ibusa politician who though did not hold any elective position, left sound and worthy record. He started his political career with the Nigerian People's Party before he later defected to the Unity Party of Nigeria. Anthony Okonji, by every standard  possessed the penmanship that stood him out from his peers, making him the favourite of fulfilled politicians who relied on his pencraft to advance their political career. 

However, from the testimonies orally delivered to this author by several sources across the community, it would seem that the combination of penmanship, uncommon popularity among Anioma political heavyweights, political prowess and sagacity promoted him, shooting him to the position of the Secretary to his Council.

Although an important centre such as Pocco Centre has been retained in the history of formation of Anioma where Anioma heavyweights met to hold talks, writers have not out of fascination directed their pens to Evergreen Pharmacy of Anthony Chukwuwike Okonji in Ibusa where several Anioma political giants once always gathered. The Evergreen Pharmacy hosted the high and mighty politicians from Ibusa and other communities of Anioma including Ogbueshi Eluaka from Asaba, late Onwufuju, Chief Celestine Okobi from Ibusa and a lot of other fulfilled politicians. They were frequently present to discuss informally on Anioma politics and other matters of Nigerian concern. 

The shop was located in present Egbuchua family house and particularly owned by the father of Peter Egbuchua and also lies close to the Ashikodi family house in Umuekea axis of the community. It was always the place to be due to its standpoint as a centre of dissemination of information, local and national. Besides the principal interest of political heavyweights, the attraction for the commoners was the availability of newspapers in huge quantity often supplied Okonji by privilege from Benin. This made Evergreen Pharmacy a 'Newspaper Library' of some sort for the common masses of Anioma. 

As the Anioma interest and nationality are growing among the people, information on early advocates who contributed to building it especially those not privileged or mightily positioned to access voices of the pen becomes a necessity since their story must be told. 

Anthony Chukwuwike Okonji may have demised but his contributions towards early political developments within the Ibusa community which opened doorway for emergent politicians of today are best documented for the future. 

Without yesterday, there cannot be today. The present Ibusa politicians are today because he was yesterday. 

Upon his death, Anthony Okonji was colourfully given a befitting burial in his Isieke home of Umuekea in Ibusa, Delta State where his remains was also laid to mother earth. 

Among the children of Anthony Okonji is UK-based Ikenna Okonji who is a political commentator and analyst.