Life as Ojukwu’s P.A – Ejike Asiegbu

As the nation is currently mourning the exit of Biafran warlord and the leader of Ndigbo, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu (Eze Igbo Gburugburu), one person that is still yet to recover from the shock is Nollywood veteran actor and ex Personal Assistant to Ikemba Nnewi, Ejike Asiegbu. “Ojukwu was humane and meticulous…very thorough and highly principled. He revealed.

The erstwhile president of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has opened up on his relationship with the deceased while working with Ojukwu during and after the 1994 National Constitutional Conference in Abuja 1994.

“My first real encounter with him was in the 80s, when he returned to Nigeria after many years outside the shores of this country. I was the only Nigerian artiste that performed at his reception held at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu. I was then an undergraduate at the University of Port-Harcourt. Though I was not scheduled to perform but I found out means to convince the organisers why it was necessary for me to perform. They told me they were not going to pay me but I replied that payment wasn’t necessary.

I told them that once my name is announced to Ojukwu that the Ikemba Uniport wants to perform he would be very happy to have me on stage. I told them the inspiration behind my desire to perform… that I flee from Uniport to Lagos because of the programme. At last, I was allowed to perform. At the end of the performance, I made everybody laugh and I thank God that I did not disappoint. I performed excerpts from the historic ‘Aburi Accord” where I recited some of his war speeches.

Ikemba loved it and invited me to his place after that event. We talked and he gave me his numbers and asked that we remain in touch. I stayed in touch until I learnt through an auntie that he wanted me to come and work for him as one of his personal assistants at the height of the constitutional conference of 1994. That was how it began. But in the first place, I grew up reading up everything on Ikemba and I also wanted to be associated with him. Besides, I was also privileged to have been in the same Zodiac sign with him. He was born on November 4 and I was born on November 8. I saw Ikemba as my hero.

On how he received the news of Ojukwu’s demise, the happily married entertainer said: “It was a big blow on me and I was really devastated. It was quite unfortunate that the Ikemba eventually did not survive the illness. He died when many of us thought that he was recuperating and would soon return to the country. Everybody was full of expectation that my idol would return to the country, especially during his birthday, which was marked on November 4.

He celebrated his birthday on his sick bed in London, with his family. He was a father to me, my mentor and a boss. I’m worried and devastated not because, one, we are not unaware that death is a path that everybody must toe, but because the Igbo nation has lost one of its brightest and perhaps, very best leaders. A man who lived and sacrificed his life and happiness for the wellbeing of the Igbo nation.”

“Ikemba was a humane and meticulous being. He was very thorough too and highly principled. I enjoyed the time I spent working with him and I learnt a lot from him. He taught me to be courageous and disciplined. He made me see reasons to always be on the side of truth. One thing about him was that you can’t be lazy and remain around him. In other words you must be proactive to work with Ikemba. Again, you can’t be with Ikemba and your writing and speaking ability will not improve significantly. To work with him, you must be up and doing… no room for laziness, you need to be smart and always on guard, putting on your thinking cap.

You must be prepared to do so many things at the same time and you are also, required to be time conscious. Even in your speech, or writing skill, you needed to be careful, because Ikemba would not take it lightly with you, if you dare make a mistake. He was a man that had his ears on the ground and it only took him a second to point out your mistake. He had a good command of the English language and will correct you if you are not quick at correcting yourself. He was a man that any young person who is positive about life would love to associate with. For me, working with him was the best thing that ever happened in my life. I have worked with so many people in the past, but I must state that working with Ikemba added impetus to my growth in politics. Working with him expanded my horizon and theory as a young promising man and a leader of tomorrow.

I feel happy and humbled that I had a stake with him. I recall that he gave me his blessings when I was going to run for the Presidency of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and he even remarked then that he won’t be surprised if tomorrow I become the President of Nigeria. Indeed my stake with him prepared me for life time career in any endeavour. We love him and will greatly miss him.

I’m also planning a tributes night for him with my Nollywood colleagues.”