JOHN OKPO'' THUNDER'' (1939-2011)

JOHN OKPO” THUNDER” (1939-2011)
A TRIBUTE (proof read)
By Ohiaerinwa Ogbonnaya Okoro
One thing sinister about death is that almost in all cases it strikes without warning, without notice. It is never a respecter of persons’ pedigrees, circumstances or consideration for consequences or timing element. Death as the merciless hatchet man haunting and hunting mankind eternally, casts shadows of threat and fear without which mankind would have trivialized it as a universal toothless bull dog, a mere scarecrow.
Mazi Onyema Harbor, some of his brothers, “Thunder Mukuku” and I left the Okoro Uvere compound where we attended a burial ceremony of a woman of substance, late Mrs. Patience Okereke Chioma, and relaxed ourselves with assortments of drinks in the nearby Harbor family home. Neither of us ever imagined that we would never see and meet ‘Thunder’ again as he left us back to his Oror, Arochukwu residence.
Onyema was to call from Umuahia informing me that “Thunder” was receiving treatment somewhere near the New Market area. I could not identify the place. Further efforts revealed that he had been conveyed to the General Hospital, Arochukwu, virtually in coma. And by the time I got to the hospital early next morning it was all over. I could not see him in the males ward. On inquiry, an in-patient there informed me that his corpse had been removed to the hospital’s mortuary. I rushed there and saw the corpse awaiting the mortuary attendant’s practice of his knowledge of morbid anatomy. I remained motionless and speechless for nearly fifteen minutes.
I took serious notice of John Okpo, alias “Thunder Mukuku, the Blue Gagwo” when we sharply disagreed over critical aspects of the history of one of our Aro major kindreds published in THE OMU ARO. Sooner than later Onyema pulled us closely together as we worked as reporters and correspondents of THE OMU ARO community newspaper. And thereafter, no-holds –bar relationship which saw him visit me on average of four times a day.
Born into the noble (Amadi) family of Ndi Ichie Torty, John Okpo hailed from one of the traditionally important Otusi administrative lineages of Otusi Obin traceably in sections of Amasu, Oror, Ibom Etiti and Agbagwu, its very headquarters. The lineage and the Otusi is one of the several within the large Ibom Isii kindred.

He was indeed a local historian, an exponent of Aro customs and traditions; with particular reference to Ekpe, Otusi, Aro and non-Aro, Aro and non-Igbo relations, especially within the Cross River basin neighbours. He effortlessly and easily narrated Aro-Efik relations along with other kinsmen, off spring of Aro man-Efik or so woman marriage resulting in Aro neighbours such as Ito, and other Cross Rivers creek communities.
He was adept in virtually all forms and assortments of traditional and cultural music and dance to welcome Ms Sanders, the former US Ambassador to Nigeria who visited Arochukwu.
Aro man to the core, he was puritanical and insisted on the preservation and practice of Aro customs and traditions. He condemned in the strongest terms traditional abominations such as adultery, witchcraft, poisoning, debasement of Aro customs and traditions in whatever form.
“Thunder” was a very reliable and dependable kinsmen and friend. He repeatedly protested and mourned the alleged assassination of acting Ezeogo Amasu. He was to do the same for the questionable and controversial death of one of his kinsmen, Inyama, another Aro culture exponent. He never knew that his death was around the corner, beckoning on him to immorality and eternity.
He had strong views on socio-economic and socio-political issues. He was vocal, realistic and Aro development oriented in his political articulation. He hated and condemned the dissipation of energy by the Aro as they allow themselves to been used against each other, as they divide and scatter their votes. He condemned a situation in which we Aro go to the government house to witch hunt one another.
He remained ever appreciative of any good, favour, assistance done to him; even peanuts. I recall ever reminding him of my insistence never to use whatever little money I gave him to drink “hot” drinks.
Many wonder why THE OMU ARO Management appointed him one of its reporters. Yes, he was mostly at pub houses most of the time, not necessarily drinking him dead drunk, but picking vital information to feed me as raw materials (facts) which I blend and polish for most articles I wrote on local issues within Aro.

I now paraphrase Shakespeare’s lines in Julius Caesar:
When beggars die there are no comets seen.
The heavens themselves blaze forth
The death of princes.
John Okpo was of Aro nobility. But he was not rich. No! He was not. Not for want of hard work as is often with his peers. He was an accomplished carpenter very energetic, especially in his younger years an advantage he readily used, almost man alone, to load and offload ganga drums filled palm oil from Onuasu Amasu and Onuasu Beekee for canoe transport to Itu, en-route Calabar and at times Panya (now Equatorial Guinea)
He did not eat any thing any how. Hardly ate food cooked with magi or these new generation food - rice, beans, indomie, macaroni, etc. He ate our traditional food; foo-foo or garri with traditional soup. He had many friends, most of whom were top flight Aro elites. They admired, respected and assisted him. He readily told other persons the kindness done to him by these top Aro shots. But often they failed to convince him to join their own party.
A committee of friends was set up to assist provide him a befitting burial. They responded positively and convincingly; even by those who never actually knew him well.

His political friends and admirers attended his burial ceremony: Top local politicians and Arochukwu Local Government political office holders led by the former Deputy Chairman, Hon Jideofor S.O Kanu. The Chairman was unavoidably absent. Mao Ohuabunwa was represented by one of his political associates. Mazi Okereke Okpara sent a massage through his kinsman, Ohaerinwa Okoro; so did Barrister Ndionyenma Nwankwo, Chairman THE OMU ARO newspaper, both Ugwu Aro.
And he was honoured with the traditional Ekpe burial ritual-eferefe kanda masquerade traditionally paraded through the “akama ano” group of villages-Amasu, Ujari, Amannagwu and Ibom. The masquerade, a veteran of rare wizardry, gymnastics and acrobatics, manipulated and wove footwork rhymes, rhythms and tapestry of nsibiri signs only adepts could decode for meaning, massage, body language and deep thought.
Left to mourn him are many children, relations, friends, kinsmen and admirers, including his son and daughter who stood by to provide a rallying point for the befitting burial accorded their father. As the coffin was lowered into his grave in one of the rooms newly constructed and consolidated as Okpo Uno strategically sited close to the Amasu Village square, one did not fail to recall the vanity of life, of man and of the futility of our struggles, our endeavours. Shakespeare lines come handy:

As toys wanton boys
So are we to the gods
They use us for their sport.