By Fidelis Egugbo
Working as a journalist, there is a chain of command. When your Editor-in-Chief gives you an assignment with a deadline, you are bound to deliver. So, it was on Tuesday night, while I was reminiscing on life, that a call came in a firm voice: “Chairman, your former Oga, Chief Benjamin Elue will be buried on Friday. Write about his life and times and submit it for publication.” It was an official instruction from the Acting Editor-In-Chief, Mrs. Edna Emeni of The Pointer Newspapers.
My response was, “When is the deadline?” She said, “Wednesday.” That meant, I had to deliver the piece within 24 hours; it was a task that must be done, even if it meant staying awake all night.
As I thought about what to write on Chief Sir Benjamin Chukwueweniwe Elue, my mind wandered towards Mr. William Bozimo, popularly known as Willy Bee. Age may have deprived him from putting his pen on paper to pen down his thought on the passage of Chief Elue, the man we popularly called “Aluum.”
While Willy Bee was the Special Assistant on Media to former Governor James Ibori (attached to former Deputy Governor Benjamin Elue), I was the reporter attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor from The Pointer Newspapers. Of course, Willy Bee had just left The Pointer as its General Manager; you can only imagine the caliber of news stories and features we were churning out.
So, what can I write about Sir B.S.C. Elue that has not already been written? Like all mortals, he answered the divine call to be with his ancestors at the age of 85. Even as I write this, Aluum, a father figure to many will not read this piece. Yet, I am confident that he is with the angels, watching us, the living, and smiling.
Officially, I met him in 2003, when I was posted to his office as The Pointer correspondent. He was an easygoing man, jovial, intelligent, and always knew what to do in every circumstance. One aspect of his character was his ability to let go; he was always ready to make sacrifices, as if silently saying, “It isn’t worth the trouble.”
As the saying goes, “the good they did lives after them.” Sir Benjamin Elue was loyal to the then Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, to the extent that, there were times Chief Ibori seemed almost embarrassed by the deference, given the huge age difference between them. Sir Elue, though, Deputy to Ibori, was more of a father figure to him.
He knew how to cultivate friendship. At one time, his relationship with his colleagues, the then Deputy Governors of Edo and Bayelsa States, Chief Mike Ogiadhome and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was like that of three brothers from the same parents. He was the ‘older brother’ of the group. At times, they attended the Ogbanigbe Festival at Obior in solidarity with Elue, and they would ride in the same vehicle to and from Abuja. In those days, airports were not as accessible as they are now, and the number of flights patronizing the Benin Airport could be counted on one’s fingers.
However, the relationship between them became a little distant when the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, began having political challenges. When Dr. Goodluck Jonathan eventually emerged as the Governor of Bayelsa State, the relationship became strained because former Governor Ibori did not initially accord Jonathan the recognition due to a colleague Governor. Sir Elue, reading both the body language and the lips of his Governor, towed the line of safety.
As a community leader, Sir Benjamin Elue ensured the people of Obior felt the impact of government. In his subtle, non-forceful way, Obior became the political Mecca of Delta North. To ensure his residence was befitting, his house was rebuilt, and a large expanse of land behind the main building was converted into a garden named, Camp Benjamin. Meetings were held regularly there, where local delicacies were served alongside freshly tapped palm wine. He was always ready to describe the drink to expatriates as “palm juice, the only drink made by God to be consumed by His children.”
With his influence, all the link and internal roads to his community and adjoining towns were constructed, and he promoted the Ogbanigbe Festival as a major tourist attraction. Sir Elue was at home with his people, living among them without the paraphernalia of office even until his last days.
I recall an event where, through his influence, the Obi of Obior, HRM Obi Kingsley Ugochukwu Ofuokwu III, bestowed Chieftaincy titles on many politicians. That was how the likes of Hon. Ejaife Odebala received their first chieftaincy titles.
What more can one write about Aluum? He was a family man and a homely man, always ready to ask every visitor, “Iligo nli?” (Have you eaten?). His kitchen was always open.
Though, one of his greatest wishes was to govern Delta State, strongly believing that his unalloyed loyalty would lead Chief Ibori to name him as his successor, it did not work out as envisaged. One may not recount all that happened during the nightly meetings at Oghara, the PDP screening in Port Harcourt, or the relocation to Abuja. Despite the political maneuverings and the eventual primaries at Ogwashi-Uku, he accepted the situation as the will of God. He moved on with equanimity, serving the Governor and the people of Delta until they left office on May 29, 2007.
Chief Elue viewed the Deputy Governor’s position as a divine gift. He was always ready to say, “I was on my way to the farm when they sent Faith Majemite to call me to be be Deputy Governor.”
My last serious encounter with Aluum was three years ago when I sort his permission for his wife, Lady Esther, to serve as the “Mother of the Day” at the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture. In his characteristic manner, he said, “Oga abia,” (she will attend) and Lady Elue graciously honored our invitation.
In many ways, Sir Elue provided the template that subsequent Deputy Governors of Delta State have used as a guide: Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN (of blessed memory), Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, and the incumbent, Sir Monday John Onyeme, Ph.D.
Born on June 6, 1940, to the family of the late Diokpa Gabriel Elue of Obior and the late Mama Jessie Elue (Nee Ugbechie of Igbodo), it was a common fact attested to by those who witnessed his birth that “Sunday,” as he was fondly called, was a child of destiny. Sunday was born as an only child. Not long after his birth, his father passed away, leaving his mother to cater for him alone.
Because he was an only child, Chief Elue regarded every man as a brother and every woman as a sister.
His father, Diokpa Gabriel Elue, was an educationist and a disciplinarian who attended the famous Awka College and rose to become the Headmaster of CMS Primary School in Owerri. Following in that those footstep, Sir Benjamin Elue obtained a Teachers Grade II Certificate before attending the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated with a B.Sc. in Psychology.
He taught in various schools within Ika and Aniocha areas of Delta State. He was also a talented footballer who represented his schools in competitions across the region.
Before returning to Obior, he worked in several companies and eventually established a factory that produced candles, school chalk, wines, spirits, and engine oil, thus, providing the much-needed employment for his community.
One major area where his virtue shone was peace and security. As Deputy Governor, he presided over the weekly Security Council meetings at the Government House Annex, Warri. He traversed the riverine areas, from Forcados to Escravos, Bomadi to Burutu to ensure harmony. This was a vital work, as he and Chief James Ibori came into government during the period of unrest, known as the “Warri War.”
Since leaving office in 2007, Sir Elue lived peacefully among his people in Obior, playing a supportive role to the government until his passing in February of this year.
His wise counsel will certainly be missed.
Adieu, Aluum!
(Written By Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.)
