The sudden death of Chief James Iluebbey has irreversibly decimated the rapidly declining strength of Nigerian patriots. He lived, worked and died for Nigeria. He was born on Sunday, 4th September, 1928 in Ayogwiri and he died on Sunday, 24th September, 2017 in Benin-City, aged 89 years. He was decently buried on 27th October, 2017 in his home in Ayogwire. He was greatly honoured in life and in death by his own people of Afenmai and again a year after in memorials. His Community paid glowing Tribute to Him again on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th of October, 2018 when a Transparent Pavillion which covers his grave courtesy of his daughter Violent Ochuwa- resident in USA was uncovered by Catholic Priests in the area. He lived a decent, peaceful and righteous life. He was a patriot of great intelligence, a Nationalist and a Public Officer extraordinary. He served the best interests of Nigeria being a prodigious Civil Servant, a consummate strategist and a role model in Leadership. In all the things he did, he consulted widely, listened attentively, read avidly, researched extensively and related properly to men of wisdom on diverse issues particularly on those relating to laws, finance, religion, health and politics. When beggars die no comets are seen but the Heavens themselves blaze forth the death of Princes.
He held his head high far beyond his colleagues as the highest and finest example of decency in the Public Service. He was a source of great inspiration and a leader of impressive organising skills. Every page in his life openly bore the Signature of God. He was true in Faith, Words and Deeds. He was among the best informed minds and brightest brains among Senior Civil Servants in Bendel State. He was a fine combination of fidelity, intellect and integrity. He was modest, unassuming and absolutely innocuous. He never, ever acted beyond reasonable limits of decency. He was a major part of anything good in this World. He was a visible expression of God’s glory. He overtly showed fairness, firmness, patience and self-control. He was an eloquent orator, a facilitator of human successes, an indomitable Citizen, a success compilation, a residual of wisdom, a pragmatic philosopher, a lover of mankind, an ebullient scholar and a notable clear-thinking-headed personality. He was comprehensively detailed that only very little could ever escape his attention. His life of modesty still speaks clearly for itself.
By his calling, learning and position as a Permanent Secretary, Head of Service and Secretary to Government, he earned public confidence and great respectability. He was creative, considerate, disciplined, dynamic, flexible, meticulous and highly talented. He was a firm believer in good standards of civilised conduct, a strong enforcer of discipline and a visible example of sacrifice. Besides, his character shows that he was frank, straightforward, unhesitating, resourceful and the very model of a Military history. He rose scholarly from Auchi environment in Nigeria into the United Kingdom where he studied and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, Second Class Upper Division in the University of Exeter, Devon in England. Progressively, in pursuit of academics and knowledge, he also attended the famous Harvard University in the USA where he obtained a Master’s degree in 1966. He was an excellent Administrative Officer. His sudden death at eighty nine (89) is a sad loss in an inauspicious season. He would have been ninety by now. Alas! Chief James Iluebbey has suddenly become history like his glorious CAREER that spanned beyond three decades in the Civil Service. His demise is the greatest catastrophe that ever befell Ayogwiri Community in Auchi Kingdom in recent times.
Government kept him in the Ministry of Finance for eight years as Permanent Secretary because of his integrity, diligence and patriotism. He was also in Establishments, Civil Service Commission, Trade and Industry among others as Permanent Secretary. An irrepressible Achiever and a courageous technocrat who stamped a great Authority on his calling and held his head high as the highest and finest example of decency in the Public Service. He was eloquent, an Orator, a Facilitator of human successes, a No nonsense technocrat, a brilliant Manager of crises, men, resources and an Afenmai Ambassador. His life was a remarkable testimony, success compilation, a virtuous pedigree, a sacrifice, a unique miracle, a fine example of decency and a package of blessings. He was easily approachable, diplomatic, mild, resilient, resourceful, zealous and convincing in speech, flexible and logical in discussions, modest but firm in principles and very reasonable in conclusions. Truly, he was good in character, brilliant in learning, inspirationally valiant and highly impressive in performance. He overtly shows fairness, firmness, patience and self control. His image and reputation are greatly cherished. His ears, eyes and innocuous heart are widely opened to the needs of many people whose successes he rapidly facilitated. His efforts, foresight and personal sacrifices have always added probative values to the lives and well-being of mankind. He possessed what is substantially lacking in most Nigerian men and represented what is greatly desired in society. His heart was pure and covered in serene regality. He had the capacity to sleep peacefully in violent storms. He worked assiduously, served patriotically and lived selflessly. Evidently, in all his years in Service, he did not tremble before any Governor, King or Ruler and no one brought him into ridicule or subjection. He was without blemish and his authority was unassailable.
Chief James Iluebbey is a strong case for comprehensive leadership “studies” in Nigeria. By merit, competence and National interests he rose meteorically to become a Permanent Secretary in January, 1970 after 16 years in Service. He attended several Administrative, Professional and Leadership Courses by which he became very solid in knowledge, efficient, vibrant, prolific, witty and dependable. He redesigned, reinforced and reshaped the Administrative Policies of the then Midwest State. He also repositioned the Civil Service in Bendel State. He was among the “best informed minds, brightest brains and most patriotic among his Colleagues in Midwest Region and later Bendel State”. Behold, a liberal and a devout Christian in Catholicism with robust faith who savours the tenets of Christianity with malice towards none but with charity for all and a consuming compelling passion for doing good.
His tutorials, verdicts and decisions as Head of Service with immense professional talents were constructive, prudent and witty. In society, he remains an ornament. He spoke English Language eloquently, fluently, sharply, brilliantly and so well that his associates, friends and relatives were always filled with admiration. His language and style were authoritative, fluid, instructive, comprehensible and convincing. His ideas, opinions and pieces of advice were weighty, incisive, lofty, searching and penetrating. He was always frank, perspicuously articulate, forthright and understanding. He was very humble and excellent in his dealings with people regardless of class, status, religion or ethnicity. He was honoured with several Chieftaincy TITLES, namely, Ukpagi of Uzairue, Oghieonomo of Weppa Wano and Ozemoya of Anwain among others.
He was a source of great inspiration and a leader of impressive skills. He never, ever acted beyond reasonable limits of decency. He was a major part of anything good in this World. Indeed, he was a visible expression of God’s glory, a virtuous pedigree of nobility and a success compilation. His quality as a person cannot be exactly expressed in words but suffice to say that he was highly disciplined, smart, valiant, sublime, informed and well connected. We will continue to mourn him as long as the sad memory lingers on in our minds. We are consoled that as mortals death is an inevitability, is a truism and is the last enemy yet to be destroyed. May God forgive him for any act of disobedience or transgression and keep his kind soul in Paradise until that morning of the resurrection day when the living and the dead would be reunited to part no more.
Prince Oyakhire was Military Administrator for Oyo and Taraba States.
and then