An account of a man’s steps in life
Stepping Forward with Uti J. D. Agba is an insight into the historical antecedent of Goody J. D. Agba, which is a true life story of Nigeria’s political history at the threshold of independence, up to the contemporary democratic dispensation. Even though, the book is an autobiography, wherever a school, hospital or important personality is […]
Stepping Forward with Uti J. D. Agba is an insight into the historical antecedent of Goody J. D. Agba, which is a true life story of Nigeria’s political history at the threshold of independence, up to the contemporary democratic dispensation.
Even though, the book is an autobiography, wherever a school, hospital or important personality is mentioned, it is often followed by that individual’s historical background or the advent of an institution.
In chapter one and two, entitled Early Years and Surviving the War, the book expounded on the formative years of Goody Jeddy Agba, from childhood to primary school days, as well as how he related with his parents; a father who combined teaching with politics and a mother who took up Nursing as a profession. Most of the events pertaining to the personality’s years of formation took place in the present day Ubudu Local government Area of Cross Rivers State. His father became the village head of Ukprinyi in 1959, one of the villages that make up Utugwang clan. All his life he has been a community leader, a politician and an educationist, as he held the position of a headmaster and a school teacher at his almamater. He is currently said to be the oldest serving monarch in Nigeria.
Mr. Goody is hardworking and a man of impeccable character. This is for no other reason than the fact that he attended Christian schools from primary to secondary. And most of these schools were founded by Catholics. Apart from acquiring education, his character was shaped right from primary school. It read:
I started schooling at Obudu. The local Convenant school, Obudu was my first school. Each other day except holidays, my cousin Mary (later Mary Olayi, when she married and joined the Cross River State civil Service, rising to become the Head of Service), would be prepared for school by Mama Obudu before she left for her stall where she sold some wares. Tired of watching her leave and come back daily, one of those days I insisted on being prepared for school alongside her.
Trials and tribulations faced by Goody are distinctly pinpointed in this book. He had once been expelled from the school when he was about to sit for his A ‘Level exams Also, he stayed away from home during the war and as a result he was assumed dead and his burial rites were performed. But later on he came back. God Almighty in His infinite wisdom tested the life of this personality in order to prepare him for future services to humanity.
Mr. Goody acquired his tertiary education at the presitigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he graduated with a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, which prepared him to serve Nigeria as a civil servant. He worked with three different ministers in both the Federal Capital Territory and Foreign Affairs. Later, his career in the civil service came to an end at NNPC, where he rose to the position of Group General Manager, Crude oil Marketing. Sometime in 2014 he started nursing the ambition of becoming the governor of Cross Rivers State, hence he quit his lucrative job for politics.
As he delved into politics in the year 2014, Mr. Goody’s health deteriorated, hence he was hospitalised in Germany. When he recuperated, he came back home and jumped back into the political arena. During the primaries, PDP leaders in his state used political intrigues to rig him out. To his utmost dismay, party bigwig and former governor Mr. Liyel Imoke did not work in his favour.
In the concluding part of the book, Mr Goody narrated how he was inspired to establish Godilogo Farms on a trip to the farm owned by Air Vice Marshall Hamza Abdullahi, who was a former FCT minister. Though he started the company in 2004, today the farm is among the major producers of rice, as well as a major employer in Nigeria.
The only problem with this book is that a story was narrated on how colonialists came along with their Hausa interpreters to the southern part of the country, as a result of which some people started using the word Assarki for their leaders; and the word was a corruption of the Hausa word for the emir’s name, Sarki. The writer did not categorically say when and how this event took place. Where are the Hausas? Did they settle there in Ubudu or elsewhere in the south-eastern part? Maybe in the subsequent edition of the book, the author may deem it fit to explore and furnish readers with the nitty-gritty of southerners’ relationship with northerners from the olden days to the contemporary period.
All in all, Stepping Forward with Uti J. D. Agba is not only a true life story, but also an all-encompassing political history of Nigeria. It is highly recommended, most especially to those who aspire to serve humanity.