Footprints of James Attah Agamah; (A biography in Igala Historical and Cultural Perspective)

May 5, 2012 marks the first anniversary of the death of Elder James Attah Agamah, an Igala icon and mentor of all times. He passed on to glory on May 5, 2011; just one day after he turned 91 years having been born on May 4, 1920 (by his own estimation based on a careful […]

May 5, 2012 marks the first anniversary of the death of Elder James Attah Agamah, an Igala icon and mentor of all times. He passed on to glory on May 5, 2011; just one day after he turned 91 years having been born on May 4, 1920 (by his own estimation based on a careful analysis of the events that took place about the time of his birth). This book was written in 1995 by Mr. Yusufu Etu (a writer and an Igala historian) and late Hon. Philip Audu Agamah – his fifth child who died in year 2000. So, who was James Attah Agamah? Why was his biography ever written? What is the relevance of this book review 17 years after its publication? The answers to these questions can be partly found in the words of Reverend Daniel M. Akwu of the United Evangelical Church (formerly Qua Iboe Church) in his foreword to the book:

“…….. Elder James Agamah was born to lead. This is manifested in his personal efforts to educate himself, first in Igala and then in English. He never sat at a desk at school but he can read the English Bible well. It is the English Bible he used when he served as a preacher…. His leadership qualities can be ascertained by his acceptance in each of the places he has lived and worked….”

The story of Elder James Attah Agamah showcases a refreshingly different angle of leadership. At a time when success is equated to wanton and senseless accumulation of wealth, this man makes people pause a bit and reflect on the biblical injunction that the worth of a man is not in the abundance of his possessions.

Here is a short biodata of late Elder James Attah Agamah. He was born on May 4, 1920 at Ogo-Egume, a village near Ugwolawo in Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. His father was Agamah Akwu, from the Igala royal clan of Agada Elame, son of Ayegba Om’Idoko, the patriarch of the Ata Igala dynasty that has survived several centuries from pre-colonial Nigeria to date. His mother was Omaye Aikoye from the clan of Akwu Egbi; she died when James was about 12 years old – a most devastating event that made him not only an elder brother but also a kind of guardian to his younger full siblings. He was married to Mrs. Lydia Jenebu Agamah (nee Achimugu Okoliko), fondly called Ebiye and they were blessed with 11 children, 36 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren before his peaceful demise in the morning of May 5, 2011 at his Idah home. James Attah Agamah was converted to Christianity in the early 1930s and had remained devoted to the Christian faith all through his life from that point for over 70 years.

A central principle conveyed in this book is that with faith in God and determination, one can overcome challenges in life. Not even the loss of his mother when he was very young, lack of formal education and other deterrents could stop James Attah Agamah from succeeding in life. This is well illustrated in the words of late Hon. Philip Audu Agamah in his introduction to the book:

“ ……… Here is the story of a man who, as a youth, tip-toed to listen to the word of God, but became an evangelist himself in those days when the path of glory he took had few people on it. Though of poor family background he nevertheless brought himself up above the level of poverty comparatively. He became a trader and a big farmer.

He was a man whose zeal to lead his people made it possible for him to taste political power which was used for the benefit of, not his immediate community but also, Igala people as a whole. He started as a youth leader in his village, became a district leader and later its representative. He also represented his people on the provincial level. Despite all these engagements, he still found the time to give his children sound education and social dexterity…”

Another important principle from the book is that life is basically about service to God – usually demonstrated by serving other humans. The verdict of all that came across Elder James Attah Agamah in his life time is that he lived a life of service. Again, Reverend Daniel M. Akwu summarized this in a beautiful way in his foreword to the book as quoted below:

“Elder James Agamah’s only ambition is to please God and man – God’s creature. He is not hard to convince in matters of controversy, when such is linked with the word of God. ………”

His service record to both God and man is briefly summarized here. He started his career in the Christian ministry as an evangelist for the Qua Iboe Church in 1948. He later served as a deacon for several years before he was ordained as an Elder of the church at Idah in 1973 and remained so for 38 years until his demise in 2011.  Outside the church, he was a farmer and general merchant/produce trader. Elder James Attah Agamah veered into active politics in 1955 and represented his people in various legislative capacities in the formative years of Nigeria as an independent nation. He was a council member at Igala divisional and Kabba provincial levels during the first republic, and after the civil war, he held joint proprietorship in a number of educational institutions in the 1970s and 1980s. His formal career ended at the General Hospital, Idah where he worked and retired as a civil servant in May 1995.

The book also gives detailed account of Elder James Attah Agamah as a community leader. He co – founded Ugwolawo District Development Association (UDDA) in the 1950s along with his friends and close associates. Under his leadership in the 1970s and 1980s as President, UDDA contributed greatly to the achievement of many feats, including the creation of Ofu Local Government Area. In Idah where he resided with his family from 1959 for the rest of his life, he was also respected as a community leader whose counsel was sought on key issues by diverse groups; including the Muslim community. He contributed immensely to educational development at Idah and served on the governing boards of notable secondary schools.

A third principle one can derive from this book is that education is the key to lifting people out of poverty – both of the mind (ignorance) and in the material sense. Elder James Attah Agamah’s passion for education was simply amazing. Without formal education, he taught himself how to read and write, and leveraged on this to work effectively as an evangelist, community leader, trader and an advocate for education and social justice without sparing any resource God gave him. He was responsible for leading many people from various parts of Igala land to Christ and sending them to school, in some cases against their parents’ wishes. Within his own family, he demonstrated this strong belief that education is key by insisting that all his children – including children from close relations and any ward under his care went to school and encouraged them to reach the highest level of education possible. A quick reference to this can be found in the words of late Philip Audu Agamah as part of the introduction to the book on his father that he co-authored:

“……… His activities within his community to build a school in 1944 at Ugwolawo are an epitome of his regard for enlightenment through literacy. And from his own household, he demonstrated this by sending his eleven children to school. All his children have attained a level of education above the primary – in fact all of them have professional certificates in various areas – a medical doctor, an engineer, an architect, a quantity surveyor, an agriculturist, a scientist, an educationist, pharmacist, food technologist, etc. ………. “

A final principle from this book is that one should strive to be himself and be contented with what he has because life is really not a competition with other humans. All his life, Elder James Attah Agamah demonstrated this. He was a born leader – always leading by example and in modesty; never shying away from saying or doing whatever he considered appropriate in any place or situation. These attributes he demonstrated under strict fundamental Christian principles. As a father, he was loving; compassionate; firm; contented with what he had while motivating everyone to honestly strive for excellence in all one had to do without compromise at all times. He never demanded anything from anyone, not even from his children. To the very end, he lived a Spartan lifestyle, always preferring to ride his bicycle as his means of transport of choice.

Elder James Attah Agamah summarized his lifetime philosophies towards the end of his biography in the final interview he granted the co-authors thus:

“………. I do not have much in my bank account, or have rows of houses, to leave behind for you my children, but I’m contented with the fact that you all have been given sound education and everyone of you is working on his own – independently. This is real wealth and not only cash is wealth – in fact, the latter would have made you lazier or cause you to wrangle among yourselves ………”

As the interview came to an end, Elder James Attah Agamah leaned back on his sofa and asked that the last two verses from the Book of Ecclesiastes be read aloud. Thus, the man ended telling his life story with the closing words of the Biblical book fondly called “the Preacher or the Teacher” by many scholars.

As would be expected, tributes have continued to pour in from far and near in the last one year in memory and honor of this great man. Some of the tributes have been captured on the memorial website: www.respectance.com/JamesAttahAgamah/. The reader is welcome to visit it.

The story of Elder James Attah Agamah is inspirational because it helps one to redefine success at a time when achievement seem to be focused on the philosophy of I, me and myself only. Think about it.