Jackson Agbai retires from community service in style

By Vincent Kalu

Abiriba, a community nicknamed, Small London, in the Ohafia Local Government Area, Abia State, stood still for the Chairman of Dover Hotels, Lagos, Chief Jackson Agbai, last December 29, at his country home, during his traditional retirement (Ime Uche) from the community’s service.

This most important traditional ceremony in Abiriba brought in the crème de la crème of the Nigerian society; people from all walks of life that came to pay tribute to Jackson’s unflagging zeal and love for the community and humanity.

Encomiums poured in torrents, describing his giant strides in business, the great impacts he has made in the lives of people; how he has been a pencil in the hand of God to write, rewrite and transforms lives; more so, bringing peace and development to the Abiriba community.

According to the testimonies, Jackson’s love for his community is legendary and his love for mankind is phenomenal.

It was against this background that the Abiriba community conferred on him a chieftaincy title, Kukunda 1 (the shining star) of Abiriba.

Guests were lavishly entertained and there were traditional dance troupes and masquerade to spice up the event – the Ekpe from Cross River State, the Abiriba War Dance and the Ajofia masquerade from Anambra State, among others.

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of gifts ranging from expensive clothing, treasure boxes, exotic wines, over 150 George wrappers, human sized frames. The glamour of the event was the presentation of the latest Lexus 600 LX SUV by the Dover Hotel, Lagos, which was done by the MD of the hotel, Mrs. Gloria Emordi.

According to her, the vehicle was bought at N350 million.

Also, a cash donation of N25 million and $200 was presented by a group of his friends. The family of his wife made cash donation of $20,000, and a brand new car. His siblings also gifted him a Lexus 350 LX car, and other items.

Other groups and individuals tried to outdo the other in gifts presentation.

While eulogising Jackson, the Enachioken of Abiriba, HRH Kalu Ogbu, the traditional ruler of the community, noted that the celebrant has taken the Ime Uche ceremony to higher notch, adding that people were there to return his good deeds in great measures.

The Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, who had a day before visited Jackson to congratulate him on this great feat, praised his enterprising spirit in business and his contributions to the state and the Abiriba community.

Some of the dignitaries that graced the event were: Abia Deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu; former Nigerian Chief of Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd) and his wife; former DG, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Prof Anya O. Anya, and his wife; former Abia Deputy governor, Sir Udeh Oko Chukwu; former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, SAN; former GMD of FBN Holdings PLC, Elder Urum Eke; CEO of Virgin Rose Hotel, Lagos, Chief Ebueme Ezikpe; Chief Kelvin Jumbo, and other captains of industry and high ranking politicians.

Giving a glimpse into the age grade system, Jackson, said, Abiriba, like most other Nigerian and African communities, had an organised system of governance before the coming of the Whiteman. Abiriba was and is still governed essentially through the age grade system.

“We are governed by the age grade system anywhere we are – Lagos, Aba, Abuja, US, Europe, Congo, etc. The age grade is the basis of what we do.  We don’t usually go to the conventional courts; we have our own traditional court that amicably settles matters as they arise. That is why we have a peaceful community. When you hear about alternative dispute resolution, which lawyers bandy around, that is what the Abiriba man has been practising for the past 300 years and we still maintain it till today.

“The age grade helps to run our society. A society has the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.  The age grade and the Ezes (traditional rulers) fuse all these into one. They act as law making bodies, the enforcers of the law and the adjudicators.

“In Abiriba, your life of service usually begins between the ages of 18 and 20, and by the time you do that for between 35 and 40 years, it is time to retire, and the next age grade continues. You start at a very young age, where you might be called upon to clear the footpaths to the streams, farms; you ensure that there is law and order and if there is a criminal, the age grade picks him and hands over to the community and he would be brought to the village square and the elders will now judge the person and then verdict is passed,” he said.

Presently, Abiriba has 13 age grades, whose primary responsibility is to help the various kings to govern the community. This means maintaining law and order among its people whether at home or in the diaspora. At the apex of the age grade is the Ukejiagbala (the age grade holding the community) and they use the Uke Igwa Mang (a younger age grade) as foot soldiers. In the past, the age grades were involved in road construction, clearing of footpaths, enforcement of law and order, defence of the community against external aggression and the making of wars.

“In the recent times, as we no longer have communal wars, they have transited into the development of various infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals, courts, library, post office, recreational centres, building of paved concrete /asphalt roads, etc.

“The apex age grade (Ukejiagbala) is usually in charge of maintaining law and order among our people for a period of four years in all cities where our people reside. At the end of their four years work, they retire and hand over to the next age grade in line of succession.

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“A formal ceremony is organised for each member of the retiring Ukejiagala in his house to celebrate his cumulative contributions to the community, spanning several decades. This retirement means that the retiree will no longer be called upon for any kind of communal work. You become an elder, and allow the young ones to contribute their part in building and maintaining the society at their time. The circle continues.

“On the day of your formal retirement, the entire community, friends and all those who feel that you have touched their lives in one way of the other will come to your place, bringing cash and other gift items to enable you enjoy your retirement, since it is assumed you will no longer be allowed to work after retirement,” Agbai said.        

Admonishing the young ones looking at him as role model, he told them to work at all times, and should not forget where they are coming from.

“There might be aspects of our cultures that we may say are not good, but majority of them  are very good. So, don’t be deceived by buying in to the narrative that what is African is bad.

“They say democracy started in Greece, but that is barely about 2000 years, but in Igbo land, almost all we do is based on democracy; no single individual can make a decision, it is a collective thing both in terms of making laws and its enforcement. So, hold onto what you are holding. Don’t say because you went to school, you are young that you won’t contribute to the development of your community.”