Ever since June 16 when Chief Dominic Agwanyang Ogakwu, a Bekwarra, Northern CRS community leader, politician, teacher, counselor and friend-maker died, one word that most mourners have used in describing his person is that he was a peace-maker in word and deed. And so he truly was in his politics, in his marriage and in his social relationship with every one, old or young. He was never a man who would advocate the use of threat or bang his fists on the table when a conflict arises. In fact, if Chief Dom, as he was popularly called, was in a setting where the climate was tense, he was the one everyone knew would be called upon or he would call upon himself to calm the situation.
He was a man simply born to practice and advocate peace.
It is not surprising, therefore, that there has been an enormous outpouring of goodwill on late Chief Dom since his demise. No. Rather, what has pleasantly surprised me is that people kept referring to his love for peace. And I am compelled to ask no one in particular this question: So peace is a great virtue which people value? And if people value peace as much as they claim in the life of Chief Dom why are our lives so torn with conflict and violence? Why do people hire assassins to terminate the lives of people with whom they have differences?
Chief Dom was an example of a late bloomer and a self-made man, if there is anyone who can be described as being self-made. Although far older than me by several years to be nearly old enough to be my mother’s age mate, I have the story of his life to know that he did not go to school at an age when his mates went to school. He first acquired a skill as an accomplished tailor and then took it upon himself to acquire formal education. He enrolled for and acquired the WASC certificate after which he proceeded to the University of Calabar where he bagged a degree in Political Science (Education) in 1988.
His foray into politics where he made a big name for himself began that same year when he contested for and won the position of Councilor representing Gakem Ward in the old Ogoja Local Government Area of the CRS. He eventually emerged as the Leader of the Ogoja Legislative Council in 1991.
Apart from the word peace which was used liberally while discussing the death of Chief Dom, another word that was also frequently used in typifying his life is that he touched so many people while in his sojourn on earth. As a politician he was an associate of many politicians big and small in CRS largely because of his loyalty to whoever he decided to relate with in politics. He was never the bitter, hate-filled and conflict-driven kind of politician that we see around in our politics,
As a teacher, Chief Dom groomed several generations of young and old learners and at one time in his illustrious professional and political career, he became Chairman, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), a very influential professional and political office.
He was further ‘ínvolved’ in impactful community leadership when he was crowned chief of Adachi in Atibulum clan of Gakem Village, making him a respected Red Cap chief. Chief Dom was therefore a modern as well as a traditional chief and operated in both realms with great acclaim.
As he was lowered to the earth last Thursday in his home town Gakem, what many reflected on about the life and times of Chief Dom, is that it is possible for a man who did not have an early start in life, to surmount that initial challenge, gather himself together and emerge as a person of great impact who will touch many lives and live an imprint on the sand of time.
