Date Published: 07/21/11

In memory of Emeka Onyedika, class 6A Ibo Union School revisited

It was the 21st December 2010, the day I’ll always remember (paraphrasing the Temptations). That was the day I read that my buddy Emeka Onyeka had died. Former Green Eagles' midfielder and Rangers Kenneth Onyibo Ilodigwe asked aid against prostate cancer. Fighting the battle of his life, having been diagnosed with malignant prostate cancer Ilodigwe was in dire need of $65,000 for the operation.

Ilodigwe said, he decided to cry out because remaining silence would be dangerous. There were so many of his colleagues who had died.

"Emeka Onyedike recently passed away and there were others like Benji Okorogu, Nwachukwu Onyekwelu, Mathias Obianika, Chimezie Ngadi, Patrick Okala, Chukwuma Onyeaghala, Cyril Okosieme, Haruna Ilerika, Aloysius Atuegbu, Nnamdi Nwokocha, Muda Lawal, Ogidi Ibeabuchi, Charlie Okorigwe and Garuba Okoye.

I want people to come to my aid before it is too late."

After the bombshell sank, I reflected on the Emeka Onyedika I knew as a classmate in Kano, when he was with the Rangers squad at the abortive match in Kano in 1971 and our last meeting in 1973 in Enugu before I left Nigeria.

I wish records were kept to assist the weakness of my memory. However, I’d like to share with the reader some memories from class 6 A at Ibo Union School in Kano. As it was in those days, Ibo Union School comprised of mainly Igbo kids; Holy Trinity School was mainly Yorubas’, Baptist School also mainly Yoruba kids etc. But then there were some parents that cross-sent their kids to Igbo school. In class 6A we had Abiodun, Gordon Gboko from the Mid-West, Ibrahim Audu from Kano, Shaibu Ahmadu I don’t recall from where.

Class started with morning prayers (class A-D) queuing up. During prayers Grace Okafor saw Asondu Alozie then as a tormentor because he had his own interpretation of “By the Grace of God” – Alozie always said “by Grace Okafor”. When I spoke to her in January about that period, we agreed it was as innocent as it could be.

Unfortunately Grace’s memory is as rusty as mine.

During recess class 6A nearly always beat the other classes, then I did not realize what impact Emeka Onyedika had in our team. There was always talking of Onyeanwuna, Walaka et al in his way of dribbling. Picture a playground filled with lads running after their respective balls – interestingly we were able to know, which ball belonged to us. Sometimes our ball ends up in the adjacent Baptist playground. The recess lasted fewer than 30 minutes but enough that we had fun – boy – it was awesome!

The camaraderie was for lifetime.

Then it was the norm to have trainees from the WTC (Women Teaching College). They were always in pair, once we were to receive our assignment, one of them kept calling “ E Wu Gene”, no reaction from the class until one of the pupils approached her and busted into laughter. The poor lady was trying to pronounce “ Eugene”. The laugh as it appeared was on me.

(Class 6 A inner circle called me Eugenesco, munasco, diasysco akparanta), an explanation will be for another time.

Ibrahim Audu sat next to me and it developed into friendship that even meant I was invited to visit his uncle and wife in Fagge. After the war I bumped into him in Onitsha as the Nigerian Army returning officer (Lieutenant.). All Biafran officers from Captain down reported to him to be registered.

I have often wondered what could have happened if we had met in the front line (Onitsha sector), I thank the good Lord to have spared me that experience.

In Europe people make effort to reconnect with their classmates 20 – 40 years after. I’d very much like such a reunion with any of my mates lucky to be alive.

Back to Emeka Onyedika, after the war we caught up with each other when Rangers came to play in Kano 1971. In the first half, Emeka scored but the goal was disallowed. The referee meant the ball did not go in and the Rangers insisted there was a hole in the net – eventually the game was called off. Those days the train service between the East and the North ran once a week meaning the Rangers were stocked in Kano for nearly a week. As a buddy of Emeka I got close to some of the players especially Cyril Okosieme.

I can tell the reader that Emeka Okala is a good entertainer. I recall how we killed the time singing – one song I remember – Jimmy Cliffs Suffering in the land. Emeka Okala was the lead singer. Although Okala and Okosieme were rivals I did not notice any bad blood between them.

I saw Emeka Onyedika last in Enugu before I left the country stayed in touch unfortunately we lost contact after his injury. It is a year this July Emeka Onyedika died, with his death a reunion of class 6 A will be without him. How sad – I hope he finds peace in the bosom our ancestors.

Memory is real, the rest is seeming

Nkem Eugene (a.k.a. Uzochukwu, Okwudili) Ejiofor – ex class 6A, Ibo Union School – Kano.