–he is a committed Igbo patriot who the younger generation should emulate – Igwe Agubuzu
–he is a big asset to the society and I’m here in appreciation of the support he has given to me in my job – Dr Olachi, Coordinator, FCDO, Southern Nigeria
-he is a sincere and committed colleague who speaks truth to power in line with the name of his news medium- hoo!haa!! – Comrade Udekwe, Chairman, NUJ, Enugu State
Enugu – It was a deluge of goodwill messages and encomium, as Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji held an event captioned Chapter 50: For Ndigbo & For Blackkind, to mark his 50th birthday celebration on Friday, 20th December, 2024.
Igwe Amb LOC Agubuzu, Fmr Chairman, S’East Council of Traditional Rulers & the celebrant, Mazi Ọjị
The event, held at Nemeria Suites, NUJ Press Centre, Independence Layout was a gathering of close allies of the celebrant.
In his speech, the chairman of the occasion and former chairman, South East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Igwe Ambassdor L.O.C. Agubuzu, OON, CON showered encomium on the celebrant
“This Christmas season is a very hectic time in the Igbo society with so much activities ongoing. However, it is commendable that we are all gathered here today to celebrate and express solidarity with our brother.
“Anyone here who doesn’t know Comrade Bismarck, should look at him and take note of him because he is a committed and solid Igbo man. Wherever a good deed is being done in Ala-Igbo, there you shall find Bismarck.
“He is not greedy or materialistic.His commitment to the Igbo cause is exceptional and he is not swayed by money or materialism He is humble and always works for peace and societal advancement. Therefore, I seize this opportunity to say to him, “Bismarck, keep it up”
“Everyone on earth has his own destiny, no one can collect another one’s destiny. Our prayer today is that all God has destined for him shall be fulfilled.
“Ala-Igbo needs people like you, who shall strive without seeking for personal gains while sacrificing for the betterment of the society. May God ensure that whatever you seek shall be your portion.
” Finally, I urge the younger ones here to emulate him”
Highlights of the occasion included a review/ presentation of two of the celebrants books, cutting of cake and toast/goodwill messages.
Other dignitaries in attendance included; HRH Igwe Kingley Uchechukwu Okeke (Kitikimkim) – Ogboha II of Ogboli -Ohaja, Awgu Egbeleli, Awgu LGA, Enugu (the celebrant’s senior at the College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu, Engr Abel Orjinta(the author’s professional colleague), Lt. Col. Jonah Eromsele Unuakhalu, Army Public Relations Officer, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, AVM Chris Ndubuisi Chukwu, Rtd (represented by Comrade Adindu Okoro),Dr Olachi Chuks-Ronnie, Coordinator, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Southern Nigeria.
Others were Comrade Sam Udekwe, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State chapter, Dame Ifeoma Amuta, Secretary, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State chapter, Chinedu Kama, Chairman, Nenwe Improvement Union (NIU), Enugu branch, Mazi ‘Zulu Ofoelue, former Provost, ATCOI College of Education, Enugu, etc.
The books review was done by Olushegun Richard Babalola, an architect, author and a member of Afenifere.
The summary of the elaborate review reads:
“I feel elated to have been chosen by the celebrant – Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, as the reviewer of his books on the memorable occasion of Chapter 50: For Ndigbo & For Blackkind, an event in commemoration of his 50th birthday.
The choice, no doubt is symbolic as I’m a Yoruba man from Osun State. However, it is in line with Mazi’s belief in Igbo – Yoruba solidarity (Handshake Across the Niger) as a necessary step towards Southern/Middle Belt solidarity.
We met in July, 2022, when he was in Osun State, on behalf of the Obidient Movement ahead of the 16th July, 2022 Osun Governorship Election. Since then, our common belief in Pan-Africanism and the liberation of the Black Race, which the author refers to as Blackkind, through collaboration between the Igbos and Yorubas has been a common bond. We are both partners in the Igbo –Yoruba rapprochement and pan Nigerian collaboration of progressives to birth a new nigeria.
50th Birthday Cake – IKE@50: ÓGBÉDÓWÓ
The author’s four books by reviewed include; His Soul (An Anthology of Poetry), Like Ndigbo Like Blackkind, Blessed Yet Benighted (A Collection of Essays), Ilu Nenwe Ogu Lese (A Book on Igbo Proverbs) & My Ohanaeze Journey ( An Autobiography)
His Soul (An Anthology of Poetry) is dedicated to the author’s late father – Chief Madukaeku Michael Oji (Osuofia 1 of Nenwe)( 1929-2010) “for bearing the pains and turbulence of fathering me(Bismarck) and to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chuba Okadigbo (Oyi)(1941-2003) – Former President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria “for mentoring me(Bismarck) and my comrades in the Confederation of Igbo Students (CIS)”
Under acknowledgment, the author acknowledged Okuke Abiama, the Almighty God, “who encrypted poetry into his genes and made poetic occupations his constant burden.Then his elder sister- Ada Oji Mrs Uchegbulem Eze (Nee Oji), who unknowingly inspired him by being the first person he saw writing poetry although she was yet to publish anything.
The foreword, written by Late Prof Ben Obumselu, who the author described as “a father and a friend” in 2008, explained that in the book – His Soul, the author takes readers on a journey into his soul. In fact, the foreword is a concise and precise description of the whole book
The foreword reads thus:
The book is divided into four segments namely; Tributes to Oyi, Religion, Romance and Abstract.
Tributes to Oyi, as the name implies is dedicated to His Excellency, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Former Nigerian Senate President. Poems here are the poet’s elegies to his icon and mentor. The second segment – Religion focuses on poems of a religious theme. However, these poems still border on the political since the author is an activist. The third segment – Romance is dedicated to romance and matters of the heart. Yet, the author’s activism is still evident even when he writes about romance and love. It shows that the author’s poems are not all belly aching and too serious. The fourth and last segment – Abstract is for everything else that doesn’t fall into the above earlier segments. It covers diverse issues from politics to nature.
Every good poem should have these three elements; fiery imagery, memorable language and a rhyme scheme. This anthology contains poems having a measure of all these”.
Like Ndigbo Like Blackkind, Blessed Yet Benighted is a collection of 16 essays written by the author on topical issues. It is an 84 page book in A5 format and the essays appear in chronological order. as follows; Imperatives of Nenwe Interest (2004), Ministerial Sack &2015 Politics (September, 2011), Fashola’s Apology to Ndigbo: The Real Issues (September, 2013), Ndigbo, the Benighted Giant of Black Kind(2014), Gluttons as Thinkers (20th May, 2015), What Ndigbo Want (January, 2016), Atiku, APC and the Restructuring Debate (July, 2016), An Award for Aisha (November, 2016), Trump’s Victory, Buhari’s Loss (November, 2016), The Re-Scheduled Ohanaeze Imeobi as Nwodo’s Mark of Leadership (December, 2020), Post Covid-19 Nigeria and the Ekweremadu Compass (A Salute to Nigeria’s Prophet of Restructuring @58) (April, 2021), Ohanaeze 2021 Election: Between Joining the Bandwagon and Standing Against Corruption (January, 2021), Admiral, As You Sail Home, Awaken Our Saints (September, 2021), New Enugu Cities and Enugus Oversized House Rents (April, 2024), Lefthandedness, a challenge not a disability (August, 2024),Tsunami Trump and the Igbo- American Community (November,2024 ) .
The colourful cover depicts the theme of the book – Pan- Africanism and the role of Ndigbo, the Yorubas and other prominent African tribes therein.
The author dedicates it to his father – Chief Madukaeku Michael Oji (Osuofia 1 of Nenwe)( 1929-2010) for being the first God that he knew. He then dedicated it to Adm. Ndubuisi Kanu, Rtd for the sole reason of his enigmatically epitomizing the lessons of this book – Like Ndigbo, Like Blackkind: Blessed Yet Benighted. He believed in and expended his life campaigning for a just society, from Ala-Igbo to Nigeria and Blackkind. He was a sailor’s sail, never afraid to sail on a voyage for activism, no matter how rough the sea was.
Under acknowledgement, he acknowledged God;Like Ndigbo Like Blackkind, Blessed Yet Benighted is merely an expression of that divine spark which my Chi impacted on me through my Agwu(Egwu). He then acknowledged the backroom boys namely; Idejiogwugwu Echezona Tony Okeke-Ojiudu, late Prof Ben Ebele Obumselu, late Owelle Barr. Oyibo Chukwu, Ugwumba Dr Joe Nwaorgu, Obunakueze Engr Chris Okoye, Igwe Ambassador L.O.C. Agubuzu and Agbalanze Dr Chike Madueke. These are(were) his intellectual comrades in the Igbo struggle, who work sacrificially behind the scene and without publicity or fanfare. He then acknowledged Prof Chidi Osuagwu for his Haiti tales.
The preface vividly portrays the book. It reads thus; Like Ndigbo Like Blackkind, Blessed Yet Benighted is a collection of some of Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji’s essays, published in commemoration of his entrance into chapter 50, the 5th floor of his human sojourn on earth, by virtue of his being birthed 50 years ago, precisely on 25th May, 1974.
The essays all dwell on contemporaneous issues of econo-political essence and have a common thread running through their DNA. That thread is Pan-Africanism, using his Igbo homeland as take off point or launch pad. He is influenced firstly by Zik’s book Renascent Africa and Chinua Achebe’s poem Beware Soul Brother. Mazi Oji enjoyed the tutelage of some Igbo philosophers such as Prof Ben Obumselu and Dr Arthur Nwankwo. However, Idejiogwugwu Echezona Tony Okeke-Ojiudu, it was, that turned him into one of the backroom boys.
For him, Blackkind is the black quotient of mankind, regardless of their continent. After all, Bob Marley said, “Where ever you’re from, if you’re a black man, you’re an African”
Since February, 2000 when he got born again again, by giving his life, this time, not to Christ but to the Igbo struggle, Mazi Oji has been involved in everything Igbo. He joined Ohanaeze Ndigbo then and thereafter had the privilege of knowing Biafra from the master himself.
Between 2000 to 2008, he had the opportunity of listening to the father of the Biafran nation – Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in private audiences and while leading groups to meet him. He equally heard him speak at Ohanaeze meetings and at other Igbo fora. The message he got was this: Biafra is a thing of the mind. As such, we’re Biafrans, by virtue of the part of Nigeria we come from, whether there is a sovereign state of Biafra or not. Whatever Ndigbo want is not different from what other patriotic Nigerians want, regardless of region or religion. Never again must Ndigbo allow themselves to fight against the rest of Nigeria.
Consequently, he authored Handshake across the Nigeraimed at Southern solidarity and by extension Southern – Middle Belt solidarity. Ojukwu saw Yorubas as siblings, not enemies.
Ilu nenwe ogu lese is a collection of hundred Nenwe proverbs with their meanings in central Igbo and English. Interestingly, the author co-authored this book with his mother – Lolo Rebecca Nwogbonneye Oji (Nee Nwabueze). According to him, much of what he knows about Nenwe proverbs were learnt from her. As a Yoruba, I find this book amazing since it exposes me to the richness of Igbo culture as embedded in Igbo proverbs.
My Ohanaeze Journey is the author’s biography. It promises to be a controversial thriller.
Below is an appetizer;
“MY OHANAEZE JOURNEY
My Ohanaeze journey is the journey of my life.
A journey that has owned the greater of my adult days.
A journey that my father never ever consented to,
for his right reasons.
A journey that has defined my life.
A journey of heart breaks, trials, betrayals, fratricidal battles, even.
A journey within a journey that defined the journey.
Yet, in all of these,
I’m proud of my Ohanaeze colours
and I wear my badge with pride.
Ohanaeze has been a leadership training institution that brought me under the tutelage of the Igbo elders, from February, 2000 till date; Ndubuisi Kanu, Ikemba, Ozobu, Ikedife, Obumselu, Joe Nwaorgu, Chris Okoye, Tony Okeke, etc. What more can I ask for?
Mazi Ikechukwu Emmanuel Michael /Bismarck Oji, MNSE, COREN
(Ovu Moo Weru Nenwe)
In this book, Mazi tells his story, the story of his life, the story of Ohanaeze, the story of his involvement in that Igbo flagship, the story of the ships sails and storms. It is his story and he tells it with a religious commitment, never to touch or re-touch the truth.
Finally, the books are all exciting and as intoxicating as fresh palmwine.
In his welcome speech, the celebrant had this to say:
“I appreciate all those who found time despite the tight schedules associated with Christmas season in Ala-Igbo. Surely, you have all made my days and I’m comforted to realize that my sacrificial service for Ndigbo and Blackkind has not been in vain.
“Looking back on this half century of my life, I have every cause to thank God Almighty -Okuke Abiama, Chi Ndigbo, because, all things considered, it is well. The tribulations have been many, the mistakes several. Yet, all things considered, we have not arrived at our destined port but we have managed to steer unto course, after being severally blown off course.
“The inscription on my birthday cake reads – IKE @5O : ÓGBÉDÓWÓ. That sums up this my journey. In Nenwe dialect, Ógbédówó means “It has gone well” “The barrier has been removed” “The road is clear” “It has ended well”. That is the name of my 14 month old son; a son who came as I turned from the dark tumultous past to behold a tommorrow brimming with brazen light.
“This is the first time I’m celebrating my birthday or any personal event of any kind and I cherish all of you, who came to stand by me.
“Actually, I’m having a presentation of my books today. There were meant to be four but only two made it out of the stable. This is just a presentation of my books, to show some of the intellectual byeproduct of my life’s journey; a formal launch shall come in due course.
“I appreciate my elder sister – Ada oji (Mrs Uchegbulem Eze). Although she was the first person I saw writing poetry, who triggered the poetry in my DNA, she is yet to publish a single line. In fact, her manuscripts are all lost. Like I said in my poem – Dead Library, it was my fear of not wanting to be like her that forced me to get my books published.
“Yes, after 50 years, half of which was spent in the service of Ndigbo, in Ohanaeze, a journey of twists and turns, I’m proud of the scars I have gotten from the battles along this dusty road. Yet, because it is the very essence of my life, I have no option than to continue on this course of service to Ndigbo and Blackkind through Ohanaeze.
“Yes, despite the recent challenges being faced by Ohanaeze – the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, it remains a necessity for Ndigbo and I remain committed to any genuine effort to make Ohanaeze more functional. After 25 years, I offer myself once more for service in the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze. The last time I was in the Ohanaeze NEC was 16 years ago when I served as the Youth Leader, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide under Dr Dozie Ikedife’s Presidency. Today, after much tutelage from revered Igbo elders and months into my fifties, I’m much more seasoned and experienced”
In their respective goodwill messages, other dignitaries had this to say
“Mazi Bismarck has been a great asset to me in my job. Unlike those who knew him from childhood, I have just known him for some years. However, his commitment to duty is topnotch. Whatever he decides to do, you can go and sleep with the assurance that it would be well done; not just done but perfectly done.
“It was through Bismarck that I met Igwe Agubuzu and a lot of the Igbo personalities I need to meet in the course of my work. I want to appreciate the solidarity you have shown me and I want to assure yo. I want to let you know that it has not gone unnnoticed, I really do appreciate. That is why I said, no matter what happens, I have to be here to show solidarity and I say thank you for all the solidarity you have shown me. I wish you many more happy celebrations
“And you have really challenged me from what you said (in Dead Library, one of your poems). In fact, I have about six books half done, I will try to finish up and publish them next year” – Dr Olachi Chuks-Ronnie, Coordinator, Foreign Commonwealth &Development Office (FCDO), Southern Nigeria
“Mazi Bismarck is someone we’re all proud of in Nenwe. His commitment to community development is exceptional. He has brilliant ideas and has bountiful energy to execute such ideas. Although, he is a distant relation since his grandmother was our sister, he is indeed a younger brother to me and one in whom I’m well pleased” – AVM Chris Ndubuisi Chukwu, Rtd
“Mazi Bismarck is a sincere and committed colleague who speaks truth to power in line with the name of his news medium- hoo!haa!! – Comrade Udekwe, Chairman, NUJ, Enugu State
“I have known Mazi Bismarck from our yesteryears when our families lived opposite each other at Marcus Garvey Street, New Haven, Enugu. We have always known him as an Igbo activist. Eze Ndigbo, that’s what we call him because of his love and commitment to Ndigbo. He has been a friend and brother, long before we crossed paths in journalism. I wish him all the best” – Dame Ifeoma Amuta, Secretary, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State chapter
“I have known Bismarck from our undergraduate days in ESUT. He has always been committed to community service. We were both involved in students unionism and I attest to the fact that he has remained a worthy comrade. He has also been a key member of our town union – Nenwe Improvement Union (NIU). He is indeed a good brother because we are from adjoining communities in Emudo – Nenwe; Umulevo and Umungaranwu. I wish him all the best in life, , as@@# – Chinedu Kama, Chairman, Nenwe Improvement Union (NIU), Enugu Branch
In her speech, the celebrant’s mother – Lolo Rebecca Nwogbonneye Oji gave an insight of what she described as “My Ikechukwu Story”;
“Ike was born on 25th of May, 1974. As at then, his father was overseas for his Masters Degree program at Iowa State University, USA. While travelling he left me in the care of a brother and friend – Chief B.C. Alukwu whose wife was a matron at Isienu Health Centre, Eha- Alumona, Nsukka LGA, Enugu State.
“Before his birth, I was already being called Mama Ik. His elder sister – Ada, is older than him with five years. At the age of three, when she goes to her friends’ house and tries to play with their baby brother called Ik, the girls will refuse, asking her to leave their brother alone. She would come back home crying, asking me why I dont want to buy her own ‘Ik’ for her as she thought babies were bought from the market.
“Eventually, I gave birth to Ik, at night when Ada woke up she exclaimed, “Ik, nwanne m, nno!” (Ik, my brother, welcome!). So, when their dad was asked what name he would be given, he said the baby boy had already been named Ikechukwu, by his sister. He also directed that he be given the name Emmanuel as his birth was prophetic, having being awaited for five years.
“Whatever you see him doing today, he has been that way from birth. Just like his late father, he believes firmly in societal advancement and service to humanity. He is very sincere and truthful. I wish him the best”
A young man, Ejiofor Onah, one of the celebrant’s mentees also shared his testimony:
“I’m an Engineer today because of Engr Bismarck. He met me several years ago at my mother’s shop at Ogbete Market. He asked me which course I wish to study in the university and I said Medicine. He then advised to go for Engineering since I was good in Mathematics. Today, all thanks to Engr Bismarck, I’m a Mechanical Engineer and my younger brother, here present is also a Civil Engineer. Engr, I owe you so much, thank you”
The celebrants colleagues from the College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu Branch was represented by Mr Ogochukwu Unegbe( his classmate of the class of 1992) and Mr Dereck Ossai (1991 set)
