Okeke: A Legacy of Service, Wisdom, and Grace

By Okey Ikechukwu

The two largely national events organized to mark the 90th birthday of Chief Simon Nsobundu Okeke, a true Igbo Leader, took place in his hometown of Nnewi and Abuja, respectively. These were events I was sure that I would attend, but I missed them due to circumstances completely beyond my control.

I speak here of Ochendo Amichi as an Igbo Leader in the real sense, as distinct from the many self-proclaimed, fly by night, would-be leaders who lack almost everything that would make them leaders in the true sense of the word. He has always been sought out, at every turn in his long and illustrious life, and called upon to lead some of the most significant engagements for group survival in Igboland.

Go and find out his role in the final hours of Biafra. President Obasanjo, with age and fatigue not on his side, was at Nnewi to celebrate a man with whom he has been friends since the end of the Nigerian civil war. But that is a matter for another day.

I have captioned my comments here today “A Legacy of Service, Wisdom, and Grace” because nothing better captures the profile, essence, overall ambience and personal dignity of Chief Okeke. With characteristic modesty, he captioned his autobiography “Just as I Am”. Yes, it is just as he is. But, if only he knows how much people see in him; beyond his idea of “just” as he sees himself.

This piece goes beyond the mere celebration of a man whose age is as intimidating as his genuineness, to a deep reflection on a life that has impacted many individuals and the nation in decisive and unobtrusive ways. Okeke is not, and has never been, obtrusive. No, He has not! His influence is real. That influence has also always been for the good. That is why the meaning and impact of his life at any point in time always transcended the banal standards that so many people rush after these days.

His years and his influence extends far beyond personal achievements into spheres where he does not try to stand forth and claim credit. At 90 years of age, we can speak of longevity. We can also speak of influence, especially considering the cross-generational effects of his life, as representing continuity between generations.

His distinguished professional career, within and outside the country, has made him a bridge between the local and the international in his chosen profession. His standing in his community, his various traditional titles and the many roles he has played in connecting Igbo values and Igbo leadership, Igbo tradition and modernity, testify to the enduring power of a man of character.

In celebrating him, all those who came out for the aforementioned events were also celebrating a representative of most of the values our society desperately needs now in order to be on the right track again in order to return to sustainability.

And Legacy Has a Life of Its Own.

It is easy to assume, looking around us today, that a man’s legacy can be found in what he believes about himself; or in what sycophancy has woven around him. But legacy does not lie in buildings or commissioned books; but on impacted lives, lifestyles and values. That is why legacy is more of what trails us, and what we drop everywhere as our essence, rather than something we acquire and advertise noisily.

That is also why the legacy of the type I mean here cannot be measured by material wealth. It revolves around impact on people, on institutions, and on values. And Chief S. N. Okeke’s legacy is nurtured, and firmly rooted, in service. His years of selflessness is enriched by hard-won wisdom. And he carries it with exemplary grace and candour.

It should be said here, for the record, that genuine self-less service, wisdom, and grace are not accidental, or easily-acquired virtues. They are cultivated over time. Knowledge and discipline are the soil from which they grow, while sacrifice and conscious choice are the manure nourishing its verities.

That is why a life of service, such as Ochendo’s, embodies selflessness and humility-induced wisdom. It is from these that grace reflecting moral strength, faith, and insight is born.

It is a matter of record that Ochendo belongs to a generation that understood service as duty rather than opportunity. His early adulthood saw him embracing responsibility, first to family, then to community, and ultimately to the wider society. He has never been known for being loud, or self-promoting in service. He has also always been dependable, steady, consistent, and sincere at all times.

Leadership roles have often been entrusted to him, and he has always handled such roles with sincerity of purpose, fairness and a deep sense of responsibility. It is not that he does not understand authority. It is just that he does not see or use it as domination; but as stewardship. He would argue this, as he is mediating disputes. He will speak of the common good, as he is supporting communal development, or offering counsel in moments of uncertainty. Patience and a sense of balance were often his constant companions.

His life should remind many that true service is not seasonal and should not be measured by cheap applause, rewards or awards. It is, instead, driven by commitment to a course, to the common good or to some other ideals. At a time that leadership is often equated with personal gain, Chief Okeke’s life challenges us to return to leadership as service and sacrifice.

In speaking of wisdom in this article, especially of the type associated with Ochendo’s life and trajectory, I mean the type of wisdom that is born of experience. Such wisdom is not the same thing as the accumulation of information, or merely the application of professional knowledge shaped by experience.

As Chief S. N. Okeke has encountered triumphs and trials, calm seasons and turbulent ones, over the decades and added depth to his understanding of life and humanity, his wisdom has also become evident in his calm demeanor, measured speech, and ability to listen.

He understands that every issue has multiple sides and that patience often resolved what force could not. Many who have sought his counsel over the years often left either with answers to their queries or with greater clarity and some measure of peace.

At 90, he is a custodian of history and carries within him stories of cultural evolution, social transformation, and communal resilience. He has witnessed changes in governance, economy, and values, and national priorities. Yet he has remained committed to the spirit of fairness and a sense of social responsibility.

The younger generation should see him as proof that wisdom is not the same thing as learnedness. They should know that speed must never replace depth, and that innovation without ethics is the sure road to damnation. They also need to know that progress, whatever that means, without wisdom, is the highway to ultimate disaster.

As for grace, we use it in two senses here; to refer to the providential guidance that has watched over his life and how he has always shown grace in his personal conduct, in leadership and in adversity. This has been the quiet source of strength that helped him to remain dignified in success and composed in difficulty.

For years, Chief Okeke has demonstrated this same grace in his interactions with others; treating people with respect regardless of status, background, or opinion. He understands that dignity is not conferred by position, but by character. At 90, he comes across as a man full of thanks—for life, for family, for community, and for the Grace of God.

His influence extends beyond blood relations to the wider community, where he is regarded as a father figure, mentor, and moral exemplar. Some of his core beliefs as a leader include the following: (1) Service is the highest expression of leadership; (2) Wisdom grows through patience, insight, reflection and humility; and (3) Grace preserves dignity in all circumstances.

Chief S. N. Okeke’s life calls many to re-examine their priorities. It challenges leaders to lead with integrity. It urges youths to pursue purposeful lives and not passing fancies. It urges excellence with humility and servant-leadership.

“Chief S. N. Okeke @ 90” is more than a birthday celebration. It is a statement that service still matters, that wisdom still counts, and that grace still inspires. It is a reminder that a life lived well continues to speak through milestones and to many generations at the same time.

Ochendo’s steadfast leadership, cultural pride, and commitment to community have worked together over the years to shape lives and careers, as well as the trajectory of some aspects of national events.

I recall going to see Chief Okeke at home shortly after my 60th birthday. I walked in, greeted him and, after exchanging some jokes, asked him whether it was true that anyone who turned 60 was automatically an elder in every known community. He answered in the affirmative. I said “good, sir”, as I walked to his big chair, sat down beside him and informed him that sitting beside him was a “fellow elder”.

He roared with laughter and then asked “did you say FELLOW elder? I said “of course, sir”.The next thing was: “Wait, Okey have you been drinking? I answered in the negative and reminded him that I was a 60 year old man and that we were both elders. He shook his head in surprise and subdued amusement. Then he straightened himself and asked: “So with your 60 years, you are now an elder LIKE ME?”

I then told him that there was no need to split hairs about an obvious fact; and that he was only twenty something years my senior. “Chekwalu o, I am ONLY twenty something years older than you?” I answered in the affirmative.

“ONLY?”, he asked again, assuring him that it was two elders discussing in this room right at that moment.

With the two of us laughing and almost choking, he stood up, shook my hand and said “Okenye ibe m (My fellow old man), please sit down so that these two elders can continue the discussion. Since then, our greeting whenever we meet is Okenye Ibe m (with me adding sir, while pretending to be discussing with a “fellow elder”)

At 90, we Ochendo’s life embodies a widely acknowledged Legacy of Service, Wisdom, and Grace.

Okenye ibe m, ekeneekwaa m gi oooo! More years, and more wisdom, going forward.