Adieu my brother Chima
It was with rude shock that I read of the untimely and needless death of my brother Chima Ubani. I have known Chima by reputation as the president of the students union of the University of Nigeria in 1985/86 sessions. Chima was an intelligent, committed and fearless leader. His sheer dexterity, eloquence and intelligence confounded many. Chima devoted almost all his adult life to fight for the poor and the voiceless. He was their voice and their true representative. I recall how in 1996 at the height of General Sani Abacha misrule when I went to Ikoyi prison for my normal routine of interviewing and filling applications for the release of awaiting trial prisoners who had been in prolonged detention without trial, I was surprised to see Chima who had just been brought to Ikoyi prison from one of the secret detention centers that the Abacha acolytes scattered all over Nigeria. I was delighted to take back the news to other comrades in the Civil Liberties Organisation.
As the Coordinator of the Centre for Democracy and Development, I have worked closely with Chima on other initiatives especially the CDD driven Citizens Forum for Constitutional Reform. In any initiative Chima undertook under the different fora that we collaborated, he displayed unimaginably commitment, drive and energy, which is rare to find among his peers. That Chima is no more is hard to take but we are all mere mortals and shall all meet our creator one day. Before I left Nigeria late in August I met Chima a couple of times mostly at meetings in Abuja. How could I have known that the last meeting in early August would be the last with the icon?
Like the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress said last week, I hold the Obasanjo government solely responsible for the untimely demise of Chima. The present administration has in the last six and half years of its mal-administration inflicted Nigerians with the most insensitive policies that have further impoverished the citizenry. Obasanjo and his cohorts have turned out to be uncaring despots, extremely autocratic and intolerant of other views or public opinion.
The untimely death of Chima should instead of making us weak should instead give us strength. What better legacy can we leave for the name of Chima other than to continue from where he stopped? We should use all democratic means to fight for the ideals for which he lived and died for. We should also not forget his dear wife, children and dependants. Chima was their breadwinner and now that he is gone, the civil society and all people of good will should remember to assist his family one way or the other. I will call on comrades at CLO to take the lead on this.
Adieu my brother Chima. We will never forget you.