Bruger:LeomaLaver24
Of course, I knew Dee Bob had been sick and almost everything was being completed to ensure his speedy recovery. Unfortunately, the doyen of Public Relations in Africa and accomplished newspaper manager succumbed to the cold hands of death on the 21st of August 2017.
Dee Bob was my individual buddy. He was my father, and my advisor. His private residence is in Prefab Housing Estate Owerri-Imo State. I grew up in Prefab. I knew Dee Bob in 1981 (36 years ago), when I was in Main six. I and other Prefab boys utilized to go to his residence to play with his final son, Kelechi Iheukwumere Ogbuagu. We had access to even his bedroom. Most times, even though playing or watching television in his home, we would break and damage doors, louvers and chairs. Dee Bob would return household from operate to behold the damages in his residence. He would summon us (Prefab boys) to explain why we would not be careful and accountable. Of course, as a strict disciplinarian, he would punish us. All the then Prefab boys took Dee Bob as their father. He was our father. We ate his food, drank his Remy Martins Brandy, Moet/Chandon, Martell brandy, Metoeus Rose Wine, Yago Wine, and so forth, most instances without having his consent.
It was in the property of Dee Bob that we the Prefab boys initially saw Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (the Aha Eji Agamba of Igboland) in 1983. Iwuanyanwu had visited Dee Bob with his Brand New Rolls Royce Car. Virtually all the Prefab boys trooped out to Dee Bob’s residence to behold the "wonder machine". His wife (Mummy Cecilia) has remained a mother to all Prefab boys and girls, such that we nevertheless visit the family members house to greet her and indeed crack jokes with her, even now that we have all grown up, married and managing our respective households.
Virtually all the Prefab Boys grew up in Dee Bob’s property. We would abandon our numerous houses to ‘’anchor’’ at Dee Bob’s home. Most instances, Dee Bob was never about, (he was constantly travelling to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Calabar, London and USA,) but his several autos then have been at our mercy. We would intimidate and harass his drivers, and the automobile keys would be provided to us. I learnt how to drive in 1985 at the age of 15. Most Prefab boys learnt how to drive with Dee Bob automobiles. As must be expected, some of the automobiles got damaged in the method, but Dee Bob often bought new ones. He was a father to all of us.
I don't forget an incident that happened in 2006: dare devil armed robbers attacked Dee Bob’s residence in Prefab at night. Prefab youths organized and mobilized themselves that same night. I was contacted and informed that armed robbers have been robbing in Dee Bob’s home. I left my Ikenegbu Layout Extension residence that evening and rushed to Prefab, and joined in the Rescue Operation. Other Prefab boys living outside Prefab but in Owerri, also rushed to Prefab that evening. We confronted the Armed Robbers with the help of Policemen who arrived substantially later, and they had been over powered. They fled Prefab Housing Estate without having achieving their mission. Dee Bob and Mama Cecilia were not hurt, neither was anything (house) stolen.
I have made use of the above narrative to show that Dee Bob Ogbuagu was properly known to me, and that he was my father, friend, advisor, encourager and certainly father to all Prefab youths.It will as a result be extremely stupid, foolish and idiotic of me to stand aloof, and watch Dee Bob Ogbuagu lowered into his grave on the 18th of November 2017 without having paying right tribute.
Dee Bob Ogbuagu was born on the 25th of May 1925 in Umukabia in the Ohuhu Clan of Umuahia North Neighborhood Government Location of Abia State, to the household of Chief Sir Francis Udegbu Ogbuagu, a former college headmaster and Methodist Church preacher. He attended Methodist Central College in Umukabia, and the renowned Methodist College Uzoakoli exactly where he finished in flying colours in 1945. He also attended the popular Brookings Institute, USA.
Dee Bob was married quite early in life to his lovely wife, Mummy Cecilia in 1950 and together they had six children, which includes Uncle Uche, Uncle Chinedu (late), Aunty Ada, KK and Kelechi amongst other individuals. He (with each other with his beautiful wife) educated his kids and they are all carrying out extremely well in their chosen professions. No doubt, Dee Bob was a thriving father, Proud grandfather and Satisfied great grandfather. Dee Bob was 1 of the final surviving members of the defunct Zikist Movement that led the struggles for Nigeria’s independence from the former British Colonial Authorities. He worked closely with Kola Balogun and MCK Ajuluchukwu, the president and secretary of the Zikist Movement respectively, to rid the country of foreign political domination and imperialism. Zikist Movement was formed on the 2nd of February 1946 in Lagos by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and their memberships were radical young Nigerians. The movement was politically aligned to the National Council of Nigeria and Camerouns NCNC.
Iwuoha wrote from Owerri.
The resolute commitment of Dee Bob to the political liberation of Nigeria made him to abandon (via resignation) his flourishing profession at Nigeria Geological Survey Division, Kaduna in 1948 to join the Nationalist struggles. He was the Secretary Common of the Zikist Movement involving 1948 and 1950, in Kaduna. He later became the President of the Movement in Jos, Plateau State. Dee Bob, in his desire to give bruises to the British Colonial Authorities, floated a Newspaper ‘known as the "Northern Advocate" which became an immediate hit to the Anti-Colonial struggle. The newspaper was primarily based in Jos, Plateau State.
The radicalism of Dee Bob put him in collision with the colonial authority in Nigeria. His Newspaper, ‘’The Northern Advocate’’ was proscribed in February 1955 even though he alongside prominent members of the Zikist Movement like MCK Ajuluchukwu, Kola Balogun, Anthony Enakoro, Sa’ad Zungur, Ikenna Nzimiro, Osita Agwuna, Raji Abdullahi and Oge Dengbe Marculay etc, were arrested, charged and convicted for sedition and sentenced to prison. Dee Bob served his sentence in Jos Prison, exactly where he was held in solitary confinement.
Following serving his sentence in Jos Prison, Dee Bob Ogbuagu regained his freedom, and thereafter relocated to the Eastern Area exactly where he teamed up with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara to function graciously for the repositioning of the economy of the area.
Though Dr. Okpara served as the Premier of the Eastern Area, Dee Bob was appointed the Chairman of the Eastern Nigeria Development Commission (ENDC). It was on his watch that the famed Agricultural, Industrial and Infrastructural Revolution of the Dr. Okpara administration took spot in the entire of Eastern Nigeria. It should really be noted that it was inside this period in 1961 that the Globe Bank in its annual report boldly declared that the Eastern Region of Nigeria was the quickest growing economy in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
Dee Bob was not just a Newspaper Manager and Publisher he was the Doyen of Public Relations not only in Nigeria but also in Africa. He created name in Newspaper Management, Marketing and Public Relations. He was ingenious in handling problems of government, and his contributions to the development of the media market in Nigeria have been recognized and fetched him handsome rewards. Dee Bob was the National President of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), from 1980 to 1984. His peak in Public Relations came in 1981 when he was elected the Initially President Emeritus of the Federation of African Public Relations Association (APRA), which he co-founded in Nairobi, Kenya. He held the position from 1981 to 1987.
Dee Bob was not just a political leader in his life time, he was also a community leader who saw to the growth of his Umukabia Community. Dee Bob was indeed the quintessential man of the individuals who linked himself with a lot of developmental projects such as School Rehabilitations, Market constructions, Road constructions, Developing homes for the significantly less Privilege in the society etc. Dee Bob trained and sponsored a lot of individuals in their Academic pursuits. Hence, it was in recognition of his a lot of help to the upliftment of the society that he was honoured with various Chieftaincy titles across Nigeria.
With the painful and regrettable "Stepping Aside’’ of Dee Bob Africa has lost a Pan Africanist, Nigeria has lost a fantastic statesman of uncommon leadership traits, Ndigbo has lost 1 of the few surviving pillars of Igbo strength. Abia State has lost their mouthpiece, Prefab Housing Estate has lost their Papa-Nnukwu, the Newspaper Market has lost a Frontline Journalist, the Methodist Church Nigeria has lost their Pillar of Support, the Public Relations Industry has lost their First Class Image Maker. Lastly, the Ogbuagu household has lost a Father, Grandfather and Wonderful Grandfather.
Iwuoha wrote from Owerri.
