BIRTH, PARENTAGE AND EARLY LIFE

To the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region, at a time our great forebear, Chief Harold Dappa Biriye was leading other Niger Delta leaders to the negotiation table in London for better socio-economic and political conditions, was born a star to the humble family of late Pa & Mrs. Aginighan Otutu on the 9^th of January 1959. Little known to the Aginighans, unto them was born a dogged fighter, a vocal advocate, an irrepressible activist par excellence who was blessed with rare institutional and encyclopedic memory; a man who would draw global attention to the sleepy twin-towns of Ogodobiri and Ezebiri (otherwise called Ogo-Eze).

His father, late Pa Aginighan Otutu was paternally from Ogodobiri town in Bomadi Local Government Area (LGA) and maternally from Erhivweta family of Oviri Ogor in Ughelli North LGA. His mother, the late Mrs Orutu Aginighan (nee Engibenabo) hails maternally from Ezebiri in Bomadi LGA and paternally from Egadeware family of Oboro in Burutu LGA all in Delta State. These diverse family spread was to play very critical roles in P. Z.’s career and political life.

The last born of his mother whose birth defied all odds and predictions because the reported ‘strange ailment’ of his mother that gave fillip to a purported inability to conceive further children, late P. Z. Aginighan had five elder sisters namely Ekpoeniyeke-emi, Enainamene, Akpoaboere, Amananaotu, and Enaibrade. His birth at a time the mother had lost hopes of fulfilling her heart’s desire of having a male child like many African women, brought joy, hope and excitement to the Aginighan family. He was to providentially become the iroko tree of the family by dint of his sense of perseverance, hard work, dedication and commitment. The misunderstanding that ensued because of the said sickness resulted in his mother departing her matrimonial home for Ezebiri to live with her mother – Late Mama Mieyebo and her aunt Late Mama Bridonmo Zipamo who both played impactful roles in P. Z’s early life.

On the day of his delivery, his mother was not allowed to deliver in the house but in a place where animals were kept just like our Lord Jesus Christ in the Manger. He was named Agi Ziakede, meaning out of sickness the joy of a baby boy came forth. Given the events at his birth, an elderly man in the community named him FULLPOWER signifying that he broke all odds to come to life. The circumstances surrounding his birth explain his strong ties to his maternal home – Ezebiri – as he himself put it, ‘I grew up as a young man at Ezebiri with my grand aunty, the Late Mama Bridonmo Zipamo’.

Growing up with a grand aunty who was strict, forthright and exemplary, he was not pampered or over-indulged like most ‘only-sons’ or ‘last borns’ but was brought up to imbibe discipline, humility and hard work, virtues he carried as guide-posts in his latter life. Playing a commercial supportive role in his early age P. Z. often paddled with his grandmother to Okwagbe for trade, realizing that it was an inevitable venture he has to undertake to guarantee him qualitative education, which his grand aunty, Mama Bridonmor happily availed him.

EDUCATIONAL LIFE

Power Ziakede Aginighan started his educational pursuit at the then Local Authority Primary School, Ogo-Eze in 1965. In his first year, he had challenges with writing figures and letters accurately – he wrote them in the reversed order – for example 7 was L and L was 7. At the end of his first year in school he could not pass the promotion examination and repeated primary one.

As Beth Brookes says “setbacks are just learning experiences”, Power’s repetition of primary one was a blessing in disguise. On resumption a new teacher Mr. Markson Mieyebo who was posted to his school was assigned to his class. This marked a new beginning for him as he became rejuvenated, re-energized and reorganized, with due diligence that catapulted him from the backside of the class to the front seat. He came first at the end of the academic session marking the beginning of his excellent and thriving performance all through his primary school years. He did not need to go through primary six eventually as he sat for the St. Vincent College, Okwagbe entrance examination from primary five, performed excellently and gained admission in 1971. His cousin Amafini Benasuomo then gave him the nine pounds (£9) initial deposit for his registration at St. Vincent College, Okwagbe. His mother who earned stipends from her Cassava Flour (aka Garri) trade was able to pay for his accommodation since he was going to be a day student.

Power’s excellent educational feat at the primary school continued while at St. Vincent’s College, Okwagbe as he consistently maintained the 1^st and or 2^nd position until he left for Government College, Bomadi at the instance of his elder sister whose husband was a tutor there at the time. He was admitted into class three at Government College Bomadi. When his brother-in-law was later transferred to Government Secondary School, Toru- Ebeni in Sagbama Local Government Area, he was circumstantially compelled to move into the boarding house where he had his first Christian experience. Since the Government College Bomadi was a direct offshoot from a Catholic School – St. Brendan College, he was taught Catechism, baptized and took his first communion.

P.Z. Aginighan won so many prizes in his secondary school adventure including the best mathematics student and the best essayist at GCB. He participated in various extracurricular activity groups such as the literary & debating society and the press club.

In 1977 Power Z. Aginighan gained admission into the Rivers State College of Arts and Science,  which later became Rivers State University of Science and Technology, now Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt and obtained the Ordinary and Higher National Diplomas in Accountancy. Being cautious and mindful of the career impediments of the HND certificate as at then, he proceeded to the same University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and also obtained a Master in Business Administration degree in 1989 and 2004 respectively, combining effectively both highly demanding office schedules with rigorous academic works as he made innumerable shuttles between Warri and Port Harcourt in search of the golden fleece.

POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LIFE

Power Ziakede Aginighan’s socio-political inclinations were manifest from his Secondary School days, where he was elected Secretary of both the Press Club and the Literary/Debating Society of Government College, Bomadi in 1974/75. As a student of the then Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt he was twice elected returned unopposed as General Secretary of the Students’ Union Government in 1979/80 session.  Being the Secretary of the SUG, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Conference of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) held at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology in April 1980 and was appointed the Secretary of the Conference. He also served as Secretary of the Association of Accountancy Students as well as Public Relations Officer of the Students Literary Movement. In recognition of his selfless contributions to the growth of Students’ Unionism in Nigeria, he was conferred with Life membership of the Students Union of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology in 1984 by the Students Union Parliament and again in June 2018 by the Bestman Azuonwa led parliament of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

It was during his active days in the university that P. Z. in the company of other patriots including Felix Datuowei, Asu Beks, H.B. Buku, Eric Opukeme and few others formed the Ijaw Youths Action League at Bomadi in July 1980. The membership of IYAL was expanded eventually to include Denyanbofa Dimaro, Fatiede Ayebide, Ayakeme Whisky, Lucky Loyibo, Torpedo Amananaghan and others. He served as its pioneer Director General and resigned in line with the body’s operational dictum upon becoming gainfully employed in 1982. Formed to resist internal colonization through the repressive exploitative policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria that expropriated the wealth of the Niger Delta region and, resolved to sustain the agitations of late Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, IYAL championed the Ijaw struggle for self-determination within the framework of a just, fair and equitable Federal Republic of Nigeria. IYAL led by Aginighan suffered lots of horrendous and humiliating experiences in the hands of agents of the State in Bomadi and Burutu. IYAL did not only decry the lack of equity, fairness and justice in the Nigerian system but also, the deliberate attempt by Ijaws in position of power to under-develop the Ijaw nation, particularly contractor-politicians who were awarded jumbo contracts, collected mobilization payments and abandoned contract sites.

Given the pains of the Ijaws in Bendel state who were grossly undermined as minorities, at the time when there was preponderance of support for merging the Western and Eastern Ijaws, IYAL also played a prominent role in sensitizing the Ijaws of Bomadi and Burutu Local Government Areas to endorse the Merger Movement that championed the merging of the old Bomadi and Burutu LGAs with Rivers State as opposed to some self serving states creation movements. The thinking was to create within the Nigerian federation a homogenous Ijaw state.

At the College of Education, Warri, where he was employed as an Accountant, the irrepressible political instinct in him propelled him to become the President of the Senior Staff Association, President of the Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society and the first Representative of the Congregation in the College Governing Council. Similarly, he was elected to represent Rivers State University of Science and Technology Alumni Association in the University’s Governing Council.

Soon after his employment as Accountant II at the College of Education, Warri and at the time the gongs of electioneering rented the air, P. Z. decided to test the murky waters of politics. Although he had no resources, he believed so much in the sacredness of the Ijaw man’s vote, as defying monetary inducement to sell his conscience. More so, at the time he, and his compatriots, had strenuously sensitized the people to stand for and defend their votes, as their legitimate tool to question misrule and underperforming representatives. After brief consultations with few friends, he resigned his appointment in August 1982 and contested the primaries into the Bendel state House of Assembly on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria, against a ‘formidable” opponent who was seen as a millionaire. Whereas the resources of P. Z. could merely afford a racketeer 25hp outboard speedboats to traverse communities in his constituency, his opponents moved speedily with better equipped vessels like 75/85hp outboard speedboats. Yet, P. Z. narrowly lost the primaries conducted at Akugbene due to betrayal by his kinsmen as the margin of defeat was below 30 votes, even after a 3^rd opponent stepped down for his main rival at the last minute.  Thereafter, he was under intense pressure from one of his uncles, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, then State Chairman of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) who finally prevailed on him to contest the general elections on the platform of the Party. He lost. He then returned to his Civil Service job at the College of Education by the mercies of God. When the defunct Oil Minerals Producing Development Commission (OMPADEC) was established in 1993, P.Z. Aginighan, then a Principal Accountant at the College of Education was successfully appointed as an Assistant Director, Finance and Administration.

Always impelled by an innate desire to serve humanity, P. Z. who had used his richly endowed prowess of service and accommodation for all without prejudice, felt the time was rife for him to once more have another stint at elective politics 2006-2007 (4^th Republic). The decision followed a Supreme Court ruling on section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, allowing all citizens including civil servants the right to belong to any Political Party.  Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan, then Deputy Director of Finance and Supply, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to contest for the Delta State gubernatorial ticket. Although he was disqualified by the screening panel of the party he stood as the only aspirant who had taken pains to tour the oil-rich Ijaw/Itsekiri riverine areas of the State. His resounding endorsement by traditional rulers in all the Senatorial Districts of Delta State, and the rare goodwill he enjoyed among the elders, youths and women portrayed him as a man of the people with wide acceptance. PZ later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 2015. Until his death, he was a Chieftain of the Party and leader of the APC Delta Ijaw caucus.

As a public servant, Aginighan was an embodiment of selflessness and humility. From College of Education, Warri to the defunct OMPADEC and NDDC, he was endeared to all as a detribalized Nigerian whose life’s primary passion was building enduring bridges of friendship, supporting the underprivileged and creating opportunities to help the needy. During his primary national service in Enugu, the Society for the Disabled in conferring Honorary Life Membership on him remarked thus, ‘those of us under whom he served have much admiration for his neatness of appearance, polite and moderate habits and cheerful disposition and pray that he would not deflect from these qualities in the future’. Man is a relational being and PZ related well with man and God his creator. Life to him was about service, and Pastor PZ can aptly be described as a chief servant. According to him, he served the children in the College of Education, and served the fathers at OMPADEC and NDDC.

 

MARITAL LIFE

PZ Aginighan met his heartthrob Amerikaere at Akugbene town on 31^st July, 1980 where he attended the national convention of Izon Ebe Students Union. It was the practice then to move the national convention from one Ijaw town to another, as a way of inspiring the youth and younger ones to become educationally conscious. In his voice, ‘without words spoken, there was heart to heart connection, our souls were knitted’. The usually conservative PZ, despite his intellectual endowments, found himself in deep love. He wasted little time and got married to Amerikaere in 1982 and had his first child the same year – Mrs. Ondutimi Taremi Epete (nee Aginighan). His marriage to Amerikaere was further blessed with Mrs Timadi Akanimoh Nkanga, Mrs Ebiarelayefa Tiepere Jenakumo, Mr. Ebiseri Aginighan and Mr. Dubamo Aginighan.

In circumstances he described as most difficult, P.Z. got married to a second wife, Ebikaboere Ekpuduyaren (Now Mrs Egbo) from Ezebiri at the instance of his grand aunty in 1983 and had two children namely – late Warekiye Aginighan (who incidentally died in the fatal accident with him) and Barr. Yerindideke Aginighan (the surviving first son).

LEGACIES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

1997. Z’s life has been synonymous with service; he is either building a coalition of students, or youths or elders for the purpose of negotiating a better deal for his people. He lived his life for the people and impacted on their individual and collective circumstances like a colossus. It was little surprise therefore that before he could settle down as a young employee, P. Z. was always seen on top of ‘Okada’ with files and notebooks flying from one end of Warri to another as Secretary, Ijaw Community, Warri (1985 to 1991); Secretary, Delta Ijaw Consultative Committee led by the Late Chief F.H.E Brisibe OFR, (1991-1993); Secretary, Ijaw Elders Forum Port-Harcourt in 1997.

At the ‘All- Ijaw National Convention’ held at the Palace of the Pere of Kabowei on the 23rd November 1991, with Chief Dr. Harold Dappa Biriye, Chief F. H. E. Brisibe and Chief George Weikezi, then foremost Ijaw leaders in attendance, Aginighan was asked to moderate the meeting. He was later appointed Secretary of the Ijaw National Coordinating Committee (INCC) under the leadership of Prof. (Rev.) C. A. Dime. It was the INCC that midwifed the Ijaw National Congress (INC).  And in 2003, when late Chief D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha, then Governor of Bayelsa inaugurated the Ijaw Interactive Assembly to serve as a clearing house for the Ijaw nation under the chairmanship of Chief Edwin Clark, CON, P.Z. was again called to serve as secretary of the body.  In 2016, he joined other leaders and compatriots from the Niger Delta to form the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, to give the people of the region a voice.

In every theatre of service God positioned him, P. Z. Aginighan showed exemplary humility, selflessness, patriotism, broad-mindedness, and objectivism. Not being immune to frailties as a mortal, his passion for social justice, fairness and equity can hardly be faulted. His doors, both in the office and home were open to all at all times. This explains why, despite the fact he was a Deputy Director, he was assigned to an obscure office in the ground floor of the towering NDDC building, a decision that was certainly intended to humiliate him for being friendly with the ‘boys’. Whenever he steps out of his car, the air was usually rented with enchanting vibrations of “ODUDU”. To so many, Odudu became his first name. Throughout his years of activism P. Z. never employed nor encouraged the resort to violence as a means of social redress. But he believed in effective non-violent civil disobedience as he led members of the Ijaw Youths Action League to protest the visit of the then Governor of Bendel state, late Prof. Ambrose Ali to Bomadi in 1982 to decry the lack of development for the Ijaw areas. He craved for a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigerian State based on justice and equity. He was a man of peace and strived to bequeath legacies of love to his children.

He would either initiate or be part of adventures to broker and build peaceful inter-relationship amongst individuals and communities. P. Z. was severally part of the efforts to resolve the leadership crisis in both the Ijaw National Congress and Ijaw Youth Council under the leaderships of Dr. Gabriel Okara in 2001, HRH Chief Dr. Harold Dappa Biriye in 2001 and Chief Edwin K. Clark in 2003. In all these, he was convinced that only a united Ijaw leadership can sustain the quest for national rebirth and development.

The apostle of peace was at the centre of making peace between his own community Ogodobri in Bomadi LGA of Delta State
and Ekeremor in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State in August 2003, to end the bloody conflict that saw the return of captives of war from Ogodobri to Ekeremor. His services were further enlisted as the Moderator of the Ceasefire Peace Conference by the Warri Ijaw/Itsekiri Grassroot Peace Front held at Warri Club under the auspices of the Joint Military Task Force in June 2004.

Little surprise therefore that he was once described by the Living Sage Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark, OFR, CON, as ‘A very dynamic, patriotic and most reliable young man, who I am very proud of’.

WORKING/CAREER LIFE

Before the Odudu of Africa, as he was fondly called, was employed as an Accountant at the College of Education, Warri, he started his working career as a tutor at the Sagbama Creek Grammar School, Toru-Ebeni (1975 to 1976). He later moved to his Alma Mater, Government College Bomadi (1976 to 1977) where he taught mathematics as a holder of the West African Senior School Certificate. Because of his love for the subject, he would take it as part of his community service to teach during vacations variously at Government Secondary School, Amassoma, Akugbene Grammar School, Akugbene, Ogo-Eze Secondary Commercial School Ogo-Eze.

Upon completion of his mandatory national service he became employed as Accountant 11 at the College of Education, Warri in 1982 and progressively rose to the rank of a Principal Accountant before changing establishments in 1993.

When the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) was established P. Z. became one of the pioneer staff as Assistant Director, Finance and Accounts in 1993. As the Assistant Director, he represented OMPADEC in the Federation Account Allocation Committee meetings from November 1996 to March 1999 which was rotated amongst the various states. For want of convincing himself about some political-economic claims, he would prefer to drive from Port Harcourt to Kano, Minna and elsewhere. In 2001 he was absorbed into the Niger Delta Development Commission as Assistant Director, Finance & Supply and in March 2003, was promoted to the position of Deputy Director, Finance and Supply. He was promoted a full Director in March 2009 thus fulfilling the scriptures: “The path of the just will always shine brighter and brighter” – Proverbs 4:18.  When the second Governing Board of the NDDC was dissolved on the 12th April 2009, President Umaru Yar’Adua appointed him Ag. Managing Director/CEO of the Commission on the 17th April 2009 as the most senior public servant. But before then, President Olusegun Obasanjo had appointed the ‘Odudu’ as the Ag. Executive Director, Finance and Administration in 2007 upon the occupant of that office becoming elevated. He became the first career staff to be so lifted into executive management. After the dissolution of that governing board, Power Ziakede was made the substantive Executive Director, Finance and Administration in 2009. When the board was eventually dissolved in 2011, since he could not go back to his career position of a Director, having served in higher capacities, he was forced into premature retirement before attaining the mandatory retirement qualifications of either 35years in service or 60 years of age.

CHRISTIAN LIFE

God is a spirit and his worshippers must worship him in spirit and truth – John 4:24

Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan is a son of consolation to the entire Apostolic World from LAWNA to Maritime Territory and beyond. Although he caught his Christian teeth while in Government College Bomadi 1974/75 where he had his first baptism, he joined The Apostolic Church, Warri Area, LAWNA Territory in June 1986. Adherent Aginighan became born again when he willingly and openly accepted an Apostolic Water Baptism by immersion was given the Apostolic Right Hand of Fellowship by Pastor B O Okoroh, the then Warri Area Superintendent. As he poured himself into service, he carved a niche of service for himself to the admiration of all.

His marital status was an impediment to his growth in the church and he could not aspire to the pinnacle of service in the church until his second marriage was peacefully dissolved and his marriage certificate produced as required by the (LAWNA) church leadership in September 1994. Thereafter, he was immediately ordained a Deacon in November 20, 1994. In less than a year, on March 19, 1995 he was called an Elder by late Pst. I.O Otunmeruke and became a Presiding Elder in April, 1996 by Pst. J.I Abata

Over the years, Pastor PZ Aginighan functioned virtually in all wings of the Church in the various places he was posted. He served as a Sunday School Teacher, Chorister, Witness and Evangelical Team Member, Men Movement Member, Prayer Band Member and so on… His sense of service, dedication and commitment to expanding the glorious vision of The Apostolic Church in wherever he served, so endeared him to the leadership, that on the 27^th January, 2009 he was unanimously ordained a Lay Minister. This brought him into a fresh realm of spiritual growth in the grace and service to God and humanity.

Despite his relocation to Port Harcourt in 1993, P. Z. effectively functioned both in the Maritime Territory and in the LAWNA Territory. In the Maritime Territory, he was committed to building the church and found himself serving in several committees where he championed many capital intensive projects. It was his exemplary life of giving and the application of his professional finesse to policies and programmes that earned him a number of appointments in the church. He was chairman Ojoto Area Project committee 1995, Rumuchiorlu convention ground development, Dim Area project launching committee etc. Until death, he was the Vice-Chairman of Azuabie Area from inception; District Vice Chairman, Somiari District; Member Board of Trustees of The Apostolic Church Maritime Territory; Member of the Governing Council, Samuel Adegboyega University; Chairman Territorial Convention Ground Development Committee; Member Territorial Finance Committee. As a Lay-Pastor in Somiari-ama assembly, he worked under Apostle Aaron Fineface and Pastor U.U Sunday and as a senior Pastor in the same Somiari-Ama assembly, Pastor Ime Akpan, Pastor Akan Umoren worked under him. As a senior Pastor he was transferred to Ozuboko-Ama assembly, with Pastor E.B Kerenwin assisting him until his call to glory.

In appreciation of his roles in the development of the Church, he was awarded The Apostolic Church Maritime Field Ambassadorial Merit Award in April, 2008, by the then Field Superintendent Pst. A.N Aeba and The Apostolic Church Living Heroes of Faith Award at the Centenary Celebration of the Church on 4^th August 2018. In a citation, The Apostolic Church remarks, “Our projects are progressing sweatlessly by the instrumentality of one-man Pastor and Deaconess Power Ziakede Aginighan”.

What can we say? Pastor PZ is not just a detribalized Nigerian, he is a non-denominational Christian. One major thing he will be remembered for in his community is how he single handedly unified all the various Christian denominations in his community and initiated the Annual Thanksgiving(2010 till date) where his two communities Ogo-Eze gather to give thanks and dedicate the land to God.

Until his sudden call to glory he was an Apostle Designate and this will be conferred on him post-humously on Friday 25^th January, 2019.

God honours men who honour him. Life will always give back to you what you give it.

His philanthropic gestures earned him so many awards, honours and chieftaincy titles within the length and breadth of Nigeria

 

THE TRANSITION

‘He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken – Psalm 34:20’

Having recovered from a massive health challenge requiring chemotherapy treatment in 2010, Pastor PZ Aginighan continued to commend himself to the service of God and mankind. His retirement from active public service afforded him time to go deeper with his Creator and take on more responsibilities in his pastoral calling. On the day he walked the path of death, PZ was returning from Warri where he had gone to officiate in the funeral service of his sister-in-law that was later deferred. He had used the opportunity to host a gubernatorial candidate of his party in Warri and was returning to keep his appointed meeting with Amb. Boladei Godknows Igali, OFR, when he met his final home call.

Witnesses say he survived the ‘immediate’ accident impact despite his vehicle flipped over multiple times before going up in flames – a testament of God’s faithfulness that ‘He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken – Psalm 34:20’. But when he watched his beloved first son and orderly trapped and burnt he could not grapple with it and in the process had his last breath.

Life indeed is transitional with the heavenly realms certainly better. While we grief over his passing, we take solace in the fact that we know he walked with the Lord and has only transitioned to a better realm. We know that we will see him again on the resurrection morning. His legacies far outweigh the grief we bear and it behooves us to continue in his steps with God helping us. Amen.