15.05.2014
If an article must touch on the nerve of a Nigerian reader, it must be political. It must help the reader criticize those he loves to hate; it must raise his hope; otherwise, such article remains a gibberish of unpronounceable cacophonies packaged to fill up spaces.
Though I love writing on politics, I insist that the future of Nigerian literature is in jeopardy. Creativity is dying and criticism is rising. The Nigerian literature is denigrating to a commentary. If you want to watch poverty and violence pornography, read African articles. The next generation of analysts and writers will have to efface social commentary as literature is increasingly considered by those writing in Africa to be poverty and violence pornography so advised Billy Kahora.
In the wisdom of Billy, this edition will shy away from pornography; it will reflect on the calling of a socio-religious hero. Like St Peter admonished in his epistle, we need to reflect on their shining examples so as to imitate their faith.
Prejudice is like a biscuit which breaks where one does not expect it. No one would have given a chance of the first Catholic priest of Abakaliki clan coming from Anmegu, the ancestral home and the cultural pride of Ali Izii. But when God acted, he did not just enter Anmegu but went straight to the traditional stool of the community to elect a servant to serve Him. This was an embarrassment to Ali Izii, particularly, the Isi Uke institution. That is the story of Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Oliver Urweh Echiegu, the first Abakaliki man to embrace Catholic priesthood.
Urweh, as he was known in the cultural circle, was born in 1947 into a polygamous family of Chief Echiegu Ogalegu (then Igwe Nnodo 1 of Anmegu Community) and Mary Nwophoke Echiegu of Ebyia Unuphu Izii, Abakaliki LGA of Ebonyi State.
Following the cultural arrangement of his days, at three, the little Urweh was sent to live with his grandmother, a widow, at Echara Unuphu. Urweh remained defiant to the lavish care of grandmothers. He looked forward to starting school at ripe age rather than succumb to the attractions of such care.
He was a pupil of the only but popular Native Authority (NA) School, Nkwegu, in the Izii Unuphu zone between 1953 and 1960 where he finished with First School Leaving Certificate. The ecumenical nature of the school promoted Protestantism. However, when St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Primary School was opened in his village, Ebyia Unuphu in 1954, Urweh switched allegiance to the Catholic faith. And after years of Catechism classes, he was baptized on December 29, 1959, with the name Anthony.
Between 1961 and 1965, Anthony had his secondary education at Izii County Secondary School, Ishieke, (popularly known as COSCO which was later renamed Izii High School, Abakaliki). At Ishieke, he would graduate with West African School Certificate.
He taught briefly for nine months in 1966 at St Augustine’s Junior Seminary, Ezzamgbo, before he was admitted into the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, in October of the same year. He completed his Philosophy course between 1966 and 1970, a three-year period when the Bigard Seminary went into exiles in three places namely, Afaghabong Ikot-Ekpene, Amaimo and Amakohia Ikeduru due to civil war.
He started his theology course in the exiled Bigard at Awo-Omamma. But when the war ended, his Bishop, late Most Rev. Dr. Thomas McGettrick, transferred him immediately to St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, where he completed his theology course, graduating with honours in 1973. He was subsequently ordained a priest on December 16, 1973. His ordination was welcomed with tears of pity and regret as his father employed an eleventh hour effort to stop the ordination which he considered was an affront to the stool and the Ishiuke tradition.
After his ordination, he worked as a Curate, St. Theresa’s Cathedral Parish, Abakaliki, between 1973 and1976; and between 1976 and 1978, he was the Parish Priest, St. Anthony’s Parish, Ishiagu. From Ishiagu, he proceeded for overseas postgraduate studies. Between 1978 and 1984 he specialized and obtained a doctorate degree with honours in Sacred Liturgy in Pontificio Institute Liturgico, St. Anselmo, Rome-Italy.
With passion to work, upon completion he returned to Nigeria and became the Parish priest, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Sharon, 1985-1988. Next, he joined the academia at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, serving as a Spiritual Director and Lecturer in Liturgy between 1988 and 1989. In 1989, he joined the formation team of Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri. His quest for learning did not end, during his sabbatical between1994-1995. he studied and graduated with Masters of Arts (MA) in Social Anthropology from University of London School of Oriental and African Studies.
In 2004, he was recalled from formation by his Bishop who needed his services nearer home. He was subsequently transferred to Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, where he was a senior lecturer and served as H. O. D, Department of Sociology/Anthropology (20005-2006), pioneer dean of Faculty of Social Sciences (2007-2008) and since February 2009 he has been the Director, Work and Study Programme of EBSU.
In the church he held other numerous positions, namely,
-Diocesan Chaplain Young Catholic Students, 1974-1978
-Diocesan Chairman, Liturgical Music Commission. 1974-1978
-Diocesan Representative, Inter-diocesan Liturgy Commission of the Igbo Speaking Dioceses, 1985-1996
In the secular appointments, Fr Echiegu has served among others as-
-Member, Education Board Abakaliki Local Govt, 1974-1975
-Member, Board of Governors Izi High School, 1974 -1975
-Councilor, Abakaliki Local Government, May 1986- October 1987
-Member, Civil Service Commission, Enugu State, 1992.
Fr Echiegu’s passion for people’s culture and communication behaviour is not hidden. He is a co-founder and chairman of ‘Ogbo Ohubama Izii, a cultural organisation committed to discovering, preserving and revolutionalizing Izii culture. As a multi-linguist, Fr Echiegu speaks fluently English, Italian and German. He is also literate in French with a working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. He is literate in Abakaliki dialects of Ezza, Ikwo and Izii and has been involved for more than 30 years in literacy work and ecumenical translation of the Bible in the 3 dialects. He is currently the Secretary of Abakaliki Literacy and Translation Trust and recently completed the translation of the Deutro-Canonical Books.
Besides his learned articles in local and international journals, some of his published books include-
-Sacral Igbo and its Rhetoric, (1984) Germany, K. Rve Press Ottmarsboholt
-Jesus Speaks from the Land (Geo-ecological Background to the Saying of Jesus) (1996), Owerri, Assumpta Press
-Yesterday and Tomorrow in Ezaa and Izii’s Today (1998), Ibadan, Loyola Book Centre.
Fr Echiegu is a man of deep spirituality with penchant for justice and unity. Hence his philosophy of life, Live fully in the Lord, now, because every now is irrepeatable, and leave a place better than you found it. He is a great admirer of ecological harmony and rhythm; he loves classical and traditional music.
On Saturday May 3,2014, the entire Izii Nnodo clan with friends all over gathered to formally celebrate the 40th priestly anniversary of Fr Echiegu. At 40 in priesthood, he is agile, sound in mind and body; he has rather begun than ended. There are many lessons in Fr Echiegu’s priesthood.
It takes one man to break a prejudice. Rejecting the juicy seat of the first born of a royal family was uncommon. If Fr Echiegu had not moved, perhaps the story of Abakaliki and Catholic priesthood would have been different. Overlooking the prestige of a royal traditional family made his priestly ordination a focus of discussion and his priesthood more authentic. No wonder, he does not see priesthood as a popularity contest.
Above all, trying life differently is the key to success. When Fr Echiegu chose priesthood 41 years ago, he was rejected. Surprisingly, those who once kicked against his priesthood now celebrate the rejected stone. From Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken, come these beautiful lines:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference”
Congratulations the great Rabbi of our time! Dragnet loves you Nnajiuphu!
