Why Elechi Amadi Is Immortalised

The literary icon, Captain Dr. Elechi Amadi, was born in 1934 at Mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government of Rivers State. The world acclaimed literary icon and quintessential giant is the dramatic story of a Nigerian statesman who though trained as a scientist later became a soldier but acknowledged gblobally as an acclaimed writer. The great literary icon had written so many books, among which are the Concubine, Isiburu, The Great Pond, Sunset Biafra and When God Came etc.

Apart from creative writing, he had served Rivers State in various capacities. Rivers State government’s burial committee headed by Hon. Frank Owhor, revealed he worked as a land surveyor and later was a teacher at several schools, including the Nigerian Military School, Zaria (1963-66). After his military career, he joined the Rivers State Civil Service where he served several ministries in various and numerous capacities as Permanent Secretary and commissioner. He served at the Ministry of Establishment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Education, Cabinet Office, and Government House, Port Harcourt.

Elechi Amadi served in the Nigerian army and was there during the Nigerian civil war and retired on the rank of captain. He then held various positions with the Rivers State Government: Permanent Secretary (1973-198), Commissioner for Education (1987-1988) and Commissioner for Lands and Housing (1989-1990).

He also served his community and ethnic nationality in various capacities including serving as the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation World-wide and Ochi Ohna 10th for two tenures (2001-2004).

He was chairman, Rivers State Scholarship Board (2008-2014). As an instructor in Nigeria Military School , Zaria, he instructed the likes of the former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Navy Captain Amadi Ikweche, Col. Tunde Ogbeha, Col. Abdul Mohammed and Col. Anthony Ukpo, a former military governor of Rivers State, just to mention but a few.

He served with the 3rd Marine Commander in various capacities. He was the commander of 14th Brigade, Ahoada, and old aerodrome (now Air Base). He was appointed military administrator of Port Harcourt, Rivers State (1969-1970) to hold brief for Commander Diete-Spiff. The great literary icon was a writer-in-residence and lecturer at then Rivers State College of Education, where he had also been Dean of Arts, Head of the Literature Department and Director of General Studies. Rt. Rev Blessing Enyinda, the Bishop of Ikwerre Diocese, Anglican Communion, revealed that late Captain Elechi Amadi had worked immensely, especially the translation of English Bible to Ikwerre language, hymns to Ikwerre (Eri) and the composition of Ikwerre Diocesan anthem.

The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, while eulogizing the great icon of creative literature, thrilled the mammoth crowd at the funeral service, with a thought-provoking pronouncement and the renaming of Port Harcourt Polytechnic after the literary icon. Wike, who made a concise speech with a sense of responsibility and purposeful leadership, announced the change of name of Port Harcourt Polytechnic on 3rd December, 2016 at Aluu. Indeed, the pronouncement followed a thunderous applause and shout of appreciation from the crowd.

The immortalization of Captain Elechi Amadi with notable higher institution of learning in Rivers State by Wike was a welcome development and a good omen for hard-working Rivers men and women. Indeed, the governor of Rivers State should be commended for the good gesture.

Thus, it is worthy to note that Wike was apolitical while speaking at the funeral service of Elechi Amadi. Today, the graduate of physics and mathematics of the University of Ibadan had preserved his works for the unborn generation.

He had served humanity tremendously and that is the more reason Rivers people should support the pronouncement of the governor to make it a reality through legislation. Captain Elechi has gone but his works live on.

Ogwuonuonu wrote from Port Harcourt.

Frank Ogwuonuonu