Right now, I’ll fly to Port Harcourt to attend the posthumous birthday celebration of Albert T. Badey, who would have turned 90 tomorrow if the evil assassins who reduce him down in his prime had allowed him to dwell to a ripe outdated age.
Albert Badey was a revered citizen of our village, Physique Metropolis, in Ogoniland. He was additionally an amazing good friend of my late father, Ignatius Suage Kogbara. These two proud merchandise of Ogoniland supported one another. And their agency friendship was prolonged to their beloved spouses and inherited by their kids.
Until at this time, nearly no week goes by once I don’t communicate to Suage, Uncle Albert’s son, or say a prayer for my auntie, his widow.
The celebration will embrace an inaugural lecture and ceremonial unveiling of the proposed Albert Badey Centre for Improvement, ABCD. Please discover under a quick tribute to a quintessential Rivers gentleman whose life was devoted to excellence, service, peace and sacrifice…a person who paid athe full worth for unity and progress. The creator is Joi Eneobong, Director of Publicity and Logistics at ABCD.
Albert Tombari Badey was not a politician, however a bureaucrat par excellence. Not like a lot of his contemporaries, he was not an activist and didn’t partake within the signing of the Ogoni Invoice of Rights, nor did he ever canvass for electoral votes.
His contributions to the Ogoni individuals have been by no means manipulative or predicated on a need for energy. As a substitute, they have been born from a deep-seated conviction that Ogoni could possibly be reworked via excellence, integrity, and an environment of communal love.
He rose to the height of the Nigerian Civil Service throughout a interval of utmost marginalisation and the “riverine/upland dichotomy” of the Nineteen Seventies and 80s. Undeterred, he constructed bridges of belief throughout divides, at all times sustaining an unwavering focus: “for the betterment of Ogoni.”
“If dying takes me within the course of of constructing peace, so be it. I’ll rejoice in my grave when the reality involves mild, for reality can solely be suppressed however not upturned.”
— Albert T. Badey, November 23, 1993
BACKGROUND & EARLY LIFE
Born on April 25, 1936, at Kono to Rt. Rev. B.Ok. Badey (MON) and Mrs. Hannah S. Badey, Albert’s upbringing was outlined by the disciplined travels of a Methodist Minister’s household.
Father’s Hometown: Bodo Metropolis, Gokana LGA
Mom’s Hometown: Kaani, Khana LGA
Tutorial Excellence:
A superb and distinctive scholar, he attended Methodist Faculty Uzuakoli, the place he achieved the most effective Larger Faculty Certificates outcome within the Arts not solely in Nigeria however throughout your entire West African sub-region in 1958.
This excellent feat distinguished him amongst his friends and earned him a Cambridge College scholarship, resulting in his commencement from College Faculty Ibadan in 1962 with a BA (Honours) in English.
A DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE RECORD
Albert Badey’s profession was a masterclass in administrative excellence, spanning the risky years of the Civil Battle via to the transition to democracy:
1962 – 1965: Assistant Divisional Officer in Abakaliki and Afikpo
1967 – 1968: Divisional Officer in Biase in the course of the Civil Battle
1971 – 1972: Senior Divisional Officer in Bori
1972: Mayor of Port Harcourt
1973 – 1983: Everlasting Secretary (Works, Agriculture, Finance, Info)
Strategic Management Roles in State Administration:
Throughout his distinguished years in public service, he held a number of vital management positions that additional demonstrated his administrative depth and belief on the highest ranges of presidency:
Chairman, Rivers State Tenders Board
Chairman, Rivers State Civil Service Fee
Sponsored
Commissioner for Info.
1987 – 1992: Secretary to the State Authorities, SSG, and Head of Service
Nationwide Political Service:
Chairman, Nationwide Republican Conference (Transition Interval)
1992 – 1993: Transition Chairman, Nationwide Republican Conference
ARCHITECT OF MODERN OGONI: KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
His legacy is etched into the very infrastructure and political cloth of the Ogoni kingdom:
Political Enlargement:
Facilitated the quadrupling of LGAs in Ogoni (creating Gokana, Eleme, and Tai) to strengthen illustration on the nationwide degree.
Training & Infrastructure:
Established the Polytechnic at Bori; oversaw the electrification of Ogoni through the Nationwide Grid; constructed the Bodo Jetty and Kpopie/Bodo Metropolis highway.
Conventional Governance:
Facilitated the creation of the primary units of First Class Chiefs throughout the 4 Ogoni LGAs, strengthening conventional management buildings.
{Economic} Empowerment:
Initiated mass employment of Ogonis into the Civil Service and offered scholarship alternatives for college students at dwelling and overseas.
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Within the early Nineties, because the Motion for the Survival of Ogoni Individuals, MOSOP, turned more and more divided, Albert Badey was thrust into the function of peacemaker.
Regardless of being labeled a “vulture” by radicalized factions for his dedication to non-violence and his assist of the Andoni/Ogoni peace accord, he remained resolute and refused to desert his individuals.
On Might 21, 1994, whereas pursuing reconciliation and peace, Albert Badey was brutally murdered alongside Chief Edward N. Kobani, Chief Samuel N. Orage, and Chief Theophilus B. Orage.
He paid the last word worth for his unwavering perception that reality and unity are the one sustainable paths to progress.
MAY HIS GENTLE SOUL REST PEACEFULLY IN THE BOSOM OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD.
DONU’S WORLD
I’ve a YouTube channel. It’s known as DONU’S WORLD.
https://youtube.com/@donukogbara?si=bBm_IPdFZ_wUyKYq
NIGERIA UNFILTERED – spicy commentaries on Naija points – seems each Wednesday, whereas DONU’S WEEK seems on Fridays and is worldwide in addition to native and covers a mish-mash of soppy and difficult points round my private life, my work and my worldview.
On this week’s Nigeria Unfiltered video, I discuss President Tinubu’s persona cult – the non-public brand, the non-public anthem, and so forth.
Please try my Donu’s World library (courting again to early 2024) on YouTube, plus the brand new movies I produce each week. I might love to listen to your opinions and any constructive criticisms you’ll have to supply. And I shall be very grateful should you “like”, subscribe and share!
RESPONSES TO [email protected] or to 0805 404 6887. (TEXT ONLY). PLEASE NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR EMAIL OR TEXT MAY BE PUBLISHED WITH YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED
SPONSORED