Ukpabi Asika Dies At 68
From George Oji in Abuja
Former Administrator of the old East Central State of Nigeria, Upkabi Asika is dead. Family sources told THISDAY that he died in Abuja in the early hours of Tuesday, September 13, 2004 at the age of 68.
Wife of the late Asika, Dr. (Mrs.) Chinyere Edith Ukpabi Asika (nee Ejiogu) and Senior Special Assistant to Presidential Olusegun Obasanjo on New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) is currently out of the country on official assignment.
Born on June 28, 1936, the late Asika was attacked by stroke eight years ago and was flown to a London hospital where he received treatment for about three years before he was eventually flown back to Nigeria in 2000 and admitted at the National Hospital, Abuja where he has been receiving treatment since.
He is believed to have died from complications arising from the stroke.
When THISDAY visited the Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja residence of the late Asika by 6.15p.m yesterday, a lady believed to be sister to Mrs. Asika confirmed the death, but however warned THISDAY not to make the death public.
The following conversation took place between THISDAY and the lady.
THISDAY: Good evening Madam
Lady: Yes Good evening, can I help you?
My publisher asked me to come and extend his condolences.
Lady: Over what?
Over the death of Ajie.
Lady: How did he know?
I don't know, but that was what he asked me to do, I think he got to know from Madam.
Lady: If he knew through madam, then I imagine he ought to also know that madam is away and ought not to have sent you. Anyway, thank him for that. You know madam is currently on tour outside the country and it will be very stupid for anybody to talk about this in her absence. I have accepted his condolences, but I hope you are not going to publish this because if you do, I'll sue the hell out of you.
You should not start anything stupid, I have warned you.
But madam, who will I tell him sent this message?
Lady: Tell him you met a lady here who said it.
Yes Ma.
Onitsha tradition requires that as an Ajie, a highly revered chieftaincy title, conferred on him in 1985, the death of Asika is not to be made public until some rituals are performed. Besides the Ajie title, he also holds 31 other chieftaincy titles conferred on him from different communities of the country.
The late Asika was the Administrator of the then East Central State of Nigeria from 1967-1975, a position he held until the military coup of the late General Murtala Mohammed. He was a member of the then Supreme Military Council, from 1970-1975.
It was following the military coup that Asika was replaced by Col. Anthony Ochefu (Rtd.).
Asika also served as Head of the Economic Development and Reconstruction, East Central State, between 1974-1975, and Team Leader, Presidential Delegation to Niger, Chad and Cameroun for Negotiation on the re-opening of Nigeria borders in 1985.
Also, he served as member of the Technical Committee on the Review of the National Census, 1973-'75.
His educational career spanned through St. Patrick's College Calabar (1949), Edo College(151), University College (now University of Ibadan, 1956-1961), University of California, USA (19561-1965).
He worked variously as Clerk Onitsha Town Council (1953), Clerk Department of Marketing and Export Lagos, Clerk Northern Nigeria Marketing Board Kano, Lecturer University of Ibadan (Political Science, 1965-1967).
He was also a prize Award Economics, University of Ibadan (1960), Rockefeller Foundation Scholar USA (1961-1965), and awarded Doctor of Laws by the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, December 1970, Doctor of Letters, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, December 1971.
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