Sufuyan Ojeifo
The Yoruba have a way of encouraging any man or woman to trudge on in battle. They could use the talking drum or verbal renditions to call on the hero or heroine to look back to see the rearguards. In epic plays, the ego of a protagonist in a war situation is mollycoddled by the chant of “wo ehin re wo; olori ogun, ko kehin ogun; wo ehin re wo.” Transliterated: “look at your back, leader of war, does not stay at the back; look at your back.” It is a call to see dependable rearguards and to rest assured.
In a similar fashion in which the importance of having dependable rearguards is underscored, Afro music impresario, King Sunny Ade, sang a popular line for the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola when he crooned: “Ma a jo lo mo nwo ehin re Abiola, ma a jo lo, mo nwo ehin re…” meaning “dance on Abiola, I am watching your back, dance on Abiola, I am watching your back….” In essence, Abiola, as a leader, was simply being assured of a rearguard support.
A small number of eminent persons have shattered that rarity across nation-states that comprise the global village, playing the role of dependable and altruistic leaders and rearguards at the same time. Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo belongs to this microscopic number. He is a quintessence of humanity, the kind that propels passionate support for other beings.
Those close to him, including yours sincerely, would attest to his inimitable leadership and rearguard disposition, which finds anchorage on expansive and expressive humaneness. He finds it difficult to vacillate in meeting genuine requests. This compassionate bond explicates the air of fondness that permeates his circles of inter-personal relationships as summed up in the moniker: “Captain ‘Hosa” by which he is popularly addressed in social, economic and community spheres.
Captain ‘Hosa turns 60 tomorrow, January 7, 2018. The diamond anniversary provides another opportunity for family members and friends to celebrate the “African Titan”, with pomp and ceremony. At 54, the American Congress conferred on him the “African Titan” award for being a voice of the Niger Delta people through a movie, which he single-handed sponsored, titled: “Black November”.
A restless supporter of good causes with a heart of gold, he does not publicise his acts of munificence. Humble, quiet and inscrutable, he moves about without any air of superiority. His simplicity is a product of his upbringing by his late father, Reverend Robert Amos Okunbo.
A man of great integrity in business where the combination of discipline, hard work, focus, purpose and providence has brought him immense breakthroughs, Captain ‘Hosa’s success story is quite motivating. At 30, he retired from paid employment as an airline captain, who had booked more than 7,500 hours of flight time most of which was jet experience across continents, into the high risk security area of the oil and gas sector. Today, he has garnered many accomplishments in the area of marine security and provision of marine logistics through Ocean Marine Solutions (OMS) Limited, over which he presides as chairman.
For his outstanding contributions to the promotion of peace and good governance as well as development of his constituency, he was in 2007 honoured with the Justice of the Peace (JP). The University of Benin conferred on him a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration (Honoris Causa) in 2012. The Oba of Benin, in 2014, decorated him as a worthy ambassador of the ancient kingdom. He was nominated as the Vanguard Businessman of the Year 2016. More elbow grease to a dependable leader and rearguard!
Ojeifo wrote in from Abuja.
