Campuslife Educative
Dele Sobowale
This article started two weeks ago and could not be concluded on account of space constraints. Dr Udeme, the most steadfast of all Attah’s disciples and former staff, wrote an interesting review of my book – ATTAH: ARCHITECT OF A NEW DEMOCRATIC DAWN – which was launched in Abuja on November 20, 2025; to mark Attah’s 87th birthday. Incidentally, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was Chairman of the occasion, was also celebrating his birthday on the same day.
I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to His Excellency Jonathan for accepting to chair my book launch – given my total support for Buhari in 2011 and 2015. Magnanimity cannot be better defined.
Dr Udeme’s review could not be concluded two weeks ago. Below is the conclusion:
Lessons from ATTAH: ARCHITECT OF A NEW DEMOCRATIC DAWN (contd)
Attah’s biography shows his deep faith in God. The Attah family prayer which is the first item in the Book seems to guide the Statesman throughout his exciting and purposeful trajectory in life. The family prayer helped to mould him and serves as his compass in life. That prayer is forged into his psyche.
Obong Victor Bassey Udo Adiaha Attah was born in Uyo, attended the Practicing School in Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. He proceeded to Calabar in the present Cross River State for his Secondary School education and then traveled up North to Zaria for training as an Architect. He honed his professional skills in the Americas and the United Kingdom before returning to set up his professional practice in Kaduna, once the political heartbeat of Northern Nigeria. He moved to Lagos from where he joined the political train which culminated in his election as the second Civilian Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 1999.
At the presentation of the Book in the NAF Conference Centre Kado, Attah who had served as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum drew a large number of his former brother Governors, political and professional associates , former appointees, men and women of goodwill across the world to the event. A soundbite that will continue to resonate and remain as one of Attah’s enduring legacies was the testimony by the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR , former President of Nigeria who pointedly declared that the humongous billions which the State governments in the Niger Delta region and others are enjoying as derivation funds today is the outcome of Obong Attah’s bold fight for it’s implementation.
The life history of Obong Attah is rich and a nice treasure to have in personal and public libraries. It is recommended for students of history, political science, public administration, politicians and the general public. Those who would like to model their lives after His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah should pick up the Book for inspiration. Published by Agbo Areo Publishers, Ibadan, the 437 pages Book is dedicated to the G – 34, led by the late former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme, GCON; who risked their lives to confront the late General Sani Abacha.
The well designed book has benefited from excellent editorial work.
Dr UDEME NANA, fnipr who served as Attah’s Media Adviser is the Founder of Uyo Book Club
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Dr Udeme, who also served as a member of the Launching Committee, as well as others, including Ambassador Igali, the Chairman. Words cannot often be adequate to express what a person feels deeply in his heart. The success of the book launch can be attributed solely to their efforts. I remain eternally grateful.
ATTAH’S FAMILY PRAYER
“There are only two things to give to children – good memories and good character.”
The philosopher who gave that advice to parents could not have known that a father in Nigeria was doing just that through one of the simplest means possible. Pa Attah brought all his children up, not by beating the hell out of them or by constant corporal punishment. He did it by teaching them to offer a simple prayer everyday. Below is the prayer – recommended to every reader.
The Attah Family Prayer
Let us live O Lord we pray
In sweet content from day to day
May we find wealth enough to treasure
Put hope and courage in our hearts
That we may bravely play our parts
Grant love and friends and peace of mind
And gratitude for blessings kind
And when the sun sinks in the West
Grant blessed peace and healing rest.
Adopted in 1947 by Chief B.U.A. Attah, 1908-1990 (Obong Victor Attah’s father).
Author, an American lady: Patience Strong
In Chapter One of: ATTAH: ARCHITECT OF A NEW DEMOCRATIC DAWN.
PARALLEL LIVES: ADEBUTU (90) AND ATTAH (87)
“We are in no further need of politicians; we need some statesmen now.”
Paul Harris, 1868-1947, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ p 191
It was at the beginning of the Cold War between the Western nations, led by the USA, and the Communist Bloc, led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR, when the founder of Rotary International was lamenting the corrosive influence of raw politics on nations globally. Within two years of victory over Germany, the former allies were at daggers’ drawn. In many respects, the Cold War has not ended; it has undergone a slight transformation. It is still the East versus the West on the world stage. Politicians everywhere have amassed the greatest arsenals of weapons for mutual destruction; while rendering the institution established to promote peace, the United Nations Organisation, UNO, redundant.
At home in Nigeria, as we approach the 66th year after independence, even the most charitable observer of Nigeria today must agree that the promises made by our Founding Fathers before 1960 remain largely unfulfilled; and might not be redeemed by existing political leaders as a whole. Given the tension nationwide, the increasing employment of violence to settle political disputes, as we approach another general election in 2027, only those wedded to the greatest illusions can fail to expect the worst. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the All Progressives Congress, APC, now seemingly unbeatable has now become the battle ground for desperate politicians.
Politicians being their own grave-diggers, expecting them to solve the problems they are creating amounts to a futile exercise. We need older, non-partisan Elder Statesmen, like Chief Adebutu and Attah to lead us out of the wilderness – where we are held by politicians. Regular readers of this page in the last seventeen years are aware of my absolute regard for Attah and his brand of politics. I came in contact with Chief Adebutu only a few weeks ago; but, after reading his autobiography two times, it seems as if I have known him all my life. Attah in politics and Adebutu in Business remind me of the warning given years ago by Mahatma Ghandi, 1869-1948. The Father of Indian independence admonished his people by pointing to the the things that would destroy any nation, as follows:
Politics without principles
Pleasure without conscience
Wealth without work
Knowledge without character
Business without morality
Worship without sacrifice.
Looking around Nigeria today, it is clear that the causes of our lack of meaningful progress, given our God-given resources, can be traced, not only to the leaders; but, to the followers as well.
Fortunately, all is not lost. We have two important role models, Chief Adebutu calls them “Mentors”, whose life can guide us towards building a greater Nigeria. Permit me to end with a true story regarding “politics and principles”. When Attah was the arrowhead of the fight for RESOURCE CONTROL and more equitable allocation of oil revenues, during his first term, someone told him to stop, because it might cost him the second term. Attah’s reply was simple: “Go and wake up my dead mother and ask her if when I was born, there was a sign on my forehead saying “Governor”.” He was ready to sacrifice his office for a principle he holds dearly. Is there any difference between that and Adebutu’s position? ”A man who is contented does not barter his integrity for gain. He knows that his true inheritance is not money, property or titles. It is in a name unsullied by compromise.”
