A Tribute To Chris Asoluka, By Pat Utomi

Dr. Chris Asoluka, political scientist, lawyer, international trade scholar and consultant was as gentle as the polished man of high society could be, yet he roared with intellectual sagacity of a raging typhoon in the face of injustice. And like a hurricane he uprooted the pretentious and rained on the parade of hypocrites. Our world lost the benefit of his wisdom and gentle courage in May when he paid the debt owed by all men and changed constituency on the transcendental plane.

Long before Stephen R. Covey wrote the 8th Habit, and reminded us that helping people find their voice would be the most important habit of the 21st Century, Chris spoke up frequently enough for the voiceless, and for good public policy and good governance, such  that he earned the title Okwuroha (The one who speaks for the people).

His public speaking style was quaint and predictable. Starting with a knowing nod and body language, he would come with a force of conviction like a locomotive navigating the bend out of a familiar aqueduct. His rhetorical posture could appear intimidating but a ready smile assured the objective was not to crush the opponent but to enlighten. A burst of laughter often heralded his wrapping up, and he would be hailed: Okuruoha!!!.

The profundity of thought and elegance of delivery made those scenes a celebration of his life in installments. What a life. Richie profundity of thought and agility of action.

In our early law students days I would wind him up with a quote from Lord Denning or say something like equitable estoppel or you are estopped. It was a fun life.

Days after his 70th birthday, as we prepared to celebrate, the Creator’s voice called, and Chris answered with a gentle and peaceful turn. Okwuroha’s vocal chords would not again speak for reason, as it did for decades, but the impact of his wholesome life looks set to continue to speak for principle centered engagement and civility in public life, which seems to elude our extant reality so much.

I knew Chief Asoluka well. For more than 40 years we were bosom friends. I was sure I could count on his judgement and I knew he was inclined to forgiving and coping with my many shortcomings.

Our friendship spanned the turf of scholarship, activism, community and civic leadership, and enterprise. But we mixed hard work with fun, and partying, in the early days. In later happy times we shared the joys of comparing notes on raising children.

When I returned from grad school in 1982, his expansive apartment in Surulere was Patito’s Gang Centre of robust policy debates during the day and pounding music announcing time for partying at night. Few could combine running an elevated public sphere arena considered quite a market place of ideas, and of having a good time, as seamlessly. He was the cerebral public servant back in those days.

At some point, both of us decided a law education would add value to our window on the world, and promptly registered at the University of London, as correspondence students. After the Intermediate examinations, slothfulness and pressures of a senior position in industry made me to listen to those who called it gluttonous that I was studying for a degree after 3 post graduate and an undergraduate degree, and it was still before my 30th birthday. I dropped out of the Law degree program, a decision I still regret.

He continued, with success, and shortly after, moved to the UK to study for degrees in Maritime trade and related areas.

We collaborated as consultants, taking on clients in the Maritime when I finished my run in Industry, and returned to the academe.

He became President of Aka Ikenga, the Igbo Think Tank and Professionals Group, and I was a noted ally there. He honoured me with a lifetime achievement award back then and when two decades later, Aka Ikenga decided on another lifetime achievement award to me, two years ago, while I was abroad, Chris led my daughter out to receive it.

He served as Vice President of Ohaneze Ndigbo and brought dignity to the assignment, just as his election to the House of Representatives, after serving as Commissioner for Finance in Imo State, in a classy way, gave new shine to those calls to duty.

When we lined up for the recording of Patito’s Gang TV series, you could be assured that his views on any subject would throw light on the issues and that an ego would not get in the way of elucidation.

‘Over-educated’ as he was, he was deeply connected to the grass roots and spoke the Owerri dialect with deep tonal cadence that brought out respect and envy from those less gifted.

He longed to see economic growth in Nigeria and admired the German-American Economist Frederich List who favored economic nationalism over free markets. List’s ideas inspired the models of the Asian Tigers which brought economic success while Nigeria lagged.

Chris loved Nigeria greatly as any viewer of Patito’s Gang could tell with ease. But culture deteriorated in Nigeria, showing scant regard for merit and little tolerance for intellect. In the age in which Adrian Wooldridge analytically shows the ascendance of the Aristocracy of Talent and how meritocracy shaped the modern world. Great minds like Chris Asoluka watched people say ‘na grammar we go chop’ and see Nigeria go down. Many of the smart ones left town and poverty embraced a once proud and hopeful people.

The new Nigeria stood in the way of his political career. He chose not to live with regret and focus on building up the next generation.

We had been making plans to spend the next few years researching and opening up the blue economy with a renewal of the Centre For Applied Economics I used to run at the Lagos Business School. A legacy project to push the frontiers of nation building had been lead agenda item when he visited with his wife to my Arlington, Virginia apartment a few months ago.

Have to confess that I am not sure I want to do that heavy lifting by myself.

To lose him at this time has been a hammer blow. But this was a life so loaded and so richly lived that we have to be grateful for the gift of Chief, Dr. Chris Asoluka. May his spirit in ascent be light out of our extant error and present darkness.

• Pat Utomi, Political Economist, is Professor at the LBS