Oyube Attoe, the son of a former nationwide ladies’s chief of the Peoples Democratic Occasion, Prof Stella Effah-Attoe, who was additionally a professor of African Historical past and Gender Research within the Division of Historical past and Worldwide Research on the College of Calabar, talks to EMMANUEL OJO in regards to the life and occasions of his late mom and the function she performed in nationwide politics in Nigeria, amongst different points
Your mum was an completed professor who labored on the College of Calabar earlier than she handed on and she or he doubled as a politician. How would you describe her?
I’m Oyube Attoe. I’m the primary son of Prof Stella Effah-Attoe. I work within the Federal Ministry of Price range and Financial Planning in Abuja.
My mum was an ideal tutorial. She was very captivated with training on the College of Calabar. She graduated from the College of Calabar additionally. She attended Woman of Lourdes Main Faculty in Yaba, Lagos State, after which she attended Edgerly Memorial Secondary Faculty in Calabar after which she attended the College of Calabar and the likes the place she studied Historical past and Worldwide Relations. After her BSc programme by which she bagged second-class higher honours, she was requested to skip the grasp’s programme due to her efficiency at the moment and simply go for her doctoral diploma.
From there, she upgraded herself and have become a lecturer after which a senior lecturer. She bought her doctorate in 1985 and she or he had been out and in of the college. In some unspecified time in the future, she was known as to public service and for these occasions, she took her depart of absence. She was an instructional for a very long time. She grew to become a professor in 2010 on the similar College of Calabar. She spent most of her tutorial life on the College of Calabar and I’m positive it might have been very expensive to her. She was 64 years previous when she handed on.
How shut had been you to your mum?
As the primary son, I used to be very near her and we shared loads. She taught me loads in life and I’ll say that we had been very shut.
What was her relationship together with her different youngsters like?
Oh! Very glorious. She was very loving and caring however very strict too. She at all times inspired us to be the very best we might and she or he didn’t like her youngsters complaining as a result of she stated some individuals had it worse in life, and advised everyone to brace up and be able to face the challenges of life.
What number of different siblings do you may have?
I’ve 5 different siblings.
Is any of them toeing her path in both politics or training?
Sure, everyone adopted her path in training however not everyone adopted in politics. Persons are completely different however within the tutorial side and pursuit of excellence, all of us attempt to comply with that path, though she left very huge footwear for us to suit into.
How did she apply corrective measures while you and your siblings did the improper issues?
My mom used to scold us. We had been afraid of her scolding us much more than utilizing a cane. She used to speak, advise, scold however on the finish of the day, we at all times understood that they had been corrective measures to assist us do what we needed to do.
To what extent did she affect you and your siblings?
(She influenced us) to a big extent as a result of my mom had at all times been there for us all through our lives. She was a rock and a pillar. She was additionally a rock and pillar to her group and the nation at massive. Nevertheless, for us within the household, we grew as much as see my mom as an achiever, so she was our first function mannequin.
On the age of 26, my mom was already a Commissioner for Schooling and I used to be nonetheless in main college then. So, we began seeing her as a job mannequin from a really younger age.
Did her profession as an academician affect your profession decisions?
My mom didn’t attempt to affect our profession decisions. She allowed everyone to do what they wished to do. For example, I’m an economist, considered one of my youthful brothers can also be an economist and the opposite is a geologist. So, she didn’t attempt to affect what we studied or the profession decisions we made in life, however she allowed us to decide on ourselves.
Are you able to recall her time as a commissioner at 26 and the impression it had on you as a pupil?
At the moment, I wouldn’t say that I understood the significance of that or what that meant, however perhaps later in life, I began to know it. After all, as a toddler, while you noticed that she was influential, you possibly can see a little bit of that however I can’t say that I totally had a grasp of that. I at all times gave an instance of once I was in main college and I used to be requested who the Commissioner of Schooling was and I stated my mummy was and the trainer flogged me. So, I do give this for example as a result of individuals knew the type of lady my mom was. She by no means wished any preferential remedy for her youngsters. She was the Commissioner for Schooling in 1987 and later grew to become the Commissioner for Info and Tradition in 1989 in Cross River State beneath the regime of Capt Eben Princewill.
What had been the reminiscences of her rising up with you and your siblings?
We had enjoyable reminiscences, significantly throughout our vacation travels.
Owing to her very busy schedule, would you say that you simply bought sufficient of her consideration whereas rising up?
Sure, we did. She at all times managed her time very properly.
How did she spend time together with her household?
Her youngsters and grandchildren normally visited her on weekends the place we spent high quality household time collectively.
Did her political participation pave the best way for you into politics?
Sure, it did.
To what extent?
I contested for a seat within the state Home of Meeting. I used to be the PDP candidate for my constituency within the final basic elections.
Do you suppose your mum gave extra time to her tutorial work than her profession in politics?
She began in academia earlier than she went into politics and her first appointment got here when she grew to become a commissioner after which she went again to the college and have become totally concerned (in politics) from the times of the Nationwide Republican Conference. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Occasion and was a part of it when it was fashioned. She later grew to become a PDP Board of Trustees member in 2001.
Properly, I might say she spent most of her time as an instructional as a result of training was her past love and she or he had at all times stated that it doesn’t matter what she grew to become, she would at all times return to the college.
Because the nationwide ladies’s chief of the PDP, what was her place on the disaster rocking the get together?
To begin with, she had at all times been a celebration particular person and she or he tried to know the thought of the PDP. She had at all times been very passionate in regards to the PDP and was very cautious to not take sides in any of the crises. She tried to be easy, and trustworthy and tried to talk the reality to everyone. She additionally was the ladies’s mobiliser. She believed in ladies and had numerous literature on ladies empowerment and ladies’s activism proper from her tutorial days into politics. I believe she was rightly fitted for that place and earlier than she bought that place, she had had the expertise of being a member of the conscience of the get together, which is the board of trustees, so, she understood the thought of the get together very properly and she or he lived by it.
What had been the roles she performed within the unification of the get together primarily based on her portfolio at the moment, particularly in the direction of the final basic elections?
Properly, I’m not conscious that the get together was disunited as a result of I most likely wouldn’t know the nitty-gritty of politics at that stage.
It was apparent that the PDP had factions within the build-up to the final basic elections and I requested if she performed any function to assist the factions have a standard understanding and assembly level for the progress of the get together.
Properly, once more, I don’t suppose my mom I do know would have seen any faction in any organisation. What she would have performed was comply with the beliefs of the organisation. For example, through the campaigns, she adopted the PDP to nearly all of the states and there was no state she didn’t go to at the moment. She went with the presidential candidate and particularly, his spouse. So, I believe her mandate was to see the PDP on the poll. That’s what I do know.
Being a member of the PDP, what hole would you say that her demise has left within the get together?
After all, there’s a very huge hole and it’ll take loads to have somebody within the PDP who will fill that hole or put on these footwear because the nationwide ladies’s chief. That has not been crammed. Within the phrases of the nationwide chairman of the get together at her funeral, he acknowledged that on the nationwide working committee, he at all times seemed ahead to working together with her and that they felt her absence and he acknowledged that it was going to be a really huge shoe to fill and that’s so sure.
Is anybody performing in that place in the meanwhile?
To not my information.
What are a number of the main tasks she carried out within the PDP that the get together will at all times keep in mind her for?
There are numerous. Once more, in case you have a look at her political curriculum vitae), you will notice that there are numerous committees that she served in and interventions she did within the Anambra State PDP, the Imo State PDP, and Bauchi State too or so, which I can’t keep in mind properly now however I do know it’s huge. She had been there because the PDP was fashioned and that’s why they noticed it to be befitting to provide her the place of the nationwide ladies’s chief primarily based on her expertise and her work in ladies’s development and empowerment academically.
She was criticised in some unspecified time in the future for leaving her main function as a trainer on the college and taking on political tasks. What’s your tackle that?
Wow, I’m stunned to listen to that as a result of there are various lecturers who went into politics and I believe that might even augur properly for our nation if we’ve got our greatest brains that includes in politics and holding public workplace. So, it’s a plus for the nation.
How would you describe her social life?
She was a family-oriented particular person. Her social life revolved round household and really shut buddies. My mum was a quiet particular person and never a loud particular person. Properly, she was social together with her household, she appreciated to journey with household, she appreciated to see her grandchildren and appreciated it when my household got here round, appreciated her daughters-in-law and appreciated it once they got here round over the weekend.
Other than training and politics, had been there different issues she was fascinated with?
She was a member of various social golf equipment however not essentially in enterprise.
Are there fortunes you’ll say that your mum’s identify introduced for you?
Properly, I don’t know while you say fortunes however clearly, a reputation like that may open doorways for everyone, not simply me. Clearly, that occurs but it surely doesn’t imply or take away the truth that we’ve got to work exhausting. It wasn’t her factor that we don’t work exhausting however the identify opened doorways and introduced some type of recognition. Sure, that got here with the identify and occurred with individuals who have attained a sure stage of feat in life.
What’s probably the most unforgettable expertise you had along with your mum?
Properly, there are lots and I don’t know which one to pinpoint or the place to begin from. Possibly after we travelled collectively as a household, together with her and my household. We had some very unforgettable experiences. Properly, she appreciated good eating places and she or he appreciated swimming too. So, generally, we discovered it fascinating to sit down down collectively and loosen up, getting away from politics and all of the hustle and bustle.
What involves me about my mom is her kindness and her open-door coverage. Other than her organic youngsters, she had many youngsters. Her doorways had been open, our doorways had been by no means closed. We had many cousins like siblings and my mum handled all of them the identical like relations and most of them bought their jobs via her. What I discovered good about my mum is that she was very open and I like her open-door coverage.
What values did you discover in her that you simply wish to replicate?
My mum was very trustworthy to a fault, she was very type and hardworking. My mum was additionally powerful. When you fall, you’ll have to choose your self up and be robust – that was her coverage. I wish to proceed the issues my mum used to do by serving to individuals. I even plan to arrange a basis in her identify, to proceed her good works and discover help for individuals.
What was her favorite meal?
She has many favorite meals, I wouldn’t say that she has only one. She was by no means discriminatory about meals. She had many favourites, however she liked our conventional soup, which is the afang soup. She liked it very a lot and she or he liked efo riro and okro soups. Mainly, my mum didn’t discriminate (with meals). She ate all meals and I significantly wish to lengthen that to my youngsters to not be too picky with meals and that was how my grandmother was too.
What’s one factor that you recognize that your mum couldn’t be caught doing?
My mum was an trustworthy particular person and she or he couldn’t be caught in a lie or something like that. She was a really easy particular person, advised you because it was, and caught to her guidelines and rules.
What’s the funniest story your mum ever advised you?
There have been sure tales we shared generally. One of many funniest tales I might say my mum advised me was one thing about her grandmother once they had been younger. She stated that every time she went to a buffet when she was younger, my grandmother used to inform her that she (my grandmother) didn’t need anyone to go twice (for meals) however she responded by saying that it was presupposed to be a buffet, the place they need to have the freedom to eat as many occasions as they wished. There are numerous different tales like that that I can not keep in mind now or share in the meanwhile.
She should have advised you ways she met your dad. Are you able to share the story?
Sure. I’m unsure I can keep in mind that story or she didn’t make it elaborate sufficient however I can’t actually place it now.
She was additionally stated to be married to Shuaib Adedokun. Is that true?
Sure.
Was he the husband she was married to earlier than she handed?
Sure.
How was her relationship with him?
It was glorious.
Did she even have youngsters for him?
Sure, and they’re a part of the 5 siblings I discussed.
Was there a motive why she determined to maintain her surname, Effah-Attoe, and never undertake the surname of her husband, Adedokun, earlier than she handed on?
She modified her identify formally however determined to proceed utilizing Effah-Attoe due to her huge scholarly works related to the identify.
Did your mum have shut buddies and associates?
Her closest buddy was Dr Flora Nkwam. They had been buddies proper from the College of Calabar. Others are Hajia Zainab Maina, Hajime Inna Ciroma, Rev Grace Ekanem, and Amb Nkoyo Toyo, amongst others.
Who had been her political allies?
To the very best of my information, she was a celebration lady. So she didn’t take sides throughout the get together.
The place had been you when she died and the way did you obtain the information of her demise?
I used to be in Abuja and it got here as a impolite shock to me. I’m but to get previous her passing and even settle for it. We thank God for a profitable interment. All the things went very properly and it was properly attended by shut relations, buddies, tutorial and political associates.
Had been PDP executives properly represented on the burial and do you suppose she bought a well-deserved closing respect from the get together she served for that lengthy?
Sure. They had been totally represented and she or he bought a well-deserved closing respect from her get together as exemplified on the valedictory session and mendacity within the state held in her honour in Abuja and Calabar by the PDP Nationwide Working Committee and PDP Cross River State Working Committee respectively.
What was her trend desire?
I might describe her as conservatively trendy.