Lasting Tributes

Being someone who loves exploring, on entering this village, Ajahgbavah with the help of a local, I was able to move around and go beyond the regular routes I normally take. Although I might not have passed through those areas before, I can now navigate the village without a guide.

Upon entering the village, I noticed a statue along the main route to the Corpers' Lodge making it easily noticeable. The statue is of the late Chief James I. Akporue.

Late Chief James I. Akporue was born in 1920 and passed away on May 27, 1998, having lived for 78 years. According to locals, he served as one of the chiefs in the Idjehre Kingdom during his time.

Late Chief James I. Akporue had more than one gate, indicating that he had multiple wives and many children. He was a great farmer with a vast palm plantation, also known as a Banga plantation, which his family continues to commercialize to this day.

As I walked down to my primary place of assignment, located at the end of the road, I noticed another statue of a man named Late Pa Sunday Edijana Babagba. He was born in 1929 and passed away in 2020, having lived a life of 91 years.

Babagba was a businessman and a well-known money lender in the Idjehre Kingdom. He also organized meetings at his residence for individuals who wanted to contribute or save their money.

He was popularly referred to as Kevwemeyala, meaning "give me so I can go". This nickname was attributed to his profession as a money lender. Whenever a borrower was late in repaying a loan, the lender would say Kevwemeyala, implying give me my money so I can leave.

His money-lending business was well-known in the Idjehre Kingdom and even beyond. People came from other towns to borrow money from him.

I learnt that after his death, the total amount of money he had lent to people was calculated and found to be in the millions of naira, which his children have collected or are still collecting.

I asked if he had ever held a chieftaincy title, given his immense popularity and influence in the Idjehre Kingdom, but the answer was no. However, one of the locals I spoke to mentioned that he was held in even higher esteem than the chiefs in the kingdom, and was even offered a chieftaincy title on a silver platter, which he declined.

According to a local, a statue of Late Pa Sunday Edijana Babagba was erected in front of his compound in the village before his burial, but it was kept under wraps. On the day of his burial, the statue was finally unveiled.

One day, I went to plug my phone at a charging centre and saw a statue attached to the wall under a shelter made of bricks. The statue is of a man named late Chief Orhonigbe D. Osiroma.

He was born in 1875. He was a great farmer and cultivated crops such as cassava, yams, and others. He passed away in 1996, living a life of 121 years.

Unlike the other male statues in the village, which stand upright, the statue of Late Chief Orhonigbe D. Osiroma is seated. A faded banner, marking his 26th remembrance anniversary hangs from the front of the shelter that houses his statue.

Going further away from the charging center, passing another route, I caught sight of a statue to my right. Standing tall and proud is an elegant all white statue of Late Chief Benson Otughoma.

Late Chief Benson Otughoma was a renowned farmer, rubber merchant, and community leader, who also excelled as a businessman and real estate investor. Notably, he served as the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC).

One market day, I boarded a bike headed to Jesse Market, but the rider took an unfamiliar route. It was my first time passing that route.

Just as we were leaving Ajahgbavah, I came across two statues, one of a man and the other of a woman, erected side by side, which caught my attention.

From what I learned, these statues honours the memories of Late Mr. Eliot Otabunor Asoro and his wife, Late Mrs. Eliot Doris Asoro, who tragically lost their lives in unpleasant incidents.

The wife passed away at the age of 41 in 2010 during childbirth, while the husband lost his life two years later in a road accident at the age of 48.

Years after their passing, their children, having achieved success, erected statues in memory of their parents as a lasting tribute to their memory.

As I navigated through the village, I observed that the community is home to a total of six statues.

I'm unsure if statues of these individuals exist elsewhere, but I've learned that statues were erected in their hometown, Ajahgbavah village. Notably, despite owning multiple houses, including some outside the village, their statues were brought back to the village and prominently displayed in front of their family's compound.

Statues are built as a way of showing proper respect, but it largely depends on the family's financial capabilities and their desire to honor their loved ones. Any family can build a statue for their loved one, regardless of their social status, as long as they have the means to do so.

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_{I want to use this medium to express my heartfelt thanks to you for taking the time to read this. 🌺 💕}

_{All images are mine.}

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