Austin Agada: Unmasking the emerging political tiger from Owukpa

When Chief Isaac Oduh, famously known as Ejekwote K’Idoma, and Dr Edwin Obe Idoko (MFR), Ohonyeta K’Idoma of the Salem Hospital, went the way of all mortals some years ago, many had thought it was the end of a political era for Owukpa community.

Some claimed that it was only the pair that stamped their presence on the Nigerian political scene and remain constant for many decades.

The crumbling of the political career of Dr Christopher Obute, former Benue State Commissioner of Finance, others noted, will make it difficult for Owukpa to remain visible and relevant on the political stage.

No doubt, for years, the Owukpa community had wandered in the political wilderness without a Moses to lead them to the Promised Land.

And after years of blind loyalty to a certain political party, with nothing to show for it, many children of Amuche Onomo resorted to politics of Ofu ko’ore.

The marginalization and injustice against the people of Owukpa continued unabated until a young man saw the need and decided to take it upon himself to restore the lost glory of the land.

Today, the Owukpa community is standing tall on the nation’s political stage, all thanks to Comrade Austine Agada, the emerging political tiger of Owukpa Akatekwe.

The story of Comrade Agada, son of a late Immigration Officer, dates back to his university days at the Benue State University as one of the ‘unofficial’ student union leaders, who fought gallantly for the welfare of the students.

Youthful Agada wormed his way into the hearts of all students, including members of fraternities in the institution for playing vital roles in student-related matters.

Having conquered school politics, the soft-spoken Odu descendant decided to go into mainstream politics with the aim of restoring the lost glory of his community.

Pained by the continuous dominance of the then ruling in Owukpa with no dividends of democracy for Ogbadibo Constituency, Agada and other like minds in 2014 orchestrated the entrenchment of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the Owukpa community.

In 2015, he joined the race to change the old order but was denied the ticket by the APC. Determined to take Owukpa, nay Ogbadibo constituency to where it belongs, Agada pitched his tent with the Accord Party where he locked horns with Joe Ojobo, during the state assembly election.

He returned to his mother party – APC, after the election and in the spirit of sportsmanship, teamed up with the ‘winner’ to make Owukpa great again.

His passion and dedication made the then Secretary of State, Bar. Takema to draw the attention of the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, who appointed him Senior Special Assistant on Administration, an office he has used to empower many Idoma youths.

In Ai-Odu, his country home and Ehaje Ward at large, Agada is a Messiah to the less privileged, especially the widows and youths.

Through his Austine Agada Widows Foundation, he has put smiles on the faces of many women whose husbands have been snatched by the cold hands of death.

He has also empowered many youths in the community through his magnanimity.

During his first ever visit to Owukpa, the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Amb Dr. Dickson Akoh, described Agada as a pacesetter and mirror of Owukpa youth.

He eulogized him for taking it upon himself to bring back the lost political glory of Owukpa community.

Like Owukpa elders would say, oyi lo’ochelo erona labo inyi, to wit, “A child that washes his hands clean eats with the elders’ ‘, Agada, indeed, deserves a big reward.

 Ameh Comrade Godwin wrote this from Ochocho Hill