How my dream of becoming a Catholic Priest was terminated – Mike Onoja

Chief Mike Okibe Onoja, CON, is a man of towering stature in the political landscape of Nigeria.  A man of all season. A man whose relevance transcended the military era into the democratic dispensation. A man counted among revered elder statesmen of Nigeria.  He is even more larger-than-life among his people, the Idoma of Benue State. To the Idoma, the Agama of Agila and Akanaba 1 of Idoma Kingdom is a colossus.

Ironically, Onoja, a former Permanent  Secretary of the Ministry of Defence (and in fact, de facto Minister of Defence) and gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 election, is not one to blow his trumpet.

“We don’t boast of what we do. We leave it to posterity and history to judge us. Particularly, I don’t like talking about my achievement because of the fact that it’s in the Bible that if you boast and talk so much of your achievement that there is nothing for God to at least reward you,” he said recently during an Interview with Idoma Voice and TV.

In this exclusive chat, Chief Onoja barred his mind on national and state politics, reminiscing on his childhood and the path not taken to priesthood. 

Chief, you have been in forefront of national development right from a young age, and it’s obvious you are still playing vital roles in nation building. What would you say is the motivation behind this?

The motivation behind my interest in national development is my training. My Masters Degree was in Development Economics, and after that I started my civil service career in Ministry of National Planning, where we were drawing up National Development Plan. And the National Development Plan obviously has development, as it says, as its strategy, so that training and my involvement in the National Development Plan give me the motivation to be always involved in development, whether I’m in the service or outside the service.

Well, that’s great. Like you were rightly told earlier on, we read your biography and we saw what you have been able to achieve and how many lives you’ve touched. What would you say has been your secret, your greatest secrets?

My greatest secret in life is what I would call my philosophy in life. I have this belief that you are what you are by what you are able to impact on other human beings. In other words, there is a Christian song which says whatever you do to the least of my brother, you do it unto me, so you only appreciate God through what you do for humanity.

That’s a great one. You hold the traditional title of Akanaba 1, one of the highest titles in Idoma land. Would you give us a brief background on why you were considered for that title?

When I was a Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Defence) at that time, we were in Lagos. So many Idoma people and other Nigerians approached me for assistance as much as I could, I was able to render assistance to so many people and particularly Idoma. People appreciated me. And the then Och’Idoma, His Royal Majesty Abraham Ajene Okpabi decided to confer the title on me.

At some point in your life, we read also from the biography you wanted to become a Catholic priest, what happed along the line?

Well, first of all, yes, I attended a junior seminary, which is like a secondary school. It is when you finish the junior seminary that you go further to read philosophy before you become a priest. My mother, especially was not quite pleased because we are only two brothers. She had two surviving boys and she wouldn’t support my going for the priesthood just because we are two. And she opposed my going there and obviously in consideration for her plea, I didn’t go further in that direction.

Now, would you say you regretted that decision of not being a priest today?

No, not at all. A Catholic priest is like a vocation. And in Christianity, every other thing you do is a vocation. And if you are able to impact humanity in whatever you do, whether as a priest or a layperson, it’s a good idea. Even marriage is a vocation. Whatever you do that is vocational, you do it for humanity and for God. I think it’s welcome, so I didn’t regret it.

What would you say is your greatest achievement?

Again, as a Christian, we don’t boast of what we do. We leave it to posterity and history to judge us. Particularly, I don’t like talking about my achievement because of the fact that it’s in the Bible that if you boast and talk so much of your achievement then, there is nothing for God to at least reward you. But if you achieve something silently, you leave it to posterity. I don’t think it is nice to boast about your achievement in life.

Well, they are in my biography (The Living Seed), but it’s only a little. There are some I didn’t want them to enumerate, like my service to the church and other things. I didn’t want it highlighted for the sake of my belief that achievements and what you do should be left to posterity and history.

That’s wonderful. Let’s talk a little about politics. 2023 is around the corner and there’s this serious agitation on where the next president of Nigeria should come from. As an elder statesman, what message do you have for Nigerians?

Well, politically, I have been on sabbatical leave from partisan politics for the past two or three years, if not that this is an Idoma Television, I don’t like discussing politics.

But to answer your question, as a Nigerian interested in the stability, peace and development of this country, I would advise that we follow the idea of north versus south so that there will be stability. And therefore, since the North has had it for eight years, I think it’s advisable we give opportunity for the South to produce the next president.

And in the long run, when our democracy has enough foundation, we can do it purely on the basis of what generally people say competence, visionary and merits. And even then, if it’s going to the south, the vision and competence of whoever is going to be there should be considered. That’s my personal view.

In 2007, you almost clinched the governorship ticket of the ruling party in Benue State. So tell us what really played out?

Thank you very much. 2006/2007 was very interesting in the sense that we went into the contest. About 21 aspirants contested the primary under the PDP and out of the 21. Suswam came first, I came second. But the powers that be did something that was undemocratic, they used Idoma people, two of them, I don’t want to name names. They donated their votes to Suswam

And it’s undemocratic that after votes are being collated, everything announced, then you start donating your votes to anybody, it’s undemocratic. And even after the donation of the votes to Suswam was done by two Idoma men, Suswam did not make the required 50 percent of the total vote cast and the team sent by PDP from Abuja declared that there should be a runoff between me and Suswam, but the power that be obviously didn’t allow it. And so that’s what happened.

And of course, I participated in politics, but without bitterness. So that was the situation. I must say here that in that election. Even the Tiv people that were not Idoma voted me very, very well. So that means that if you have a good candidate, irrespective of where you come from, you get votes from both the Idoma and Tivs.

In Benue State now, there’s a serious agitation going on that the next governor should be allowed to come from Zone C. Do you see this happening?

Well, it is a very hypothetical question. I tried it in 2007 and I nearly got there. And since then, some other people have been trying it.

I must say that it’s very difficult because for now, it is not possible from the way I see it, from personal point of view for Idoma person to get it. But then, the struggle is on. You cannot because you fear somebody who won’t give you something, not give it your best shot. So, whether they give it to any Idoma person to be a governor of Benue from Idoma extraction, we can always give it our best shot. That’s my advice. The struggle continues. Yeah, that’s what I would rather say.

Are you thinking of contesting again in 2023?

For now, I have not made up my mind. The reason is that, I think I went into politics for the purpose of community service, not for self aggrandizement. And I have tried it a couple of times and I don’t want to be repeating the same thing getting the same result. So, for now, I haven’t decided whether I’ll go into an elective office or not, but my general belief is, I can be of help to my community, to humanity without necessarily going into an elective office. And therefore, for now, I have not made up my mind.

Do you miss your life as a civil servant?

No, I don’t miss my life as a civil servant, because when you go into the service, you know, one day you will retire. And when you retire. If you plan your life very well, you will enjoy your retirement. Like you have seen, this is my office, and after retirement. I went into business and politics, which is another aspect of life. You cannot be in civil service forever. So, if you are able to pln your life very well, you enjoy your retirement. So, I’m happy doing business and politics for now.

Tell us about your childhood, how was life while growing up in Agila?

Growing up in Agila at the time I was born is going to be funny if I tell you. Then, there was no electricity. There was no television. Of course, not to talk of telephone.

So, because there was no television at night, we used to play during moonlight and we used to go to school, of course, barefooted. It’s a rural area. No pipe-borne water. So it’s a whole lot from what is happening now. At least now there is electricity in Agila. They have the mobile phone in Agila, and things have changed a lot. So, at the time I was born, it was very, very rural because it’s almost a rural area, completely.

Who is Mike Okibe Onoja?

Chief Mike is a man born about 73 years ago. He’s man who believes in what I will say philanthropy. Working for the sake of humanity. And that is my philosophy in life.

Do you have any hobbies?

Yes, I do. One of my hobbies is swimming. I have a swimming pool in my house. And I have a gymnasium in my basement where I have a treadmill and some other things like weight-lifting and so on. All in my house.

When I was younger, I used to go play table tennis and stuff, but now I do in-house type of exercise. So that’s my hobby. Swimming and gym to keep fit.

What would you say is your greatest regret?

I would rather say I’m so lucky, I have no regrets in life. I thank God for that.

Any last words for Idoma leaders and Idoma Nation at large?

Let everyone come together, both the young and the old and then let there be no malice. Let there be no hatred.