A REMINISCENCE ON UNCLE IBARABOKA SYDNEY ORABERE
EXIT OF HERITAGE OF WISDOM FROM OGU KINGDOM BY CHIEF SENATOR DR GEORGE THOMPSON SEKIBO, CON, DSSRS, JP (ETEM IV)
Great men who make extraordinary contributions do not merely walk through history—they become woven into its very fabric. Their influence endures long after they have passed on, echoing through generations yet unborn. Such men build institutions with their lives, reshape societies through their character, and become the bedrock upon which families, lineages, and entire communities stand.
Uncle Ibaraboka Orabere, a distinguished pillar of wisdom in the Etem Dynasty and a noble descendant of our patriarch Onumodu, was undeniably one of such men. His name is etched in the chronicles of our history and engraved in the hearts of his children, relatives, fellow men and women in Ogu Kingdom, and all who journeyed through life in his path.
My earliest memory of Uncle dates back to 1964. I was only a child when he hurried into my mother’s little hut in Abaji Polo, excitement written across his face. He came to announce joyfully that his wife, Beretorukun-ari, had been delivered of a baby boy. He urged my mother to accompany him immediately to Igio Polo to see the mother and newborn, both of whom were in excellent condition. That was the birth of Godknows. After the celebration—marked with native gin, laughter, and even the traditional dusting of powder on our necks—we began our journey back home. It was on that walk that curiosity overtook me, and I asked my mother who the man was. She explained that he was originally known as Iwo, but, due to a natural phonetic shift over time, he had come to be called Iyo.
He was her cousin, the first son of her aunt, Duaro. Aunty Duaro, Bessie, and my grandmother Tamunoiweri were sisters, daughters of Onumodu, and great-great-great-granddaughters of Etem. I tried to follow the genealogy, but my young mind struggled to grasp the web of relationships, though I nodded as if I fully understood.
In those days, Uncle was one of the greatest fishermen of his time. As a result, he was rarely in Ogu town; he lived mostly in the fishing settlements, navigating the waterways with skill and mastery. Because of this, I seldom saw him during my early years. It was only after the Nigerian Civil War that our paths began to cross more often. My mother had started living in Uncle Jumbobaraye’s house along the Mission Road, making us neighbours to Uncle Ibaraboka. This proximity rekindled a relationship that would become central in my life.
Our personal bond deepened in January 1970 when he gifted me materials to sew my very first pair of school shorts. I still remember the pride I felt wearing them. Later, he would again bless me with materials for my secondary school uniforms. Beyond these physical gifts, he gave something far more valuable—encouragement. He consistently motivated me to pursue my education with diligence and purpose, understanding the importance of education to a fatherless child navigating his path.
Our closeness grew deeper when fate brought us under the same roof. His sons, Chief Bapakaye Ibaraboka Okwuodu, and Singer, Sunday Orumie, our cousin, and I lived together in a single room in his house. Uncle treated me not just as a cousin, but as one of his sons. His care was genuine, and his concern sincere. I vividly recall our every New Year’s Eve tradition. As midnight approached, he would call us together, ensuring that none of us missed the solemn moment of prayer. With humility and conviction, he would commit the coming year into God’s hands, praying for guidance, strength, and protection. Even as he grew older, his understanding of what a fatherless child like me needed never faded. He continued to counsel me well into my adulthood, offering wisdom at critical moments of my life.
Although Uncle did not acquire a formal education, he possessed a natural eloquence that set him apart. He was a gifted orator with the rare insight of King Solomon. Men and women brought their disputes to him, confident that his counsel would be fair, balanced, and rooted in truth. His judgments were so sound that they often became reference points for years afterward. Although born into a lineage of skilled fishermen, he nonetheless carved a life for himself beyond the waters. His creative wisdom flowed into the world of petty trade, and from 1969 until his passing in 2025, he stood as a dedicated local trader. Through this modest vocation, he educated all his children, supported relatives, and upheld the dignity of both the Etem and Onumodu kindreds. His generosity was quiet but far-reaching.
Yet, as it is with all mortals, Uncle has now returned to his Maker, leaving behind the earthly shell that came from the dust. The Scriptures remind us in Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 that, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die...” Uncle lived fully within these seasons, fulfilling the purpose ordained for him. And as required by divine order, he has obeyed the heavenly call, transitioning from this earthly realm to eternal rest.
To my brothers and sisters, his biological children, I extend my deepest condolences. To the members of the Etem, the Onumodu, and the Nemieboka families, I say take heart. This is a loss of great magnitude, a void that words alone cannot fill. But we are strengthened by the assurance in Romans 14:8: “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Uncle embraced and practiced the Christian faith with sincerity. He lived its values and walked in its light until his final days.
He was among the great men of the Ogu Kingdom whose legacies have been firmly engraved in our collective memory. His wisdom—expressed through proverbs, idioms, and sound counsel—continues to enrich the vocabulary and cultural expressions of our people. His sayings have become guiding principles, shaping thought and fostering unity within the kingdom.
Big Uncle, you came into this world, played your roles with dignity and strength, lived a life that earned the admiration of many, and have now returned fulfilled to your Creator. Your journey on earth may have ended, but the impact of your life will continue to inspire generations.
Adieu, great son of Etem and Onumodu.
May your soul find eternal peace in the bosom of the Lord. Amen.
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