The eternal spaces we occupy in historical chronicles of human memory are usually determined by the indelible milestones we achieve during our sojourn on earth, and not the dramatic liberation of effusive emotions immediately triggered by our departure.
Man is naturally imbued with the power to write histories of the future – not essentially on pages of biographies or autobiographies that often express contentious exaggerations – but through revolutionary accomplishments that radically challenge tradition, expand the frontiers of human advancement and create a new order serving as trans-generational models that would energize civilization almost till the end of time.
Ascendance to this conclave of extra-ordinary minds is usually an exclusive adventure of the masters of exploratory resistance – pathfinders who boldly rejected the prevalent marginal convenience offered by nature and courageously dared to elevate the status of humanity in the context of knowledge and its multiple derivatives.
Today, humanity enjoys the honour of advanced philosophical thought, education, the rule of law, sovereignty of nations, dignity of cultural identity and technological wonders of science because the universe has been blessed, at precise times, with a few unconventional thinkers and explorers who believed in the infinity of the pursuit of human liberty, where every perceived end became the basis for fresh interrogations leading to new beginnings.
We have a true example in the life of Emmanuel Onyemaobi Adaelu as one of the fearless mortals in history whose commitment to the pursuit of human liberty was pragmatic, revolutionary and endless. On the merit of his fabulous achievements, his path to immortality was secured in that hallowed Hall of Fame where only incredible feats determined membership. He was a visionary mind and an unstoppable force that confronted inertia, giving Nde Ngwa and Ndi Igbo a sense of dignity for which history shall continue to honour his memory.
A lot has been written and said about his accomplishments as an educationist, industrialist and political leader. The specifics are already in the public domain. But the aggregate value of Adaelu’s legacy is that his life symbolized the parable of exploratory resistance as one who came, saw what was not right, resisted the attraction of bandwagon acquiescence and courageously explored new pathways to promote and protect the collective interests of Ndi Igbo.
As an Ngwa man, he vehemently refused to be restricted in thoughts and action by the pervasive conspiracy of ignorance often pushed against his identity through racial stereotypes. He boldly demonstrated his belief in the dominion of freedom. He was patriotic without being subservient.
The leadership footprints of Elder (Dr) Emmanuel Onyemaobi Adaelu, MFR, are definitive of a man who never sought to achieve for himself alone, but sacrificed his time and comfort to provide for all of us, and future generations, a springboard for the attainment of sustainable material and non-material prosperity.
While his name remains enshrined in our hearts, we must take steps to further immortalize him by upholding the values for which we celebrate his life.
Our greatest challenge as we bid him farewell today is sustaining the Adaelu Heritage in unity and collective actions across all facets of our lives, to ensure that our generations of tomorrow would walk in freedom and achieve, far beyond us, great accomplishments for Ukwa-Ngwa nation, Igbo land, Nigeria and humanity at large.
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Sir Okey Ahiwe
Abia State PDP Governorship Candidate (2023)
December 18, 2024
