He was never ostentatious in his lifestyle, but lived a moderate life like his boss, Muhammadu Buhari. Until he died in a road mishap in 2016 alongside his wife and elder son, he remained the hope of aspiring younger generation of elites who are willing to transmute the gains of their professional callings into politics for the good of all. That was the lifestyle of late Barr James Ocholi. SUNNY IDACHABA writes.
Barr James Ocholi, until his painful demise in 2016 was the minister of state labour and productivity in the administration of equally late former President Muhammadu Buhari. Due to the unfortunate death, his services in that cabinet was short lived, but within the period he served, he left an impression that cannot easily be erased.
As one of Nigeria’s foremost legal minds elevated to the exalted position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2007, he was known for his integrity and brilliant courtroom performances.
He went into politics with unblemished records to serve the people and nothing else. For instance, he played a key role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the erstwhile Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). For his role in APC formation, he eventually became its national vice chairman (North Central), a position he occupied before appointment as minister.
Barr Ocholi as minister initiated reforms in that sector. Being a Buharist, he was a strong advocate for transparency in government and was known for his frugal lifestyle despite holding a top government position. Ocholi was particularly remarkable for combining legal excellence with political service while maintaining an unblemished reputation in a sector often associated with corruption.
His death was a great loss to Nigeria’s legal and political sphere and would bemembered for his intellectual contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence, the reason for which the James Ocholi Bar Centre was named in his honour.
In a tribute to this former minister, a social commentator Mohammed Onogwu (aka Galacticus) while quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous American writer, said for Barr Ocholi, it is not the length of life, but the depth of life.
“It is true that greatness is not measured by how long an individual lived, but by the deeds of that individual which transverses all and sundry. It is also true that life is not measured by duration, but by contributions. Late James Eneojo Ocholi fits perfectly into this assertion.
“In his brief but impactful service as minister of state for labour, Ocholi discharged himself creditably as a perfect negotiator, mediator and a team player. He was the chairman of two major negation committees for the resolution of industrial disputes in the health, oil and gas sectors, respectively. “The committees were making tremendous progress until his sudden transition to glory exactly one year ago. There are many brilliant lawyers in Nigeria, including SANs, but what stands Ocholi out among them is that Ocholi was completely honest.”
While tracing the family background of Ocholi, he said he was the second child of the family who took up family responsibilities at a tender age after the death of his father in 1978 when he was barely 18 years old.
“He took on old jobs in order to feed his siblings and his mother and also taught as an auxiliary Primary School Teacher. He continued feeding from hand to mouth until he graduated from the University of Jos and got certified as a lawyer after the Nigerian Law School in 1986.
According to him, “Ocholi was in love with the Law and showed excitement at every opportunity to be in court and to argue cases before judges, but the beginning was not rosy.
“Interestingly, Barr Ocholi lost all of his first 10 cases at the early state of his practice but rather than despair, he went on appeal on all the 10 cases on pro bono basis as his clients were no forthcoming with legal fees. He however won all the 10 cases at the Appeal Court, a development that took his career to a great leap.”
He said further that, “After several consultations with his friends, stakeholders and political leaders, he joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011 to contested for the Kogi state governorship ticket, but couldn’t get it. He moved to the CPC and secured the party’s ticket for the 2011 gubernatorial election. Even though he did not succeed, he kept his hope alive and attempted it under the platform of APC in 2015.
“As a loyal party man, he continued diligently with former President Muhammadu Buhari whom he had tremendous respect for and was appointed the Kogi state cordinator of the defunct Buhari/Bakare Presidential Campaign Organisation and later the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation. He served in several capacities in the process that led to the merger that produced the APC and became its national deputy legal adviser, 2013-2014. He continued playing active political roles by taking steps to build the party and heal the political wound of Kogi state before death came calling,” he said.
On hearing about the death of his cabinet minister, President Buhari paid glowing tributes as he described Ocholi as an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him. Buhari also affirmed that Ocholi, in his few months in office already began to distinguish himself through his commitment and dedication to his portfolio. According to Buhari, “The entire country mourns the loss of this great man who has sadly left us when we need him most.” President Buhari also led members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in paying special tributes to him as he commended the deceased politician for his humility which made him accept to work under a junior lawyer during the APC merger process despite being a SAN.
To Prof Yemi Osinbajo, former vice president, Ocholi sacrificed a lot for the merger that gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His colleague, Dr Chris Ngige, the former minister in the ministry equally described Ocholi’s death as a colossal tragedy.
According to The Sun Editorial, “The death of Ocholi has once again brought to the front burner the problem of recklessness of drivers in the convoys of politicians. The time has come to design strategies to reduce their excessive speeding and uncaring attitude to other road users. Many political appointees have lost their lives in avoidable road accidents caused by carelessness on the part of these drivers.
“It is sad that the political career of this brilliant Igala lawyer has been cut short by this avoidable road mishap.
“We urge the government to do all it can to mitigate the pain of Ocholi’s children over the unfortunate loss of their two parents and their elder brother in this accident.
“Ocholi would be remembered for his high sense of patriotism and commitment to his Christian religion and the APC change project.”
What appears as a detailed insight into the life of Ocholi was the tribute by Tunde Olusunle a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE.
He said, “Except for two fleeting encounters, I never knew Barr James Ocholi too closely. Of course, I knew him by reputation, beginning from when he flew the flag of the erstwhile Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) as governorship candidate in 2011 in Kogi state at the same time President Muhammadu Buhari took a third shot at the nation’s number one office on the platform of same party.
“He stared in our faces and consciousness from his billboards and posters with that trademark of well-kept, low-trimmed grey beard which at once conferred civility, urbanness, sophistication and purpose on his person.
“He was to put up a class act on national television in the course of his screening for the office of minister by the Senate in November 2015. And for many who did not know him too closely, Ocholi’s calm, profound, informed, erudite and confident outing, easily announced the discovery of yet another shining star in the mould of the Babatunde Raji Fasholas on the nation’s political horizon.
“The Kogi state People’s Democratic Party (PDP) attempted to make political capital out of Ocholi’s subsequent designation as minister of state in what they described as ‘a small ministry,’ despite his pedigree. They maintained that the designation was beneath the appointee; therefore demeaning to the state he represents.
“Ocholi calmly replied the PDP that he was not aware of any hierarchical calibrations in national service and that he was both honoured to serve the Federal Republic and grateful to be given the opportunity at this time from a state.
“Following the unfortunate demise of former Kogi state governor and flagbearer of the APC in the Saturday November 21, 2015 governorship, Prince Abubakar Audu, before the conclusion of the election, Ocholi moved quickly to broker peace and understanding between contending tendencies in the state.
“At the Sunday December 6 meeting which was barely a few weeks after his inauguration as minister, Ocholi harped on the imperative of a new rapprochement between the various geo-political components of the state as he discouraged insensitive and incendiary talk and hate speech. He also urged the people to be law-abiding stressing the need for leaders in the three senatorial zones to promote reconciliation and collectively work for good governance in the state.
“The late minister emphasised the need for regular interface between the various components of the state and rallied support for good governance to move the state forward, irrespective of where the governor eventually emerges from.
“He lived a contented and happy man with his close-knit family in a modest semi-detached duplex on Ramon Mora Street in Kado Estate, devoid of any grandeur and affectation. The interior itself is shorn of any form of ostentation and affluence traditionally associated with his standing in society. He didn’t live in the opulence of the aesthetic monstrosities of Maitama, Asokoro or Asokoro Extension where power mongers have serially violated the masterplan of the FCT in the name of ‘carve-outs’ and ‘maximisation of existing infrastructure.’ For a moment, I wondered if we were in the annex to what should be a more palatial, more grandiose mansion, typical of the contemporary Nigerian senior government functionary like a minister. That was the man, Barr James Ocholi.”
This Kogi state-born ex-minister, no doubt, made invaluable contributions to the evolvement of modern day Nigerian democracy, the reason for which he cannot easily be forgotten.