With the passage of Chief Van J. Nwoko, JP, Honourable member, defunct Bendel State House of Assembly (1979- 1983), at the age of 77 years, the tribe of distinguished statesmen and selfless politicians have been diminished.

Were his political activities not restricted to the then Bendel state, the whole of Nigeria would by now be celebrating the passage of a fine gentle man, an honest politician and a servant leader. In public office, Nwoko was selfless, unselfish and self-effacing.

Chief Nwoko championed the cause of his people with  zeal. It was to his credit that he chose to play at the grassroots to remain close to his people to feel and understand their needs; for he would have easily aspired to go the centre and achieved it.

Fair skinned, handsome, and a man of inimitable sartorial elegance, Chief Nwoko was clearly distinct and distinguished in  Aniocha Local Council Area. He was a man of means and integrity and impacted lives in his immediate community long before he went into partisan politics.

He was loved and revered anywhere he went. As young students in Nsukwa Grammar School in the late 70s/early 80s, we used to wonder if he ever went to the farm each time he visited the school and alighted from his Peugeot 404 salon car (only two of them, the other Mr. Vincent Ashikordi of Adonte had a Peugeot 404 in the whole of Nsukwa clan of over 10 villages then) to see the Principal Mr. Kofi.

Born of a humble parentage in Nsukwa, Aniocha South Local Government of the now Delta state, Nwoko went straight into business after acquiring formal education. He was a successful contractor and timber merchant before venturing into partisan politics.

In public service, Nwoko left a legacy of selfless service.  Politically, he achieved a lot. A former Director of the Oil Palm Company Limited, Nsukwa (1973 – 1975), part time councilor Aniocha Local Government Council, Ogwashi-Uku (1976 – 1979) former member of Governing Council, Delta State University Nwoko realized early enough that the largely rural communities in Nsukwa clan can only develop by opening them up to modern social and economic amenities. He influenced the construction of modern market stores in  Nsukwa, Isheagu, Adonte, Ejeme-Aniogor, Egbudu-Akah in 1978 and also attracted rural electrification to Isheagu, Ewulu, Umute, Etitiani and Nsukwa.

When the ban on partisan politics was lifted in 1978, Honourable Nwoko joined the Unity Party of Nigeria (UNP) on which platform he was elected as a member of the Bendel State House of Assembly between 1979 – 1983. He was Chairman Agriculture and National Resources Committee and member of other committees including Sports. His committee facilitated the establishment of the Bendel State Feed and Flour Mill, Ewu in the present Edo State.

Comparing the quality of representation then to what we have now, it is quite easy to understand why Nigerians poured out to the streets of major cities in Nigeria to vent their anger and frustration for six days in January  to protest against the removal of fuel subsidy and bad leadership. The huge sums now being siphoned by our legislators as allowances and constituency projects were alien to the legislators of Nwoko’s era.

The present representatives have forcefully raped the people and dare them shout let alone challenge their activities.

As a Legislator, Honorable Nwoko brought development to the people in areas of education, job creation and infrastructural development. From one Secondary school – Nsukwa Grammar School in 1974, Nwoko was able to influence the establishment of more secondary schools in the 80s in Adonte, Ewulu, Ejeme-Aniogor just to mention a few.

A Rotarian, devout catholic, Chief Nwoko’s philanthropy was legendary. For several years he adopted 34 widows in his local St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Nsukwa and provided for them and their children.

A holder of two traditional titles of Ojisi-Obajiuwa and Uwolo of Nsukwa, Chief Nwoko would be remembered by his people and all those that had come in contact with him not for his wealth but for his good heart, generosity, humility and legacy of service.

Present day politicians and indeed all political office holders can learn a lesson from the exemplary life of Chief Van .J. Nwoko.

The good, (just like the evil) men do lives after them. For Nwoko, his children will reap his good works.

Mike Nzeagwu wrote from Lagos