You cannot plant greatness as you plant yams or maize. Whoever planted an Iroko tree – the greatest in the forest? You may collect all the Iroko seeds in the world, open the soil and put them there. It will be in vain. The great tree chooses where to grow and we find it there. So it is with the greatness of men — Prof. Chinua Achebe

AS Johnson Oritsegbubemi Sunday Ayomike, more known by the acronym, J. O. S. Ayomike, turned 88 on     April 7, 2015; it is most fitting to look at the life of this living legend who has transcended the length and breadth of Itsekiri land (Warri) in particular and the Niger Delta in general.

First, he was a Teacher in the riverine area and later a Village Headmaster; he along with his contemporaries – D. I. A. Popo, Esq. (DIAP), Gab. Tsetimi, D. A. Egodo, Esq., J. E. Eyiangho, Esq. (RAGA), Victor Otiri, Dr. G. I. Emiko (Ofene), (all now deceased) and others had taught in some schools, including Hussey College, Warri.

He later joined the Nigeria Tobacco Company (NTC) as a non-Management Staff before proceeding on scholarship to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for his Bachelor’s degree. He returned to his company as management staff and had extensive training here and overseas.

J. O. S. Ayomike was appointed a Civil Commissioner in the then Bendel State in 1975, and served in various ministries including Health, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Information, Culture and Sports. He has since his disengagement in 1980, devoted his entire life to the service of the Itsekiri people, Delta State and indeed Nigeria.

A writer of distinction, a wordsmith and Historian, he has authored, contributed and edited several books on Warri, Niger Delta and Nigeria echoing his views on true federalism and ethnic self determination. According to him, the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 was a fraud as none of the ethnic nationalities brought together forcefully were consulted.

That fraud of 1914 in the words of Tatalo Alami, has configured Nigeria and rigged it against rationality and political modernity, unlike modern Europe and other developing nations. That is why the leadership lottery is structured in such a way that it could only throw up the grossly ill-equipped and manifestly unprepared.
J. O. S. Ayomike is the Chairman of the famed Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, an organization that acts as the eye, nose, ear and indeed the heart of Itsekiri nation. In 1981, he was listed in Who’s Who in Africa. His published works include:

• A History of Warri
•The Ijaw in Warri
• The Itsekiri At A Glance

• Nanna: British Imperialism At Work
• Benin and Warri: Meeting Points In History
• Selected Essays: Mixed Grill
• Warri: A Focus On Itsekiri (which he co-authored alongside Chief I. O. Jemide and Edward Ekpoko, Esq.)

His books and dozens of his papers on Itsekiri, Niger Delta and Nigeria are obtainable from famous libraries in Nigeria and the U.S. Library of Congress. Indeed, I see him as the palm oil with which Itsekiri history is eaten.

His house in Warri is like a beehive – people go there for all problems, seeking advice on anything ranging from political, ethnic, cultural, regional, job recommendations and other mundane issues as marital disputes to sickness and infertility. To them, you are better when you come to his home. He is like the proverbial Iroko tree that provides shelter for all that come under it. He was not planted in this part of the world by anybody but God, and like the Iroko tree, he live in this clime because nature wanted it so.
Not a Chief – a title he was twice offered, and twice declined because of his belief in simple lifestyle. During the Warri Crisis, his home was attacked. It did not discourage him. As Dr. Myles Munroe once said “True leaders don’t carry medals on their chest…They carry scars on their back.” Omineghen-neghen, Ariogun menite, ene do kpe.

•Edward Ekpoko, Esq. is a Warri based Legal Practitioner, Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Chairman, Ijaw, Isoko & Itsekiri Leaders Forum, Chairman, Warri Study Group