…Says Okigbo’s life tragically cut short, but his legacy endures

By Chioma Onuegbu Uyo

THE Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Barr Sylvester Okonkwo says his late brother, Christopher Okigbo’s poetry was his weapon that he wielded with unparalleled skill.

  Okonkwo made the assertion Saturday night in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital while speaking as the special guest of honour  on the occasion of celebration of the late Poet by the Uyo Book Club

He thanked the club on behalf of the entire Okigbo’s family and Ojoto people for the honour done the late Poet and cultural Icon, noting whose life and works were a testimony to his unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and truth.

  His words, “It is indeed an honour to stand before you today, in this hallowed gathering of intellectuals, poets and literary enthusiasts as we come together to celebrate the life, legacy and works of  a colossus in the literary world and my beloved Brother, Christopher Ifekandu Okigbo.

   “Before you, mother Idoto, naked I stand,” begins Okigbo’s ‘Labyrinths’ one of his most celebrated works. This line is more than an invocation; it is a return to the roots, a symbolic homage to the eternal, spiritual essence of the African soul.

” It is this essence that Okigbo so masterfully captured in his poetry, a deep reverence for the metaphysical, intertwined with the raw realities of his time. In Okigbo, we see the embodiment of the Igbo spirit: unyielding, introspective and profoundly connected to the land and its people.

“His poetry was his weapon and he wielded it with unparalleled skill, challenging the status quo, questioning the very foundations of society and advocating for justice and equity. It is no wonder that his works remain an integral part of African scholarship, studied and revered in academic circles across the globe.

  “Christopher Okigbo, a name synonymous with profound introspection and lyrical mastery, was not just a poet but a cultural icon whose voice echoed the struggles, aspirations and spiritual yearnings of a people. Okigbo’s life was tragically cut short, but his legacy endures, inspiring generations of writers, thinkers and leaders”

 Okonkwo urged Nigerians to always remember the words of Okigbo himself: “We carry in our hearts the fire of our ancestors.”, adding that it was the people’s duty to keep that eternal flame of wisdom, culture and resilience burning, and  pass it on to future generations .

He stressed that the legacy of Okigbo and countless other luminaries of the land must  not be forgotten, even as he enjoined artists of the present times to begin to speak about security, and against corruption because every generation speaks about the problems of their time.

“The President of the 10th Senate, an ardent admirer of Okigbo’s works, believes that in celebrating Okigbo, we celebrate not just a poet, but a visionary, who saw the potential for greatness in our nation and our people.

 “He sends his warmest regards and stands in solidarity with the aspirations and contributions of the Igbo nation, a people rich in culture, history and intellect.

“He has asked me to convey his deepest admiration for the man we celebrate today, a poet whose words continue to resonate across generations. May the spirit of Okigbo guide us as we continue to build a Nigeria that is just, equitable and deeply rooted in its cultural and intellectual heritage.” Okonkwo added.

  Also speaking the senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district, Senator Ekong Sampson commended the Uyo Book club for honouring and celebrating the legacy of the late literary Icon.

Sampson who is the patron or the Club added, “I say congratulations to Uyo Book club for bringing the world to Akwa Ibom today to celebrate Christopher Okigbo’. He was a great man”

  In his welcome remarks the Founder of Uyo Book Club, Dr Udeme Nana appreciated the special guest of honour Barr Okonkwo for being physically present at the event stressing that although a member of Okigbo’s family, he could have given an excuse due to his official schedule.

 He announced that the CLUB has been mandated by the Okigbo family in the Diaspora to take time to plan a more elaborate celebration of their hero in 2025.

,”The man whom we are gathered here to celebrate was socially committed, culturally obligated, politically engaged and intellectually grounded. His was not Arts for arts sake, his was Arts to advance his culture, his positive traditions, freedom, justice, fair play.

” The late Christopher Okigbo left the physical realm fighting for his beliefs. We are honouring him today because Writers do not die. Their works are legacies which outlive them”, Nana noted.

The event witnessed reading of some of Okigbo’s poems a listen to scholars talk about his contributions.