Starting at Sixty

(An exhortation to our dear principal on his retirement)

By

Corper Patrick Kachi Abanonu

15th June 2015

The principal, Rev. Canon James Ohida is a young man with a simple popular maxim which has been expounded in great philosophical and religious texts. The ethics of reciprocity, otherwise known as the golden rule in Christian ethics states in its directive form "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself" and in its cautionary form "One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated". Philosophically, it involves a person perceiving their neighbor as also an "I" or "self", psychologically, it involves empathizing with others, in the sociologically sense it is applicable between individuals and between groups, and in the case of religion it is a moral dictum to living an upright life.

The man Rev. Canon Ohida is a firm observer of this golden rule which according to him should be taken in its complete sense; treat people's children, wives, properties etc. the way you would love your own to be treated. As a principled man and a principal of a school, he is living to this golden rule (He does not joke with corps members’ welfare/stipends because he will not want others to joke with his children and grandchildren's welfare/stipends)

As simple as our dear principal is, he takes nothing for granted. He respects his views while accommodating other people’s right to diverse opinion serving as a proof to the saying "your voice deserves to be heard as much as anybody else's". After listening to everybody's stance, he's quick to accept responsibility when things go disarray in the school administration. Testimonies from the school staffs show that the principal is an administrator who carries everyone along. He's a good example of the reinforcement and emphasis that a simple man should not be underrated in wisdom. Of this I know is true, the principal is endowed with pragmatic wisdom. I believe this is as a result of the experience he has acquired over the years.

Born in the year 1955, five years before Nigeria gained her political independence from the stranglehold of British colonialism, our beloved principal grew up to be a young man with dreams! He has stories upon stories to tell about his youthful stage and how he never aspired to become a teacher, not to talk of retiring as a principal (a great accomplishment indeed). Equipped and armed to the teeth with a degree in history, and other academic awards, the principal showcased his brilliance in history with stories of the past embedded with facts, dates and political settings.

I remember the first encounter I had with him; it was the first of series of openness I saw in him. He shared a personal story with me that day which I definitely will not share with you here! (Meet him to tell you), as I listened, I could relate with the story as a young man. It was so open and I was amazed at the level of his free spirit and unpretentious demeanor. He practically tutored me on how to relate with the people of my host community. Looking at me with a suspicious eye that says  "can I trust this young man with my female students?", without mincing words he told me about the "beautiful Bassa girls", then directly implored me to stay off immoral acts with them, so as not to be in a complicated situation with myself, the school and the host community, he made me understand this in a father and son manner as he relates his own stories with me of his youthful days and those of some "ambitious" corpers who had served under him in recent past. In retrospect, I believe his words and stories got hooked in my heart and prepared me for the teaching role and service year ahead.

We delved into other interesting topics moving from my educational background and the institution I graduated from to his educational background and institution of learning. At the cross-road, we arrived in politics, and seeing we both have interest in that particular field, we stayed a little longer on our conversation.  Leaving his office, we continued talking on his way to the lodge; we had a quick stop along the way to round up the burning issue of politics in the early 80's as he witnessed it and the direction of the country in the present age. After concluding our discussion, I went back to the corpers lodge and reminisced on my encounter with this obvious sage.

 No doubt the principal is a funny person, who never fails to light up his speech or conversation with comic rhetoric and funny expressions. I particularly love the stories that spur up whenever he wants to make a point. Is it the funny "stories upon stories" laced with spicy ingenious wisdom, or the imitation of Iyanya's kukere dance step on assembly ground while addressing the students and imploring them to give utmost attention to their studies rather than dancing "away" their time? He has a special soft spot for his students, who according to him "makes me eager coming back to the school whenever I travel to Okene"

The principal is an unpretentious energetic fellow. Subsequent meetings with him attested to my suspicions; herein is a man who sees black as black and says just how he sees it---Point "BLACK"! One of his many qualities, though uncomfortable sometimes, still we appreciate that aspect of him. After leaving his home in 2009 from faraway Okene (Kogi) to the small town of Gboloko (Kogi) and serving as the principal of Bassa-Nge Anglican Grammar School (BNAGS) for a period of seven (7) years, Rev. Canon James Ohida, our dear principal is due for retirement as a civil servant. Being part of the last corps members to serve under him, it’s a privilege to have worked under his great tutelage in the tail end of his teaching/administrative career. The coming of his retirement is not a surprise to anyone, because the age for retirement in his field is stipulated (60yrs). Nonetheless, the principal is about to experience a change. And the school is preparing for another administration. This brings me to a short note of exhortations to our beloved outgoing-principal.  

Sir, as human being, we know change can be frightening sometimes to the brave and the weak alike, one can easily get used to his/her "comfort zone" and conform to the status-quo, one may settle in there, scared of what change may bring upon him/her.  But sir, the world is also full of daring, brave, unassuming people. They get frighten by the prospect of change but quickly embrace its inevitability. These set of courageous men and women sailed beyond the shores of fear to the island of faith, where they met with strong believe and grace to stir the wind of change to their sides bringing them good tidings! Sir, those are men and women who dares, who refused to "sit down dey look" all in the name of RETIREMENT. Sir, you are not retiring. This is not a retirement; it’s an opportunity, a chance to start something new, a chance to experience something different or to do old things in a uniquely different ways. What options are there for a "retired" young man?

Honestly, I don't have answers to that. I am limited in knowledge to give you options. But in your typical fashion of storytelling, I hope to make a point with a story too. A story you might have come across or may have not. Sir, I want to tell you a short story about a young man named Colonel Harland Sanders, who "retired" at the age of Sixty-five (65) in a small village called Kentucky situated in the country side of the United States of America. His story is inspirational because it’s an example of how perseverance, dedication, and ambition along with hard work can create success; regardless of your age. Harland Sanders after working in his own restaurant for several years, retired at the age of 65, penniless! Yes, he was penniless. However, He was a war veteran, so his retirement came with a cheque of 105 dollars. Most people believing in the sanctimony of retirement thought Sanders will "retire" and become a passive fellow, but they got something else coming! Sander's case will be different.

Armed with arsenal to his mother's recipe for fried chicken, Sanders find something he loved doing at that age, frying chicken using his mother’s recipe! The Colonel opted to sell the world on his cool new chicken recipe. With little in terms of means at his disposal, Colonel Sanders travelled door to door to houses and restaurants all over his local area. He wanted to partner with someone to help promote his chicken recipe. Needless to say, he was met with little enthusiasm. He received a thousand NO. However, he later got his chance, when a local restaurant agreed to sell his fried chicken to its customers (With Sanders keeping the recipe a secret). By 1964, Colonel Sanders had 600 franchises selling his trademark chicken the "Kentucky Fried Chicken" (KFC). At this time, he sold his company for $2 million dollars but remained as a spokesperson.

In 1976, the Colonel was ranked as the world’s second most recognizable celebrity. Long after him, KFC is still in existence with franchises all over the world including Nigeria.

I share this story with you sir, a proof of age having no barrier to starting something new. It is therefore imperative you don't see this opportunity as retirement, but  retiring from one aspect of your career into something new, you are retiring from a heavy working psychology into something you may want to try out, an interest of some sort because now you have the spare time to pursue that interest. I implore you to enjoy the fruit of your labor as a thoroughbred academician, living a stress free life at this stage of your life and I exhort you to take charge of the "retirement" opportunity to do something productive with your time.

Sir, I exhort you not to "RETIRE" but to keep your thinking cap in good working condition. Enjoy the benefit of having spare time away from being a principal, but don't stay dormant. Explore! Read wonderful books, keep learning, appreciate nature, visits places, join an NGO, volunteer to head a committee in any positive capacity, research market for your farm produce and increase your productivity (you mentioned something about being a farmer), have a protégé sir; be a personal mentor to someone of your choice and follow up with the person(s). You are already a life coach, a speaker, a preacher, so broaden your horizon and audience by staying current to events happening and the latest findings. Give more time to the wife of your youth; keep your family together in unity.

Sir I exhort you to live life to the fullest! And most important...dedicate more time to God's work, hold fast to your Christian faith and stay close to the Almighty God. The school will always remember your contributions in character and attraction of developmental projects. On behalf of the Press club, (BNAGS) we wish you a safe journey back home, and a more fulfilling life ahead.

God bless you.