Akajiaku Ogidi: In the Spirit of Brotherly Love

At Umukoroshe, we lived big because Papa and Mama were very rich. Some of my siblings were attending Sancta Maria Primary School, a big missionary school then, and they had their car and driver. I chose Municipal Council Primary School Port Harcourt because I liked their smart school uniform. Papa assigned a Vauxhall Velox car and a driver to convey me exclusively to and from school. Papa gave personal attention to each of his children according to their respective peculiarities and inclinations. For instance, Papa saw in Oduche, his third son and tallest child at 6 feet and 6 inches a reflection of his own greatness. He therefore made special provisions for him, whether in terms of customized wears and furniture, or of travelling in comfort by flight. My younger sister Chinwe and I finished boarding elementary schools at Santana Primary School, Awomama, and Zikson Primary School, Ozubulu. They were the best boarding schools in the former Eastern Region of Nigeria, and we were taught French language among other subjects. Mama always visited us at boarding school chauffeured by her driver in either a Chevrolet or Pontiac, to the admiration of other students. During our vacations, we attended parties at Shell Club Port Harcourt where we met and associated with children from other elite families such as the late Engr. Onyeador. Members of Shell Club took turns to host dinner parties in their respective homes, while our Parents occasionally hosted Shell staff and other dignitaries to cocktail parties. At home, we had a special chef an Ngwa man who prepared continental dishes, while Mama prepared African dishes. Salome was the house help, Emma Ngige was the washman, Stephen was Mama’s tutor, Chuba was the driver, and there was also a gateman whose name I have forgotten. On Saturdays, Mama went shopping for the entire family in Port Harcourt City chauffeured by her driver and they would return home with a carload of goods. I had access to the telephone which I used to communicate with Papa especially in emergency situations and Papa always responded promptly. We proceeded to Queen of the Rosary College (QRC), Onitsha, where my talent for stage performance came to light. I participated in the school debating society and dance group and was never shy of public performance. I also participated in sports and won the overall table tennis championship in the Onitsha division. Back home, I entertained Papa and Mama with singing and dancing. But unknown to me, my various stage performances in school were being reported to Papa in a bad light. One morning, Papa and Mama came visiting at QRC, Onitsha and after meeting with the principal, they took us and our loads back home. That was the end of my stage performance in QRC, to resurface many years later as Gina TV, USA. - Mrs. Regina Ngozi Ikedionwu (nee Uddoh)