REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN NOBLE AMBASSADOR: PROF MIRIAM IKEJIANI-CLARK. A comrade wrote the following. Miraiam Ikejiani-Clarke: Life and Lessons In Death- How Death Levels All of Mankind I would start by issuing a disclaimer: this is no tribute neither is it an essay in the philosophy of death. It is difficult for me to say precisely what I would be writing in the lines to follow but I have a clear picture of what the texture of this piece would look like- just typical of everything you see on this page- unclassified. Let’s establish a few uncontestables: Miriam Ikejian-Clake is dead; she would never be seen in flesh and blood again; at least not within the Nsukka campus of UNN where she (forgive the cliché) operated like a goddess; she was a professor of political science and arguably did her best to uplift the grain of teaching and academics that defined the university in her time. She’s from a great family- her father was a great academic and outstanding intellectual. So it is natural that some of the qualities robbed off positively on his beloved daughter. Here is another striking thing about the fair complexioned lady: her name was far more popular than her person. It is impossible to spend a day or two in Nsukka without hearing a fellow make mention of Prof. Ikejiani (I learnt her Igbo name is Odinchezo) either for good or maybe the opposite; both happens in equal measure but you may stay within the campus for one straight year and still not be able to say- see Prof Ikejiani. You hear people call her name during politics; be it contest for VCship; deanship and perhaps any of those offices that professors who are unable to make it to Abuja busy themselves with around the campus. You also hear her name during students’ political activities; some persons touting themselves as her candidate or her favorite and a few others vowing to undermine her. This is to tell you that her name carries a certain aura within the political space. If she were to read this; she would consider it belittling (I learnt she doesn’t take any attempt to keep her at the background or view her narrowly) that a certain fellow operating in a certain corner is trying to tie her only around the miniature political scene at Nsukka. No; she operated nationally too- serving in the Abacha government as the minister of FCT. She granted moving interviews to leading national newspapers (including one popular one in Saturday Sun where she fiercely criticized the Obasanjo government for being tall on slogans and huge talk but short on execution)and wrote in a multiplicity of academic journals (I read some of them). Even with all of these; you are still not guaranteed a facial recognition of who Ikejiani is. I first heard of her in 2006 and gave myself a mandate of meeting her and finding out for myself what makes her the iron lady of UNN. I did not succeed in this. I was told she is a white woman so I kept my gaze on any fair lady with Caucasian complexion. I made several attempts and mistakes while at this- I imagined every fair woman I ran into to be Ikejiani but when after months of second-guessing; my time came at PAA at mid year when I went for one of those university functions where guests like to show their intellectual prowess and gain the recognition that goes with it. It was time to identify guests for applause and recognition and Arazu; Gozie was in charge of this part- he always was (maybe still is). He called out a few names and reeled out their titles and accomplishments to a massive applause from the otondos like us. Then came Prof Ikejiani turn; the man (perhaps mistakenly or intentionally) called her Dr. and what he got was infinitely more than he could have asked for. The woman not only made a show of her protest at being called “Dr”.; she warned the MC to desist from trying to underplay her accomplishments reminding all of us present that she is “Prof. Ikejiani”. I am not aware that she tolerated being called “Mrs” even when I learnt her husband is a top ranking officer in the army. May I also add that she was earlier married to one of the men I did admire- Chuba Okadigbo- who at one point too was a lecturer in the political science department of UNN. After witnessing Ikejiani’s outburst at this hallowed auditorium; there was no point again going to ask why is she feared and respected by her foes and friends. She is the type that preached total equality with men- a mean lady who would stop at nothing to assert her place. So from what we you may have gleaned thus far; Ikejiani wasn’t your everyday woman. She is like a big masquerade that is seen once in a long while. May I also add that apart from the bits and pieces of information I picked from her students and those she dealt with (including the PAA mc); I cannot say anything concrete about this woman; unlike my friend Bright Okafor who said they clashed. I did not enjoy the particular luxury of even being within a 50m square radius of where Miriam was sighted. I was never a student of political science and borrowed no course from that department- even when I would have loved to. But that did not in any way insulate me from her effect. Watching her strode into the GS building (she was the coordinator of this unit and I gathered she brought in a number of novel concepts- including introducing new courses. There also is the rumor that she made the recruitment of Anunkankampi possible) every morning was a particular delight; a woman of style who appears to always keep her eyes on the dailies whenever she is being chauffeured in her official car. Apart from seeing her move into the building- I don’t know the exact location of her office- I already was done with GS courses when she took over- there is very little again I can say of her time in that big school. Pardon me please. Now to the main course of this essay: the testimony of her students and those she clashed with now she is no more. I kept myself busy yesterday surfing through the net- specially the social networking sites; picking up bits that would form the core of what am presently offering. I observed one thing- everybody has an opinion on her. She was never anonymous and then; there is no uniformity of view on what really was her legacy. Some described her as the symbol of feminine elegance and grace; others saw her as a true intellectual; more saw her as one of the few true practitioners of the art (teaching); there still are many who called her a hero; a champion and a brave woman. We have to give it to her. You do not have to dare the men in contest either as an academic or a politician if you have the heart of a chicken. To her admirers (you can be sure there are many); death has robbed UNN of one of her best ambassadors. Her death, to these former and present students is one of the saddening realities of life and living. It is their collective prayer that she finds peace in the bosom of the Lord. I understand their pain; death is never prayed for and for our loved ones; we can hardly get enough of their superhuman qualities- their smiles; diction; insight and position on several of life controversies. Ikejiani would surely be missed by those who she touched and affected while with us. Not everybody shares the views of her fans of course. Some (tradition-disrespecting you can call them) do not see any good in her. To this group; she is arrogant and cocky; disrespectful and puny. They list her many disagreements with colleagues and students and how she pulled several stops to actualize her agenda. Some of these fellows see her as incompetent- recalling their harsh experiences- specially when it comes to hostel allocation- while the lady served as the dean of students’ affairs. They said a number of her colleagues wouldn’t miss her so much. She was accused of severely polarizing the department of political science and social science at large. They also see her as the architect of some of the many ills that ails the pol. Science department. They sure have their grouse against the igbo-oyinbo woman. Like I earlier said; I am not in any position to judge or take sides- I only listen and pass on what I gather. Here now is how I think we all shall benefit from the lesson the professor’s death offers us: we need to understand more than ever that life in all its entirety is too ephemeral. We cannot say when we shall bid good bye to the troubled planet. It is thus imperative that we prepare for the end in all we do; remembering that we shall be called to give accounts of our stewardship- even as on-lookers. The key then is to use the best we have been given to serve the greatest number of people and understand that in the end; we shall all pass the same route to eternity- just like we did while coming in. The good we do shall speak for us when we are no more and it helps if we can have a surfeit of it in our account. To those who mourn MIC; this medium shares in your loss and agony. Then the rest should understand that nothing can be gained in criticizing the dead; the real challenge is to do better. Good bye madam.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 10:09:17 +0000
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