Daily Trust: How would you describe your father?
John-Kevin Ukuta: He is an enigma with a strong strength of character. At times you never can tell what pleases him or puts him off. But by and large, he is just a jolly good fellow whose company you would enjoy once you happen to be in his good books.
We are a polygamous family, and since we the children were born, my dad has always taught us that the Ukuta family name is more precious than our individual names and you mustn’t soil it, but protect it by all means. He once said, “If by any means or for whatever reason, you steal somebody’s belongings, and they jail you, I will not come to your rescue. If you engage in unlawful activities and you violate the law of the land and the police arrest you, I will not come for your release, you are on your own.”
DT: Does his name open doors for you or is the reverse the case?
Ukuta: Definitely, his name opens doors for me. There is no denying the fact that the name does open doors, even if the person behind the door is not known to me in most cases. However, sometimes most of the doors are opened and sometimes they are shut, obviously not because of what you did some time ago, but because of the name you represent.
DT: What quality of his do you cherish the most?
Ukuta: He has strength of character. His no is his no and his yes remains the same. Hardly can you make him change his mind on any issue once he makes up his mind. I recollect when he lost his sister, Josephine Ukuta. At that particular point in time, the whole family said that she should be buried in Enugu, the state capital. But my father was bent on having his sister buried in the village. There was nothing we didn’t do to see if he could change his mind, but he would not bend. Rather, he insisted that even if it meant him going alone, he was going to take her corpse home, in the village and bury her. However, that day we all followed him to the village because he won the whole family over.
DT: Can you recall any fun moments you have had with him?
Ukuta: Several of them, but the one that excites me the most is when he calls somebody Jibiti. He does so if that person can’t explain his or her source of money. He doesn’t encourage people who want to get rich quick. He is a simple man and his needs are minimal. He has never been known as one that goes against the good tenets of government.
DT: What is his favourite kind of food and music?
Ukuta: Now he enjoys beans when they are peeled before being cooked. Also, he likes plantain with soup and other foods which help control his sugar level. When it comes to music, he loves highlife, classical music and Rhythm and Blues.
DT: Did he encourage you to join politics?
Ukuta: He is my pillar and guide, no doubt about it. But he was against me aspiring initially. He never wanted to support me because, according to him, he can’t support his own son against people he had already given his word to support. He said I should wait for my turn. However, I didn’t. I got people to talk to him, and he relented at the end of the day. He totally stepped aside and handed over to the late Chief Gab Okafor. Then, he was Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Leaders of Thought. They used to have meetings in his home and that is where candidates were co-opted to support us, the aspirants. But because of my involvement, he stepped aside and handed the leadership position to another person. So, the late Chief Gab Okafor took over and led further discussions. That is the kind of man my father is.
DT: What easily gets him upset?
Ukuta: It upsets him when he says something and you disagree. Even at fifty years, when I come home late, he still tongue-lashes me and demands to know why I should keep late nights. Also, when I tell him that it is his generation that spoilt Nigeria, he would disagree with me and give me two hours’ lecture on how Nigeria of his generation was the golden era of the country.
DT: What major lesson would you say you have learned from him over the years?
Ukuta: Over the years he has taught us not to participate in any form of corruption or nepotism. As a result, throughout my stay in office, I never did anything untoward. I have imbibed my dad’s teachings so much that my colleagues used to see me as one who is not easily bothered. For example, acquiring riches doesn’t bother me. Definitely, his attitude to life has affected my world-view. The system works for him.
DT: When would you say was his favourite moment back in time?
Ukuta: When you sit down with him you will always know because he will tell you that one of his best moments was when he trained under the great Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, otherwise known as Zik of Africa. I have heard that story a million times. Those moments, I believe, are his best. He would happily tell you, “I worked under a master.” My dad was a student of the Zikist School of Thought.
