Dad’s a great comedian – Ikenna Mbazulike-Amechi

Ikenna Mbazulike-Amechi, a lawyer licensed in UK and USA, is the last son of First Republic Nigerian Aviation Minister and nationalist, 90-year-old Chief Mbazulike Amechi. In this interview, he talks about other sides to his father, and more. Excerpts:

Daily Trust: How would you describe your father?

Ikenna Mbazulike-Amechi: He is a consistent person who has integrity. He also has a fiery character, is insistent, has very strong views and is persuasive. Then, again he listens to superior arguments. If you give him a better view, he has that grace to consider it. He has a listening ear, but he will challenge you. When he talks about politics, you know where he stands. He doesn’t understand today’s politics because it’s unlike what he is used to.

DT: What qualities do you admire most in your father, apart from what you have just pointed out?

Mbazulike-Amechi: My father speaks very well. He also tries to promote Igbo culture and language. Even in his compound, when it comes down to the killing of a goat or chicken, there are certain parts you must bring out for him, and whether he eats them or not is not your business. You must bring them to him because culturally, they belong to the elders. For example, a chicken’s gizzard, the neck and. Because of this, all our kids now know which parts are for elders. The grandchildren prefer to be with him because he takes his time to teach them all these things.

He has a very good command of the English language and a great sense of humour. I remember when he was invited to Okotie-Eboh Memorial Lecture in Lagos. Late Alhaji Maitama Sule, may his soul rest in peace, was there and some other senior citizens. My father in his jokes told the audience that the only difficulty he has is that he has two companions that always insist on travelling everywhere with him. People waited to hear who the companions were. Then he said that he told the companions that they should get ready because they were going to Lagos together for the Okotie-Eboh lecture. He then revealed to the audience that the companions were rheumatism and waist pain. The audience burst into laughter. He seems to make jokes out of everything, but in the midst of all this drops serious information. If you are smart enough, you get the lesson therein, or you keep laughing and lose the message.

DT: Has his name opened doors for you?

Mbazulike-Amechi: Yes, sometimes it does and sometimes it’s a problem. I say this because the world is full of envy. There is a saying in Igbo that after serving his father, are we going to serve his child? Your father will come and rule and you will come with your ideas to rule; is it a hegemony or what? Is it now a hereditary thing? So, you hear stuff like that but you laugh because people who make such comments are either shallow or ignorant.

DT: What advise has he given to you that has stuck?

Mbazulike-Amechi: It has always been honesty, transparency, credibility, accountability and integrity. In all his political life, he has not been investigated or arrested for corruption. He runs an open door and open book policy. He doesn’t hide anything. Nobody has ever challenged or accused him of mismanagement of funds, and that, I think, is very critical.

DT: What aspect of him has rubbed off on you?

Mbazulike-Amechi: I am presently into politics and a member of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). My immediate elder brother is also into politics and in People’s Democratic Party. But again, my father has a lot of children, both biological and non-biological. He doesn’t discriminate and blazes the trail for a lot of people in politics.

DT: What is he like when angry?

Mbazulike-Amechi: He has a big voice that is scary when he is angry, coupled with the fact that he is tall and huge. You don’t want to be around when he is angry.

DT: How does he relax?

Mbazulike-Amechi:  He likes sitting with people and used to play tennis. The tennis court was made by 1971 and before I was five years old, I knew how to swim and play tennis. Before 6am or 7am, you will see people coming to sit down with him. He will bring kolanuts and they will talk, play and laugh. People usually bring funny problems for him to resolve.