By Emelie Evarist Oranika
Foremost Nigerian Permanent Secretary and the first Director-General, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Chief Gordian Chukwuemeka Oranika (Ochendo Abatete), died recently at the age of 89 and will be buried on December 6, 2024.
He was the Director-General of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, between 1991 and 1994 and served under two Ministers, General Gado Muhammadu Nasko and General Jeremiah Timbut Useni. He was the Director-General when Nigeria’s capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja in December 1991. He served as the Director-General for over three years. He significantly shaped the city’s development curve during that time, marking its beautiful horizon with enduring legacies.
Oranika was a civil servant of note whose rise to the peak of his career was not just the effort of hard work, self-motivation and discipline but also God’s unmerited favour. He started as a diplomat with Nigeria’s Foreign Service until the Nigerian civil war broke out, which compelled him to transfer his service to the Eastern Region Government. On rejoining the Federal Civil Service after the war in 1970, he rose from Administrative Officer to Director-General in 1991 after 21 years. He had a reasonably impressive career progression that saw him work in several federal ministries and departments, including finance, science and technology, education, trade and commerce, industry, economic development, presidency (budget department), and the federal capital territory.
It is fair to argue that he left every office he occupied better than he met it and earned his stripes as a dedicated civil servant with a passion for excellence. He was diligent in his duties, selfless in service and reliable in conduct. But more than that, he possessed uncommon leadership qualities that spoke to an unwavering commitment to duty and a keen eye for detail. Speaking on these leadership qualities, General Gado Nasko, his boss at the FCT, said: “Oranika’s exceptional leadership qualities made him an invaluable asset to the Federal Ministry of Trade and Commerce and later the Federal Capital Territory. His dedication to duty and passion for excellence shone through his role as Director of Trade. He made me recognise his potential and advocated for his appointment as Director General of the Ministry of the FCT, despite his not meeting all the qualifications.”
Undoubtedly, Oranika acquitted himself well in discharging his duties, earning the respect and admiration of his superiors and subordinates alike. It was clear from the rapid upward trajectory of his career that he would peak with the attainment of the position of a permanent secretary. Expectedly, his appointment as the Director-General of the F.C.T. came due, bringing innovative ideas and expanding new frontiers of development in the inchoate city. Indeed, most developments that stand the Federal Capital Territory out today as a liveable city were either started or completed under Oranika’s watch. It is a fact that the first mass recruitment of workers with Abuja’s attainment of the status of a federal capital was carried out by Oranika as the DG. Qualified Nigerians were employed without discrimination and without recourse to wire-pulling influence. Apart from his painstaking effort in the movement of the seat of government from Lagos to Abuja, his contributions to the hosting of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit (now African Union -AU) in 1991 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, still resonates with the people.
Humble and with no want of civility, Oranika was never caught in any form of disputation either with colleagues, friends, mates, or family. He was mild-mannered, compassionate, and always ready to assist those who had taken a tumble and were on the wrong side of life.
Born April 30, 1935, to Mr. Evarist Oranika and Mrs. Agnes Oranika, both of blessed memory from Umuebo, Agbaja Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, G. C. Oranika started his primary school at St Dominic’s Catholic School, Abatete and completed at St Joseph’s Primary School, Onitsha. He attended Christ the King College, Onitsha, on scholarship and, upon graduation, secured a job with the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Before travelling to Scotland for higher education, he did a few-year stints with the Corporation and Bulk Oil Plants of Nigeria. He got admission to read Modern History and Moral Philosophy at St Andrew’s University, Scotland. After obtaining both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University, he proceeded to the London School of Economics, United Kingdom, for a course in Foreign Service. He worked as a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until the outbreak of the Nigeria–Biafra War when he transferred his service to the Eastern Nigerian Government. He rejoined the services of the Federal Government immediately after the war and rose to become a permanent secretary and the first Director General of the FCT, Abuja.
A widely travelled public servant and member of national and international organisations, he was a Member of the National Institute (mni), having attended a course at the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos. He was also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Directors (FCIoD) and a Paul Harris Fellow. He won many awards and was heavily decorated.
Oranika did not forget his God and was an active Roman Catholic Christian. He was a Knight of the Order of St. Mulumba and Knight of St. Sylvester. He served his creator with unmatchable zeal and belonged to many Christian organisations, contributing immensely to the gospel’s spread. He trained priests, built churches and renovated dilapidated ones. He was also a community leader whose contributions to the development of his Abatete community have more profound expression in the title of Ochendo Abatete, genuinely conferred on him by the community’s sovereign. He gave many scholarship, offered others job and sent yet others to overseas’ training. He had many titles from places other than his Abatete community in recognition of his contributions to their development. He was a member of the Igwe-in-Council of the Abatete ancient Kingdom.
Oranika was a dedicated family man. He married Dr Mrs Uche Josephine Oranika (Iyom Ijele Nwanyi – nee Aniebue), a retired civil servant and businesswoman. The marriage was blessed with seven lovely children and twenty-five grandchildren. The death of Chief G.C Oranika (Ochendo Abatete) has no doubt robbed the bereaved of strength to carry on. However, the belief that he lived a Christian life trumps the fear of losing eternity with the Father, to which His mercy admits all. His remains will be committed to Mother Earth in his home town of Abatete on December 6, 2024. He will be sorely missed. May God grant his soul eternal rest.
Prince Emelie Evarist Oranika, son, wrote this tribute.
