HRM King Frederick Abiye Agama, Ogbotom Edede VI, of Atissa (2001-2004)

HRM Frederick Abiye Temesuozigha Agama - Ogbotom Edede VI of the Atissa in Bayelsa State of Nigeria, was born in October 20th 1917 in Yenaka, nr Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. His father was Chief Boie Agama and he was the only child of Osiyomokokwo Agama - who passed away shortly after his birth.

The Epie/Atissa people are of Ijaw and Edoid stock - who live in the Central Niger Delta and trace their lineage and history to pre-historic times, through the Mien Owei branch of the Izon (Ijaw) and the Oguan stock who have deep historic links to the neighbouring Zarama, Engenni and Degema. Okorobia and Olali (2013) describe the Epie/Atissa as ‘a Delta-Edoid micro-ethnic nationality in the Central Niger Delta.’

HRM F. A. Agama, belonged to the very small number of Ijaw elite, who received ‘early’ education outside the present day Bayelsa State, as there were hardly any schools at that time. He started his primary education in Awka,in present day Anambra State, a result of his father’s association with an itinerant blacksmith from Awka. He left Awka and returned to his family in Yenaka, Bayelsa State around the age of 18. He was to return to Eastern Nigeria, where he attended Government Secondary School, Umuahia between 1945-52. He went to the UK in 1953, he was joined by his wife, Mrs Beatrice (nee Porbeni) Agama. He lived in Shipley nr Southampton where he studied and obtained BSC. Economics from the University of Southampton and later in London, where he obtained a Masters (MSc.) Statistical Economics from The University of London (1957).

In 1955 - Bishop Dimeari Secondary School. Yenagoa - was to be established in Bayelsa State.

In the UK, caught in the pre-independence Nigeria agitation, he became a fervent follower of Mazi Mbonu Ojike, known famously as Mr Boycott for his slogan ‘Boycott the boycottables’. Chuku (2..) describe Ojike as taking “ uncompromising stand against European imperialism by calling for Africans’ self-rediscovery and advancement”.

He was to became staunchly anti-colonialist, 'fully' Ijaw, and nationalist.

Like Mazi Ojike, he espoused his ijawness while adopting few selected western norms.

Child naming in Nigeria can “determine a bearer’s gender, education level, social status, language, religious affiliation, nationality, age and history' Odebode (2021) argues in “ The elite of Ijaw, a group Frederick Agama firmly belonged tended to reaffirm their social status by giving their children christian names and indeed changing family names into English names as popular among the Eastern Ijaw people. Soyinka (1988) asserts this position and opining that 'is a critical business in traditional African society because names comprise meaning and history apart from being intimations of hope and affirmations of origins'.

Unusually amongst his peers, F A Agama, chose to name his children in his Ijaw.

Work

On his return from the UK in 1957 he joined the Western Nigeria Educational Service, of the Colonial Nigerian Civil Service.

He transferred from the Western Nigeria Educational service to the Eastern Service Nigeria see Government Gazette dated 1958. He taught in his alma mater, Government Secondary School Umaihia . He also taught in various schools including St Barnabas Kaiama, Bayelsa State. He was fluent in a number of languages including Igbo, his native Atissa and Ijaw. He joined the all powerful ShellBP Nigeria in 1959 - where he held senior positions such as Head of Estates, and was Personnel manager (the first African to be so) until his retirement in 1973. Notably during his time in Shell BP, he was the first Head of Occupational Learning, re-organising the Cadet officers cadre in the Shell Tanker Fleet to include 'locals'.

Shell BP and Biafra War

In the Nigeria's South South and Eastern Stations most of Shell-BP’s staff were of Ibo stock. ‘They constituted about 80% of the total work force in these oil fields. . The staff had either fled because of the impending war, or transferred to ‘safety’ outside Nigeria. Fredrick Agama, being of Ijaw stock was left in sole charge of the company’s residential and office assets on Port Harcourt (then a major theatre of the Biafra War). This is in the backdrop of complex arrangements and negotiations between the Company and the Biafra Leadership and the Nigeria Governments - to not only safeguard the company’s assets, but also to ensure partial production of oil during the conflict and to safeguard royalty payments. .. The situation was compounded by what in a now released cable dated 7th July 1967, the British High Commissioner wrote to the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth stating inter alia ‘Our interests, particularly in oil, are so great that they must override any lingering regret we may feel for the disintegration of British made Nigeria’, in Uche (2008) Shell did not lose any residential or office property as a consequence of the war.

Post war Shell BP still accounted for over 40% of Nigeria’s total oil output, which in turn accounted for 90% of the nation’s income and 25% of its GDP. Fynas (1998) described Shell’s interconnectedness to state structures, to make it impervious to political Instability. This did not exclude the judiciary it seemed. F A Agama felt ‘owed’ by Shell BP, the company did not agree. He was evicted from his residence upon his retirement in 1973. Now missing court documents, found for Shell, in a case Agama v Shell BP. (1973)

Now missing court documents, found for Shell, in a case Agama v Shell BP. (1973)

Post Retirement

Chief F. A. Agama became the first Chair of the newly formed River State Schools Management Board (1975) He was a Director of Pan African Bank, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Rivers State Tourism Committee, Chairman of the Port Harcourt Christian Council project. He was chair of the Nabele Project Elele. (Home for the Disabled). He served as a Council member of the University of Maiduguri and served on the board of the NUC (Nigerian Universities Commission). He served as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Bayelsa State Special Development fund after the formation of Bayelsa State in 2000. Chief F. A. Agama was a close friend of Prof Jibril Aminu, who he worked with first as a member of the Nigeria Universities Commission (75-79) and as a member of the University of Maiduguri Governing Council 1980–1985 Jibril Aminu was Executive Secretary.

Oil and Gas

Quoted as a co-licencee or director (with the Late O B Lulu Briggs as Chairman) of Moni-Pulo Limited. See Real Owners of Oil Fields in Nigeria None of the Financial Statements of Moni-Pulo Limited ascertained that Chief F A Agama did in fact have any active or revenue accruing shares or beneficial interest in the Business.

Family


• HRM F. A. Agama and HRM Beatrice (neé Porbeni) Agama had six children.
• Ebiye (neé Agama) Fari
Doye Tiedo Agama
Diezani Allison (neé Agama) Madueke
• Osiyo Agama
Timi Agama
Winifred (neé Agama)Jemide

Death

HRM F A Agama, Ogbotom Edede VI, died peaceful on the 4th of January 2004 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State., surrounded by family. He was 87 years old. He was succeeded as Ogbotom Edede and Ebeni-Ibe Atissa by HRM Godwin Gurosi Igodo. KSC, JP., Ogbotom Edede VII, who was crowned on the 29th of July 2006.

References

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