By JOHNSON EBIGIDE
An Igbo saying has it that a chick that would grow into a sound cock is known the very day it is hatched. This is also true of great men who rise from humble beginnings in rural, sleepy ambiences to opulence and also an index of the greatness of the Iroko among trees.
The birth and rise of Obi (Prof) Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, Asagba of Asaba designate, no doubt, has the mark of great men in history world-wide; it resonates the likes of Zik of Nigeria, Nkrumah of Ghana, Mandela of South Africa, Nyerere of Tanzania and many others from other continents in the globe.
Born to a humble family in Aba in the present Abia State on November 13,1957 to a humble family from Asaba, the young Epiphany attended the famous St. Patrick’s College in Asaba in the present Delta State. His administrative and leadership quality was discovered at the college and he was selected as the Senior Prefect who instituted moral rectitude among the students in the college.
Records also have it that the young Azinge later proceeded to the University of Lagos to study Law, graduating with an awe inspiring academic performance.
Not only did he also dazzle the academic world at the London School of Economics where he acquired his doctorate degree with his exquisite academic and leadership innateness, but he caught the eyes of the greats, earning him the endearing sobriquet of “Zinge”.
This writer was an undergraduate at the University of Benin, when the name, Epiphany Azinge, rang as a bell when he lectured in the Faculty of Law. Flashy, articulate and endearing to not only the law students he was grooming, Epiphany Azinge made studying Law as a course attractive to many. He taught the likes of the present Senator Bamidele Opeyemi from Ekiti State, Luke Aghanenu of the Civil Liberty Organisation and the famous Ogaga Ifowodo, both from the present day Delta State and many more.
Azinge later left University of Benin to other citadels of legal grooming in the country and has served his country in an unflinching capacity as a gifted legal prodigy with an awesome administrative competence, including being the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).
He had earlier served as senior legal aide during the draconic regimes of Babangida and Abacha to three attorneys general and ministers of justice in Nigeria.
He was also appointed the President of the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal in London, United Kingdom, representing Nigeria and Africa in the global legal body.
Married to Dr. (Mrs) Valerie Azinge, also a lawyer, the union is blessed with outstanding children.
His emergence as the 14th Asagba of Asaba is the wish of the people of Asaba, both at home and in diaspora. Considering his glittering antecedents, the reign of Obi (Prof) Chigbogu Azinge, Asagba of Asaba, will usher in greater infrastructural, socio-economic rejuvenation of the kingdom and preservation of the cultural heritage of the people of Asaba in a peaceful ambience.
Obi Agwu !
Obi Agwu !!
Obi Agwu !!!