Adm. Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu: Bold, brilliant, breve-heart and benign

A Tribute by IREKE A. KALU ONUMA –

The end began on Monday 11th January 2021 evening. I had just come in from Owerri, and a call from a very unexpected person, Gen. Zamani Lekwot, came through asking after Adm. Ndubuisi Kanu. I told him I was in the village but would get back to him the next day with information. Then the next day, Elder Uma Eleazu, called and towards the end of our conversation, he informed me that he tried calling Adm. Ndubuisi Kanu, but after several attempts, the wife picked and told him that Admiral was hospitalized and that he should send a text. This Page 4 of 60 brief moment, triggered the alarm bell.

Early hours of Tuesday the 13th of January, I woke up with trepidation.
And, shortly after a confirmation of his death got to me. What was my feelings like about a few minutes after that tragic news? Emptiness. Gulf. And a deep hollowness filled with silence. So? Adm. Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu (GNK) is no more. He has done his bit, sang his songs and taken his last bow.

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There are person’s who like an old chair, has been a permanent fixture
in our spaces like antiques of rare quality. Adm. Kanu was that and much more. He has been around so much that many don’t know his real
age. He broke quite quickly and early
into the public space of what was to
later become Nigeria, and through
the nightmare and horror that took
place shortly after Nigeria came into
being. He fought the war on the
Biafran side and this shaped, molded
and determined the focus and
trajectory of his lifetime ambition and
pursuits. The tremendous energy he
spent pursuing his career was never
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detrimental to his core values. He
was till the very end the first person
always before a challenge, never
shying away or feeling Intimidated;
and he never took kindly to
prevarications and subterfuge.
A lot would be said about him in the
coming weeks, months and years
ahead. But each bears and knows a
bit of him from the perspectives of
the encounters they had with him. He
was solid In character, rigid in
principles and unshifting In action.
These were strong traits but they
often worked against him in his day
to day engagements . Life for him has
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only two sides; its either you are right
or you are wrong. There were no
middle roads for him. He hates
corner cuttings. Compromises, were
to him a dangerous place to be. As
he would often say, “You either say
the truth now and stand alone, or
accept the middle ground today and
watch the same problem resurface
ahead”. The various battles I saw him
engage in, either as a Private person
or publicly were defined by the
above ethos.
GNK, was a man’s man. A true man.
He never sets you up to abandon
you. He had clear visions of what he
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was and what he expected from each
that came his way. And being a man,
he was both gracious and gullible.
The first, ennobled him, the second
exposed him to the numerous times
people and groups took advantage
of him and this affected his family life
so much, though he will be the last to
acknowledge that.
The tenacity of his convictions,
pushed him so far into the solitary
regions where he almost found
himself alone. In fact, the fight for the
soul of

Nigeria and that of àlà Igbo
and Ndigbo, through various
groups, most of which he either
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founded, co-founded or headed,
were elevated in him, to such fervent
height that he almost became a lone
dervish, marching through the
deserts and wilderness of ideas and
reasons. As he would often say, “If
you find yourself on the wrong road
to your destination, no matter how
far you’ve gone, it is only proper that
you turn back, to where you started
and take the right road.” Admiral
turned back so many times from his
wrong roads. He started many times
all over again and most times alone.
In reflecting on the various aspects of
his life, I keep thinking about, the
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many “what If’s”, in his life. The
stubborn uncompromising stands he
took over a busy lifetime, are publicly
applauded. But being close to him as
a confidant, assistant and son,
exposed me to the nightmares he
endured to reach those decisions.
He never accepted anything on its
face value. He questioned
everything. Checked and rechecked
the facts as it were. Even though we
may have eliminated everything, and
have one fact left, he still pushes
himself and everyone to see if he
could find a better solution to what’s
available. He brooked no one
Narrative for a given challenge, but
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saw and explored many possibilities
which when taken could make a
difference. That was GNK at his
lonely best.
He drove himself hard. Spartan and
Stoic in outlook and lifestyle. His
dressing was one tone. His needs
very little and much restricted. He
was ascetic and often nervous
around luxury and it’s appendages.
At a glance he was very austere. But
few got to know the man behind that
mask. He was kind. Selflessly so. He
sometimes gave me the impression
that he often plays conscious Poker
and Russian Roulette with his life and
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attitude. Adm. Kanu would sit with
me for hours mulling over challenges
that would break any man. Yet he
would take a call and after listening,
would drop and start fussing about
the call, the person and their needs.
Here he would either empty his lean
pocket, to help or start calling any
one he thinks of practically pushing
them to a point they can’t say no to
him. And he would add that it isn’t for
him and would also send not his
account number but the person
whom he is pleading on their behalf.
He is without a doubt the most
observant, attentive passionate and
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knowledgeable man on the Igbo
Struggle I have met. Compassionate
and humble, he represents the kind
of man every single Igbo person wish
to be leading the advance guard.
Being a passionate and an
unapologetic Ònye Igbo, made any
debate or discussion with him
regarding Ndigbo today or the
history, actualities and technicalities
of the Civil War a long intertwining
epic through time which could
almost deluge or bore you. These are
the moments I will never forget.
Unfathomable to most, a
photographic memory is something
that only those that have it will ever
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understand and I strongly believe
that GNK is one such person blessed
with one!
I worked with GNK since arriving at
Ndigbo Lagos, almost two decades
ago, and I can only describe it as a life
changing experience. Having had
little, to no knowledge of the
conflicts, contradictions and
substance of Ndigbo in Lagos, nor
much previous organizing
experience of Ndigbo in a large
scale, I came to Lagos keen and
willing to learn as much as possible
about this unique yet highly
misunderstood people at very close
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range. It initially was difficult being
one of the least experienced
Lagosian Igbo but quickly found my
feet, put my head in the Streets,
meetings and books and tried to
study the vast array of people,
persons, groups, cliques and power
blocs situated in my immediate
community and across the state. It
was however not until I started
working closely with him, doing late
nights and pairing up closely with
GNK as a major player, boss,
confidant and father that my
knowledge and appreciation of
Ndigbo and Nigeria grew
exponentially.
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Ndubuisi Kanu, through his patience
and knowledge sharing abilities has
enabled my progress to where I am
today. Since our first drive together,
in Abuja during the Oputa panel
nocturnal meetings, we were able to
form a strong and cohesive bond,
one that strengthened over time and
metamorphosed into the friendship
and relationship that we had till he
passed on. Trust, loyalty and respect
are his watchwords and was what
governed our relationship right to
the very end and it is that
unbreakable partnership formed and
cemented during the struggle
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against OBJ’s third term bid and the
salvation of Ohaneze from the grip of
forces outside Ndigbo, that enabled
us to work so well together.
Those of us that were opportune to
know him up-close and personal
have been fortunate enough to
witness some incredible mind at
work. His interactions with one or
more people, together with his bead
like form of talking, is an experience
to cherish every day. I have had
opportunities to analyze differing
Igbo circumstances in Nigeria and
amongst Igbo communities with him,
also been privileged enough to
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follow the growth of historical
evidence he amassed and the
dynamic lives of numerous political
leaders who have come to consult
him; as well as share with each other
our life stories and contrasting
backgrounds. These were deep
special spiritual moments, teachable
moments and above all enduring
moments.
GNK gave me invaluable lessons in
leadership, companionship and
compassion. He helped me set up
countless engaging meetings and
watched out for the outcomes of
each with determined patience.
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We’ve had a few edgy encounters
with each other and with the bigger
problem of Igbo unity, focus and
values, and I’ve been amazed by his
incredible ability to negotiate
through each without any qualms.
His tangible presence will forever live
with me. His extraordinary
knowledge of the world of Ndigbo
and reverence for God are things
that need to be cherished and
passed on through future
generations.
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I am sure that Ndi-Igbo and
Nigerians that have previously
worked and interacted with GNK will
express a similar sentiment and
respect for what he has done as well
as any guests to his house or office,
that have had the privilege of
interacting with him.
Admiral enjoyed life and he enjoyed
people. He had an interesting hobby
of collecting model ships, and odd
things and pieces you would not
know what they were. These were
scattered all over his office, yet they
all have a history which he loves to
tell. He also was a huge tennis
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enthusiast and enjoyed playing
almost every Saturday and he was as
competitive in this as he was in
everything he engages in.
After he “retired,” from the Navy, he
was, in his own words, only then
beginning life. He found with some
others the Ragnk shipping company,
a company that had very promising
future if not for a combination of
events; the downturn of our
economy and the overall worldwide
depression. Had he been a business
man in the strict sense of the word,
he would have done extremely
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better, but he barely could separate
his humanness, charity and
philanthropic kindness from the
often strict codes and
responsibilities of running a
company. Good character to those
on the outside but very much
unacceptable in building a functional
successful business.
He very much enjoyed being
independent, proud and principled
and when his business started
getting some knocks, due mainly to
the bad policies and procedures of
the government and its
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functionaries, he refused to ask for
help or beg for a reprieve. He had a
lot of men in positions of power that
could have helped with a phone call.
Many of them, making the proposals
to help directly to him, yet he
refused, and believing somehow,
ignorantly though, that the Courts of
the very system he had lived most of
his life fighting to change for good,
will somehow come good for him
overnight. That was the naivety which
almost all great souls are cursed with.
He put up with a lot of pain and
rejection in his later years that he,
always true to his nature, offered up
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no explanation or bore any malice.
He endured a lot of losses most of
them avoidable. In all he stood tall,
proud and great to the end. We all
are better people for having known
Ndubuisi Kanu, for him touching our
lives, for leading by understated
example.
In saying farewell, I would above all
say thank you Ùgwùmba for the
blessing that you were to me. Thanks
for your life of integrity, for your
giving, for your wonderful touching
relationship and conversations (even
though you would often drag on and
on, without noticing the changing
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moods of your listeners), for your acts
of incredible kindness, and for your
sense of humor. You were a great
man, a prophet and soldier, and a
father to me and friend to all. You will
be greatly missed. We take comfort
from knowing that what you stood
for, fought for and lived for we your
disciples, friends and acquaintances
will go on standing, fighting and
living for till we fully realize it.
I love you Admiral and will always be
grateful for having been blessed to
know you.

In closing a quick hymn prayer that
was one of Admirals favorites:
Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all,
Hear me, blest Savior, when I call;
Hear me, and from thy dwelling
place
Pour down the riches of thy grace.
Refrain:
Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore;
O make me love thee more and
more.
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2 Jesus, too late I thee have
sought;
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how extol thy matchless fame,
The glorious beauty of thy name?
3 Jesus, what didst thou find in me
That thou hast dealt so lovingly?
How great the joy that thou hast
brought,
So far exceeding hope or thought!
4 Jesus, of thee shall be my song;
To thee my heart and soul belong;
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All that I have or am is thine,
And thou, blest Savior, thou art
mine. [Refrain]