FOR CHUKWUMA: “…AND THE CAVALCADE SPED AWAY!”

By G. CHIJIOKE ODOM, Pstr

17th century British parliaments were the epitome of legislative savagery. Quislings to a long line of bestial and avaricious monarchs – each of which tried to outdo its predecessor, – they multiplied vicious enactments as viruses grow in a Petri dish. Anomie embraced with perfidy, and the product was an empire literally sitting on a tinder-box. The empire desperately needed a saviour. And, Providence answered in a unique manner. In April 1653, Oliver Cromwell, backed by his troops, stormed, seized and sacked Parliament. Nearly 400 years later, his terse sentences which ended forever the hollowness of the supposed hallowed chamber, still rings into eternity: “You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”

Innocent Chukwuma is, ( pardon my present tense – am yet to recover from the shock) a large-hearted, compassionate democrat who will not lead an army to sack a godless legislature. Yet, when he founded CLEEN Foundation in 1998, he unwittingly seemed to have served Nigeria, nay Africa’s nebulous and noxious justice system a red-card. To him, it was “Reform or Die!” Beginning with Nigeria, both state and non-state actors across the world lined up behind him in taking the series of deep plunges into Africa’s fractured justice structure, only to emerge with breathtaking insights, just as he had advocated.

The unremitting avalanche of tributes flowing from the African continent and the world at large ever since his demise was announced, attests eloquently to this. He was a reformist human rights “general”; CLEEN was his rifle; global civil society his troops; justice sector his battlefield and security and public safety his front line. Courage, comrades, forth to the battle go! He didn’t die; he simply let in more light.

Shortly after, the Emperor Cromwell found his empire so short of silver that they could not make coins – and this was the smallest of all the mess he had inherited. So, he sent men out to search for ANY available silver anywhere. The men returned to him, explaining that the statues of the saints in the great cathedrals were made of silver. It was then Cromwell issued this order: ” Let us melt down the saints and put them into circulation.”

Melt the saints and put them into circulation! Intriguing but real in the life of Innocent. The gripping and exciting narratives, vignettes, cadences, denouements, etc, of his life and times as told by all who met him – some of them very intrusive and some unobtrusive – absolutely testify of a man in eternity past, who was a mound of dirt in God’s hand, meditated upon by Him, moulded, then melted and put into circulation to reach the rest of earth and humanity on His behalf.

Certainly, the Divine Architect must have had a blast on Creation Day of Innocent, fixing a perpetual smile on his face and a heart of gold in his chest. Just as he had when painting the stripes on the zebra; hanging the stars in the sky; putting the gold in the sunset; stretching the neck of the giraffe; putting the flutter in the mockingbird; planting the giggle in the hyena and the royal roar in the lion! Like any of these special craftsmanship of the Master which can neither be imitated nor counterfeited, Innocent was uniquely Innocent. He is the single original copy that can never be mistaken – his creative flair, prodigious energy that exploded in brilliantly, eclectic and electrifying performances, inimitable but invaluable wit and humour, his winsome and affectionate companionship, etc. None of these his exhilarating traits are counterfeitable.

His large heart, objectivity and passionate commitment to his chosen goal at any point in time is a mobile sermon, even to the incorrigible, that God can use you to do great things, whatever your type. Logical thinkers and emotional worshipers; dynamic leaders and docile followers. Visionaries who trailblaze; the studious who ponder; the generous who pays the bills, etc. Innocent poured all of himself into his chosen assignment and emerged tops.
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In conclusion, if I were to sum up his work ethic that now seemed to have immortalised him, this is my take-away: He believed, breathed and bounced with visioning; planning; handiwork or skill; negotiating everything; hardwork, and having a model. He believes that for one to make forays into the bedrooms, boardrooms, ballrooms and bar-rooms of the world in order to implant functional reforms, one must vigorously market one’s ideas; value relationships; respect and involve in corporate philanthropy and shun private and public corruption like leprosy.

He joined the ALTUS global alliance in his quest to identify with the need for creating a larger role for civil society in the administration of justice. He leveraged highly on partnerships to achieve this goal. The Centro de Estudios en Seguridad Cuidadana in Santiago, Chile, and the Centro de Estudos de Seguranca e Cidadania in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were his beach-heads in the South American continent. The Institute for Development and Communication in Chandigarh, India was his gangplank into the Asian continent; WHAEM was the calvary in Russia for his justice reform crusades in Europe; the Vera Institute of Justice in New York was the anchor for North America, while CLEEN Foundation from Lagos coordinated Africa. His only dream in all these partnerships was : “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.” (Amos 5:24, NIV)

David in the Bible had a sling; Rahab had a string, but Innocent had a spring. It was right there in his heart, a fountain flowing ceaselessly for the common man, through compassion. And His Maker used it to the optimum.

Indeed, the cavalcade sped away on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma could clearly be seen at the head of the riders. We call but he doesn’t answer; his gaze solidly fixed towards his destination. See, he crosses to the other side of The Deep River where a Thicker Tapes Parade awaits him before an innumerable company of angels and archangels in joyful assembly; to the blast of trumpets, cymbals clashing and clarinets in sonorous rhyme and rhythm. For a mortal whose earthly sojourn did not end in the sound of broken cymbals but in a philharmonic orchestra grand performance, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else, is therefore, fitting for him beyond this realm.

In reality, Innocent Chukwuma didn’t die. He simply let in light; more light, and more light! Glory!

Oh, when will there be another Innocent Chukwuma?

-A tribute to Late Innocent Chukwuma by Pastor G. CHIJIOKE ODOM, Lagos.