He was a little boy when grandad and two uncles were executed same day by Federal troops. Charles Ekenemchukwu Okonkwo became a man from that moment as his mom remained in pains until she passed on at 61.
The kid could not understand how Maj. Ibrahim Taiwo could lead soldiers from the First Division to wipe out teenagers and adult males in Asaba in 1967. Uncles, Chris and Eddy Chukwurah were murdered and when their father sought to know why such harm could be inflicted on him, he was gunned down as well.
Okonkwo’s mom was a Chukwurah. Her brother, Olisa Chukwurah played football for Nigeria and was a member of the UK Tourists team of 1949. He was invited from Abeokuta. At the time Taiwo led the death squad, the ex- player was in Ibadan, not far away from Ibrahim ‘Kagara’s’ Ogbomosho hometown.
Okonkwo opened up from the UK during the week.
He said: “Yes, I lost two of my maternal uncles and grandfather on the same day, at the same place and time. The manner of their execution along with thousands of others is what I find so abhorrent and unforgivable. That singular incident changed everything for me and my family.”
Mrs Okonkwo became an emotional wreck after the Asaba Genocide. Her sister rushed to the killing field and found Chris, a former soldier dead. Eddie, an Engineer,was still bleeding but she could not save him.
“My mom considered one of the men her twin, having lost her own twin sister at a very early age. His death devastated mum and invariably affected our whole family as we saw her wither away out of sorrow. She died earlier than her time, at just 61 years, “the son remarked.
Okonkwo would go ahead to play for the national team, Green Eagles, scoring beautiful goals after distinguishing himself at Enugu Rangers. It was a case of uncle Olisa Chukwurah representing Nigeria prior to Independence and nephew, Charles doing exactly the same after the Civil War.
He said: “I got into Rangers after captaining FRCN Bricawaves and representing Anambra State and winning the Cardiff Cup in Wales, 1980. Roberto Diaz, then Rangers coach took a liking to me after watching me against his team a couple of times.
“Quite a few of us from Bricawaves and Academicals were picked to join Rangers in 1980. But Bricawaves coach, Felix Emordi advised us to stick around for one more year to gain experience. It was a hard decision but it toughened us by the time we joined Rangers from the third division.”
Okonkwo quit Rangers in 1989, signed for ACB, Lagos but left for Europe without kicking a ball. He has been in the UK ever since and has no regrets. Hurricane, as friends call him, supported England passionately at the just concluded Euro 2020 Championships.
“I was never a fan of the English”, he told me. “Especially, because of their hype when it comes to sports. But during this COVID saga, I learned a few things… the English never leave any of theirs behind. My business and and that of others were completely shut down.
“And being self employed, I was scared. But true to type, all business, including the self-employed got different types of help, irrespective of background, English, Black, Indian, African or whatever. That made a huge impression on me.”
Football took Hurricane to England but he did not set out to be a player until he was forced into it while waiting for his school certificate result in 1979. To kill boredom, he decided to register at Awkunanaw Boys, Enugu away from his Nike Grammar School. The principal insisted on soccer.
He apparently forgot that football was in the blood. ” I come from a sporting background. My Dad played soccer for Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. All my brothers were into football except the oldest who represented the old East Central State in athletics. Besides, my uncle played for Nigeria.”
His best time came in 1982. ” My most memorable moment was the day I played alongside Emma Okala, Aloy Atuegbu, Sylvanus Okpala, etc in a continental game for Rangers. I was 19 going to 20. We beat AS Kaloum, Guinea 1-0 in Conakry after a barren draw at home.”
Okonkwo left the Flying Antelopes an angry man. ” It started going wrong for me in Rangers and I had to leave. I also had to walk out on the 1988 Green Eagles Olympic team to Seoul, I had had enough. Looking back,it was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. Coach Manfred Hoener and a handful of people knew about the event.”
Karma has a way of announcing itself. Okonkwo and Abagana are one. The Federal Second Division, the same formation that destroyed Asaba, was almost wiped out in at Abagana Sector when a Biafran battalion led by Maj. Jonathan Uchendu laid an ambush. GOC , Col. Murtala Mohammed escaped by a whisker.
Almost 50 years later, Rangers went to Asaba to win the Nigerian FA Cup. Losers, Kano Pillars led 3-0 until Charlie Okonkwo’s maternal ancestors literally rose from the dead. The Flying Antelopes drew level and defeated Pillars in the resultant penalty shoot out.
Hurricane is now settled in England and is no more blowing hot. He frequents Nigeria and has made friends from across the Nigerian divide. He was born in Kaduna on September 21, 1962.
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“I grew up as a shy but angry young boy bottled up with emotions. So playing football, and eventually playing for Rangers gave me the chance and avenue to dispatch and dissipate most of the trapped emotions within me.
“I live in London, have been away from Nigeria for over 32 years. It wasn’t easy but as time went on, I managed to settle down. I have four kids. Life couldn’t be any better but there is so much more to achieve. I have never been one to relax, sit back and admire my laurels.”
A Fine and Apllied Arts graduate, Charlie is also a lawyer. Dad wanted him to study Architecture. A book from the veteran is on the way.
“I just don’t want to rush it. I want it to be a classic as it includes personal stories of Rangers of my generation. From the horse’s mouth, so to speak. These guys have to tell their stories themselves, for the sake of posterity,” he concluded
