By Obeten Godfrey
Federal lawmaker, Honorable Jarigbe Agom (PDP, Ogoja/Yala) and the co-author of the book, ‘Stepping Forward Eith Uti J.D Agba’ have several other notable personalities to celebrate a former guber aspirant, Prince Goddy Jedy-Agba on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday celebration.
Mr. Agba was born on August 20, 1958 and turned 60 on Monday (yesterday) with the duo of Messrs Agoma and Uyouyo taking to Facebook to wish the former NNPC topgun a happy birthday.
“Happy 60th birthday to a Living Testimony, Prince Goddy Jedy-Agba. He means different things to different people but to me, he means what a lot of us don’t appreciate. Lets continue to Celebrate his Life,” Mr. Agom wrote.
And, Mr. Uyouyo who co-authored Mr. Agba’s autobiography wrote: “There are many ‘ifs’ in the life of Goddy Jedy Agba. One ‘if’ is the possibility that today would have been his final day in office at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60, if had he not drawn the curtains on his public service career earlier on 15th July, 2014 to join the Cross River State gubernatorial race.
“He was, at the end, denied the PDP ticket in rather controversial circumstances for the incumbent. Those who took the decision will without doubt now be ruing it considering how things have turned in the state.
“Born on 20th August, 1958 he is the first child of Uti J. D. Agba, Paramount Ruler of Obudu and one of the world’s longest serving monarchs. Uti J. D. Agba is the only surviving member of the then Eastern House of Chiefs, which was part of the First Republic. He played a great role in shaping the life of his son, inspiring his autobiography ‘Stepping Forward with Uti J. D. Agba’ which we collaborated.
“There’s a lot a biographer knows of his subject, but today is not one to reel out those facts. However, one enduring aspect of the life of Goddy Jedy-Agba, which cannot be left out whenever his story is told, is that he is a survivor.
“Agba has stood firm in adversities, many of them life threatening. From the shootings, bombs, and food shortages of the Nigeria civil war, where he was rescued from Santana Primary (Boarding) School, Awo-Omamma in present day Imo State, only reuniting with his parents at Utugwang after the war; to the emergency brain surgery about this time in 2014 to save his life, which he has also completely recovered. He has gone through a lot and survived it all. Just as he always says, ‘my life is a miracle.’
“On a day like this, it is my wish, you enjoy it to the fullest. You deserve it. Happy birthday, long life, good health and best wishes Prince Goddy Jedy-Agba, OFR.”