A Departing Tribute to the Legendary Chief Ajax

By: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.@douglasogbankw@gmsil.com

Nigerians do not have a sense of history.This is why there seems to be a disjoint, between our past ,our present and our future.More profound is Nigeria 's loss of Institutional Memory.That is why the legendary "Chief Ajax" -Mr. Sam Osamede died some few days ago, unheralded, uncelebrated and undulated.There was no buzz in the media .It is a clear depiction of a generation caught up in the frenzy of social media , forgetting to use the same to connect the future and present with the past .It tells about the value system of a society.A Society that Dr K.O. Mbadiwe said :

*Morons are barons , thieves are chiefs , a Society, where monkey dey work , baboon dey chop*

Ironically the sound track of the Iconic Nigerian Television Authority, Benin (NTA,Benin) sitcom cum soap opera "Hotel De Jordan was *Poor man dey suffer , monkey dey work baboon dey chop*, a sound track created along the tunes of an astute Benin musician of that time- Segun Alile

The Programme was created by a quintessential activist , unionist and satirist -the Late Jonathan Ihonde .The creator himself was a member of the Ruling Class ,who understood fully , the inner workings of the Ruling Class and he used the sitcom as a satire to ask questions about the debilitating nuances of what Professor Wole Soyinka called "A Wasted Generation '.

Aside from Jonathan Ihonde, there were producers like David Orere and others .The Sitcom had several zany characters like Gbewan, the sarcastic village beauty and off course my lecturer at the Law Faculty, University of Benin ,Now a Member of the Governing Council of the Edo University,Iyamho, Professor Richard Idubor - Bob Allan .One of the unforgettable scenes played by Bob Allan was a scene where his daughter in the sitcom sang the song :

*If I had a wing like a dove , I would fly ,fly away,... "

On the Sitcom also was the grandiloquent and verbose Prof. Milo Moro.
Kokori (David Ariyo), Casino Manager (Ray O’ Slater) and Osiobafo (Emmanuel Oni). Joseph Okhomina, was in charge of confirming the talents with a rigorous process of rehearsals , done to dot the is and cross the ts.


Chief Ajax , played by the subject of this article -Late Mr. Sam Osamede was a factor in Hotel De Jordan with others like Chief Igho,Madam Brefa, Casino Manager, Gbedegbedegbehun, Kokori played by David Ariyo who died a mysterious death and off course , Kokori's man Friday -Idemudia .

In the Programme, Kokori and Idemudia who played the servants of Chief Ajax used to sing a song thus: “I say na lie, I
say biggie biggie lie o,person no dey big, make im big like Chief Ajas, the thing wey e dey do, e pass milik o,…..”

The singing of this song was a metaphor for the sycophancy of the poor that drives their continued oppression by the strong, rich and mighty.It accentuates the Stockholm Syndrome of our society, where the oppressed are deeply in love with their kidnappers .They praise them for nothing, all from the crumbs that come from the table .It is a vicious cycle.


We devote this article to Chief Ajax -Mr. Sam Osamede as you depart this world, we at the Benin Writers Society celebrate your life as one that contributed immensely in building our society.It was Sir Winston Churchill that said *We make a living by what we earn , but we make lives by what we give*'You have given your time , your talent and youth to society.We celebrate you , unfortunately now that you are dead, not while you alive.This is another thing to be worried about . Nigerians love only when you die .

Patoranking -the Nigerian Musical Super Star emphasised the need to give people accolades , while they are alive , not when they die ,when he stated in his song , thus : *Celebrate me , now when I dey alive , no be say wey leave this life , you go dey fake am am for my wife*.Let us celebrate people while they alive .Some one like Chief Ajax should have been given a national honour for example for excellence in acting .

Nigeria is the only country, where there is no reason stated for giving you a national honour.Just win elections and you are automatically bestowed with a national honour .That should not be the case . People should be encouraged to contribute to nation building and not to win elections or be declared winner (there a difference).

We celebrate those who touch lives and we dare say ,you are Late Mr. Sam Osamede (Chief Ajax ) was of those .

It was J.K. Rawlings that said :

*To the organised Mind , death is the next best adventure*

And Jean Le Fountain said :

*Death does not take the wise by surprise, he or she is always ready to go*

Aduie,Chief Ajax until the resurrection morning.

Douglas Ogbankwa Esq., is the President of the Benin Writers Society.