The remains of Rt. Hon. (Chief) Simon Gbalamen Kwaghbula were interned today at Tor Chibee Tyough Village, Mbaza, Ikyurav-ya , Kwande LGA, Benue State.
My knowledge of Rt. Hon. (Chief) Simon G. Kwaghbula as far as my point of consciousness. I came to the point of knowledge knowing him as a big brother and friend to HRH Engr Timothy Tavershima Ahile (my older brother) alomg long with Mr. Lanshima Iornenge and Dr. Terwase Nenger of blessed memory. The bond between the trio of Mr. Lanshima Iornenge, His Royal Highness Engr. Timothy Tavershima Ahile, the Ter Kwande and Rt. Hon. (Chief) Simon Gbalamen Kwaghbula was stronger. They were our big brothers brothers in secondary schools we were looking up them.
Between 1982 to 1983 there was a prolonged industrial action (strike) which affected all public primary schools in Benue State. Rt. Hon. (Chief) Kwaghbula who had just completed secondary along with Mr. Emmanuel Lanshima Iornenge and Ityavkase Adamu organized primary school at NKST Primary School Asom for children of Mbaza and neighbouring communities.
He eventually left the village to work with the bank in Lagos where he worked in different positions and different banks and got to management position. He last worked at Omega Bank at Port Harcourt.
Sometimes in the year 2002, the 1995 set of NKST Secondary School, Adikpo (which had late Pastor Vesenbee John Ahile and Comfort Ngodoo Tyough, my brother and cousin respectively as it’s members) organized reception in honour of their mates who has graduated with degrees from universities. While we were there, our big brother Rt. Hon. (Chief) Kwaghbula who came for the wedding of Fanen Ikya (the son of Brig. Gen Ikya) met us at the reception. While we were talking he mentioned his the issue of his call to represent us at the Benue State House of Assembly.
In 2003 he was elected to represent the good people of Kwande East State Constituency. Many people did not believe in his capacity to offer quality legislative representation. He however proved the doubting Thomas’ wrong. During his term as House member all the wards of his Constituency got Council halls and the Constituency got connection to public electricity supply. He stood by the people of his Constituency who were affected by political crisis. This endeared his Constituents to reward him with a second term in the House of Assembly. During his second term in the House, he was the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation during which time he proposed a bill for a law that revamped a bill that reshaped the Benue Internal Revenue Service into a viable institution that employed so many people and was nick named, ‘the NNPC of Benue State ‘. His next aspiration is to represent the good people of Benue East at the red chambers of the National Assembly which dream has been cut short.
When I was to proceed to the Nigerian Law School for professional legal training that qualified me for eventual call to the Nigerian Bar in 2005. Rt. Hon. Kwaghbula gave me financial support.
His passing is indeed a painful occurrence that has left a huge vacuum in the lives of many of us. It is however a reminder of how transient our lives are and a call for us all to have a closer walk with God almighty.
May the Lord continue to comfort us all. But I’m constrained to say what it hurts to say. Good night, big brother.
By Stephen T. Ahile Esq, Jos Nigeria
