Eulogies as Family, Friends Gather for Pa. Bazuaye’s 100th Birthday Celebration

Adibe Emenyonu

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024 the Bazuaye family of Benin Kingdom rolled out drums in celebration. The entire family members were not alone in the joyous occasion. They were joined by friends, associates and other well-wishers from all walks of life to celebrate their patriarch, Pa Augustine Omoregie Bazuaye.

The celebration was not just an ordinary one but remarkable, especially at a time when only a few persons hardly cross the biblical age of 70.

Pa Bazuaye’s celebration was extraordinary. It was unique in the sense that he added 30 years to the biblical age of 70 to mark a centenary (100 years) on earth.

According to his son, Dr. Enoma Alexander Bazuaye, the Knight of St. Mulumba’s (KSM) birthday ceremony, “is not just ordinary but one with wisdom, resilience, and love that not only shaped his life but also all who have had the privilege to know him.”

Little wonder children of the celebrant decided to commemorate the 100 years of their father and patriarch in grand style. The ceremony to mark this centenary celebration began with a Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral, Mission Road, Benin City presided by Archbishop of Benin Metropolitan See, His Grace, Dr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze.

In his homily, Archbishop Akubeze likened PA Bazuaye’s life to one of the ten lepers who fell on his face at Jesus feet, giving him thanks (Luke 17:11-19) which read, “At that time: On his way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met with ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priest.” And as they went they were cleaned. Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praised God with a loud voice; and fell on at Jesus feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, “were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? This, the archbishop said typifies the lives of the celebrant who recognises the importance of God in his life as it is not easy to attain 100 years, adding that for this to happen takes the grace of God in the life of the celebrant who came to give thanks to God for sparing his life to this age. He admonished people to emulated the life of the celebrant who is always close to God, a committed family man who God has given everything yet remains humble.

According to him, “You are a good leader per excellent because you are exceptionally good, that was why you were sent overseas for training.”

Early Life

Pa Augustine Omoregie Bazuaye was born on the 5th of November, 1924 into the Emehi family by the late Johnson Asiriuwa Bazuaye. His father, who served in the then Forestry Department, died on the 22nd of February 1944 barely five months after his retirement. He was a disciplinarian and this influenced his son’s life (Pa A. O Bazuaye by making him strong to face life challenges. Born into a polygamous home but in spite of the unfavourable conditions attached to it, providence smiled on him that he was able to go to school, first at St. Joseph Catholic School, Asagba (1933-1940) before gaining admission into Edo College in 1941 and left in 1947.

Career

After his college education, Pa Bazuaye sought employment in the Judiciary in 1948 as a Clerical Assistant. In 1954, he was one of the three young clerks posted to Ibadan to open the Chief Registrar’s office. Among his colleagues in the Chief Registrar’s office at that time was Hon. Justice Olajide Olatawura JSC (rtd). He served in the then judicial department in various capacities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Warri, Sapele, Ugheli to mention a few. Also in 1953 as a result of his intense brilliance on the job assigned to him, he was considered among those to attend an in-service training in Oshogbo and after a successful training was transferred to the newly created Midwest Region along with other civil servants.

Being a man who stands erect and looks the world in the face and does his duty without fear or favour and with a knack for solving problems, Pa. Bazuaye was sent to Great Britain for another in-house training for High Court Registrar to study court administration and this was accomplished with flying colours and was posted to Benin in 1969.

As a result of the education and experience he gained in British, the Attorney General of then Bendel State requested for his posting temporarily to the Ministry of Justice to help re-establish the Customary Courts in the state in 1980 where he was made to tour some parts of the country to study the Customary Court system.

His reports formed the basis of the Customary Law, of 1980 and for this efforts he received commendation from the then Commissioner for the Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. D.P. Lawani. He rose to the position of Assistant Chief Registrar before his retirement in 1982 after serving the mandatory 35 years.

Due to his wealth of knowledge, Pa Bazuaye in 1984 was reappointed on a contract basis to nurture the re-establishment of the Customary Court earlier scrapped in 1980 which formed the basis of a recommendation made by then President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice I.O. Aluyi to then Military Governor of Brendel State, Jeremiah Useni which was approved and finally endorsed by the Civil Service Commission. After holding the position of President of District Customary Court and Member, Area Customary Court respectively,

His outstanding feat in the Judiciary was based on his selflessness, always well-dressed, humility, boldness, high standards, and exemplary overwhelming credentials that were further expressed in concrete terms by the Honourable Justice I.O. Aluyo (rtd) of the Customary Court of Appeal in the following words: I cannot hide my joyous feelings of the appointment of Pa. A.O. Bazuaye who served the Judiciary for many years and retired but had to be re-engaged on contract to enable us tap his administrative expertise to prepare a solid base for the administration of the New Customary Court of Appeal system in the state. His years of experience in the Judiciary made him to be conversant with the rules of Court which hopefully enhanced the quality of Justice which is determined by those who administered it.”

Family Life

Pa Bazuaye decided to quit finally from active service voluntarily to enable him spend more time with his family especially his grandchildren. Given his virtuous background Pa. Bazuaye has all along lived a good and worthy life , having positively touched the lives of a lot of people which resonated with the words of former British Prime Minister, Sir. Winston Churchill words in his book titled, “Character of Greatness of Winston Churchill (Hero in a Time of Crisis) that goes thus, “What is the use of living if it is not strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place to live in after we are gone.”

Pa. Bazuaye is an accomplished father, a dedicated husband, caring family man whose high moral rectitude is manifested in the character formation of his children. He gave his best while denying himself luxuries to ensure that his children were properly trained for a better and brighter future.

As someone from a Catholic background, Pa. Augustine Omoregie Bazuaye was baptized on 19th day of June, 1943 and confirmed on April 13, 1977. He was an active member of Society of St. Vincent De Paul, a charity body of the Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral, and was initiated into the honoured Order of Knight of St. Mulumba on May 27, 1983 in Onitsha, Anambra. State. The avid reader and lover of sports particularly football league matches is happily married and blessed with seven children, five sons and two daughters including many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In their various congratulatory messages, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Congregation of Catholic Archdiocese of Benin, his old Student of Edo College, fellow knights, friends and associates were unanimous in affirming the celebrant, Pa. Augustine Omoregie Bazuaye as truly a unique fellow with exemplary character worthy of emulation; a man who has witnessed a world of change, from the simplicity of his early years to the complex of modern life.