World Bank: The Ibusa Man Who Rescued Enuani From Civil War Starvation: A Tribute to Charles Nwabudike (1945 – 2023)
By Emeka Esogbue
There is no doubt that the Ibusa community, dusty and hilly, located in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State is known for the abundant human resources available to her. If there is only a single gift the community has given the world, that gift is human development.
In Ibusa, lies the clan of Obodoakpu in the Umueze Quarters of the community. Umueze, the largest Quarters of the town, takes pride in the traditional euphoria of being the head of the Ibusa community, supported by the legendary account that holds that Umejei, the principal progenitor, first settled in that axis. Moreover, it is the quarter with the earliest royalties or dynasties having been producing monarchs (Obi) and Queen Mothers (Nne Eze) for ancient Ibusa until the succession ceased.
From this place of pride, Obodoakpu in Umueze hails Mr. Charles Ibeagbunem Nwabudike who was born to George Adimujokwu Nwabudike in Ikot Ekpene also known as “Raffia City,” which is at present in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria.
Charles Nwabudike, at birth, was vigorous, healthy, and mentally strong as the family would testify. With eagerness, he healthily crawled, stood, and walked earlier than expected as a baby, characteristics that would majorly reflect in the strengths he garnered later in life as an adult. He was the third child of his parents but the first male child.
He was later educated up to the college level before taking on an apprenticeship under the tutelage of the famous Okoboshi Nwaezeigwe. Consequently, he went into commercial driving, moving travelers from the various Enuani communities to Lagos, a trade he was into even after the Nigerian Civil War.
As a professional driver, his services would be engaged by Lagos City Transport and Siemens, among others. In the end, his services were remarkably and meritoriously honoured by his employers.
Noted for his bravery and astuteness in trade and politics, World Bank crisscrossed the fire lines of both the Nigerian and Biafran forces within the Ibusa-Ogwashi-Uku-Okpanam axis where very high casualties were recorded to buy scarce commodities that he traded especially, salt. He was thus highly patronized in the forest even as he remained unscathed throughout the war.
Among his philanthropic testimonies; World Bank rescued many Enuani indigenes from wartime starvation, offering them very scarce but essential commodities for survival on which the sick, weak, and tired would survive.
It was not all about wartime trade and commercial driving. Nwabudike was one of the most popular Ibusa indigenes of his time, his knowledge and prowess in politics would earn him, the nickname, “World Bank.”
On returning to Ibusa, his hometown in the 1980s after a successful stay in Lagos, Nwabudike took interest in Nigerian politics in the then Bendel East Senatorial District of Bendel State, from which today’s Delta State was created. He rose to become one of the most prominent politicians in his then-Oshimili constituency and was frequently consulted for the professional conduct of political affairs in the constituency. Hence, he helped to foundationally build the politics of the area.
Again, it was not all about politics for him as he joined the few but esteemed 404 Peugeot van owners to travel to and from streams to supply water on a commercial basis. He also traveled around the Anioma markets up to Onitsha to move farm produce for traders.
Nwabudike also had his brain picked in the traditional matters of his Ibusa community being a reliable man of tradition and culture. His efforts in helping to restore peace in the traditional crises of Ibusa are proudly noted by the community.
Diokpa Charles Ibeagbunem Nwabudike is survived by his wife, Mrs. Augustina Obiageli Nwabudike nee Ofuogu, from Umuolofe in the Umueze community of Ibusa, and other family members.
He passed on April 23, 2023, in Ibusa, his hometown, and will be buried on August 4 and 5, 2023 according to the rites of the Ibusa people.
