A retired cleric of the Anglican Communion, Rev Canon Christian Odocha, whose photo with his twin brother, Iheanyichukwu, trended on social media when they clocked 80, speaks to ALEXANDER OKERE about his childhood and family
A photo of you and your twin brother went viral when you turned 80 recently. How does that make you feel?
It is fantastic. I am from Obor Ovoro in Abor Mbaise in Imo State. When I was growing up, many people desired old age but no one knew when or whether they would attain it. I think my twin brother and I are blessed to have attained this age and I pray that God will give us more time to glorify his name.
Do you sometimes marvel that you and your twin brother are octogenarians?
Yes, because it is not of our making but by the grace of God.
Since you were both born in the 1940s, were your dates of birth documented by your parents?
Yes. My father was a missionary and on the verge of our birth at Isiopko, in Rivers State, it was a taboo for a woman to give birth to twins, so he made a scene and told them he was a missionary and twins were a blessing from God and that he would keep us. That was how we survived up till today.
What was the implication of having twins in your community at that time?
We were told that only animals, like goats, had multiple births. By implication, twins were killed because they believed they should not exist.
Are you the only twins in your family?
Yes. My parents had eight children – four boys and four girls – and they are all alive to the glory of God.
What kind of parents did you have? Were they educated or traders?
My father was educated. He obtained a certificate from London in 1934. My mother was sent to St. Monica’s College, Ogbunike (in Anambra State) for training to become a missionary.
Did your father have more than one wife?
He had only one wife.
What type of parenting did you receive? Were your parents strict?
We were taught to trust God. We had morning devotion before we moved out; we committed ourselves to the Lord. This habit has helped us. We learnt to stay together and eat together. It was difficult to challenge any of us without others defending us. My parents taught us unity and love.
But my parents were strict. Every Sunday was set aside to worship God. Anyone who went contrary to that, like playing football, was whipped. There were quite a few times I was punished. There was a day, we told lies and my father punished us by compelling us to finish a plate of bush meat. My father was also a hunter. He locked us up in a room and told us to finish the meat but we hid some of the meat under the bed and cried that we had finished eating it. He came in, saw the plate empty, and told us we were free to go. However, the next morning, while the room was being swept, the entire thing was swept out.
Where did you and your twin brother spend your childhood?
We spent about four or five years at Isiokpo and Elele because of my father’s missionary work. We later moved to Anambra when we were enrolled in school in 1947. I will not say that we interacted with the villagers very much.
I also attended school in Awgu, Enugu State, and Okrika, Rivers State. I obtained a diploma at St. Paul’s College University, Awka. I also received training in Scotland and The Netherlands for well-drilling, analysis, and simulation. However, I started working in Rivers State with Shell Petroleum.
Do you and your twin brother have similar personality?
Not exactly. My brother, Iheanyichukwu, has a way of bringing people close to him but I took after my father; I believe in saying the truth and standing by it. I also dislike wastage. My brother is loved by his peers but people know that I am strict. I would like to add that native names were not given to us by my father. They were given to us in a dream.
My mother said she had a dream and saw two boys running around and God told her that the first boy’s name should be Nkemdilim while the second should be named Iheanyichukwu. My dad bought the idea and that’s how we got the two names. They are very sacred to us.
Did people find it hard to differentiate between you and your twin brother when you were younger?
Yes. Both of us worked at Shell. He worked as a contractor while I worked as a full employee. Any time I was booked a flight to Nembe and he was booked for another and he arrived at the airport to check in, he was told that he was late for the flight. People at the airport thought he was me. So, it has been like that.
You became a clergyman at some point. Did you combine that with your job at Shell?
During the Nigeria-Biafra war, I was already at Shell. With the training my father gave us, morning devotion was still paramount in my life. So, while doing some research in petroleum in Rivers, I joined in conducting church services. When we returned after the war, I was re-engaged at Shell. At All Saints Anglican Church, Rumuokwurusi, I became a Lay Reader in 1987. The urge to serve the Lord was there. However, I felt I could not work at Shell from morning till 4pm and serve God in the evening. It felt like serving two masters but I prayed to God to give me the grace to serve him after my time with Shell.
When I went to the United States to visit my brother, I attended a Bible study and the organisers said they would train and engage me in missionary work but I declined because I had two years to complete my service at Shell. However, that was when it dawned on me that God was really calling me. So, as soon as I left Shell in December 1998, I applied and became a missionary.
Can you recall how you got your job at Shell Petroleum?
While I was in secondary school, some people from Shell often came to interact with pupils and ask them what they would like to do in the future. I lived with one of my uncles who was a manager at Shell, so when an opportunity came for young people to be employed, I applied and was offered a job. I was posted to the laboratory.
What did you do with your first salary?
Ah! We were taught that a man’s first salary should go to his father. It was one pound, three shillings, and four pence. My father had passed on then, so I put my salary in an envelope and gave it to my brother-in-law. He gave me three shillings and four pence and kept the rest for me. I thank God for him. It paid off because I didn’t know that he opened an account for me. At that time, I had more than 30 pounds in the account.
Can you recall how your dad died?
I think he was heartbroken over the death of his brother who died in 1954. Following that loss, we understand that he had malaria and died in 1955.
How did your mother cope?
To the glory of God, my mother lived for 30 years after my father’s death and she single-handedly helped to train all of us. She taught us how to cook; that is why our wives can’t boast to us about cooking. She did her best and people came to her aid on account of my father’s work as a missionary. I remember that one Mr John paid my school fees for two years before my sister took over. Although the money was repaid, we are grateful to the man. We are reaping from the services of our parents in the Lord’s vineyard. She passed away at 68.
What are the fond memories of your time as a bachelor?
I didn’t have the opportunities young men have these days. My mother ensured that I remained disciplined as a bachelor. I didn’t take it kindly with ladies who wanted to enjoy my money. But when my mother told me it was time to get a wife, it was a difficult job but God helped me. I was 30 years old at that time.
My brother did not find it difficult either, because he was a social person. He married his girlfriend but my wife was introduced to me.
When did you meet your wife?
I met her during the war in 1969 through my younger brother’s girlfriend. He met her as a member of the Red Cross and told her that I was interested in getting a wife. A meeting was arranged for us and that was how we met. She was born in Onitsha and since I spoke the dialect well, I was welcomed by her family.
Our first daughter is a banker. Our second daughter studied Environmental Studies at the University of Calabar but also became a banker in Port Harcourt; she is in the US now. I have a son and another daughter.
As a Nigerian who was already an adult when the country gained independence, can you remember what life in the country looked like then?
At that time, no one cared about security. People slept with their doors open at night in those days but today, robbers come during the day and even inform you before coming. Life was sweet then. When I grew up in Rivers, it didn’t matter whether I am originally from Imo or not. In Jos, I lived with the Hausa and made friends there. We treated everyone as human beings.
What do you think is responsible for the falling standard of living in the country?
Bad leadership. It is becoming obvious that the amalgamation of Nigeria was not what God wanted for us. It was man-made for the British and their trade. However, God is still in control.
Do you think Nigeria would have been better if each region was allowed to develop at its pace as it was before independence?
It is very obvious. We saw the groundnut pyramids in the North. In the East, we saw palm produce. Every region strived to make sure it had something it was known for. But now, everything has changed. What a shame!
You were 25 years old when the Civil War began in 1967. What did you do to survive the war?
I was posted to the Elele area, so while the war was on, I was producing crude until the Federal Government overran the Biafran army.
Were you captured?
No. I helped the villages to move to safer areas. As a young man, I defended Biafra. The Biafran army saw that I was resourceful, so I joined them.
Did you use arms?
No, I didn’t. I was more of an administrator.
What did you do during your first year of retirement?
I spent 34 years, six months, and five days at Shell before I retired. At the point of entry at Shell, the date of birth of a new employee is documented and when that employee attains the age of retirement, the company prepares them. So, retirement did not come as a surprise. I knew I would leave at a certain age. I rose to the middle-management level.
At 80, how do you keep fit?
I see myself as an old man but my children think I am still young. A normal day for me begins at 5am with a morning devotion. I retired as a reverend canon; my father was just a catechist, so it gives me joy. I drive myself; I didn’t employ a driver and I drive fast. Also, I will advise people to mind what they eat. Our forefathers ate things they produced on their farms but the current generation eats all kinds of fast foods, including noodles. It is also good to check one’s health status regularly. However, we need to trust God as our healer.
Do you have any regrets?
I thought I would fly a plane someday. When I went to Scotland, I thought I would have the opportunity to do some training and learn how to fly a plane. That is one thing I haven’t achieved. At 80, I will love to fly a plane if given an opportunity.
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