Draft:Frederick Abiye Agama

Frederick Abiye Temesuozigha Agama (c. 20 October, 1917) commonly known as Frederick Abiye Agama, is a Nigerian traditional ruler and the Ogbotom Edede VI of the Atissa in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He was born on 20 October, 1917 as the only child in Yenaka, Yenagoa to father, Boie Agama.

Agama is a descent of Ijaw and had his education in Awka, Anambra State. He left Awka to his homeland at 18 and to Abia State, where he attended Government Secondary School, Umuahia from 1945 to 1952. After his education, he went to the UK in 1953, and married Beatrice Agama (née Porbeni). The couple lived in Southampton, where he obtained his BSc in Economics from the University of Southampton and later, his MSc in Statistical Economics from the University of London in 1957. Influenced by Mbonu Ojike, he became an anti-colonialist and nationalist for the Ijaw tribe in Nigeria.

Works

After returning from the UK in 1957, he joined the Western Nigeria Educational Service, of the Colonial Nigerian Civil Service and later transferred to the Eastern Service Nigeria in 1958. He taught in Umuahia and subsequently in his native land since he was fluent in Igbo, Atissa and Ijaw language. Agama joined 'ShellBP Nigeria' in 1959, where he was the Head of Estates and Personnel manager, thus, being the first African until his retirement in 1973. Fredrick Agama, being of Ijaw stock was left in sole charge of the company’s residential and office assets on Port Harcourt (then a major theatre of the Biafra War). This is in the backdrop of complex arrangements and negotiations between the Company and the Biafra Leadership and the Nigeria Governments - to not only safeguard the company’s assets, but also to ensure partial production of oil during the conflict and to safeguard royalty payments. .. The situation was compounded by what in a now released cable dated 7th July 1967, the British High Commissioner wrote to the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth stating inter alia ‘Our interests, particularly in oil, are so great that they must override any lingering regret we may feel for the disintegration of British made Nigeria’, in Uche (2008) Shell did not lose any residential or office property as a consequence of the war.

Post war Shell BP still accounted for over 40% of Nigeria’s total oil output, which in turn accounted for 90% of the nation’s income and 25% of its GDP. Fynas (1998) described Shell’s interconnectedness to state structures, to make it impervious to political Instability. This did not exclude the judiciary it seemed. F A Agama felt ‘owed’ by Shell BP, the company did not agree. He was evicted from his residence upon his retirement in 1973. Now missing court documents, found for Shell, in a case Agama v Shell BP. (1973)

Now missing court documents, found for Shell, in a case Agama v Shell BP. (1973)

Post Retirement

Chief F. A. Agama became the first Chair of the newly formed River State Schools Management Board (1975) He was a Director of Pan African Bank, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Rivers State Tourism Committee, Chairman of the Port Harcourt Christian Council project. He was chair of the Nabele Project Elele. (Home for the Disabled). He served as a Council member of the University of Maiduguri and served on the board of the NUC (Nigerian Universities Commission). He served as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Bayelsa State Special Development fund after the formation of Bayelsa State in 2000. Chief F. A. Agama was a close friend of Prof Jibril Aminu, who he worked with first as a member of the Nigeria Universities Commission (75-79) and as a member of the University of Maiduguri Governing Council 1980–1985 Jibril Aminu was Executive Secretary.

Oil and Gas

Quoted as a co-licencee or director (with the Late O B Lulu Briggs as Chairman) of Moni-Pulo Limited. See Real Owners of Oil Fields in Nigeria None of the Financial Statements of Moni-Pulo Limited ascertained that Chief F A Agama did in fact have any active or revenue accruing shares or beneficial interest in the Business.

Family


• HRM F. A. Agama and HRM Beatrice (neé Porbeni) Agama had six children.
• Ebiye (neé Agama) Fari
Doye Tiedo Agama
Diezani Allison (neé Agama) Madueke
• Osiyo Agama
Timi Agama
Winifred (neé Agama)Jemide

Death

HRM F A Agama, Ogbotom Edede VI, died peaceful on the 4th of January 2004 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State., surrounded by family. He was 87 years old. He was succeeded as Ogbotom Edede and Ebeni-Ibe Atissa by HRM Godwin Gurosi Igodo. KSC, JP., Ogbotom Edede VII, who was crowned on the 29th of July 2006.