For someone who has spent several years working for, and retired honourably from a multinational oil company, a period that afforded him travel to choice cities of the world, it was a pleasant surprise to many that in retirement he has chosen to relocate to his hometown to dedicate the rest of his life to community development service…
Mr. Philip Kamshere Moses, popularly known as PK Moses, had every opportunity that could see him removed far away from Igarra, his hometown; but he chose to pitch his tent with his people, the people of Akoko-Edo LGA and use his wealth of experience in the area of science, farming and humanitarian activities to help his people
In this interview with Akoko Edo Community Newspaper’s editor, Albert Afeso Akanbi, he bares his mind on his motivation for community service and a range of other issues.
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: Can we get to meet you sir?
P. K MOSES: Thank for having me. My name is Philip Kamshere Moses; simply PK. People call me P K. I’m in my mid-60s, and I’m a retiree of Exxon Mobil or Mobil Producing Nigeria to be precise. I retired in Eket, Akwa Ibom State in 2016, and stayed back for two years on company request in order to continue to render service.
Why I choose to relocate to Igarra ?
I’ve loved Igarra from day one. My parents brought us on visits to Igarra when were very young. I was born in Ibadan where I grew up and schooled. Almost every other year, my parents brought us to Igarra on holidays and that made us to get used to Igarra and endeared Igarra to us. We got used to the environment, and that never left my mind. My dad retired as a police officer and he relocated to Igarra. So, that sort of brought us very close to Igarra as a family. I’d say, to the glory of God I’ve seen the good side of life. I’ve travelled to different parts of the world, US, Australia and other places, very very fascinating places to be; but you see, there is nowhere like your home! Nowhere like your home, even though it is rural, rustic…but I tell you it is a different atmosphere. So, I’ve always loved the people and the language. When I retired, I had the option of actually relocating to the US. Many of my retiree friends and colleagues, are in the USA today. Many had asked, PK, why not come to US, Canada… at this my age, retire to the US? I could afford it but when I wake up in there, what will I be doing at this my age? What value will I add to the society there? Yeah, I’ll see good houses, beautiful roads and everything and that is it…no, but back at home I know the condition of my people. I’m a Christian, my vision is to support rural ministers.
You see, one of my passions is science. I do a lot of experiments, design electronic systems, and a lot of things. I felt there are things I could do to simplify life for our rural communities. I was into Solar Renewable Energy, and I set it up in my house and virtually run everything. So, I felt, ok, in the villages, in our village, people still use lantern in some places, complete darkness; so, I could come back home and see how I can impact the community in a way. I also love to do gospel work.
I later got involved with farming, green house farming, when I got to Igarra. I just felt that with the wealth of experience I’ve acquired working for a multinational company, I think my life will be better served as well as have greater fulfilment giving something to helping the community to rise up, rather than going to an already developed society. If we stay away, who will develop Igarra for us? Somebody developed those places our people are now migrating to. So, I felt, let’s do something, let me come to Igarra. That’s how I retired and came to Igarra. Along the line I picked up interest in farming, because one of the challenges we were having was, our people going far to the forests and other places to do their farm work.
I have travelled abroad and seen many things that I wish we could replicate and bring back to Nigeria, back to Africa, and back in Igarra. I felt we can start something which we can introduce to our people so that they don’t have to go into all these conventional, laborious and inefficient ways of farming. So that was the vision I had, which I felt we can transmit to our people. Those are some of the things that propelled my choice of coming to Igarra. I had other places I could stay in, I have a property in Eket like you know, I mean, Port Harcourt; but besides that, as a retiree there is nowhere like home. Elsewhere, even though in Nigeria, you are a non-native. But here, nobody can say ‘’hey, commot, you no be from here… go your papa place.’’ I am fully on ground here, so I love it. I think that answers your question (laughs)
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: What was your growing up like, which schools did you attend, and who were the community leaders that you looked up to in those days?
P. K MOSES: Like I said, I was born in Western Nigeria, Ibadan specifically. I grew up in the west for the good part of my growing life. Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s name was all over the place, his selfless services; he was an inspiration. In terms of mortals, people around us, I think Chief Obafemi Awolowo was incomparable. And of course, my parents; my parents loved every one of us siblings and my dad would always say that wherever he wasn’t able to reach, his dream is that we will get beyond it. His lifestyle was phenomenal. I don’t want to tell you a lot of things about him; I don’t want to praise too much. I never saw my dad in vices, drunkenness, all kinds of things and so that was my model.
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: Apart from the names you have mentioned, are there teachers who made an impact on you growing up?
P.K MOSES: I had so many teachers, but none in particular made a special impact. I was an indigent student. Then we were just struggling by ourselves, those days; you see,things have changed. That time you finished school, you were the one, looking for opportunities – Admission, this and that; so, in terms of teachers I had no special teacher because I was a bit of an introvert then. I could be in class for a week and you won’t know this guy is around. So… (laughs)
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: Despite economic challenges, Akoko Edo indigenes were in those days regarded as a barometer for high morals and integrity. Does that still hold true today? If no, what do you think is the problem?
P. K MOSES: Those days, yes, I mean, Akoko-Edo, Edo State; it was a pride to say I am from Edo State. In those days, when it comes to national events, sports…even academics, Edo State and Akoko-Edo were always in the limelight. You get it? You hear of Saint Paul Anglican Grammar School Igarra; fantastic! Is it so today? No! No! Sadly, no! But it’s not just Akoko-Edo, anyways, it’s a national malaise. But for Akoko-Edo, it’s a sorry situation, it’s a sorry state. Probably that is one of the reasons, like I said, some of us said let’s relocate, let’s see what can be done, let’s see if things can be brought back, I mean, I’m nobody but little light…So the story has changed.
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: Does that explain why Akoko-Edo is still considered backward? While some local government areas that were created almost at the same time, like in Etsako, have been split into more local governments areas Akoko-Edo still remains one large LGA? What do you think is the problem?
P.K MOSES: Yes, we are still so because as you know, in Nigerian politics, what influences some of these local Government creations, includes having top people at the decision-making level. Maybe we never had people who could speak for us and stand on our behalf. Like I said, I grew up in the west, so I wasn’t familiar with the who is who in Akoko-Edo. But I think, I don’t believe in blaming anybody but ourselves for our situation. You get it? I can say for Igarra, I am sorry to say this, there is a kind of division; this clannish thing that have set us back here in Igarra. And probably the same thing, can be juxtaposed across Akoko-Edo. How does an Ibillo man see an Igarra man? Do we see ourselves as brothers; as a team? Can we bond together? When we go outside of here can we work together?
Akoko-Edo people are in Abuja and all over the country; do they really collaborate out there? Do they work together to draw government presence and attention here? Or everybody is looking at his community, and at the community we are looking at our own clan? That might be a reason. I believe that for Akoko-Edo to develop, individuals that God has blessed should think of doing something here, however small.
Generally speaking, nobody wants to spend money where they won’t get reasonable returns. We say Akoko-Edo is big, but what impact are we adding or making to Edo State in general? Well, I don’t know, I may be wrong, but that’s the way I see it. Let us look at this scenario; imagine that I’m a governor; though as a father of the state I am not supposed to discriminate, I know of this local government that is adding so much money to my revenue base; I am going to pay attention to it. But if there’s another local government that is just a consuming local government so to say, and making demands, won’t I be tempted to ask what impact they are contributing to the overall GDP of the State? So, we should put on our thinking cap on how and what we can do to develop our environment. When we can do our own part and we are strong, the State will pay attention; they will know that look, you can’t play with these people.
I’m not a politician, I’m not anything, but I will express my opinion on some political developments here. I’ve never met Apatason in person. But right now, I admire that man! You know why? Because I see his footprints or signs everywhere. You see some of his projects. I had a Senator from here, I’m sorry I’m saying this openly, for me his legacies are moribund. I don’t belong to any political party, I don’t know any of them, whoever delivers, wins my heart.
There was a time we were struggling; remember when those trailers were destroying our roads, we never saw any politicians around. Some of us stuck out our necks and everything, we didn’t see any of them around. That’s Akoko-Edo for you. We were doing PVC sensitization and campaign three, four months ago, when the turnout was very very low; INEC people were complaining, we never saw anybody or any of them around. Now it’s time for campaign for elective positions, see their posters everywhere. We are too selfish; we only rise up when our personal interest is involved. Our people who are outside need to think of getting involved home. I know that it is common across African societies to have some fear of villages or hometowns. There is this idea of “witch dey my village, if I go…this one wey go last two years don die. I used to tell people that the era of witches and wizards has expired. People should come home, be bold and do something. (laughs)
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: Talking about people abroad sir, why do you think most of our people, especially those in the Diaspora claim to be from some other tribes? Do you subscribe to the current movement that that should be changed?
P. K MOSES: In the olden days, in the days of Western Region and Midwestern Regions, we were more towards the West. Chief Awolowo and the western influence was real on us. If you look at church formation even in the early days, (Afe) Babalola (the founder of Christ Apostolic Church, (CAC) then, came into as far as Igarra. So, we were close to the west, they were more advanced and everybody goes along with good things, So, just like you said, we have people that bear Yoruba names and if you say “Wa, shey Alafia ni?” he doesn’t even know what you are saying but he is bearing Yoruba names (laughs). But I think it is because of our affinity with the West. But I am one of those who believe that we should change that now. We should have our identity. In fact, my children all have native names. I however don’t agree with your assertion that most of our people in the diaspora prefer to identify with other tribes.
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: How do you think Akoko-Edo political leaders have impacted the people of the area?
P. K MOSES: How our politicians have impacted us? You see, they are all the same! Good enough you said you weren’t going to ask me about political parties; they are all the same. Kettle and pot, black. How they’ve impacted us, Akoko-Edo, sadly, not in any measurable way. I’ve just mentioned a case. You see, for me, with the little I know, currently among the rest, Akpatason as impacted Akoko-Edo more than any other person that I know of. I am looking at the structure on ground. But he could do better. You see, when they get to Abuja they develop a set of friendship that they forget home. They owe us that duty of reporting to us what they are doing on our behalf over there, whether monthly or whatever it is. None of them, I have never seen any of them, since I’ve been in Igarra for the past two years, I have never set my eyes on one politician…you get it? So, if you say how they’ve impacted us, I think very very little.
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: We have been following your work in the area of community development since you came home, what is your major motivation?
P. K MOSES: Well, I will say it’s my faith in God. Before I retired, I had a valid US visa, my US visa and my wife’s expired February this year, 2022. I never travelled with it. Covid 19 was raging. My wife and I had valid visas, we could have left here, but no! What influenced that again, I think is the person I am following, Jesus Christ! Like you said, I believe a man’s life is not dependent on the abundance of what he has, we leave everything behind. It is what we do for God, for others, that counts at last. I have seen great men, people that have money, that have everything, even my colleagues I worked with, they travelled abroad. I’ve seen that at the end of the day, everything is vanity upon vanity, so why would I expend my life chasing all these things? So, deep in my mind, I felt that like Christ said “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. So, whatever I know is good I’ll do it. That’s what drives me; it’s my faith that drives me. And again, like I said, why would you enjoy yourself when other people around need it?
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: Have you ever been discouraged in your line of community service? Have you ever felt like calling it quit? What are the challenges you face in carrying out this chosen path of yours in Akoko-Edo?
P. K MOSES: Yes, I have, but not to the point of making me to want to give up, because I know it is part of life. Jesus Christ whom I follow had people say both complimentary and uncomplimentary things about him. So, there are people with varied opinions and comments about me. I have heard that in Igarra here. But again, because I know who I am looking unto, not at people. If I should look at people, I should have had a few reasons for me to say let me quit some things. I will say this because I am just plain like that, honestly speaking. Even the association I belong to, sometimes you are bringing up ideas that you believe is for the good of this association, is for the good of Akoko-Edo, is for the good of Igarra. You thought of something that is…no body is following up, nobody is responding, nobody is doing anything…so you just ask yourself, is it that I’m alone? It’s like I’m in a strange place; so, maybe I should just give up. Do you get it? You keep quiet for some time, but then there is a passion in you…you say no, we can’t just continue like this (laughs)…so you open up again, you can’t stop. So, yes there are challenges.
AKOKO EDO NEWSPAPER: On a final note sir, what is your advice to the people of Akoko-Edo LGA?
P. K MOSES: My advice for Akoko-Edo people? (Laughs) hmm, for Igarra people eh, every Igarra man will tell you, let’s forget…certain things helped our forefathers in their administration those days. Division into families, to clans, to these things, it helped them at that time, but today the world is different. We are evolving. Anybody that wants to use an old system to govern in a modern society, will run into problems. So, there are certain things; some people are carrying over relics, do you get? So let this be broadcast to everybody, some people are still carrying relics of the past to administer the society, let that change.
For Akoko-Edo generally, lets believe in ourselves. We are building a system where it will be eventually difficult for any community to marginalize any other community. Eventually, that is where I value Akoko Edo Forum a lot. Let’s work together, lets team together, we have a common enemy that we all have to fight together against. So, like we say Akoko-Edo is the oldest, let’s work together to see what we can do, so that there will be other local governments created out of Akoko-Edo. Let’s avoid those mutual suspicions. It’s not going to help us. I am ready to support anybody from anywhere, whether from Ososo or from anywhere, I have had to pay money for some people going to other places to come and register for their permanent voters’ card (PVC). I don’t care where you come from, so long as you are from Akoko-Edo. Let’s love one another, that’s all I will say
