The Okrika Gramar School Old Boys Association (OGSOBA) has concluded plans to embark on National Re-union/convention with its theme, “Come and Relive your youthful Days in OGS”, come November, 2012.
According to a letter of request which was duly signed by the chairman of the committee, Engr. Derafaka Daso and sent to all sections (Ancients, Medical and modern old boys), the letter maintained that the National Convention/Re-Union would mark the 72nd year of OGS from 1940-2012.
According to the letter, programme of events would include, welcome night, novelty football, courtesy call to the governor of Rivers State and public lecture, among others.
Other events include: class reunion meetings, convention/election, dinner Awards night and thanksgiving service. The statement enjoined well-meaning old boys of OGS to participate and contribute anything in kind or cash to the account number 20042197588 First Bank PLC Okrika Grammar School Old Boys Association or call Raymond Chinda on 08033107478, Barry Eka 07032220978, Hon. M.E. Onwukwe 08039126889, and Engr. D. Daso 08022234414.
Meanwhile, over the years, the Old Boys have been maintaining that the Rivers State government should take the school to its status-quo, pointing out that the handing over of the school to the St. Peter’s Cathedral was done without due process.
It would be recalled that some years ago, one chief Gladden Ben-Wakama challenged the state government and the missionary management. Chief Ben posited that even the St. Peters Church was built by the chiefs and people of the 9 clans of Wakirike Bese, adding that the OGS land was provided by one Chief Apiafi George as all and sundry participated in bush clearing without the involvement of the church.
Chief Ben-Wakama recalled that the school was later handed over to the missionary by the then Chiefs and people of Wakirike Bese for administrative and disciplinary purposes, as people had full respect and regards for the gospel missions.
He argued that such improper way of handing over OGS to the mission without due consultation of the people and chiefs of Wakirike was illegal, pointing out that as it is now the St. Peter itself cannot maintain or renovate the schools infrastructure, let alone the purposes of science and modern day computer equipment.
He further stood on the fact that it is the Wakirike Bese that has right to claim ownership of the said school, including the St. Peter itself as both lands were freely released.
We gathered that the present OGS Old Boys Association under the leadership of Prof. Opuwaribo once sent an emissary to his Lord Bishop, Rt. Rev. Tubokosemie Abere to create ways of harmonizing the true position of ownership, but the body came with the feed-back that ownership of OGS remained sacrosanct.
The Old Boys of Okrika Grammar School are however appealing to the government of Rivers State to revisit the handing over, as the mission cannot handle the school financially as a result of decaying infrastructure and subsequent invasion of Fulani herdsmen in Okrika, thereby making the school’s premises an animal farmland. ###
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