It was the regular Easter home-coming for Mater Pioneers that the rumoured death of Monsieur Emma Edu was confirmed. Mater Pioneers are the first set of freshers who disvirgined the Mater Ecclesiae seminary, Nguru Mbaise in the present Ahiara Catholic Diocese.
For those willing to take priesthood as a vocation in the Catholic Church, junior seminary remains the first bus stop for intending aspirants in their pursuit of academic qualifications. The coming of Mater Ecclesiae Seminary was necessitated by the creation of Orlu Catholic Diocese. Before Orlu was divorced from the mother Owerri Diocese, St Mary’s Seminary, Umuowa Orlu was the formatory centre where freshers willing to the become priests undertook their first year, called class one in orthodox post primary schools, before proceeding to ageless St Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala, for the rest of their secondary school career.
The creation of Orlu Diocese saw Owerri Diocese establishing another minor seminary for formatory stage at Nguru, called Mater Ecclesiae, as Mbaise was then part of the Owerri Catholic Diocese church. Remarkably, about 162 of us became the first set of students to experience life in the school that is located near Afor Ajala market in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise local government area, under the guidance of Fr Rector, Eugene Azorji and our amiable and lovable tutor, Rev (Dr) Fr Mark Njoku who was just ordained a priest. We became the unique Mater number one students, the 82 set, fondly called Mater pioneers. We use to have regular meetings tagged “Mater Pioneers home coming’ which holds during Easter, Christmas and long vacation of July/August every year.
However, this year’s Easter home coming held on Tuesday 22nd April at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, where one of us, a Priest of the Owerri Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr Victor Eleba took charge, wore a different shape as sorrow, tears sad feelings became prominent. The central theme that dominated discussion at the gathering was the shocking death of our revered but dreaded French teacher, Emma Edu, fondly “Monsieur” Mayaki.
The history of Mater Pioneers and indeed those who passed through St Peter Claver Seminary, SPCS, Okpala in the middle 80s cannot be written without mentioning Monsieur Edu, especially the Impact he created during our formative stages.
For us the Mater Pioneers, we had several things in common with the “Monsieur” as his strict disciplinary measures reinforced our mental psychology about academic pursuit. To expand the knowledge of the young seminarians in other languages different from our traditional English and Igbo, Latin and French became part of the core subjects taught in the seminary. The late Edu was brought into take us on French language beginning with the Mater Pioneers where his classes were the beginning of wisdom for the 82′ set.
At this year’s Easter meeting, we were told that the corpse has been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, mortuary, everybody present recalled with nostalgic feeling our different encounters and experiences with the tall and dark skinned Monsieur Edu.
Despite the regimented structure of seminary life and the knack by the formators to institute discipline and good behaviours to the freshers, Monsieur Edu was the most dreaded amongst all tutors. Reasons for this are not farfetched. Monsieur Edu as a thoroughbred disciplinarian and no-nonsense teacher was a spectacle to behold when handling French classes. Apart from his theatrical displays to complement the rather unfamiliar cacophony French tunes, failing to answer Edu’s questions in French classes attracted disciplinary sanctions in form of cane strokes.
Edu was a terror to behold in the expansive seminary compound. A notice on class time-table that Edu’s French class would be coming on a day brought about involuntary trembling and quivering on the part of students forcing some to rush to the school sick-bay to take emergency drugs and permit to avoid the expected regular caning. However, I remained one of the worst hit by Monsieur Edu’s high handedness. His penchant for putting me on the target as one of the blacklisted students made me to also play truant by shunning his classes. My baptismal name “Laserian” exposed me to the French teacher who developed joy in pronouncing it.
The name Laserian was my identity rather than Kelechi in the seminary Monsieur Edu pronounced it in a fanciful French phonetics to attract attention. However, the “Laserian” name earned me questions during French classes and incorrect responses were matched with strokes of cane at my backside. When the constant sanctions became unbearable, I devised to join majority of my classmates play truant in order to avoid Laserian being summoned always to answer questions during French classes.
However, my escapist tendency gave rise to more troubles when the “French Master” as he was fondly called observed my continuous absence from his classes. One day, he inquired from the entire class about my whereabout and went further to notice that others avoided French classes too. Terrified at his outburst which was communicated to me, I pretended to be sick and approached the school authorities for permission and exit card for homeward movement.
It was the late French teacher that first taught me that “one cannot avoid an evil day when it is destined to occur”. In spite of all tactics to avoid Edu, I still returned to be part of his dreaded class. I discovered that the only solution available to avoid his punitive measures was to read my books and ensure I did not skip studies to be perfect in all subjects. At last, we applied one of the revolutionary songs sang during the early seminary days that starts with “we shall overcome” and made French one of our favourite subjects. With time I became proficient in French language and overcame the Monsieur Mayaki-phobia like Chikezie Igwe Ishiokpi, Dr Chiedo Achonwa, Ref Fr Matthew Okey Iwuji, Innocent Aguwom, a cleric who later quit the priesthood Rev Desmnd Arishi (Nonorom) Okpuru and many others .
It is common to hear Edu’s cane splash on pupils’ buttocks from a far. The dead teacher during his lifetime has the love for requesting his victim to count one to twenty in French language. It is also normal to hear a pupil wailing in gibberish terms while saying un, doux, tori, quart ……..
The trepidation became much that everyone suffered from Monsieur phobia. It even led some to voluntarily quit from Mater Ecclesiae after the first term to avoid Edu’s cane punishment. While those who could not face the Monsieur decided to play truant, others were obliged to wear double or triple shorts to Edu’s French classes and when he stick starts thundering, the noise oozing from the buttocks will quantify the number of shorts worn by the pupils before the white and white school uniform.
Ironically, when we left Mater Ecclesiae to SPCS, Okpala for class two, Edu was also transferred and had to join us to the school where we met Rev Fr Dr Onwuanibe and later rev Fr Dr Anthony Onyeocha as Rectors. Edu continued to unleash terror on us. To avoid his lashes, French became our next language after Igbo and English. Despite that every seminarian needs to pass Latin and obtain a Diploma certificate in the language that is familiar and official language of the Catholic, majority of us spoke French fluently, courtesy of Edu.
Edu belongs to the cadre of disciplinarians who shaped our life from the formative stages. The late French Master can be ranked with a priest of the Ahiara Diocese, Rev Fr Celestine Anyanwu popularly known as De Nwu-Nwu. The Nwu-Nwu is another great formator that laid solid foundation for our sound mental and physical upbringing. Edu’s approach forced us to be very close to our books always. We never lost sight of our French books and considered if primus inter pares among the subjects studied in the seminary during our days.
It is for at these that the Mater Pioneers gathered last Tuesday to not only recall fond memories of the unique monsieur, but also pay glowing tributes to the foremost French teacher of our times. While efforts are on to give him a befitting burial despite his shrouded identity especially his country and state of origin, the Mater Pioneers present had good things to say about Monsieur Edu and have opened a facebook page in honour of the late teacher. Some of the old boys present like Bedrock “Nkuputa” Njoku, Sir Kizito “Kiziass” Nweke, (KSJ) Uche “President” Obaasi, Alloy “Baboon” Eleonu, Rev Fr Victor “Elebaraba” Eleba, “Ndaa” Martin Osuji and my humble self, Laserian “Lasesco General” Mejuobi relish the memories we have about the wonderful Monsieur Edu that we used to taunt as Monsieur Mayaki . The name Mayaki was adopted from the text of a popular French book for secondary school students where the name was predominantly used for illustration and examples.
Incidentally, the Mater Pioneers are facing difficulties in giving the late Edu a deserved burial because of his unknown roots and place of origin. After we left SPCS, Okpala, Edu was said to have taught for a while there before picking teaching jobs in various schools in Imo state. It was even reported that he published French books and lectured in private schools should avail us to give. Anybody with useful information about his origin the late teacher gets a befitting eternal rest. We.
While some say he is from one of the nearby French speaking countries of either Togo or Cameroon, others believed Obudu or Ikom in Cross River is his place of origin. Till the true identity of where he hails from is ascertained, I say Adieu Monsieur and may your soul rest in peace as the search for your place of origin continues.
What the Mater Pioneers said about the Monsieur
Camelot Epiphanes: Oyibo, Emma Edu is dead? When did he die & when is the burial.
Ohagwam Rollyns: My dear we learnt he died last week at the federal medical centre owerri. We dont know d exact date for d burial but as d details emerge we shall keep all informed.
Eleonu Okechukwu Aloy: May his soul rest in peace. Is the meeting holding om Monday or
Chima Lucky Amadi: Oh my french lecturer,un deux trois commence,run round the table,may his gentle soul rest in peace
Ohagwam Rollyns: TUESDAY 2PM
Eleonu Okechukwu Aloy: IG Egbuchulem sent a text for monday. I think that is more realistic because Tuesday is a working day.
Ukah Cletus Sunny: Pls Monday is better. Oyibo see what you can do about this change.
Ohagwam Rollyns: Bongi we actually would have preferred Monday but with the various activities lined up for that day like weddings etc. The clergy among us pleaded that we leave out that day to enable them carry out their religious duty. Moreover the venue of the meeting(ASSUMPTA) would be chocked up with mass wedding. Pls try and adjust cos I look forward to seeing u that day. It has been long
Peter Ogwuegbu Chukwudi: Monsieur Emma Edu, notre professeur de francais, que votre ame repose en paix
Chima M. Amadi: Sad indeed. May his soul rest in peace.
Ukah Cletus Sunny: Ok. I will what i can do.
Chibueze Iheukwumere C Ihejirika: Welldone Guys! May his Soul rest in the bossom of the Lord! Please keep all posted with plans.
Chuks Chimeziri: Oyibs, this time is not convenient at all. i was looking forward to attending this meeting. as a matter of fact i kept 21st free knowing that’s when we usually meet. as it is, i won’t be able make it. you guys let us know what you decide. May his soul rest in peace.
Osita Chiagorom: May his soul rest in peace! I remember the last time I saw him was in 1996 in ikenegbu layout. Its a pity!
Stan Aguwa: May his soul rest in peace. He was a great teacher…
Hrm OC Nwachukwu: Oh no .. He was one of the greatest French teacher ever.. Rip Mr Edu.. Chai..
Eleba Ikechi Victor: Awwwww!!! always in our hearts… Emma Edu rest in peace!
Ohagwam Rollyns: My heart bleeds! What a cruel world! Death where is thy sting? I saw monsieur Êmma last in 1987. Ever since then I had always wished to meet him again. Friends often told me the saw him and each time I heard this my anxiety and desire to meet him increased. If only I had the chance of meeting him even on his sick bed, I would have surely been a fulfiled man. But now am heart broken! I can still remember with nostalgia his trademark sunshade and his afro hair style which was in vogue then. Guys please lets play a role in his burial! By so doing, people like me who are greatly pained by his untimely demise will be relieved of the anguish of this great loss. Please any one with information about his family should please oblige same to all so that we can do something no matter how little. May his soul rest in peace. Amen!
Kelechi Mejuobi: Adieu great Monsieur
Blaise Chikere: waoo, rest in peace Monsieur!
Joseph Kennedy: Nice man he was,,,,, May the Great Lord grant him eternal Rest !!!
Joachin Onwu: May God grant his soul eternal rest. Amen.
John Waya: Such a Nice man…Rest in Peace Monsieur
Chima Lucky Amadi: we will miss such a gentle man,his tall frame and smiling face echoes in my memory,he made me love french,adieu monsieur Emma Edu
