A-Double, as he was fondly called by many, late Elder Alson Woma Ikonne could be best described as a man of impeccable personality, a man who believed that with hard work, tenacity, and faith, you could achieve anything you wanted.
A-Double could never be shut out. No. Not when he was faced with standing his ground on whatever he believed was the truth.
When the news of his death reached me, I was not moved that much obviously because of the following reasons:
1.) He died at a celebrable age of 98.
2.) I felt it is rather a relief from the challenges of old age when he had to rely on people for almost everything, including have an ordinary bath.
3.) Because he obviously lived a fulfilled life, having achieved all his dreams including dieing a believer in Christ Jesus.
Beyond this reasons, my feelings are variably no longer the same today. I MOURN.
Yes, I mourn the death of the oldest of my direct descendant, having lost both paternal grand-parents, my parents, and his wife, my grand-mother who died some years ago before him.
I mourn the death of the man who have me the world’s best name — ‘NEWMAN’.
Sometimes, it takes to have “a rethink” and deeper meditation to realize how life has played very tricky on us.
Oh! Life has indeed played tricky on me.
The illustrious life of late Elder Alson Woma Ikonne (A-Double) began on April 20th, 1922 in Owo-Ahiafor as he was born into the family of late Mr/Mrs Ikonne Adiele. He was the only surviving son of his mother with two younger sisters.
A-Double attended so many schools where he acquired both knowledge and certificates that prepared him for life a teacher. Some of the educational institutions attended include: SDA School, Umuobiakwa, SDA School, Emii, SDA School, Aba, T.T.C Akai-Eket, N.T.C Ihie Nbawsi among others.
His teaching career, which span over thirty five years, between 1948 untill his retirement on July 31st, 1984, took him to so many places which were: Ubakala SDA School, Okpuhie SDA School, Eziama Nvosi SDA School, St. Mary’s Amaekpu-Umuohu, Ahiaba Central School, Abala Ibeme Community, Umuokpara Central School as well as Amano Umuezigbe, where he retired in 1984.
As the only son who needed to preserve the family linage, Elder Alson Woma Ikonne got married very much early in 1938, picking a very beautiful damsel as at then, late Mrs Hannah Jojo Nworie Ikonne (nee Nwokeukwu) from Osaa-Okea. His wife then became both a sister and friend, little wonder he fondly called her ‘Enyim,’ meaning My Friend and their marriage was blessed with nine children. Despite losing one his daughters to the cold hands of death, in the year 2012, eight of children are alive today to bid him farewell. He believed in healthy feeding, hence he cultivated many portions of land to supplement his income from his teaching job.
For his spiritual life, late A-Double accepted the Adventist faith at a very young age when the Seventh-Day Adventist missionaries brought adventism to Aba, in Ngwa land through Pastor Clifford and others. His parents, though not Adventist themselves, supported him, allowing him go as far as from Owo-Ahiafor to Aba headquarters of the church because there was no church yet at Owo-Ahiafor. He was an ardent Seventh-Day Adventist who regularly read his Bible to draw inspiration while he studied his sabbath school lessons as an academic text. He was always punctual to church and rarely missed any service just as was very faithful in returning his tithes, even to tithing from his farmlands and corps. To say he was happy to be a Seventh-Day Adventist, is to say the least.
To those who knew him, A-Double was an epitome of truth, punctuality and hard work. His philosophy for life was that, not attempting to do your best and too much pleasure are not concepts to be accommodated in the dictionary of any serious minded person. He related well with everyone that crossed his path while he was a very cheerful person. He loved his peace of mind.
He would be remembered for his love for christian education. In other words, the next thing he loved aside the worship of Almighty God, was education. Little wonder he made sure that all his children had the best education that he could afford for them. He sacrificed his comfort to ensure that his children went to school and he never cared what anyone could say.
Elder Alson Woma Ikonne (A-Double) was an early riser, who believed in ‘early to bed, early to rise’ philosophy. He disliked lateness. He never retired even after formal retirement from teaching in 1984 as he built a shop where he conducted business. He traded in so many goods including rice, beans, and yams; he equally sold fertilizer and cement before venturing into drinks later in life. He was a farmer and cultivated as much as 10 or more portions of farmlands, planting cassava, fluted pumpkin okra, yam, melon and so on. His yam barn was so plentiful that the community recognized him as ‘Ezeji,’ yet for his modest lifestyle he chose to return the glory to God and always asked to be prayed for on the church.
Elder Alson Woma Ikonne(A-Double) slept peacefully in the early hours of August 18, 2020 at the ripe age of ninety eight years. He was survived by his 8 children, 33 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren, among his grand sons is the Senior Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on New Media and Publicity, Mr. Ubani Newman Ubani(UNU).
May his gentle soul find peace in eternity.
ADIEU A-DOUBLE!!!
UNU,
10/11/2020
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