A section of Nigeria’s anthem which reads: “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain” manifested on Easter Sunday when the people of Taraba State converged in Bete, Takum Local Government Area, to remember the good works of one of their late fathers, Rev. Andrew Useni Bako.
If life was a movie, Bako acted his part well on the planet-stage before the final curtain.
In any movie, the actor, unlike the boss, never dies.
Bako was the actor: although he gave out his ghost, his spirit lives.
His role was evangelism, and he brought the Good News which the people of Bete said has shaped their lives.
The clergyman was born in the diminutive village of Bete on March 14, 1942 to the family of Mallam Bako Rishante and Ladi Bako. Bako’s father -a Jukum man, who got the sobriquet ‘Bako Mission’, was one of the first few people to denounce idol worship in Taraba.
The young Bako had the desire to serve God as a cleric, which was bolstered by the training he received from his parents.
In 1967, he got married to Mrs Pantuvo Bako, a teacher of Christian Religious Studies.
The good couple was blessed with eight children. One of them is Hon. Mark Useni Bako, who organised the Memorial Thanksgiving Service of the late great man of God who died of illness in 2002.
The service held at the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN) in Bete.
To immortalise the deceased, a temple in the church premises was christened Rev. Andrew Useni Bako Memorial House.
The occasion witnessed many dignitaries across the state. Among them were the deceased’s friends in the priesthood, his teachers, classmates and students. They all paid glowing tributes to the late cleric.
The crème de la crème at the event included: Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Istifanus Haruna Gbana, member, House of Representatives, Hon. Sam Tsokwa, Chief Judge of the State, Justice Josephine Tuktur, Deputy Speaker Abel Peter Diah, Chief of Staff, Mr. Garvey Yawe, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Ambassador Emmanuel Njuwah, commissioners and advisers, other members of the legislature, the head of service, permanent secretaries and chairmen of local government councils, among others. Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar was represented by the Adviser on Security Matters, Rt Group Captain Sule Gani. Other guests, mostly senior lecturers, came from Benue and other neighbouring states.
That day Bete, which is usually a rustic settlement, came alive.
The newly built church which was also dedicated to God was filled to capacity with many hanging outside.
Rev. RY Shamaki preached at the event. He said: “In this world, some people collect debts here and there. When they die their creditors will line up to register the debts.
“The late Bako brought relief to his people. He is no longer living but his name has brought us [together] here.”
He advised Hon. Mark Useni (Bako’s eldest son) to continue with the good works of his late father by using his position to open the doors for other people to better their living.
A friend and schoolmate of the late cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Nungala, said: “Bako was a spiritual man.”
He added: “I know Bako as a pupil in the primary school many years ago when he was not a pastor. He was a spiritual man and he hated lies in all his life. We called each other ‘yo’ (meaning friend). We were friends within our colony of friends.
“We moved together, even in the House of God. We also served together as members of the state Christian Pilgrims Board. Bako was always very straight forward.”
Nungala’s sad moment, however, came when “I spoke to Bako but he couldn’t answer me.”
He said: “My friend is there with God.”
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, one of Bako’s students, said the late spiritual leader was a thorough-bred scholar and arguably one of the most endowed Taraba indigenes that had the rarest privilege to school in America in those early days.
“So, Rev. Bako had just returned to Nigeria as a brilliant teacher. His accent and writing on the chalkboard were fascinating for every student to cherish. I am missing him as a teacher and mentor,” he said.
Bako’s teacher, Mallam Ibrahim, said he loved people.
“For that reason, we called him Pastor Useni Bete instead of Useni Bako. I knew him in 1953 before he became a pastor.
“But even then he behaved as though he was a clergy. He always came to discuss with me on key issues affecting the community.”
