Ugo Beke, the chairman of Dateline Energy, SarahFrancis and FUB Nigeria Limited, boasts of a very wealthy background, coming from a lineage where a grandparent was the first to own a car and with a dad that was a successful businessman. He had it all as a child but chooses to tread a soft path as he can’t stop fighting for the interest of the down-trodden. The trained Economist who now runs his father’s business empire was at his best when he allowed TUNDE AYANDA into his Ikoyi home where he spoke freely of his background, marriage and wish for a one Nigeria...

Can you tell us a little about your background?
I am from Rivers State, I’m Ikwere by tribe. Ikwere are the owners of Port-Harcourt. I was born in Port-Harcourt, but I was conceived in Lagos (laughs). That was the story they told us. My mother was a housewife but she used to run my dad’s hotel and bakery, the Universal Hotel and Bakery in Port-Harcourt. My father was a traditional ruler and the largest properties owner in the whole of South-South. He was a famous industrialist and most of his businesses are what we have today. He is the late Chief Francis Beke. He was the owner of Eastern Wrought Iron and a chain of companies. I am his second son and was formerly a banker with a Merchant bank before I left in 1992.

What prompted your leaving the banking industry?
It was my father’s death. When he died, I was the eldest son around, my brother was abroad then, so I was the one the lot fell on to handle his businesses.

Can you remember a memorable childhood experience?
My most memorable childhood experience was when I had double promotion; I was promoted from class Five in primary school to class One in secondary school which denied me the Primary School Leaving Certificate. Again, I was also given a double promotion from class One to class Three, but my mother refused. She believed I was moving too fast because my brother and eldest sister then were three classes ahead of me but I caught up with them and surpassed them. I can never forget that.

How has your background determined who you are?
I give God the glory because I am one of the privileged people coming from four generations behind. My great-grandfather was a wealthy man, my mother’s dad was the richest man from my tribe. As at that time, he was the first Rivers man to buy a car in 1920. Their family also produced the first Customs officer in Nigeria, you can see how rich my lineage is in history. I had a close relationship with my dad, I was his favorite child and he saw himself in me through my brilliance in school. He wasn’t well educated like his own father, he didn t have the opportunity, so he believed I am what he ought to have been. But funnily, I was very rebellious, that is how nature works (laughs). If you look at the lineage of Jesus Christ, you will see he has a very wealthy lineage, but he came and died for the masses; likewise me, I challenged the system and that is why people call me the Prince of the masses in Niger-Delta where I come from. I am very sensitive to the

interest of the common people. I once involved in politics, I wanted to contest for the Governorship election but it was at a period that the political climate and culture was fouled. I’m not a violent person but I like to serve my people. I always strive to protect the less-privileged and pray this country will be fair to them. Out of every evil comes a Messiah and out of every goodness comes an evil, it’s the creation of good and bad. God created me to change the system, my father was very influential, my grandparents were, they had slaves and servants, so it was out of this structure that God brought me to rebel against the system or probably to instil humaneness. A lot of people ask me why I choose to stay with the common people, even my Governor-friends, but I believe it’s the way God created me to have a sympathy for the people.

You are into oil and gas, properties, manufacturing and haulage, how do you put all these under your fingers?
I delegate duties, my haulage business is being run by my wife, the oil and gas company is being operated by my managers. I have over two hundred people working for me, so I delegate duties to them, but my favorite vocation is politics. My idea of politics is not necessarily to contest for a position but to try as much as I can to touch the lives of the less-privileged; in politics you must have a goal, a goal that will benefit the people.

Your state is plagued with violence, militancy and kidnapping, you play politics and you are a popular figure, don’t you, at times, fear being kidnapped?
I’ve had my own share of the violence. You can remember the SDP/NRC era, I was supposed to become the national publicity secretary of NRC but I was the first casualty; I was attacked by seven armed men believed to have been sent by political opponents but I escaped because my hands are always clean. I’m not a violent person. Some six months after the attack, I survived another attack when thirteen men armed with AK-47 attacked my house in Port Harcourt. These all came because I have always been a vocal critic of bad government policies; I like probity, accountability and transparency, I also extend this to my personal businesses, let alone government. I was the first person to predict what would happen in the Niger Delta. You can source for that in the newspapers, I predicted it. Though I do not subscribe to violence and criminal activities, but the government needs to be responsive to the needs of the people. I go home often because I have large business concerns there; 90 per cent of the business is in Port Harcourt, so I always go home to consult with my brothers. I go home for family meetings and hobnob with my political associates.

Without a fear of getting kidnapped?
There is a saying in my place, person wey no carry anything no dey break anything (laughs).

What lesson has life taught you?
I’ve been around for a long time, especially in Lagos. At times, when people ask me where I come from, I would tell them that I’m a Lagosian; I’ve been around pretty long. Life has taught me not to be selfish, everything shouldn’t be about me; another good lesson is that I should be who I am. I don’t try to impress anybody, the only person I would like to impress is God, not even my father or mother, they are both dead and I’m now a complete orphan. It’s God that keeps me alive and what I try to teach my children is the fear of God, I think that is the most important thing and I’m happy my children imbibe that. I have a son who is almost a pastor and I’m grateful to God.

While growing up, who was the person you looked up to?
In form of a role model?

Yes.
My role model after Jesus Christ is Nelson Mandela, he is a symbol of what I would have loved to be.

What’s a normal day like for you?
I wake up by 6 am, say my morning prayer; in my bathroom, I say another prayer because I like to say my prayer when I am in my natural form before God. Thereafter I come downstairs into my study to look at the paper works brought in by my managers; I, then, have my meetings. At times, I go to my office or garage if there is need for it.

What about relaxation?
I relax with my mind free, devoid of any worries or problems, I read papers and books a lot, watch a little of TV. Weekends is like an agreement between me and my wife to go out, though it’s not everytime, but most times we go to parties, we go clubbing.

Clubbing with madam?
Yes now! Or do you think we are old? (Laughs) Wait till we get to the dance floor, we go to places like La Casa, Auto Point and Tribeca.

Tell us about your wife, where did you meet and what was the attraction?
I met my wife at a friend’s party, that was when my friend, Mrs. Roselyn Usisi, became an AIG in the police and they were celebrating it for her. My wife was about the youngest lady there and I was like the youngest guy too. She was very beautiful and the only lady there that was not willing to dance with anybody. I tried to get her attention; later, I pulled on the courage and approached her to dance with me. I murmured to her not to disgrace me because people were watching and she thought that I was funny. After the party, I didn’t see her again for a long time, she was then a banker and I was also a banker, but as professional colleagues, nature brought us back again (laughs). It wasn’t easy, I must confess.

What’s her name?
Her name is Caroline Ugo-Beke, we have two children, Tochi and Kasi, Tochi is 15 and Kasi 13.

You’ve been married for a while now, what do you think has sustained your marriage?
God. We are both God-fearing, though she goes to church more than I. Most of my friends, even my enemies, can attest to it that I’m God-fearing and I’m also happy this extends to our children. They are very good and obedient.

Tell us about your educational background
My primary school was at Port Harcourt, secondary at County Grammar School, Ikwereje. Later, I went to England for my ‘A’ levels, my degree courses in Economics; later, I did Law and Political Science.

What is your greatest wish?
My biggest wish in life is to see a Nigeria so blessed by God, loved by all and we will be proud to say we are Nigerians,  a Nigeria that is based on justice, equality, accountability, responsibilty and where we can love and tolerate one another.