Nigerians Condole the Okowa’s, Pay Tribute to Pa Okowa

OWA-ALERO/Nigeria: Following the demise of Pa Okorie Okowa, father of Delta governor, Senator (Dr). Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday, sympathisers thronged the Owa-Alero residence of the deceased octogenarian in Ika North East Local Government Area on Friday, to commiserate with the first family of the state.

The sympathisers were received by the governor, his wife, Edith and other members of the family.

Among them were the Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II; members of Owa Council of Chiefs led by Chief Kenneth Okocha; Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Alli; Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Kingsley Esiso; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Chiedu Ebie and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Chief David Edevbie.

Others were founder of, DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi; former Acting Governor of Delta, Rt. Hon. Sam Obi; the Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Asaba, Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Idris, Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare; Economic Adviser to the governor, Dr. Kingsley Emu and Delta North Chairman of PDP, Mr Moses Iduh.

They also included the member representing Ika South Constituency in Delta House of Assembly, Mr Festus Okoh; Chairman of SUBEB, Mr Sunny Ogwu; Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, Dr Festus Okubor, Chief Lawrence Osiegbu and members of Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Boji-Boji Owa led by Venerable Patrick Okoh.

Speaking to newsmen on behalf of Owa Council of Chiefs, the Okiroro of Owa, Justice Sylvester Ehiwario (retd.), said that as the Ojenyagbe of Owa Kingdom, late Pa Okowa was one of them.

According to him, members of Owa Council of Chiefs and the entire people of Owa Kingdom as well as Ika nation will miss him a great deal.

“He was an educational adviser. By dint of his age, he had seen a lot of things, so we relied on him for advice so much.

“He is also, the ‘Okparan’ of his village (Idumuebor) and a knight in the Anglican Church. So, he has so many things that he has packed into his life. Above all, he produced the governor of the state which is not an easy task.

“We are grateful to God for his life; we will miss him a great deal for not only was he an elderly man, he was an active elderly man.

“Everybody, especially the Obi of Owa Kingdom, will miss his advice and his support,” Ehiwario added.

On his part, Chairman of PDP, Esiso, who described the late octogenarian as a “father figure to all”, disclosed that his demise was a very sad one “in that we are obviously going to miss his fatherly advice”.

He, however, urged the governor and his siblings to take solace in the fact that their father lived a memorable life, rewarding and impactful.

On the condolence register, Chief Dokpesi wrote “the passage to great glory of our father, Arthur Okorie Okowa, came as a shock, but we take consolation in the fact that he lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.”

“He is completely fulfilled. I pray that God grants the entire family, Delta State and indeed all Nigerians, the fortitude to bear the loss.”

On Saturday, January 30, 2021, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor, some members of the House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, were amongst the dignitaries that paid the Governor and his family visit.

Others included former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay; Special Advisers, PDP leaders, chairmen and members of Boards and Commissions, Christian and Muslim religious leaders as well as community leaders.

In an interview with journalists, some of the personalities, including Sheriff Oborevwori, Aniagwu and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, said that the massive turn out of sympathisers was a clear indication that late Pa Okowa affected lives positively, adding that his legacies were enviable and legendary.

While consoling the children of the deceased octogenarian and members of his family, they urged them to im mortalise the late patriarch of the family by promoting the ideals that endeared him to humanity.

Specifically, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniagwu, said “Papa’s death was a painful exit for those of us who were directly or remotely associated with him.

“But, we are consoled by the fact that the Bible has made us to understand that there is a time and season for everything; a time to be born and a time to die.”

“I am also, consoled by the fact that Papa lived a very good life that positively touched the lives of many, including my family.”

“When you look at the children of Papa, especially His Excellency, the Governor, you can see that he (Pa Okowa) was a man who brought up his children both in the fear of the Lord and in the love of society.”

“So, he is going to be remembered for these many good things that he had done both through his children and directly. And as a community leader, he has also had cause to make a whole lot of positive difference in the lives of people in his immediate community and environs.”

On his part, the CPS, Mr. Ifeajika, paid glowing tribute to Pa Okowa, saying “he lived very well. We are all witnesses to the testimonies about his life; even when he was widowed at a young age, he wasn’t discouraged; he continued and raised his children responsibly.

“He was a good Christian of the Anglican faith and a community leader.

“For the life he lived, he touched lives, he left good legacies. The governor is one gentle man everybody wants to associate with, and obviously, he (the governor) must have gotten that quality from his father.

“Of course, you are aware that he was a teacher of note. Our prayer is that papa will rest peacefully in the bossom of the Lord.”

As at 5 p.m. on Saturday, no fewer than 600 sympathisers had signed the condolence register at the home of the deceased octogenarian. where they wrote glowingly on the achievements of Pa Okowa, and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.