35/XTRA
03.03.2017
Former President of Republic of Benin, Thomas Boni Yayi (1st right) and other guests at the funeral service
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Bianca Ojukwu (left) and Mrs. Gladys Ani
L-R Head of Delegation from Uganda, Lt. General Charles Angina_ ChaiirmanCEO Oil Serve Ltd, Sir Emeka Okwuosa and Ambassador Muntari Daura
L-R : Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano; former governor of the state, Lady Virgy Etiaba and Senator Andy Uba, at the funeral service for the late Pa Godfrey Egbuniwe Okwuosa at St. Jude Anglican Church, Oraifite, Anambra State...recently PHOTO CREDIT: ABIODUN AJALA
and fear God and also to be compassionate to everyone. You were indeed a generous man of immeasurable values and sterling qualities. The strong moral values you inculcated into your children has taken them to a strategic and enviable height in the society. "You were perhaps the most celebrated man in your community, Irefi, Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area in Anambra State. You were a perfect example of hard work, humility and dedication. Your kind and selfless services in the church of God and humanity at large made the Diocese of Nnewi Anglican Communion to investiture you the Knight of Saint Christopher (KSC). We are grateful for the life you lived here on earth,” the statement read. Also, the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Willie Obiano who was at funeral service, in his condolence massage, said the he sympathised with the deceased's family, extended family and Oraifite people at large. Adding that the passage of a great man lights the path of the living. "On behalf of my family, Anambra State Executive Council and Ndi Anambra, please accept my condolences. The passage of a great a man lights the path of the living. Amalunwaeze was a great man whose sense of generosity and community leadership is outstanding. He lived for the immutable service of men through good works. I extend my deep condolences especially to my Special Adviser on Agriculture, Tourism, Training, Methodology and Emergency, Bar. Amaechi Okwuosa, the larger Okwuosa family and all his loved ones." Describing the deceased as a world citizen, the National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. John Odigie-Oyegun, said that the deceased having served in the colonial army and fought in the Second World War at a young age in addition to his sojourn to Cameroun and other places, the obvious exploits he made in different professions, revealed that he was a man of remarkable achievements. "He served and lived amicably in several parts of Nigeria and the then Southern Cameroun, as a teacher, contractor, transporter and politician. In all his life’s engagements, he was acclaimed to have served with distinction. As a family
man, he was a good brother to all his siblings and a devoted father to his nuclear family. In his older years he retired to his village where he continued his service to humanity as a respected community and church leader. In the light of the above and on reflection, on his 96 solid years of life and achievements, I have little doubt that his transition is an occasion for celebration and thanksgiving to God rather than sadness and mourning on account of all the blessings that the good Lord has bestowed through him, on his family, his community and nation,” he said" In an interview with THISDAY, the leader of the Ugandan delegation, Lt. General Charles Angina, hinted that his country deemed it necessary to share and support the Okwuosas at the time of their grief, especially as one of his sons had shown interest in investing in Uganda. "Engr. Emeka has already made enroute to Uganda and he has clearly shown interest in investing in Uganda. And so, when we heard the news of the sudden passing on of our great Papa Okwuosa, we felt in African culture and tradition that when a brother loses a beloved one, it is a loss to all of us. So, we came to commensurate with him and give him support in the aspect of seeing off our beloved Papa who has left great legacies. And I bring greetings from President Yoweri Museveni and the people of Uganda. I bring love and best regards from Uganda to our beloved sisters and brothers in Nigeria,” Agina said. The burial ceremony which seemed to be a gathering of the high and mighty in the society, the wife of late Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu said it was a testament to the legacies the deceased left behind. According to the former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, "He was a very upright individual and very uncompromising in his values. He made immense contributions to his community. Pa Okwuosa is a sterling example of somebody who rose from adversity without compromising, essentially, the tenets of decent behaviour and he made a great impact not just to his church and Oraifite people but to Anambra and Nigeria as a whole." The first son, Dr. Chino Okwuosa who spoke glowingly about his late father during
a testimony session, hinted that there were too many fond memories, legacies and lessons the father left behind. Chino who revealed that he had a unique relationship with his father as well as his siblings, said they were truly blessed to have had him as a father. "We are truly blessed to have someone who had the patience and willingness to lay a great literary foundation in us as well as challenge us to greater heights from all we learnt from you. "No one can forget in a hurry the stories from your experiences when you served in Burma during the Second World War, stories of your escapades when you resided in Southern Cameroun in the colonial days, your years in the Northern Nigeria and the years of the Nigeria/Biafra civil war. In all these, you remained a fountain of wisdom for all and sundry." Speaking further, the Doctor said he would remain grateful to his father not just for the great benefits but also for some negligible things he learnt from him. "There were many little things, too numerous to recount such as teaching me how to knot the tie, tie my shoe laces, dress appropriately and neatly - tucking in my shirts, etc. Papa you were simply a complete gentleman in words and deeds. Above all, having been guided to professional fulfillment, you were to benefit from the outcome because I had the singular opportunity to personally contribute to your healthcare and taking life defining decisions in your later years,” he said. The third son and Chairman, Oilserve Groups of Companies, Engr. Emeka Okwuosa who described his late Dad as an epitome of simplicity, said he was someone who clearly manifested all positive virtues anyone could ever dreamt of. Digging a little into the history of their late father, Emeka said that he lived a life that started with a humble beginning. Adding that it was a beginning that came from his grandfather who was a primary person in terms of education, Christianity, among others. And that his grandfather was a Catechist which was the highest ranking position in the Anglican (CMS) Church as at that time. "My grandfather was the one who set up St. Jude’s Anglican Church here
in 1910. So you can see the background anchored in God, anchored in Christ and positive values. He went on to show escapade in education unfortunately for him, while he was still in secondary school in DMGS, Onitsha, his father died. And he had to start a different career, which made him to go into the military. Joining the military and fighting the Second World War as a young person in his 20s. Having said that, he went on to build a career and character that was on the truth, on positives, solid discretion and of course raised us as such. We learnt a lot from him. Our Christian values are all anchored on what he and our late Mum taught us. "And then, when also you see the entire family as we are today, moving forward, you can see that the foundation came from him. He is someone who believed that you have to lay a very strong foundation for you to get a good result and that is what you are seeing today. So, our Dad, we missed a lot and will continued to miss him. But again, we thank God for giving him long enough life. It is long enough life because nowadays people hardly dream of living beyond 80. But to have lived up to 96, and he has been able to achieve virtually all you would expect any normal human being to achieve. “We will miss his calmness. In the heat of things, he would remain calm. And then, his compassion he was always willing to give up anything to help others to live a better life. That was someone who could have gone on with his life, but because he was the first born, when the father died, he gave up everything to be able to make sure that his siblings were okay. "He was a teacher but despite the fact that being a teacher at that time meant a lot. It was beyond middle class, he felt that he needed to make more money to help the family by taking a risk to join the military to go to war. That is to tell you the story about my Dad. So, we missed that a lot. And of course what I missed again is that fact that most times whenever I thought about coming to Oraifite, I was always happy coming back home to see him but that won’t be anymore,” Emeka said.