By Ohanele Casca.
As friends and well wishers of Barr Enyinna Onuegbu gathered at his Ixora cottage Umuokoro Ngor-Okpala for the burial of his late father, Pa Mark Onuegbu last Friday 23rd November, 2012, the duo of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and the Deputy Speaker House of Representative, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, accompanied by retinue of their aides which include former Commissioners, SAs and SSAs stormed the Umuokoro home of the Onuegbu’s amidst cheers by supporters and the entire people of Ngor Okpala.
At the burial church service, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim extolled the qualities of the late sage for impacting high leadership qualities in Barr Enyinna Onuegbu. He prayed that God should grant the Onuegbu family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. The former Governor who was at Okpala to show solidarity to a trusted ally and commiserate with Ngor Okpala people used the occasion to make a cash donation of N350,000 to support the church building project in Umuokoro Ngor-Okpala.
At the reception ground, the ex-governor who made out time to be at Okpala with his wife Barr Chioma Ohakim despite having a burial also in his home town were received by the mammoth crowd with songs chanting “Ohakim di anyi mma ngwo ngwo” (i.e. Ohakim is good for us).
In like manner, the arrival of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Ihedioha electrified the arena. The Deputy Speaker who has always enjoyed sound relationship with Barr Enyinna commiserated with the Onuegbus stressing that their patriarch left good legacies which they should be proud of.
The burial witnessed the presence of political big wigs from in and out side Imo State. The State PDP Chairman, Chief Duruiheoma and his entire exco were present. All the 27 executive Chairmen of Imo LGAs and their Councellors were also at the burial. Re-build Nigeria group for President Jonathan/Sambo were also in attendance among other distinguished personalities including Mr Henry Ekpe, the co-publisher of Imo Trumpeta, Hon Okafor, the member representing Ngor Okpala in IMHA, Prof. Jude Njoku former VC FUTO and an elder statesman Chief Onyenso Nwachukwu.
The two political leaders of Imo, Rt. Hon Ihedioha and Ex-Governor Ikedi Ohakim who have always enjoyed good relationships called on Imo people to be good citizens and remain steadfast as the best is yet to come. They noted that PDP is re engineered to offer better service to the people of Imo. The burial was like a carnival with enough of entertainment for guests.
Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary of Association of Town Unions Imo State during Ohakim tenure, Hon Chief Monday Ikoku noted that the solidarity that have been shown to Enyinna Onuegbu is an indication that he has paid his dues in the politics of Imo State. He described, Enyinna as a courageous politician and a legal luminary who stands by the rule of law. That he said endeared him to the numerous distinguished personalities that graced his father’s burial.
At the end the Chief mourner, Barr Enyinna Onuegbu thanked all that came to commiserate with him stressing that their support will strengthen him more to serve humanity. He noted that his late father was a disciplinarian, a devout Christian who fought for justice in his life time, a quality he said his late father bequeathed to his children.
