Tears, tributes as Governor Okowa’s father is laid to rest
- A great man who lived an impactful life has been laid to rest
- Sir Okorie Okowa, father of Governor of Ifeanyi Okowa was buried on Tuesday, February 16
- At the private funeral ceremony, there were tears and tributes in honour of a man whose death sparked reactions nationwide
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The remains of Sir Okorie Okowa, father of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, was on Tuesday, February 16 laid to rest at Owa-Alero, Ika North East local government area of the state amid tears and tributes to a man many have described as an enigma.
The Okowa family had earlier announced that the funeral ceremony would be a private affair.
But, besides family members, some prominent Deltans including Okowa's deputy Benjamin Elue and former governor James Ibori attended the ceremony.
Source: Twitter
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A statement sent to Legit.ng by the Delta state government, revealed that Archbishop of Bendel Province, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Cyril Odutemu presided over the ceremony.
In his speech during the funeral, Governor Okowa thanked Nigerians for their show of love while eulogising his late father for fighting for standing for the truth despite suffering victimisation.
His words:
“He has been a strong pillar in my life and obviously we wished he had lived longer, but it pleased God to call him at this time.”
The governor also apologised to those who couldn't attend the funeral because he had declared it a family burial.
Legit.ng had reported that Pa Okowa, 88, died on Thursday, January 28 after a brief illness.
A day before Pa Okowa's death, Legit.ng had reported that the majority leader of the Delta state House of Assembly, Tim Kome Owhefere, died on Wednesday, January 27 at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, after being hospitalised for about two weeks.
Owhefere was said to have been on oxygen for a week before his death, raising speculations that he died of COVID-19.
The deceased lawmaker until his death represented Isoko North constituency was generally known as an influential politician in the state.
Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Source: Legit.ng
