THE Owa-Alero, Ika North-East Local Government Area residence of Pa Arthur Okorie Okowa, father of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has become a Mecca of sorts as people of all walks of life throng the place to pay their respect.
Pa Okowa passed on to the great beyond on Thursday and, since his passage, numerous condolence messages have poured in for Governor Okowa, the eldest son of the family.
Expectedly, a number of other persons have ‘relocated’ to Owa-Alero to keep the governor company.
Among those who literally relocated to Owa-Alero, are some members of the state executive council, the member representing Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, and the Communication Manager to the governor, Mr Jackson Ekwugum.
Nonetheless, Governor Okowa’s strong advocacy for safety was quite evident even as the sympathisers visited. In the light of the ravaging effects of COVID-19, access to the place was fairly restrictive. Everyone was on facemask and at the entrance were men courteously attending to each visitor with hand sanitisers.
To give room for other visitors, sympathisers would naturally know that they do not need to spend the whole day in the canopies provided to enable others sit under the canopies.
Yours sincerely was there on Saturday and observed that though, it is really a celebration of a life well-spent, considering that the deceased lived to 88 years and was the oldest person in his quarters in the community, yet COVID-19 has made his passage somewhat solemn.
Mr Raymond Mgbakor and Hon. Ifeanyi Eboigbe did their best to ensure that the sympathisers were comfortable, but COVID-19 restrictions unavoidably created a relatively awkward situation. Drinks and food offered were consumed by few persons who dared to remove their masks!
Good Christian music was oozing melodiously from the speakers in subdued tone; people could only nod their heads and shake their legs from their seats as they could possibly only hum rather than sing along due to the facemasks.
Chairmen of Delta North Local Government chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were there to pay their condolences; and, in the team were Ogbueshi Dada Okonji, Ogbuefi Lucky Okwuji, Chief Patrick Kaine and Chief Mike Okwufulueze, with Hon. Chuks Agbomah playing the role of effective host to his colleagues. Agbomah is the Chairman of the party in Ika North-East.
Former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Chief Benjamin Elue and the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori were there.
Renowned politician, Chief Godwill Obielum, led a high-powered delegation that included Chief Emma Onyeuku, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, Hon. Nkechi Chukurah, Hon. Chief Vincent Osilonya, Elder Chike Ugwummadu, Prince Igwe Nzekwe, Prince Jerry Iliroma, Prince Garvin Ugbomeh, Hon. Shadrach Opiah, among others on condolence visit to Governor Okowa.
A retired educationist, late Pa Okowa was the ‘Okparan’ (oldest man) in his quarters, a Knight of the Anglican Church who was blessed with many children.
Naturally, the condolence visits will continue as people continue to commiserate with Governor Okowa family. Although, people were on their masks all through, the governor, who was with his wife, Dame Edith, his brothers, Tonobok, Solomon and Wisdom, acknowledged greetings from the sympathisers, most of who capped their visit with the signing of the condolence register.
A colleague who sat near me wondered out aloud saying, “We have been here since morning, our Governor haven’t stood up for one minute even to ease himself, drink water or take some food. He is so busy receiving visitors with members of his family.”
Then, a sobering verse in the Holy Bible came to my mind:
“If we were united together in a death like His, we will also be united together in a resurrection like His.” Romans 6:5.
By FIDELIS EGUGBO
Egugbo, is Special Assistant, Media, to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa
