Former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; her husband, Dr. Ikemba Iweala;
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, who represented the
state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi,
top government functionaries, several captains of industry, clergymen and
traditional rulers on Sunday converged on Ogwashi-Uku to celebrate the 90th
birthday of the traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Agbogidi Obi Chukwuma
Anishi Okonjo.
The royal father and father of the former finance
minister marked his 90th birthday in grand style with a thanksgiving service at
St James' Anglican Church, Ogbe-Ofu, Ogwashi-Uku, the administrative
headquarters of Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state.
The traditional ruler was accompanied to the
thanksgiving service by his wife and renowned academic, Professor Kamene
Okonjo, the royal family members and well-wishers, including several royal
fathers across the state and beyond.
Executive members of Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) from the national office, University of Benin and University
of Ilorin were among professional bodies that graced the occasion.
Delivering a homily during the service, with theme:
‘The Father, Priest of the Home’, Venerable Emmanuel Afamefune attributed the
declining standards in our value system vis-a-vis the upsurge in criminal
activities in Nigeria to failure of parenthood especially fathers.
Afamefune stressed that the society could rise from
the ashes of moral decay to new heights of peace and progress if fathers, as
the standard bearer of respective families, retraced their steps as role models
for their children and families.
Afamefune, who stood in for the Anglican Bishop of
Asaba, Rt. Rev. Justus Mogekwu, who is on official assignment in Jerusalem,
said it was a happy coincidence that the Anglican Communion all over the world was
celebrating Father’s Day on a day King Okonjo turned 90, advising fathers to
lead by example rather than precept.
He noted that societal vices like secret cult, drug
abuse, violence against women, broken homes, insincerity in relationship and
business and armed robbery have been on the increase because young people
copied them from irresponsible fathers.
While congratulating the Ogwashi-Uku monarch as “a
true achiever whose achievements have received world-wide acclaim,” the cleric
challenged him to do all within his power to unite the Ogwashi-Uku kingdom
towards sustainable peace and development starting from the royal household.
The state Governor, Okowa, urged families to
emulate Okonjo by inculcating in their children the true Anioma and African
values of humility, hard work and respect for others and constituted authorities,
describing as remarkable ''the fact that a monarch at 90 could walk to the
Church altar for thanksgiving to God.''
While congratulating him and wishing him good
health to continue to pilot the affairs of his people, the governor, who spoke
through the information commissioner, Ukah, urged the people to rally round the
royal father for the peace and development of the entire kingdom.
Executive Assistant (Special Duties) to Okowa, Dr
Awele Nwabuokei, also urged the people to draw a balance between traditional
practices and Christian or modern values in order to advance the course of
societal development.
The former finance minister, her husband, her
younger sister, Dr. Njideka Udochi, and one of the children (King Okonjo's
grandchild), Mr. Okechukwu Iweala, all spoke glowingly about the monarch and
patriarch of the Okonjo family of Ogwashi-Uku, harping on his love for
education, culture as well as family and community values.
According to the former minister, one of the
greatest legacies of their 90-year-old father was the culture of humility,
respect for human dignity and pursuit of educational excellence for both male
and female children.
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