Leave Enduring Legacies for Your Children, Osinbajo Charges Nigerians

*Atiku, 14 govs, others celebrate Okowa’s father

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 14 governors, and other distinguished personalities yesterday celebrated the legacies of a foremost educationist, committed public servant, and father of Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the late Arthur Okowa.

Speaking at St Michael’s Anglican Church, Owa-Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State at the thanksgiving service marking the celebration of the life of the Okowa, Osinbajo charged Nigerians to jettison the life of inordinate drive for money and material possessions and leave enduring legacies for their children, noting that inheritance of money and materials might not stand the test of time.

The vice president said that there was overwhelming evidence that the late Okowa left good legacies as the inheritance not only for his children and grandchildren but also for his community, the state, and the nation.

Quoting from Proverbs 13:22, the vice-president said: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,” noting that bequeathing money, houses and other expressions of materialism was inadequate as that might not endure for long.

He said that Nigerian parents should rather seek to leave behind for their children legacies of integrity, faith, and selfless service to people, community, and the nation.
He described the late Pa Okowa as an outstanding teacher, pioneer educationist, and committed public servant.

Osinbajo noted that the story of educational development of many communities in Delta and Edo states cannot be told without the mention of the late Pa Okowa.
“I am honoured to join so many from all over the country and the rest of the world to celebrate the life and times of an outstanding pioneer educationist and a committed public servant, Pa Arthur Okowa.
“He was also a great politician with the UPN under the leadership of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” he said.

The vice president said the legacies left behind by the deceased would last forever.
“There is no guarantee that material wealth can last a generation but a legacy of character and faith in God lasts forever.

“The nation and the state benefited and still benefit from the contributions of Pa Okowa with his son becoming Governor of Delta State.
“The Owa-Alero community, Delta, and Nigeria have been blessed with the life and times of Pa Arthur Okowa,” Osinbajo added.

Chief mourner and Governor of Delta State Senator Ifeanyi Okowa said his father would have been 89 years yesterday, but he passed on January 28.
He said his father was a great teacher, politician, and community leader whose disciplinary actions contributed immensely to the success of his children in life.

“We give thanks to the Lord our God for showing him mercy to have lived up to 88 years.
“I thank Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, my dear brother governors, and distinguished guests for coming to celebrate the life and times of our great father.
“Our father lived a worthy life and we thank God for his life. He was a teacher and many people know him to be a great disciplinarian and that discipline impacted greatly in our lives.

“He played his part to educate people in this country particularly in this part of the world. He was also a great politician and am grateful that he guided me through difficult and turbulent times in politics.
“He worked very hard for the creation and growth of the Ika Diocese of the Anglican Communion. He retired home at 80 and rose to become Okpara-Uku of Idumebo Quarters, Owa-Alero.
“He lived a good life of truth and discipline and as his children, we are happy that we went through his disciplinary measures.

“On behalf of our entire family, we thank you for coming to celebrate the life and times of our great father,” Okowa stated.
Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba in a sermon titled “Seek ye the Lord with the prevailing faith,” said the faith that prevails is the one that is anchored in the name of God.

The Primate said the late Pa Okowa left a great legacy as an astute teacher and community leader and urged the children to work hard in preserving the legacy left behind by their great patriarch.
In attendance at the thanksgiving service were: Vice President, Atiku; governors of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Akwa-Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel; Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde; Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu; Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Taraba State, Mr. Darius Ishaku; Enugu State, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Adamawa State, Mr. Ahmadu Umaru-Fintiri; Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom; Bayelsa State, senator Douye Diri; Anambra State, Mr. Willie Obiano, Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed; Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Deputy Governor of Delta, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro.

Also in attendance were: Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chairman of THISDAY and ARISE NEWS Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus; Chairman, Board of Trustees PDP, Senator Walid Jibrin; Senator Dino Melaye; Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori; Chairman of UBA, Mr. Tony Elumelu; and business mogul, Sir Jide Omokore, among others.