Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has described the late Pa Arthur Okowa, as a foremost educationist and committed public servant who contributed to the growth and development of education in the country.
Osinbajo spoke on Saturday at St Michael’s Anglican Church, Owa-Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta at the thanksgiving service marking the celebration of the life of Pa Okowa, father of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta.
Osinbajo said the late Pa Okowa was an outstanding teacher, pioneer educationist and committed public servant.
He noted that the story of educational development of many communities in Delta and Edo States cannot be told without the mention of Pa Okowa.
According to him, a good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, adding there was no doubt that Pa Okowa left an inheritance for his children’s children, his community and the state.
“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.
“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, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa said his father would have been 89 years today, 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’d 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.
He urged Christians to repent from their evil ways as there is no repentance in death.
He noted that sin, sickness, lust, death and judgement were the lonely roads that Christians must pass through in the course of life but urged them to remain strong in the faith because God will be with those that are in the faith.
“Sinners are alone when they thread the path of sin, sickness, lust, death and judgment, but those who are in faith will go through the challenges successfully.
“The excellency of power belongs to God because when you get power through false means you will require doing evil things to maintain such powers, but when you seek power through right means, the one who owns the power will preserve it for you,” he said
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar attended the thanksgiving service including governors of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal; Akwa-Ibom, Udom Emmanuel; Edo, Godwin Obaseki; Oyo, Seyi Makinde; Ondo, Rotimi Akeredolu; Rivers, Nyesom Wike; Taraba, Darius Ishaku; Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Adamawa, Ahmadu Umaru-Fintiri; Benue, Samuel Ortom; Bayelsa, Douye Diri; Anambra, Willie Obiano, Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed; Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi and Deputy Governor of Delta, Kingsley Otuaro.
Also in attendance were National Chairman of PDP Prince Uche Secondus; Chairman, Board of Trustees PDP, Senator Wales Jibrin; Senator Dino Melaye; Minister of State for Petroleum Chief Timipre Sylva; Minority Leader House of Representatives Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Chief James Ibori, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chairman of UBA Mr Tony Elumelu; Chairman Thisday and Arise Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Businessman Sir Jide Omokore among others.
