ROYAL DEMISE !!!
EZE (JUSTICE) G.G. I OJIAKO LAID TO REST AT HIS OGWUAGA ABBA COUNTRY HOME AMIDST TEARS
- Njoku MacDonald Obinna
Nwangele LGA , Imo State .
Indeed , funerals are thoughts – provoking and sad moments . It is when a family or community pays its final respect to a departed loved one!
Some people are so dearly loved that their families go the extra miles to make a large budget for their funeral ; while banking on public goodwill to give them a befitting burial before they are laid to their final resting place in glory .
On Thursday , 21st March , 2019 , all road which led to Ogwuaga Abba country home of the Ojiakos witnessed a heavy traffic gridlock and total shutdown as their father , grandfather , patriarch and traditional ruler His Royal Highness , Eze (Hon Justice ) Gabriel Guguo Iweeze Ojiako (CON) Rtd ; was committed into the mother earth by the Catholic Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese His Grace , Most Rev (Dr) AJV Obinna .
The late sage ; a compendium of many firsts in his days : First Chief Judge of Imo State • First Judge of Abba extraction • First Eze Ogwuaga na Ekitiafor • First Abba indigene in history to receive national honour of CON .
The story of the life and times of this celebrated legal luminary , an iconoclastic motivator in the wig profession , a strong advocate of equity and fairness , a strict disciplinarian , an accomplished jury , uncompromising and incorruptible in the temple of justice .
A self -made father , who , by dints of hard work , dedication and excellence climbed the career pyramid and apogee of his legal profession .
As a lawyer , his footprints were so consummate . As a Judge , he set the pace , becoming the pioneer President of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal and also went on to become the Chief Judge of the state between 1991 – 1997 . Such feat is quite rare !
Yes , the story of the early days of this rare gem was one enduring , inspiring and soul -touching life story that would forever remain engrained in the hearts of his children , grand children , close relations , ndi Abba and the entire lmo state whom he dedicated a better part of his public life to meticulously served in different capacities .
Story of a modest but determined and hardworking husband and father -figure who sacrificed a lot to build a home and future with his lovely wife , late Ugoeze Cecilia Chinyere Ojiako .
A life true of a young law graduate who traversed the length and breadth of his country in pursuit of both knowledge and greener pasture .
A true story of an industrious father and jury who built one of the famous law firms in the state (-after the civil war in 1970 ) from the scratch and nurtured it until it became a household name in both the old (- Abia) and present Imo state .
One big lesson that the new generation of lawyers should learn : that a man could actually start from little and make something meaningful out of life with determination , dedication , perseverance and uncommon faith in God who sharpens and directs the destines of men .
Today , the Ojiako dynasty in Ogwuaga Abba through the exemplary leadership and mentorship of their late patriarch has become a reference point not just in Nwangele LGA but across lmo state ; as the late sage participated very prominently in national discourse . Little wonder , in 2014 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration he received a national honour of ” Commander -Order – of – the – Niger , CON” . An honour he deeply cherished and flaunted until his death .
However , while social commentators , public analysts , political pundits , the conservatives and close observers of lmo politics were almost in a hurry to tag the burial as ” burial of the year ” . Such hasty analysis was understandably so given the galaxy of personalities and creme da la creme of the Nigerian society in attendance : spanning from top government functionaries , frontline Imo politicians , outgoing and newly elected State and Federal lawmakers , traditional rulers , religious leaders , captains of industry , members of the ivory tower , the business class , senior advocates of Nigeria (Sans) , ranking Judges from Appeal court , High and supreme courts , amongst other successful private individuals .
√ Former Imo governor , HE, Chief (Dr) Achike Udenwa (Onwa)
Former Imo governor , HE , Chief (Dr) Ikedi Ohakim
√ Imo state governor -elect , HE , Rt (Hon) Emeka Ihedioha , CON.
√ Outgoing Imo Deputy governor , HE , Prince Eze Madumere , MFR .
√ Orlu incoming Senator , Distinguished (Hon) Jones Onyereri , KSP .
√ Nigerian former Senate President , HE , Distinguished Senator Anyim Pius Anyim .
√ Hon (Justice ) L.C Alinor
Chief Judge , Imo State (Rtd)
√ Hon (Justice ) B.A. Njemanze
Chief Judge , Imo State (Rtd)
√ High Chief Johnbosco Ozigbu (Ogwuaga of Ogwuaga )
A Philanthropist • Road construction giant • Business maverick .
√ Distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu , Imo East Senatorial District
√ Imo East Senator – elect , Hon Onyewuchi Francis Ezenwa
√ HRH , Eze (Dr) Cletus Illomuanya , CON
Obi of Obinugwu
√ Ndi Nze na Ozor Abba Ama – Ano gburugburu
√ Ugwumba Uche Nwosu
Governorship candidate of Action Alliance
√ Former Attorney -general of Imo State , Prof. Francis Dike (SAN)
√ Barr. Chijioke Nzekwe (Strong man )
Chairman , PDP Strategy , Research and Planing Election Campaign Committee
√ Chief M.I. Ahamba KSC, SAN.
√ Imo Deputy Speaker , Hon Ugonna Ozurigbo
√ Rt (Hon) Amaechi Nwoha
√ Chief Kingsley Ozigbu (Idejimba 1 of Abba )
√ Chief (Engr) Paul Ozigbu
Chairman , AACDU
√ Chief (Engr) Kenneth Ebubeogu
Chairman , Nwangele PDP Campaign Council
√ Chief Celestine Opurum , governor Isu Progressives Union
√ Chief Chibuike Achigbu (Akasha nwata na Nkwerre)
√ Chief (Nze) Ndubueze Maduabuchukwu
Eze -elect , Abba Autonomous Community
√ Chief Benjamin Azike
√ Hon (Sir) Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu (Mr. Capacity )
House member -elect , Nwangele State Constituency , amongst other dignitaries too numerous to mention .
Going through the condolences , one doesn’t need to be told that it was indeed a befitting state burial of respected Monarch .
No doubt , his children made good use of their social and business contacts while leveraging on their late father’s impeccable record , goodwill and professional leanings to pull out many political bigwigs and legal warlords for the burial .
Obviously , it was an elitist burial .
Finally , as the world celebrated the life and times of this legal Nostradamus ; a great son of Imo state from Abba in Nwangele LGA : This reporter is of the strongest opinion that the Ojiako Dynasty sustains his many legacies by building a library block at the Imo State University or establish an Education Foundation where yearly quiz competition will be organised for law students as a way of propagating and sharing those values he held so dearly during his pilgrimage work through life .
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4thestatereporers.com ( A State -based news website ) in partnership with Nigerian Horn and Community Watchdog newspapers .
Njoku MacDonald Obinna
Media Consultant | • News Reporter | • Blogger
…Redefining news reportage in the new media .
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Chief Meshark Anoure (Aririerimba )
Chairman , PDP Campaign Council Abba ward .
