The remains of Sir Okorie Okowa, father of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, were on Tuesday, laid to rest at Owa-Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of the state.

Pa Okowa, 88, died on Jan. 28, 2021, after a brief illness.

Beside family members at the private funeral, Archbishop of Bendel Province, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Cyril Odutemu; Deputy Governor of Delta, Mr Kingsley Otuaro; former Governor James Ibori and former Deputy Governor Benjamin Elue were at the ceremony.

Others included Chief Jide Omokore, Sen. James Manager, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Chief Judge of Delta, Justice Marshall Umukoro and Speaker of the State's House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori.

In his speech during the funeral service in the home of the late octogenarian, Governor Okowa thanked Nigerians for their show of love, saying that because he had announced that the ceremony would be private for the family, "those who came are truly family members".

He said that as a teacher, his late father fought for the ordinary man and suffered victimisation for daring to stand for the truth.

"On behalf of my siblings, I welcome you to my father's home. He is no more, he has just been laid to rest.

"He has been a strong pillar in my life and obviously we wished he had lived longer, but it pleased God to call him at this time.

"Our father was a good man who fought for the church, the children and the ordinary man, especially as a teacher and suffered consequences for standing by the truth and at the end, God vindicated him.

"We thank God that he played his role in the community. He was very passionate about the development of Owa-Alero and I am glad that he saw all we did for the community.

"He did not compromise his faith even as an Okpara-Uku of his quarter and that, we can attest to as his children," he said.

The governor apologised to those who couldn't attend the funeral because he had declared it a family burial.

"We do not know when it is best to die but we thank God he took our father at a ripe age.

"For those who couldn't come, I apologise, there is still a time to celebrate his life and times and that will be August 21, his birthday, and we will all be there by the grace of God," he said.

In a homily, Bishop of Ika Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Godfrey Ekpenisi, said the late Pa Okowa contributed immensely to the growth of the church and education in Ika nation.

Quoting from the Bible, the Bishop urged Christians to fear God and keep his commandments, saying "this is the whole duty of man".

He called on Christians to remember their creator in the days of their youth, recalling that Pa Okowa served God and humanity while alive.

•PHOTO: Delta Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd left); his wife, Dame Edith (3rd right); Ezi-Nne Ngozi Ebegboni (left); Chief Tony Okowa (2nd right); and Ethel Ivana Shenton during the burial ceremony of Pa Arthur Okowa at Owa-Alero in Ika North Eat LGA, on Tuesday, 16/2/21. PHOTO: BRIPIN ENARUSAI.

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