By MATTHEW KALU, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has described late wife of late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the Premier of the Old Eastern Region, Chief (Mrs.) Adanma Okpara, as a model of excellent womanhood.

The Governor said that by the death of Chief Mrs Adanma Okpara, Abia has been robbed of one of her “most iconic female living legends.”

Ikpeazu, while mourning the passing away of the former First Lady of Eastern Region who died early Sunday morning at 97, noted that her support to her husband while he was in office, propelled the Premier to record huge successes in office.

Lady Adanma Okpara was married to the iconic Late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, who served as Premier of the old Eastern Region from 1959 to 1966, and together, they gave the people of the old Eastern Region, a first-class government whose achievements continue to reverberate even till this day.

“The spousal support she provided to her late husband was instrumental to the monumental success he recorded as Premier,” Ikpeazu said, according to a statement issued in Umuahia Monday morning by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka.

“Widowed since December, 1984, Lady Adanma Okpara remained a model of good and excellent womanhood. She was a fountain of knowledge from which most women, especially, here in Abia, drank from freely.

“Governor Ikpeazu notes with satisfaction that the now late Lady Adanma Okpara remained at her husband's house in Umuegwu, Ohuhu, Umuahia and continued to play the role of a mother, grandmother and community leader till her final days,” the statement added.

The Governor recalled, with nostalgia, the moments he spent with her and how passionate she remained about the use of the platform of government to better the lives of the people and freely shared their experiences about the public service of the First Republic.

“Her death has robbed us of one of our most iconic female living legends,” the Governor lamented.

According to the statement, “Ikpeazu is however thankful to God for the life of Lady Okpara. She lived a fulfilled life, served God and humanity, as well as had the exceptional privilege of seeing her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. At 97, she saw it all.”

The statement further read: “The Governor assures that the people of Abia State will always treasure her memories, just the way we continue to treasure the great memories of her late husband. Together, they left imperishable legacies.”

Ikpeazu therefore condoled with the first son of the family, Chief Uzodinma Okpara (Omekannaya), and indeed, the entire family on the glorious passage of their mother, urging them to take pride in the solid legacies of their parents and be motivated to keep the flag of excellence in public service, hoisted by their parents, flying at full mast.

He assured that that the state government would work closely with the family to ensure that their deceased mother was given a burial befitting of the legacies she left behind.