Abia Gov. Ikpeazu, Orji, Ukiwe, others honour Ezikpe, as tributes trail departed elder statesman

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

It was rain of tributes to the departed Elder statesman and Chairman of Abia State Advisory Council, late Ezeogo Dr. Anagha Ezikpe, a man Abians testified at his Commendation Service Tuesday, lived for the truth.

Many who paid tribute to the renowned surgeon who established the popular Alaoma Specialist Hospital, Umuahia, during the Commendation Service held at Dr. Michael Okpara Auditorium, described him as a man of principle, integrity, hard work, transparency and equity.

They recalled, as one of the Founding Fathers of Abia, his active participation during the Abia State Movement which fought for the creation of Abia State and the drafting of the Abia Charter of Equity and agreed that he served humanity to the best of his ability.

Abia State government lamented that late Ezikpe would be greatly missed for his quality services and wise counsel.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who made the remark while addressing the gathering, noted that late Ezikpe who slipped and fell in the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), where he had gone to preside over the a meeting of the Abia State Advisory Council as its Chairman on December 23, 2021, died in active service.

Said the Governor, represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu: “Ezikpe died in active service… He identified with every event of government. Wherever it was organized, Ezeogo will be there. We will be missing him when we will be celebrating the Abia Day this year, 2022.

“He will tell you the truth, no matter how you feel. He did his best to serve mankind. We can’t do enough for him in death, compared to what he did for us.”

Consoling the family, Ikpeazu charged them to sustain Ezikpe’s legacies.

In his tribute, the first son of the late sage, George Anagha Ezikpe, lamented that his father did not live to see the Abia of his dream.

George said that his late father had wished that Abia would be a place where people would live quality life, adding “but he didn’t live to see it.”

He noted that Abians who had come to pay their respects to his father had done so because of the deceased’s impeccable character; not for his material wealth, stressing that it was from the collective character of the people that a society would eveolve..

At the Abia State Advisory Council, the Deputy Chairman (Administration), Sir Chikezie Nwachuku, said the members knew their chairman as a man of integrity.

Nwachuku narrated how Ezikpe was attending their meeting on 23 December, 2021, slipped and fell and was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where doctors battled to save his life to no avail.

“It was time for him to go because all the doctors at FMC abandoned every other thing they were doing and battled to save his life,” Nwachuku said. Late Ezikpe, who did not survive the multiple brain surgeries, died on December 25, 2021.

He said that Ezikpe led the body for 30 years without blemish as there was no petition against him from any quarters.

Nwachuku requested that the state should honour Ezikpe by granting his heart desire which was to see the  Abia Charter of Equity enacted into law in the state.

Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji, currently representing Abia Central in the Senate and immediate past Governor of Abia, said he worked closely with the Late Ezikpe, saying that he gave him wise counsel in handling complex issues of state.

”I know he was a very principled man. He lived a good life: a life of discipline, a life of no nonsense. He was a no nonsense man.

“I remember vividly when I was governor then, I saw him as the father of all but a mentor of few. He was father to every person, but he will mentor you if he sees certain qualities in you. I am sure he saw those qualities in me.

As a governor then, when I want to take tough decisions, I will go to his house and ask him, look at why I have come, and he will laugh. After laughing, he will say Governor, do this, this way, do this, this way. And when I do it like that, I will always excel,” the Senator narrated.

Former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, described late Ezikpe as a special character who had strong belief in himself.

“He was a man of principle, a very hardworking person. He wasn’t a man of self deception, he won’t embark on a mission that he couldn’t accomplish. I pray God to raises another man of his caliber for us,” said the former Military Governor of Lagos State, who charged Ezikpe’s family to keep the principles of their patriarch aglow.

Chairman of Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Eze Joseph Ndubuisi Nwabeke, expressed happiness that during his life time, Ezikpe, despite his high level of education, identified with the culture of his people.

“Ezikpe loved Abia and worked for its greatness. He upheld the culture of his people, despite his level of education,” Eze Nwabeke said.

Secretary to Abia State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem, noted that Ezikpe was passionate about Abia, and by extension, Nigeria; and outspoken man.

Chairman of Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Chimezie Okwuonu, who was a personal to late Ezikpe, said the late chairman of Abia State Advisory Council contributed immensely to improving medical training and siting of medical institutions in Abia and charged government to ensure that the medical institutions Ezikpe brought were not allowed to die.

In his homily, Bishop Ibeabuchi Agwu of the Presbyterian Church, said the late Elder statesman believed in equity.

“Ezikpe was a man of integrity, identity, transparency, intimacy who always offered a helping hand and a man of vision,” Bishop Ibeabuchi said.

In a vote of thanks, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Anthony Agbazuere, said Governor Ikpeazu organized the Commendation Service as a way of galvanizing Abians to be united and love one another.

The event attracted many dignitaries, including a business mogul, Prince Chris Odinaka Igwe, Senator Emma Nwaka, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Engr. Augustine Alaribe and Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, amongst others.