The remains of Okorie Okowa, father of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa were on Tuesday laid to rest at Owa-Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of the state.
Pa Okowa died on January 28, 2021, aged 88.
Beside family members at the private funeral were the archbishop of Bendel Province, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Cyril Odutemu; Delta Deputy Governor Kingsley Otuaro; former governor James Ibori and former deputy governor Benjamin Elue.
Others included Jide Omokore, James Manager, Ndudi Elumelu, chief judge of Delta Marshall Umukoro, and Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori.
In his speech during the funeral service in the home of the late octogenarian, Mr 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 said.
“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.”
