The Member Representing Nnewi North Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Augustine Onyekachukwu Ike-Ikedoji has mourn the death of Fr. Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo.
Angel Network News gathered that Fr. Okonkwo was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Ihiala, along Onitsha-Owerri expressway on 26th December 2024 at about 8 pm.
In his tribute, Hon. Ike-Ikedoji wrote;
REST ON Rev. Fr. Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo (aka Fr. Ozo Gidigbam Gidigbam).
“My heart is wounded, broken and dropping blood THE SECOND TIME I AM THROWN INTO SHOCK IN ONE YEAR, but this time around my classmate and bosom friend; Fr. Ozo was shot dead in Ihiala yesterday 26th December, 2024.
“Fr. Ozo just concluded his internship in Pharmacy and was posted to manage the Our Lady Hospital in Ihiala. He devoted 18 years in the Seminary studying day and night to be ordained a Catholic Priest . He went back took jamb and sacrifice another 7 years to become a pharmacist and one unreasonable man who can neither read nor write ended his life in Onitsha Owerri road around Ihiala axis and his only identity is UNKNOWN GUN MEN.
“Why are we here? Why are we born?
I don’t know who is a Saint, but I gathered is an ordinary person, who does ordinary things, in extra ordinary ways. In 2020, I returned from Dubai and drove straight into a funeral of a friend late Chief Nwokedi Ike (Ebubedike) and my car was stolen that evening with virtually everything I returned with inside.
“Two days after, late Fr. Tobias Okonkwo invited me to his Parish and showed me a bigger version of Toyota Camry. He received it during his ordination and was gifted another car. So he said he doesn’t need two cars that I should carry the Camry and give him any amount. I showed him what I had in my account then, he collected the transfer and gave me the car key. I quickly went back to police and told them I am no longer interested in looking for the stolen car. So the Camry a lot of people fabricated different narrative on who bought or gifted me actually belongs to Fr. Tobias Okonkwo of blessed memories.
“I ask again? Why is this year intentional about ending generous people and what are we fighting for that worth the blood of a priest?
“26th December, 2024 will continue to remain a sad day for me just like 27th July, 2024.
“We are born to conquer
We are born not to be conquered
We do not really know when we conquer
We do not really smile feeling conquered
We need to conquer dead as we conquer our environment
We need to conquer our environment more to conquer dead
“The option of conquering dead by dying is becoming tiring and the thought of the next minute becomes more tiring.
“Fr Ozo Gidigbam gidigbam PLEASE WAKE UP AND PRAY, BUT IF YOU COULDN’T, REMEMBER US IN YOUR PRAYERS IN HEAVEN.
