The Anambra State House of Assembly on Tuesday 19th of July 2022, held a special valedictory session in honour of their slain colleague, Hon. Okechukwu Okoye. Recall that Hon. Okoye, an indigene of Isuofia, the same community as the governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, was kidnapped in Aguata on May 15 alongside Cyril Chiegboka, his Campaign Director. His headless body was later seen and recovered by Police along Nnobi, Ideani road on 22/5/2022 at about 4pm.
At the beginning of the valedictory session, which held at the Assembly’s Complex, the House Majority Leader Hon. Nnamdi Okafor, representing Awka South I moved a motion urging the House to welcome and usher in, the wife, members of the immediate family, friends and well-wishers of the deceased to the hallowed chamber. The majority leader also intimated the House that the body of the deceased was supposed to be brought to House during the session but following their latest practice which allowed the person’s picture, Hon. Okoye’s picture would be presented to the House for the valedictory session. The motion adopted, the deceased family, friends and well-wishers were ushered into the Chamber.
Introducing the session, the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uchenna Okafor, welcomed all the mourners who were there to pay their respect to the Hon Okoye. He particularly welcomed the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim. He also welcomed the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Hon. Justice Onochie Anyachebelu. He subsequently, invited the following dignitaries to join him, the Governor and the Chief Judge of the State in a “file-pass” in honour of the deceased: The deputy speaker, majority leader, members of the State House of Assembly, State High Court Judges present and Special Adviser to the Governor on State Assembly and National Assembly matters. Others include members of the State Executives Council present, past House of Assembly Members, the Clerk of the House, Staff of the Institution, former Clerk of the House and former Attorney General of Anambra State.
In his tribute to the deceased, the Hon. Member, representing Aguata I, Hon. Nnamdi Dike Umeh, described the deceased, Hon. Okechukwu Okeye as a good and honest man. Sympathizing with the bereaved family, the people of Aguata and the entire Anambra State, he called on the Governor, the State Police Commissioner and all the security agencies in the state to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act do not go unpunished.
Hon Chuka Ezenwunne representing Idemili South described the memorial as a day of mourning or the culmination of mourning for members of the House and the entire Anambra State. According to him, Hon Okoye was a friend and a fine legislator who gave his all for betterment of his fellow man. He prayed God to give the family, especially the wife of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. He also bemoaned the high rate of insecurity in the state stating that what was happening in Anambra State currently was a wakeup call to all leaders in the State to ask themselves whether they have abandoned their responsibilities.
The Majority leader, Hon Nnamdi Okafor, called the gruesome murder of Hon Okoye a great harm to all the members of the 7th Assembly and the entire Anambra State. He praised the deceased contributions to the Hon House describing him as a determined fighter and a very detailed legislator. He said that the House would always miss Hon. Okoye. He also, appeal to the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo and the entire people of the state to ensure that the vacant position left by Hon. Okoye in the State Assembly be filled by his wife. He also asked the House to provide every necessary support to the young family Hon. Okoye left behind.
Hon Pet Ibida, representing Njikoka II on his own described the deceased as a gentle dove who would not hurt do as much arm as hurting an ant for any reason. Hon. Ibida wondered why anybody would want to kill a man as innocent as Okey Okoye. In addition, he maintained that he would always remember Hon. Okoye as a Christian to core. He had no doubt that Okey died a martyr. Hon. Okey died also because God permitted it. He would still be here with us if God did not will his death. Hon. Ibida condoled with the wife and asked God to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Rising on behalf of the 7th Assembly, Hon. Onyebuchi Ofor, placed a curse on anyone who has a hand in the death of Hon. Okoye. “They will never know peace in their families, they will never hear the cries of babies and they and their families will remain perpetually cursed.” He also prayed that God should make the deaths of Okey’s killers more painful than Hon. Okoye’s Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze described the valedictory session as a sad day in Anambra State. Regretting what has happened he called on the wife and relatives of the deceased to be very courageous since what happened cannot be changed.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, extended the Governor’s warm regards to the members of the Anambra State House, Member of the Executive Council present in the occasion and the Members of the Judiciary duly represented. According to the Deputy Governor, the Governor has been inconsolable right from the first day the news of Hon. Okoye’s murder was broken him. And would have done everything in his power to prevent the murder. However, since what has happened has happened, His Excellency wished to extend his sincere condolence to the House who lost their colleague. He assured the House that the governor did not take the death of Hon. Okoye lying down.as he was taking the war to the perpetrators of the violence in the state. He called on the House to stand with the Governor by making laws that will assist in fighting violent crime in the state. He condoled with the young family Hon Okoye left behind and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. He assured the family that the Government of Anambra state will not abandon them.
Summing up the tributes, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor, said that the House was still in shock and disbelief concerning the death of their colleague. He described Hon. Okoye as a fine lawmaker with a high sense of responsibility. According him, Hon Okoye was indeed a man of the people and selfless politician. “The State assembly, Aguata II Constituency and the entire Anambra State have lost a man with many positive attributes, in the person of late Hon. Okoye. A devote Christian, a renowned choirmaster in the Catholic Church. He was a man of God as evidenced in his life.” The Speaker commensurate with the Executive Governor of Anambra state, the people of Isuofia and the 7th Assembly on this painful loss and enjoin them to take solace on the fact that the short but eventful life of their colleague was full of quality service to God and humanity.
At the end of the valedictory tributes, the Majority Leader, Hon. Nnamdi Okafor moved a motion for the House to hand over the condolence register to the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Ngozi Okoye. The motion was adopted and vote of thanks were taken from two members of the deceased family who thanked the House for their prayers and kinds words on their brother but also demanded that the House do everything to ensure that the killers of their brother were brought to justice.
The session was adjourned after the Rt. Hon Speaker had announced the burial programmes of the deceased as follows:
- Vigil Mass for the deceased on Thursday 21st July, 2022 at his home country Uzalla Isuofia, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State
- Friday, 22nd July, 2022, body leaves General Hospital by 6am
- Laying in state at Isuofia Civic Centre by 7: 00am
- Laying in state at Ozalla Village hall by 7:30am
- Laying in state at his country home by 8:00am
- Requiem Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church Isuofia after that condolence visit follows
- Saturday 23rd condolence continues
- Sunday 24th july, Thanksgiving Mass at Patrick Catholic Church at Isuofia by 9: 00am.
The Rt. Hon Speaker urged the members public to join the State Assembly these coming days to mourn their Hon. Colleague as they pay him their last respect.
