The father of the National President of Owerri Young Patriots Assembly, (OYPA) Pa Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, was last Thursday January 18, 2018, buried in his home town, Emekuku in Owerri North LGA of Imo State. He was to 80 years old and retired staff of Imo Newspaper.
In a funeral oration and abridged biography, read at the graved side Prince Obi described his 80 years old late father as a
great lover of education. This probably accounted greatly for why his late father Pa Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi (AKA). “The Boy”, after retirement, from Imo Newspapers Limited, went back to the teaching profession where he taught typewriting, shorthand and commerce till he finally retired in 2016.
According to the National President of Owerri Young Patriots Assembly, Prince Chidi Obi “my father was a good man, very loving and friendly, ready to accept everybody that comes his way and one who referred to every young male as, “the boy” and the females, as “A beby” and they in turn called him the same. That was why he was popularly known as “the boy or A beby” more often than his real names. Daddy never allowed anything to bother him even in his struggles to fend for his family. He could only say, God dey”. Prince Chidi Obi also described his late father as humble, peace loving and one who avoided anything that could make anyone hear his voice in quarrel or anger. “He would always find reason to excuse offenders. No wonder when his time came, he simply demanded for a cool music to uplift his spirit while he quietly closed his eyes and gave up the ghost in submission to the will of God”, he concluded.
In a special tribute to his late father, whom he said was a good man, who fought so hard to live beyond 80, Prince Chidi Obi who incidentally was the Chief mourner, regretted that he was unable to fulfil “many promises and plans he had for the father despite putting in his best”. A peaceful and loving man, your joy had always been to see everyone together and happy. You loved your siblings so much that you overlooked so much and enjoined me to be kind to my siblings,” he stated.
Earlier at a funeral mass at Mt. Carmel Catholic Parish Emekuku the presiding priest humbly asked our Lord Jesus Christ for mercy and to accept the soul of Pa Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, his servant, and forgive the sins he committed through human frailty, and free him from the bonds of death and admit him into everlasting life.
Many dignitaries, politicians and youth leaders attended the ceremony. He was survived by five children.
