Tribute To An Icon: Onowu Patrick Ifeanyichukwu Agbo

On Saturday 1st of August, 2015 I stopped over around 8pm at the front gate of Onowu Patrick Agbo to convey my apologies to him for my inability to respond early to his distress calls that I should see him on an emergency. There, I met one of his daughters, who gave me the shocking news of his admission to the hospital.

On getting home, my wife told me how her Pace- setter members were led by the Holy Spirit, same day, to go on hospital visitation during which they found Onowu in the first hospital they visited-Bishop Otubelu Specialist Memorial Hospital Uwani, in a critical state. She said even though unconscious, he responded ‘Amen’ to their prayers.

She advised me to hasten to the hospital before it would be too late. Not willing to engage in further prevarications, I proceeded to the hospital on Sunday 2^ndAugust 2015 with the greatest haste,only to arrive the hospital to hear that he was discharged few minutes before my arrival. The nurses advised me to go to his house for any additional information that I may need. That additional information was Onowu’s death.

Prince Raphael Agbo, later informed me that when he visited his brother in the hospital, he noticed that even though he was unconscious, his hand was moving persistently in the direction of his phone near the head pillow. Whereupon he asked one of his nieces why Onowu was moving his hand in that manner; and she said: he wants to call Dr. Ike Ngwu. Hon Prince Onowu Patrick Ifeanyichukwu Agbowo Onovo Agbo was my very close friend; a confidant; a trusted ally; a true defender of Amechi interests and the cause of the oppressed in our community. I will deeply miss his comradeship.

Without him the tussle for the Igweship of Amechi would have lingered, probably, till today. Motivated by Patriotism and the joy of a peaceful Amechi Community, Prince Ifeanyi, sacrificed his interests in the throne of the Igweship of Amechi and signed the instrument of surrender, for all the contestants to the stool, as required by government to avoid further acrimonious open contest by various interest groups which paved the way to the present occupant of the office to sail through unchallenged. Without that instrument, a referendum inevitably would have been conducted with its acrimonious and unnecessary waste. In appreciation, Amechi decorated Prince Patrick Ifeanyichukwu Agbo her first Traditional Prime Minister-hence the first Onowu of Amechi. The beneficiaryof his sacrifice may haveforgotten but God has not; that is why he made heaven a final habitation to those whose acts pleased him.

When I informed Elder Okeke Okwo of Onowu’s transition, he lamented that Amechi has given up to eternity a worthy son. Elder Okwo informed me that on 19^thFebruary 1971, he was arrested and detained at the Enugu Central Police Station by those who were opposed to his candidature and aspiration to become the chairman of Amechi Community council on the very day that the Secretary, Nkanu County Council came to conduct the election.At the election venue, Elder Okwor recollected, Onowu Patrick Agbo mobilized the elders and the youths and got him elected in his absence and in detention. Thereafter, he was said to have mobilized the youths in a rescue mission to the police station where they met Elder Okwo standing outside surrounded by the police. Ignoring the police, Onowu and his boys forced Elder Okwor into their vehicle and brought him to Eke Out where he was sworn in as Chairman Amechi Community Council to the admiration and jubilation of the community. These were only a few of the noble acts of Onowu Patrick Ifeanyichukwu Agbo.

Hon. Prince Patrick Ifeanyichukwu Agbo as he was then called, represented Amechi as a councilor in the old Enugu Local Government with Late Chief C.C. Onoh-Former Governor of Old Anambra state, Justice Nnaemeka Agu of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as his colleagues in the said council,with late Chief John Nwobodo presiding as Chairman. Hon. Prince Patrick Agbo was a Director of Premier ltd at Onitsha.This notable Prince was the Chairman of Amechi Land Committee with late chief Goddy Onyia as secretary for over a decade without Amechi losing sleep over the safety of their land nor losing to any neighboring community an inch of it. Onowu was not in the mold of those who call patriotic, honest and innocent citizens “thieves” to divert public attention from their planned loot of community treasury and inheritance.

Onowu was born a Prince and lived out his life a prince. When his age mates found it difficult to travel out from Amechi to nearby Onitsha or Port Harcourt in pursuit of the good things of life, he was touring the best cities of Europe in the best available air crafts. He was born rich and he enjoyed his life to the fullest. Onowu conducted his life as the last wall of defense for Amechi. No one gets oppressed in the community in his presence. He was the only one who had access to Tear Gas canisters and used it in droves to pursue the oppressors of the fundamental rights of citizens.

I salute you Onowu Amechi. Your noble acts and deeds in your efforts to promote our community to the highest level of development and prominence shall not be forgotten hence this chronicle for future generations. We will miss your selfless service and wise counsel to the community.I can testify as your close confidant that you confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and was therefore saved in accordance with Romans 10:9.Therefore let it be known to all men, that Onowu’s cool rest with the father in heaven is not a matter of luck but his right in Christ for fulfilling the scriptures as earlier quoted. Ozo Egbo Nwannukwu was right when he said: those who are wishing me hell, were you there when God made peace with me last night.

Nothing is born which Death does not make subject of his estate says Bhartrhari and, I add, until the coming of Jesus Christ. Every beautiful story, every successful journey, every good feast, every successful marriage, every successful government must surely come to an end; except the good life in Christ. Onowu has joined the league of our noble ancestors resting with the Lord. Fare well my friend. Your indelible good foot-prints will continue to speak and carry your name to generations coming; that is why this sea of humanity is gathered here today to celebrate your departure to eternity.

Dr. Steve Ikengwu is a former chairman Enugu South Local Government Area, Enugu State. Tel: 08037230466. He wrote from Enugu.