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CHEKWAS OKORIE @69: hoo!haa!! SALUTES AN UNTIRING IGBO IRREDENTIST

Enugu: The Publisher, Management and staff of hoo!haa!! Communications, Publishers of hoo!haa!! Online Newspapers, in Igbo (www.hoohaa.com.ng) and English languages (www.english.hoohaa.com.ng) wish to salute an untiring Igbo irredentist, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Ojeozi Ndigbo, as he marks his 69th Birthday, today, 19th March, 2023.

“Ojeozi, in the 80s, you founded the Nzuko Imo Na Abia in Enugu (which became known as Nzuko IMO na Abia after the creation of Abia State in 1991) and served as the President- General. You were as well the founder and National Leader of Igboezue Cultural Association which drew membership from all the nooks and crannies of Igbo Land; Founder and Secretary-General, Peoples Democratic Congress (1996); Founder and National Leader of All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA); Founder and National Leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP).

You were also not lacking in business acumen, being the Founder and Chairman, Chel Water Nigeria Ltd; among others. 

In fact, for almost two decades, from the 1990s to the 2000s, your Chel Water Nigeria Limited office at Ziks Avenue, Uwani, Enugu was “a Mecca” for Igbo students and youth leaders, from Enugu and beyond.

You were and still remain a quintessential mentor to younger generations of the Igbo Leadership.

Typical of activists, you have never been a rich man, yet, you have always been eager to sacrifice the much at your disposal for the Igbo interest.

From your days as an undergraduate student in 1976, at the Department of Management, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, UNEC, you became a member of OHANAEZE (Igbo Forum).

You served at the College of Technology (later Federal Polytechnic), Bida as a Lecturer in 1978/79 for National Youth Service from where you were coming to Enugu for Ohanaeze and other pan Igbo meetings. You have remained at the forefront of the struggle for Igbo advancement thereafter.

Indeed, Ojeozi Ndigbo (servant of Ndigbo), just as your chieftaincy title implies, yours has been a life of service to Ndigbo.

APGA’s registration was a turning point in your life long battle for Igbo political emancipation.

I recall that day in 2002, when you came to the residence of Justice Ezebuilo Ozobu, Rtd, then Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General and literarily dropped the certificate of registration of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at his feet saying, “Your Lordship, this is the Igbo party. Let Ndigbo do whatever they want with it”

Eventually, you convinced Ikemba Dim Emeka Ojukwu to come onboard as the party’s Presidential candidate.

After fighting so many political battles for Ndigbo, your body is adorned with battle scars like trophies, yet, you are not wearied. For you, it is “Aluta Continua!”

Ojeozi, “A political party is a platform for acquiring political office”. That is one of your quotable quotes. Indeed, your migration from APGA to UPP and APC has not in any way diminished your resumè as an Igbo leader.

In line with the Igbo proverb, “Ma ihe a na-ata ata agwụghị, àgbà agaghị ezu ike”, you have accepted your service to Ndigbo as a life long vocation.


“Agụ ole ka mmadụ ga-egbu, ọ bụrụ ogbu agụ? Ojeozi, ị bụ Ogbuagụ. Ojeozi, I gbuzuwo. Ihe dị ka gị akọkwala Ndigbo. Iseeeee! “

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