SHAKESPEARE in one of his novels, described death as a necessary end which will come when it will come. There is no doubt that dying is a sad reality but one thing which is always noticed is the ill-feeling and very ugly mood such occasions bring to those affected.

The sudden death of a community leader, the Eze-ebo of Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta-State, Chief Dominic Nwanze Ofuokwu, came to me as the rudest shock of my life.  In the evening of  September 19, 2013 to be precise, at about 7pm, my mobile phone rang.

It was a call from a close pal and when I picked to answer the call, behold I was confronted with the saddest and unbelievable news.  The caller from the other end confirmed that Diokpa Ofuokwu was no more.  When I eventually broke the news to my wife and children that Diokpa Ofuokwu was dead, we all broke into tears, jolted by the suddenness of his death, especially when  I saw and had a talk with him the previous day.

The question on my lips was what must have been responsible for the death. Could it be accident or attack by some disgruntled criminals? My earlier informant could not give me details.   Throughout that night I made contacts and still the cause of death was sketchy.

Early  the next day, I left my house in Asaba for Ibusa.  When  I arrived at  Diokpa’s residence at Ogbeowele quarter in Ibusa and saw the atmosphere, it then dawned on me that it was all over and that the man full of energy, a distinguished personality, an enigma, philanthropist and lover of peace, is gone to be seen no more. I was made to understand on further enquiry about the cause of his sudden death, that Papa died peacefully in his sleep.

 I came into close contact with Papa Ofuokwu, as I always address him, in 2000 at one of the meetings of the PDP in Ibusa. Though I am not a practising politician but as a journalist, I was always engaged to cover most of his activities,  political or otherwise.

As he found me to be trustworthy and who also does his work to his satisfaction, Papa Ofuokwu and many others took interest in me, hence any event he is involved in he would insist on inviting me. It is on record that till his sudden demise, most of his activities that required publicity were carried out by me.

Papa Ofuokwu, even at the age of 84, was always neatly and gorgeously dressed, full of smiles at all times and remained a personality with a sense of justice, fair play. He stood out among equals as the champion of human rights, advocate of the down-trodden, and above all a philanthropist to a fault.

I recalled when I lost my father in-law, this man of many good parts in company of some friends, drove down from Ibusa to Isele-Uku with drinks and gifts to support me.

It is pertinent to state here that Papa Dominic Ofuokwu for whom I have tremendous respect for, genuinely inspired and encouraged me with how he identified and appreciated my publicity works, like he would always call me   Chief Fejokwu even though I am not yet a titled chief.

Papa Ofuokwu who was born in February 1929 hails from Ogbeowele-Ibusa in Oshimili-North local government area of Delta State to the family of Obi Ofuokwu Elueze and Mrs. Nwobosh, Ofuokwu. He is the Eze-ebo of Ogbeowele, Ibusa and had his early education at St Theresa’s School Jos and St Thomas College practicing school, Ibusa.

As a man determined to succeed in life having lost both parents at early age, Pa Ofuokwu between 1952-1957, attended the Railway Technical School Ebute-meta as well as the Yaba Technical school (now Yaba College of Technology) Federal ministry of education evenmg school for his NCE at the Methodist school, Herbert Maculay Street, Yaba Lagos.

Papa Dominic Nwanze Ofuokwu joined the employment of the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 1952 from where he retired in 1988 as a senior Technical Officer after 35 years of meritorious service

In the course of his working life and immense contributions to the socio-economic growth and development of his immediate community, he was recognised and conferred with the title of Eze-ebo of Ogbeowele. He was  a thorough bred unionist and union leader per excellence having had the privilege of several overseas training, including the 1985 training at the famous Labour College, Bernau Berlin, German Democratic Republic (as it was then known), among others.

While in Germany, his sterling leadership qualities did not go unrecognised as he was elected leader of African Trade Union students m Berlin. He attended many other seminars and courses, including that of industrial relations at the University of Lagos in 1963 and same course in Lagos Mainland, Ebute-meta and Yaba College of Technology in 1964 and 1965 respectively.

Other courses Papa Ofuokwu attended included restructuring of Nigerian Trade Unions University of Ibadan in 1977, seminar on industrial relations, Bargaining Technics Cooperative and Labour Law organised by I.T.F/NUR at Zaria in 1979 as well as another seminar on Industrial Relations by the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus and that of the Federal ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity.

Chief Patrick Ofuokwu till death served his people of Ibusa in many capacities as a founding member of Ibusa Premier Club of Nigeria, Central Treasurer, Ibusa Community Development Union Lagos Area (1973-1977) President Ibusa Community Development Union, Ebute-meta (1974-1980) a founding member of PDP and chairman of Ibusa PDP elders forum.

The man Ofuokwu was married to his heartthrob, the late Mrs. Victoria Uchemudi Ofuokwu (Nee Odogwu) of Ibusa in 1959, and blessed with loving and caring children and grand children.

Mr Emma Fejokwu, a consultant, wrote from Asaba, Delta State