Ehikwe gifts Ika’s version of the Lordsprayer to Americans

By Jimitota Onoyume

The Pan African People, a sociocultural pressure group comprising Africans residing in Columbia, Carolina, United States of America (USA), has bestowed a chieftaincy title – Adolor of the Pan African People – on Daniel J. Rickenmann, Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, for his sterling leadership qualities.

The group commended the Mayor , saying his approach to leadership is development-oriented with cultural integration, adding that he also promotes values of peace.

The conferment was part of activities lined up to mark this year’s birthday celebration of Grand Knight, Sir Tonna Okei, President, Organization of Africa Unity, South Carolina (SC). The body is a Pan African Inter-Nation, an umbrella socio-cultural organisation of all Africans resident in South Carolina,

Okei, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Knights of Columbus, is also a notary public and a community leader. Members of the group further described him as “cultural enthusiast and Team Leader, Quality Assurance Bureau of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services,”. He was born on January 16, 1975.

Speaking with Journalists shortly after the Chieftaincy title was conferred on the Mayor of Columbia, Sir Okei described the development as deserving, saying that , “Daniel J. Rickenmann is a lover of Africans, a noble public office holder with impeccable character, peace and development-engineer. Rickenmann has over time demonstrated exemplary leadership traits worthy of emulation “

Urging the Mayor to sustain the tempo of his people-oriented leadership devoid of marginalization, vindictiveness or victimization, Okei called on members of the group and Africans resident in the United States to remain resolute in their obedience to laws of the land, contributing to the development of the country, Nigeria and Africa.

Others who spoke at the event poured encomium on Sir Okei.
According to them, Okei, popularly called Ikuku Oma, is a fighter for fair, just, equitable and peaceful world

“What we are doing today is not different from previous experiences. The celebration is not in any way different. We are only replicating what other groups have done in the past for a man who has become famous for wiping away tears and passing smiles in his efforts for human and community developmental strides. Okei, in our view, has become a leading light that any youth in Nigeria and abroad desirous of making progress in life should emulate.

“We are acknowledging the salient and outstanding public leadership exploits at the global stage of a yet to be celebrated Agbor born, Grand Knight Emeritus, president of the Organisation of African Unity South Carolina, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Knights of Columbus, a notary public, a member of the South Carolina cultural and linguistic committee, a team leader, community leader, cultural enthusiast, Quality Assurance Bureau of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services who has through hard work, planning and self improvement, established self as a global citizen.

“As a charismatic leader, Okei, a year ago published a book he authored titled – I Am Still Standing. The book among other things focused on how the cultural Ambassador was medically diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and primary schologantis and through God’s divine interventions, survived’’.

For her part, wife of the celebrant, Dr Oluwatoyin Okei (Yeye Asoju Oba), observed with pride that her husband ” is good at assisting people to actualize their goals , Grand Knight Tonna has no rival as neither sickness nor insufficiency of funds could deter him from achieving such objectives.

“My husband is loving. He is the caring father of our children. He stands as a shining light when it comes to advocacy for human capital and community development, relentless calls for good governance and cultural promotion among other areas of human endeavours.

“Also worthy of mention is the fact that in keeping with his development oriented and detribalised culture, Tonna married me from South Western Nigeria and we are today blessed with six children and a granddaughter,

Tonna, is the eldest son of Lady Felicia Okei and Barrister George Okei.

Present at the event were; Mayor of Columbia, Honorable Daniel Rickenmann, Sheriff Leon Lott of Richland County, United States of America, Sir Tony Zammarrelli, Pan African leader. Chief Ibe Ogburu (Eselu). Director of protocol for the day, Barrister Mrs. Ngozi Ezeihuaku (Oso di eme) and Dr Arthur Kennedy, a Former Ghanaian Presidential candidate who spoke for the pan African people.

The high point of the celebration was the presentation to Americans of the Ika version of our Lord’s Prayer, a gift made available by Chief John Ehikwe, Ukpe Chukwu Munye of Ejeme Unor. Cutting of the birthday cake, refreshment and dance.

Presenting the gifts Chief Ehikwe said , “Tonna is my son and as a born and bred Catholic, I believe in prayer. In our family, we have the culture of handing over everything we do to God through prayer. The donation of this Ika version of the Lord’s prayer is a way of encouraging people to be committed to prayer. Prayer is the best gift one can give to humanity”.