THE smiles were always genuine. It came from the heart. To Peter Anagha Okorukwu (Ugara), everyone was special.  Even in the hawkish world of business, particularly, clearing and forwarding where he was an icon, he put the interest of other persons before his. While he hailed from Idima Ohaeke Abam, Arochukwu Local Government Area, Abia State, Abam generally was his canvass. Now, the mourning has just started for many. 

He desired and worked for the good of all.  Take this example: A politician in the House of Representatives, on a visit to Idima community, had pledged N200,000 to assist rehabilitate a collapsed council hall which originally housed the community’s postal agency.  Those empowered to follow up couldn’t. Watching such a pledge go down the drain was too much for Peter to bear.  He put his time, money and energy, traversing Aba, Abuja and Arochukwu, until the cheque was raised.  He dutifully handed the cheque to community chiefs and elders.

He was in the forefront of the campaign to sanitize Idima Abam Progressive Union, IAPU, and contributed his quota in checkmating some people whose activities became a leech on community resources and fiscal development.  The people were instrumental to the recline of contact between government at all levels and Idima community.  Peter stood firm against these injustices resulting in attacks on his person by hired village urchins.  They will have their days in the sun.

When night bus travel was still in vogue, before night marauders took over the roads, I used to enjoy visiting the South East via Aba.  I would be his guest to freshen up and continue to wherever. This day I was visiting my mother who was in Aba for medical check.  Mother and child discussion had gone deep into the night, unaware that Peter’s abode had a restriction of 8 p.m placed by vigilance people.  Unfortunately my Okada rider missed his way. I got to Peter’s house by 8.20 p.m to behold a locked gate.

He occupied the ground floor of a twin duplex with the landlord also in residence.  All appeals by Peter and other tenants for the landlord to bend over for this visitor not used to such restrictions fell on deaf ears.  Peter was so embarrassed and disappointed he swore to leave the compound at the expiration of his rent, and he did.

So, here was I in a deserted over-rail Aba street with no knowledge of a good hotel nearby. And  400 metres from the house, I was accosted by cutlass and rod-wielding young men masquerading as vigilance outfit.  “Stop there!” they yelled.

I couldn’t make meaning of their mission, but obey, I did. I quickly identified myself and explained why I had to be in the street at that time.  Like lightening, one fellow (Nwankwo Onu) emerged from the crowd.  “I know him, he is a cousin,” he told his colleagues.  All weapons were lowered.  Of course, I was heading for another cousin’s house, the late Chief Okorie Abali, along Omuma Road.  They guarded to guarantee a safe passage for me.  The chief hurried to the door, when he heard my name.

Peter was cut down, Saturday, March 20, at Umunede, Delta State as he journeyed to Lagos.  A commercial bus he boarded at Aba had had a burst tyre, somersaulted, resulting to injuries on him and eventual death. He was aged 53.

He attended the famous St. Michael’s Catholic School, Idima Abam, before proceeding to Abam High School, Ozu, for his secondary education.  He went into business early and succeeded in his chosen field of clearing and forwarding, running the very successful Anny Peter Nigeria Limited, Aba, as chairman and CEO.

As dignitaries: businessmen, politicians, friends and relatives defied the worst road network in modern Nigeria to gather at the disused St. Michael’s Catholic Mission field, Saturday, April 24, to pay their last respects, it was a subdued community that came to witness.

Peter’s monumental sacrifice has done nothing to lift the society, an antiquated chiefs and elders council that continue their unending struggle with civilisation, an emotive youth population and an emerging Umunna diabolical culture festers to corrode the land.

Peter! a good brother, your death shocked the family and left many speechless. The Ugo-Aha family will miss your usual selfless intervention in times of distress, Ugbogu and Biakpan age grade will hunger for your wise counsel.  As Biblically known, a prophet’s contributions are hardly acknowledged until his death.  Yours will not be different.

The unprecedented crowd that came to witness the solemn service by Word Transformation Church Int’l Inc. Aba, on your farewell, at a season when fear and hardship envelope the land, attested to your good and adorable spirit. Adieu, great one!

Mr. Nwankwo is a staff of Vanguard Newspapers.