Professor Michael Onyemachi Oleka has departed the flesh to continue his experiencing hopefully in the finer planes of the beyond in accordance with the lawfulness of the Will of His Creator. We who called him our friend can only glorify the Lord in His wisdom and supplicate His mercies to help this sojourning soul to find the real path on his way to the eternal realms of the Almighty Father. May our grief not be a burden to him.

I drew close to Professor Michael Oleka because of his courageous and principled stand on issues and even closer when we realized we shared the uncommon Igbo name of Onyemachi. He called a spade a spade and stood his grounds on conviction. He did not suffer fools gladly and had no space for slothful workers who could not contribute their requisite quota to the growth of the institution. He had the courage to correct firmly and in love. He was committed to the principles of University as an agent of Change and vehicle of truth and discharged any duty assigned him creditably to the best of his ability. He made order out of chaos and repositioned any unit he headed for proper service delivery.

He chose his friends carefully and adopted a few of us as "NWA" not "UMU". To these he confided in and relaxed with. A master story teller he could hold us spell bound as he regaled us with the stories of his exploits both locally and internationally spiced with humour that can have us in stitches.

Professor Oleka was always well dresssed in his customized suits and characteristic bow ties in sartorial elegance. He could not stand sloppy dresssing and was drawn close to those who knew how to step out in style.He had ready compliments for good decent dressing and well styled hair and could make your day with these unresrved compliments. Professor Oleka was a good dancer and could not stop telling the stories of his winning dances in University College Ibadan. 

Professor Oleka was disciplined and the did not spare the rod in raising his two children the evidence of which is how well and responsible they both turned out. This same discipline he brought to bear in his relationships with students, colleagues and friends.

We have lost a friend, supporter and mentor but I am consoled by the fact that he gave his life this time around to visible notable achievements in the development of human values that could foster enduring sustainable growth.

Adieu my Friend, My Namesake. Adieu and may you awaken to joyful activity in the Eternal Realms of the Almighty Father.

TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR MICHAEL O. OLEKA – MY BROTHER

I remember seeing Mike as I fondly called him, a year ago at my Mother-in-Law’s burial, he was full of life and wore his usual confident smile. We spoke on the phone several times when he took ill. He assured me his health was improving. I visited him at his sick bed at the Ibiam Ward, Federal Medical center Umuahia on the 23rd of April 2013. This visit was first to cheer him up by cracking our usual jokes and secondly, to show him my Staff of Office as the Traditional ruler of our autonomous community, earlier presented to me by the Governor of Abia State. I was shocked at his state of health, I could not relate this to the assurances he and his close associates had given me of the gradual recovery from his illness. I shed a tear and left.

Our close relationship dates back to our primary and secondary school days in Port Harcourt and Methodist College Uzuakoli. We came home to the village during the Easter and Christmas holidays to play football at the village square, pluck fruits at the Rest house and be part of the dance group that heralded our masquerades. Our relationship continued during our working days in Enugu, his undergraduate years in Ibadan and when we both went overseas for further studies. I sent him a piece of my wedding cake in 1970. His wife Esther was anxious to meet this ‘brother’ of his whom he talked so much about and who took the rare step of sending his wedding cake to them in Germany from London. Both families (with our wives) met for the first time in the early 70’s in Lagos. It was the best period of our lives. We went regularly to Saturday ballroom dance at the Federal Palace Hotel where Mike displayed his dexterity in Waltz and Foxtrot. He became and instant dance instructor as he also was when he visited us in Calabar during vacation from University of Ibadan.

Mike was very supportive during my many years as the Chairman, Amaba Town Union and as President General Isuikwuato Development Union. He was the pillar in the Isuikwuato Elders Forum. As Patron and Life Patron of Isiala Isuamawu Autonomous Community and Amaba Town Union National respectively, Mike was to be my Principal Adviser and Confidant during my reign as the Traditional ruler. But now he is gone! What can I say, we cannot challenge God. The memories of the lives and times we shared together would continually remain fresh in my mind. He loved life and he lived it. He worked hard and he got for himself all that he dreamt he would be – a Professor; a Community Leader, a Bridge Builder, a Development Agent; a Family Man and a Man of the People!

Mike, I had thought we were going to grow together to great old age. Your demise is a terrible loss to me and our community. During your lifetime, you took up the problems and challenges facing Amaba. You stood firmly on behalf of Amaba :-

So that forces of darkness causing retrogression may be permanently silenced;

So that peace, stability and progress reigned supreme;

So that we will be rid of social and economic decadence

On behalf of myself, my family and the good and peace loving people of Amaba and Isiala Isuamawu Autonomous Community, I say good night. Rest in the bosom of our Lord. I pray that your family and all those you have left behind will have the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Chioma and Amobi shall live long, prosper and progress by God’s grace.

Like St Paul, you can say “I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith……..there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…..the Lord will give to me…….”

From

HRH Eze Gospel N. Ugwa

Isiawu 2

Isiala-Isuamawu Autonomous Community

Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State

   25 05-2013

A TRIBUTE TO OUR MUCH-LOVED FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE

We must count ourselves extremely lucky if sometime during our lives we happen to befriend a wonderful human being like Prof. Mike Oleka, whose zest for life and capacity to live life to the full was inspiring.

Prof. gave his life so willingly to students, colleagues and friends and never expected anything in return.

He had a relaxed caring manner towards his students, be was assiduous and always abreast of contemporary trends in his field and others. Little wonder he served several tenures as Director of Academic Planning in ABSU.

As a work colleague, he was the best. His practical jokes were infectious.

When I describe his nature some may think I have enlarged him beyond reality after his death. Such is not the case.

He was a gentle spirit. A gentle soul, who loved passionately and gave unselfishly of his time and himself.

He would go out of his way to help in any way he could even if it meant depriving or denying himself to meet his friends’ needs.

He eagerly listened to our ramblings on any topic and made observations that let us know that he had really been listening not hearing our words.

He was a one-in-a-million kind of man--------------and he will be missed every minute of everyday

Adieu! Adieu!! Adieu!!!

Professor Solomon Nnanna Umeham