I'm driven by uncontrollable tears to say many extraordinary words in memory of our great father, yet having reflected on the loss, its hard to choose the right words to tell the world how special daddy was to me and its even harder to accept that he is no more.
As a teenager in the 90's, hoping to enter the university, I came to do my pre-science programme at Abakaliki and I visited him and His family. They welcomed me as part of them and made sure I had no issue with accommodation till I settled well in the school. I remembered Daddy, taking a whole day off to take me to the then commissioner for education (Dr Sam Egwu), just to make sure I secured the best accommodation. Daddy went out of his way, countless times, to see me comfortable, all through my stay in Abakaliki. He treated me equally with his own children, yet I had nothing to offer him back. Such a selfless personality shouldn't have left us. He will remain an irreplaceable part of our world gone too soon.
Dearest Emeka, the grief and the pain can be unbearable; we can cry a river and our sorrow may know no end, but remember this one thing: He lived a successful Christian life here and He died in Christ Jesus. That simply means that he changed to a better location; a location we can't wait to be at, after our lifetime on earth. Therefore, these moments are not entirely happy or entirely sad- they are a combination of both emotions because though we may never see him here again, we shall see Him glorified in another realm, as we live to please Christ and make heaven at last.
Remember, if we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we are of all men most miserable.
On behalf of your family, accept my condolence, Emeka and remember God is our strength, our comfort, and our ever present help, and our permanent solution in situations like this.
RIP DADDY!

Dr. Okonkwo
Shared by Joseph Akani on 23rd January 2019
When the news of your demise got to my hearing, I personally raised a question, why should death visit good people at their prime? Because I'm going to miss your kindness advise, but your legacies will forever live with us. May your gentle soul rest with the Lord, Amen! Good night.

My Able Dad, as I fondly call you. I miss you so much.

Farewell great father!!

You can no longer be seen by the human eye,
But your soul and love that you gave so many will never ever die.
If I could make just one wish right now, I 'd wish you back to stay but I guess this is the way life goes, and God's will we must accept. RIP Sir.

Accept my condolences Emeka. I do remember how glowingly you talked about him when we were together. I am certain he has fought a good fight of faith and gone to be with his Lord and savior where there is no pain nor suffering. The Lord do not forget our labour of love. May his soul rest in peace.

When I heard the news of your passing on to eternity, to say I was devastated was an understatement.
Back in the day at ebsu, I've always known you as a quiet meditative man who I'd never met in a cauldron of anger for once in all my occasional visits to your home.
You gave your all to your offspring and family. They come first in all you do!
You were an amazing man with an affable disposition to strangers like us who are friends to your son, Chukwuemeka.
Yea, you were down with that illness for a while but it never crossed my imagination you'd answer the glorious call this early knowing it's a very manageable condition medically. You never let it stop your normal praxis as you kept on doing your bit on the job. The least I'd expected was that you'd live to enjoy the fruit of your labour in two medical doctors, an engineer and more to come.
Daddy, it's painful you're no more with us. But we're consoled you're resting in his bosom having been a man of upright ways while on your earthly sojourn. May you pray for us in communion with the heavenly angels in your abode in heaven that we'd live our lives aright.
Adieu, sir. Fare thee well in eternity as we await that reunion on the resurrection morning.
Dike, nọdụ mma!!