•Transport Minister, ROTIMI AMAECHI Attends
•What His Family Told Mourners
The celebrities in Rivers state and, indeed, Nigeria all gathered on Saturday, 16th of November, 2019, to pay their last respect to one of their own, the late Prince Nnamdi Wokekoro, at his Port Harcourt country home. City People’s Port Harcourt Bureau Chief, EMEKA AMAEFULA, here serves you the gist at the burial including his biography as read by his family at the funeral ceremony at Port Harcourt Polo Club Playground. The ceremony was staged by the Rivers state chapter of All Progressives’ Congress, APC-led by Rt. Honorable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. A recount of his exploit while insert-exit in the United Kingdom where he housed the children of the most-haunted Rivers state politician in 2007 was given prominence as the politician earlier took refuge in Ghana. The Minister made sure that the late Prince Nnamdi Wokekoro was given the best funeral rites and ceremony in Ikwerre land.
IKWERRE ONE GOES HOME
For lovers of Nollywood movies the burial ceremony of Prince Nnamdi Wokekoro was a good script for rehearsal, as the activities leading to his internment though controversial at his family level, left a lot of his admirers guessing what could be responsible to the refusal of his family having his remains committed to mother earth a few weeks after his demise. But at the burial proper, his country home otherwise known as IKWERRE 1st HAVEN located at Rumukalagbor area of Port Harcourt is, indeed, a luxury estate befitting a Government House as people would address it. The multi-storey complex has an underground foundation floor and an undulating backyard with a spacious car park that extends from the right wings of the estate down to the rear. Mourners gathered in clusters with well-decorated tables and effigies of the late Prince Nnamdi conspicuously displayed in the front of the estate as his remains made the entry.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF LATE CHIEF NNAMDI WOKEKORO IKWERRE ONE AT 54
“Life is but a shopping place. A pause in what’s to be. A resting place on the road to sweet eternity. We all have different journeys, different paths along the way. Our destinations are places are far for greener than we know. The journey could be quick while another is slow. And when the journey finally ends, we will claim a great reward and find an everlasting peace, together with the Lord.”
HIS ROYAL BIRTH
“Born in Orogbum, Port Harcourt city on April 23, 1963, the late Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro was the youngest son of Ogbuga 1 of Rebisi kingdom, the late Chief Ezekiel A. Wokekoro and late Mary W. Wokekoro. The late Ogbuga was a hardworking man, who raised his eight sons in a much-disciplined way. It was from home that the late Chief Nnamdi learned much of his hard work instinct, tenacity and doggedness.
The Late Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro had his primary and secondary education in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. He later obtained his higher education certificate in the UK, while on political exile. His concern and sympathy for the downtrodden and less privileged in the society propelled him to seek employment in an attempt to give succour to the poor. Subsequently, he was employed by Chief Kenneth Ejieze in the Keniff Group of Companies. With hard work and attention to detail, he rose to become the Operations Manager.”
HIS POLITICAL LIFE UNVEILED
HOW HE SUSTAINED AMAECHI’S STOLEN MANDATE IN 2007
In his quest to be more useful, he empowered more people and diversified his income stream. Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro incorporated two companies and became a partner to another company involved in importation. It’s on record that he became a major distributor of used Air conditioners, refrigerators and other essential commodities not only in Rivers state but also in Aba, Owerri, Enugu, and Umuahia spanning about 15 years. As his business empire grew so did his generosity and level of empowerment. Subsequently, he was given the title “IKWERRE 1 OF IKWERRELAND” ‘a title he cherished until death. At the peak of his business success, Ikwerre 1 sought political relevance in an attempt to expand his empowerment prowess. This journey took him to Chief O.B Lulu-Briggs, who trusted him and delegated so many responsibilities to him. One of such responsibilities though herculean was campaigning for Chief’s (O.B Lulu-Briggs) presidential ambition in Rivers State on the platform of the social Democratic Party-(SDP) in 1993. He so well mobilized people and delegates to attend the famous “JOS SDP Presidential Convention in 1993” in support of Chief O.B lulu-Briggs and even drove himself to the Jos Convention in his famous “Volkswagen Bettle car”.
At the inception of the fourth Republic in 1998, Ikwerre 1 joined the Late Chief Emmanuel Aguma, late Marshall Harry and other notable politicians to bring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Rivers state and Port Harcourt in particular. He was elected the mayor of Port Harcourt City in December 1999.
It is on record that as Mayor of Port Harcourt City from 1999 to 2001, Port Harcourt city was noticed and recognition at home and abroad, thanks to his developmental steps, empowerment mechanism and educational support through a scholarship to deserving PHALGA students and prompt payment of bursary. At the end of his tenure in 2002, Dr. Peter Odili appointed him Political Adviser. His continuous quest for political emancipation and support for the downtrodden, the late Chief Wokekoro resigned his appointment from the Dr. Peter Odili’s cabinet and joined President Muhammed Buhari’s All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, with the late Dr. Marshall Harry. His, friendly and reachable disposition earned him the position of Deputy National Youth Leader, South.
The late Ikwerre 1 with his Midas touch, popularised ANPP not only in Rivers state but in the entire South-South, zone, thus earning accolades and respect from prominent Niger Delta sons like the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and Chief Rufus Ada George, former governors of Bayelsa and Rivers states respectively. In recognition of Chief Wokekoro’s ever-increasing political relevance in 2006, several politicians reached out to him to support the gubernatorial ambition of Rt. Honourable Chibuike Amaechi. As an astute politician, an advocate of Ikwerre governor and a believer to Chibuike R. Amaechi’s agenda, he came on board and returned to the PDP. With the infamous “K-Leg” saga, Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro was promised appointments and contracts to jettison his support and loyalty to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi. It’s on record that his family house was converted to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi campaign Office during the period. This sole action endangered his life and he was exposed to several threats. He subsequently escaped into exile in the United Kingdom, (UK) where he continued his advocacy of the return of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s stolen mandate.
In December 2007, three months after the return of the ”stolen mandate” Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro was appointed Chairman; Rivers state Waste Management Agency (formerly Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority) by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. His records and legacy as chairman were unprecedented and difficult to match. From ensuring that the entire state was clean, particularly Port Harcourt city and its environs, to the empowerment of the youths, establishing a Police station at the Agency officer and erecting edifice befitting the agency, chief Wokekoro’s record was unblemished. In 2014, he was redeployed to Rivers state Local Government Service Commission as Chairman, though short-lived, his reign as chairman brought about visible and concrete landmarks still being talked about, three years after his removal.
A friend to all, his friendship cut across all the geopolitical zones of the country, ranging from current and deposed Emirs, Royal Highnesses, Chiefs, current and former Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General of Police, former Chief of Army Staff, current and former National Assembly members current and former Ministers of Federal Republic of Nigeria, current and former state. House Assembly members. The Late chief Nnamdi Wokekoro, a leader of All Progressives Congress-APC in PHALGA (Port Harcourt Local Government Area) until his demise, was a lover of people irrespective of their background, age or position, sacrificing personal comfort mostly for the growth of his friends, boys, family members and “Ogas”. He contributed immensely to the education of his extended family and friends even till date as reflected in His LAST WILL. He offered his “Boys and girls”, family members, friends unknown upon recommendation to key positions to cushion them against the rigour he went through in life.
A thorough-breed ahead of his peers. An advocate of truth, a recipient of several awards and chieftaincy titles in Ikwerreland, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Taraba states. He was honoured as one of the Hundred Most Influential persons in Rivers state by Governor Nyesom Wike. A lover of sports, particularly football, a goalkeeper in his prime. The Sole financier of the Late Chief Ezekiel Wokekoro’s Five-Aside Competition in Orogbum and one of the early financiers of defunct Rebisi Cup and it’s on record as the only Rebisi son whoever sponsored footballers to an academy in Ghana.
On the 12th day of December, 2017, God looked around His garden and found an empty space. Then HE looked down upon HIS earth and saw Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro’s tired face. GOD put HIS arms around him and lifted him to rest. GOD’s garden must be beautiful, HE ONLY takes the best.
IKWERRE 1, you were a father, brother, uncle, “Oga” and friend, before death plucked you from our mid. The RIP in our hearts will become a scare. A permanent reminder of how loved you were.
Late Chief Prince Nnamdi Wokekoro, Ikwerre 1 of Ikwerre Land is survived by Master Amadi Wokekoro to whom he was more than a father, two surviving brothers Welimati Wokekoro and Nnanta Wokekoro and numerous uncles, aunties, nephews and nieces to mourn him.”
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