Okorocha @ 57: A Story Of Piety, Grace And Compassion

ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES

In the history of wealthy men, very few pages are dedicated to the things that matter; lives touched, love shared, institutions built and dreams helped to come to life. But the life of every great person is tied around these things, for greatness is in many ways torn away from greatness. Very few wealthy men are great, but every great man is wealthy, maybe, not in cash, but certainly in heart. Yet, among the greatest of African men, we can count the few whose life have most been dedicated to giving others a chance at being greater than themselves, this, is where Owelle Rochas Okorocha falls into. 

For the past five scores and seven years, that little bright boy who was Mama Josephine’s favorite son and Pa Ochiedike’s lookalike, has dedicated his life and all the huge wealth, he has garnered through hard work, honesty and diligence, to not just serving mankind, but building mankind. From a poverty ravaged cradle, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has cleaned out the dent of poverty in thousands of homes across Nigeria and Africa.

Okorocha’s life of philanthropy and sincere humanitarianism is not a mere passion, but a covenant he entered into with God, long before he hit his first big gold chaste in business and politics. He beseeched God to bless him, so that he would be a blessing to others, and he has kept to this covenant for more than 30 years of swimming in wealth. He has not forgotten where he came from and the prayer that opened doors for him.

Like Harriet Tubman who escaped from slavery, but never forgot other slaves, Rochas escaped from the poverty into which he was born, but has always put himself forward, not just to speak or provide for the poor and children whose dreams of may be hampered as a result of their poor background. Harriet would have moved on with her life after escaping from her slaves in Maryland, but she chose to return to help her family members, friends and others whom she might not have any connections with, escape the excruciating humiliation of slavery.

Owelle has had many close shaves with death, but has escaped all of them, miraculously, most times, without a scratch. The reason for the inexplicable miracles that have come to define both his business and political lives is not far from his closeness with God. Like the Psalmist sang in Psalms 5 vs 11-12, Okorocha is under the shield of the Almighty God, because he has lived a life of unpretentious piety, and he has not failed to tell anyone who comes close to him that God is his secret.

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

In public and in his private lives, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has promoted Godliness through his actions and words. Being the first governor in Nigeria to build 28 chapels for Christian worshipers, goes a long way to show his love for God and his desire to evangelize through his influence and wealth.

His compassionate style has stood him out among many African leaders, to the extent that he has built a large family of persons from different backgrounds who are ready to sink or swim with him. He is that kind of leader that looks for ways to improve those who work with him, rather than merely exploiting their talents for his personal gains. He has raised thousands of millionaires and professionals and is not looking likely to retire from this passion of creating leaders.

No garland would be too colourful for a man who has dedicated his life to serving others and fighting for the people, while living the covenant. For his genuine goodness, he has been severally misunderstood, but we, who have come to understand his strengths and weaknesses, will always stand with him and pray for him, to keep doing even better as his age increases.

Happy birthday to the father of the poor and the fighter for the oppressed!