Former Anambra State Governor and the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige CON, has expressed sadness over the death of business mogul and former Senator, who represented Anambra Central in the 6th Senate 2007- 2011.
In a statement he personally signed, Dr Ngige described the death of Okonkwo at the age of 63 as an unexpected uprooting and fall of an Iroko tree in the forest with attendant huge loss to the business and political firmament of Anambra State, the South East and Nigeria in general.
He described the late Senator as a very strong and dogged politician with whom he did many political battles/ contests, the most memorable being the 3 cornered fight in 2011 for the Anambra Central Senate seat between himself, the late Senator and late Prof Dora Akunyili. Dr Ngige praised the late Senator for his sportsmanship saying “Even though I won and came to the 7th Senate, Agunechemba congratulated me and promised not to go to Court to contest my winning. He really did not go to Court”. So I became his successor and the loss did not affect our personal relationship.
“I remember with nostalgia the night in February 2012 that I brought the trio of himself, HE Senator Rochas Okorocha to Baba Bisi Akande, President Bola Tinubu to join us as the missing Eastern Limb in our quest for the formation of a virile vibrant party the All Progressives Congress ( APC).”
“They joined in the negotiations, as a faction of APGA and Senator Okonkwo thereafter became APC’s 1st interim Deputy Chairman [South], deputising Baba Bisi Akande.”
“Before now, Senator Okonkwo was the pride of we the young Igbo elites in Lagos in the 90s having foryed with his companies Clemco, rice and sugar importation, Reliance Technology into Telecoms and even competing in Banking.”
Dr Ngige extended his heartfelt condolences to the Okonkwo family of Iru- Ebenebe, Ojoto, where he holds the High Chieftaincy title of Okaka and Agunechemba, the Government and people of Anambra State and the Nigerian political and business community.
“May the good Lord accept his soul and grant him Eternal rest” he prayed.