It was a moment of great sorrow, grief and sadness, but with adorable testimonies, thanksgivings, celebrations and praises by Distinguished Honourable Members of Imo State House Of Assembly today (18/03/2022), when The Body of a Great Mind, Political General, Famous Industrialist and Notable Businessman, Employer of labour, Traditionalist and above all, a fearless Crusader for Peace and Justice, Hon Nze Chief Patrick Colman Ezenwa Onuoha arrived the Assembly Complex in a long motorcade, led by Family Members, Relatives, Business Associates, Political Associates, Government Officials and well wishers.
Hon Chief P. C. Onuoha who represented Ekwereazu East State Constituency, between 1979 and 1983 Legislative Section in the old Imo State, was received by the Speaker Of Imo State House Of Assembly, Rt Honourable Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh, other Honourable Members ( both Past and Present Members), Staff and Management of the Imo State House Of Assembly.
Shortly after receiving the body of the Great Political Iroko, a Special Sitting was held in his honour.
The Majority Leader, Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi and Member Representing Owerri West-State Constituency, moved the Motion for the Body of Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha to be admitted into the Hallowed Chamber, Thus, "Be it resolved by this Honourable House that leave be granted for the Body of Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha to be admitted into the Chamber for purposes of paying last respect to the deceased".
The Motion was seconded by the Member Representing Owerri-North State Constituency, Hon Engr Philip Ejiogu.
When Mr Speaker put the Motion for adoption, it was unanimously adopted, after which the body of Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha was admitted into the Chamber. Thereafter, Mr Speaker gave a Short but detailed and well endowed glowing tribute and biography of Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha, describing him as a Leader and Legislator Per Excellence who showed great strength, focus, wisdom, ingenuity and Initiative in resolving perceived parliamentary challenges.
Let us hear Mr Speaker :
" Late Chief Patrick Colman Ezenwa Onuoha was born on the 9th of March 1942, as the 6th Child of his parents. He began his education at St Patrick's Primary School Umuokirika. He moved around with his father, who was a teacher. In 1957, he gained admission into the famous Government College Umuahia to begin his Secondary School. In 1963, he got a Division 1 (All A's in present-day Examination Standard).
However, at great expense to his educational pursuit, he sacrificed furthering his education, and chose to assist his parents in raising his younger siblings and lifted the family from the bonds of poverty and established the Onuoha dynasty.
In 1964, the young Patrick secured a teaching job with Immaculate ❤️ Heart College, Umungasi Aba, in the present day Abia State, and later proceeded to work at ALCAN ALUMINUM COMPANY, Port Harcourt in 1965".
Speaking further, Rt Honourable Kennedy Ibeh noted, "As a brilliant and hard-working young man, Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha worked assiduously with his elder brother to set up Post-war developmental projects in various communities within Owerri Catholic Diocese. These projects sponsored by the Caritas International Organization based in Germany helped alleviate hunger and hardship caused by the war.
He later Incorporated P.C. Onuoha and Co Ltd, and it became a leading Producer of Day Old Chicks, East of the Niger. Working with his younger brother, they established Branch Offices, Distributors and Day Old Chicks Vendors throughout the Southeast and beyond. It is on record his Hatchery Business became the Epicenter of Day Old Chicks in Nigeria.
In 1978, Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha entered into Politics, starting from the Nigeria Peoples' Party (NPP), and became the first Deputy State Chairman Under the late Chief RBK Okafor, who was the Chairman. In 1979, he contested and won the election to represent Ekwereazu East State Constituency in the Imo State House Of Assembly. His Performance in the State House Of Assembly can best be described by those who knew him, especially his constituents. In 1983, he contested and won the Party's Primary election to represent the Imo-East Senatorial Zone seat, but his victory was contested in the Courts, which culminated in the famous "Locus Clasicus" judgement of the Supreme Court, which Empowered the Party to choose who would represent them in the election.
In 1987/88, Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha joined Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua and others to found the Peoples' Democratic Movement, PDM. Later in 1989, when the President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida lifted the ban on Partisan Politics and formed the Social Democratic Party, SDP and the National Republican Convention, NRC, Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha joined the SDP and became the State Chairman. In the year 2,000, he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Political Science At Imo State University, IMSU. He received many Chieftaincy Titles from Traditional Rulers across Imo State and beyond. Among them are, Ikemba of Mbaise Nation, Ochirioha of Owere-Nchise etc.
In 1998, when General Abdulsalami Abubakar led Government formed three Political Parties, All Peoples' Party, APP, Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, and Alliance for Democracy, AD, with a pledge to return the country to democratic government in 1999, Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha was among the founding members of PDP and became the Party's State Chairman after the late Chief I.D. Nwoga. Later he became the Campaign Coordinator of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Campaign Organization. After the election and Obasanjo was declared the winner and inaugurated, President Obasanjo appointed him Chairman of Nigeria Resource Corporation, which he held and served out meritoriously. Hon Chief P. C. Onuoha later joined the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and later Co-founded All Progressive Congress, APC, with former Governor Rochas Okorocha and became a member of the Board Of Trustee of the Party in Imo State, a position he held until his demise on the 17th of December 2021.
Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha is survived by many Children, Grand-children, Son's and Daughter's In-laws, brothers and a host of other relations. May His Soul Rest In Peace, Amen.
After the well glowing tribute, a Minute Silence in Honour of the 'Political General' was observed.
The following Past and Present Distinguished Honourable Members paid commendable glowing tributes to the fallen Political Leader............
A. Hon Samuel Otuibe (Member Representing Ahiazu Mbaise State Constituency).
B. Hon Chief Eddy Obinna (Member Representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency).
C. Hon Chief Mike Iheanetu ( Akwa-akwuru) (Member who represented Aboh Mbaise State Constituency).
D. Rt Honourable Ike C. Ibe (Member who represented Obowo State Constituency).
E. Hon Engr Philip Ejiogu ( Member Representing Owerri North State Constituency).
F. Hon Uju Onwudiwe (Member Representing Njaba State Constituency).
G. Rt Honourable Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh (Member Representing Obowo State Constituency and Speaker Of IMHA).
Thereafter, Mr Speaker led Honourable members, both Past and Present, to file past the remains of Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha.
Other Past Distinguished Honourable Members who were Present to pay last respect to the fallen hero included
A. Rt Honourable Maxwell Duru.
B. Rt Honourable Okey Dike.
C. Hon Chief Jonas Nduka.
D. Rt Honourable Chief Nkem Nwankwo.
E. Hon Chief Nkenna Nzerue.
F. Hon Chief Mike Ndubuaku.
G. Hon Chief Emma Dike.
H. Hon Chief Chris Okoroji.
I. Hon Chief Gozie Nwachukwu.
J. Hon Chief Clinton Amadi (Alaomajijiji of Owerri Nchi-ise).
K. Hon Chief Damian Ogu.
M. Hon Chief Innocent Ekeh (Obulimba of Owerri West).
N. Hon Chief Greg Owuamanam.
O. Hon Chief Uche Agadugba.
P. Hon Chief Prince Robertson Ekwebelem.
Q. And Elder Statesman EJK Onyewuchi.
The Majority Leader, Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi moved the Motion for Grant of leave for the Body of Hon Chief P.C. Onuoha to leave the Chamber. This was seconded by Hon Engr Philip Ejiogu, and it was unanimously adopted when Mr Speaker put it for adoption.
Sitting was Adjourned to 29th March 2022.
May the Great Soul of Hon Chief Patrick Colman Ezenwa Onuoha, Ikemba of Mbaise Nation, Ochirioha of Owere-Nchise, Rest In Peace, Amen.