*A TRIBUTE TO A NOBLE FINE-LOOKING MAN OF TRUTH PA’ GODWIN NWARUEZE (aka.OKONOGWU) BY THE CHUKWUBIKE FAMILY*;
Pa Godwin Nwarueze has always been a prominent and permanent figure in the lives and memories of all of us in the family and the Umuekwete kindred especially those at ugwuavia in general. This straight but soft spoken fine looking yellow gentleman and his beautiful dark skinned Emudo (Alinta family) wife, we were told lived in Calabar. Their return home each time meant festivities to all of us kids and the joyful companies of their children who were of our age mates were always wonderful.
At some point we discovered them in the early and mid ‘60s at Onitsha where his house was a compulsory night stopover whenever our late father Senator MBC had to take the pontoon to cross the Niger river en route to Lagos for the parliamentary (Senate) debate sessions. He was a business man in that city where he was mentoring many young Nenwe businessmen and traders . We as kids looked forward to this Onitsha stop-over where we met also many members of the Nenwe community like the ever active Mazi Goddy Nwarunta (Barclays Bank), etc.
Later we found him in Lagos and his residence automatically became our home in Lagos. He had a great sense of sacrifice and wouldn't even mind our trooping in with friends looking for accommodation for justified visits like , job search and visa / passport applications (passport office was only in Lagos then) . He treated everyone like a father and talked to us as if we were equals. However true to his main character he never tolerated indiscipline and would call you out for good directions in the slightest sign of deviance. He was what we called a straight and truthful “no nonsense man”. After our business in Lagos island we would usually go for our lunch at his shop in Balogun. He was also mentoring many Nenwe people in trading there again.
Pa Nwarueze (Goddy Nwarueze as was fondly called ) was a *great father figure* to all of us then and he played the role very well whenever we stepped into Eko.
As time passed we the younger ones *“baptised” him with the alias, OKONGWU*, a sign of his significant position as our elder in the then Lagos diaspora. He continued to play this role till his retirement and return to Nenwe about 15 years ago when he actually became the oldest man in our Umuekwete family, Amabo in general and even in the St Michaels catholic parish where he dedicated most of his time since retirement.
It is really painful to miss our OKONGWU but his *handsome spirit, straight forwardness, truthfulness, and protectiveness* will continue to live in our memories and lives.
As we commensurate with the Nwaruezes, we urge you to look beyond his death and live up the legacies he bequeathed to you his survivors. We believe he is already in the bosom of his Creator till the resurrection day. His testimonies lives after him.
May his soul rest in peace. Kaa lu woo!
Charles O Chukwubike
For: THE CHUKWUBIKES.
UMUEKWETE FAMILY, AMABO AMOJI NENWE.
