Prof. Chukuka Okonjo, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government of Delta State and father of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has joined his ancestors.
The former king, who ascended the throne in 2007, died in Lagos at age 91.
A statement by the former Minister on Friday, September 13, said the late professor and mathematician died the same way he lived his life, “with quiet dignity”.
The former Minister said the Okonjo family is immensely grateful that Chukuka’s last moments were peaceful. Okonjo-Iweala said: “Daddy was an accomplished man on so many levels – a highly respected academic, international public servant, university administrator, intellectual and traditional ruler.”
The late Obi Chukuka held a BSc Mathematics, London, UK; Msc Mathematics, Erlangen, Germany; MSc Economics, Erlangen, Germany; Phd Mathematical Statistics, Cologne, Germany.
He was a former director at the World Bank and held several positions including dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Meanwhile, Ifechukwude Chukuka Okonjo, brother of the former Minister, has replaced his father as Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in.
Secretary to the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku palace, Lawrence Okolobi, who issued a statement on the demise of the monarch yesterday in Ogwashi-Uku, disclosed that the process of rites of passage of the departed traditional king and the installation or coronation had commenced simultaneously in consonance with culture and tradition of the Kingdom of Ogwashi-Uku.
“Accordingly, the rites of coronation of Prince Ifechukwude Okonjo, the third son of the late monarch began at about 3am on Friday, including his formal crowning, while other rites would continue for the next 21 days, with the next seven days being the most critical, the statement disclosed,” Okolobi said.
The installation rites included the cleansing of the palace ground with a live mother hen tied with palm leaves and white chalk mixed with coconut water symbolising peace.
The ascension of Ifechukwude (meaning, what God has destined) Okonjo followed the completion of necessary traditional processes.
The process also included the new Obi’s endorsement and presentation by the Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family of Ogwashi-Uku and the traditional chalking and crowning ceremonies conducted by the Ikelike and Agidiehi Kingmakers in Ogwashi Uku.
The new Ogwashi-Uku monarch, Ifechukwude, a financial management expert and CEO of Chevy Chase Consulting, has been duly installed as the new Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom.
Obi Ifechukwude who also worked for Halliburton Nigeria, attended Federal Government College, Enugu. He obtained his A-levels as an external student of the University of London before proceeding to United States of America where he bagged two degrees in Economics and History from University of Maryland, College Park and an MBA from University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Business Administration from University of Paris, in France.
”A transformational minded leader with a deep and abiding love for his people, His Royal Majesty, Obi Ifechukwude Chukuka Okonjo’s focus is to be a forward-looking and inclusive traditional ruler who will elevate his people by serving as a champion of translating progressive and practical ideas into action,” said the statement from the palace.
