Pickpockets rattle guests as Anambra deputy governor buries father

THE burial of Sir Richard Okeke, the father of Anambra
State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, on Friday,
was like a carnival for pickpockets.
No fewer than 10 cell phones, several handbags and
cash were stolen from guests at the funeral, which
took place at Enugu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government
Area of the state.

The Master of Ceremony, Mr. Chido Obidiegwu,
disturbed by the ugly trend, continually warned guests
to guard their phones and other personal effects as
complaints of missing phones had increased.
At the graveside, when the patriarch of the Okeke
family was been lowered to his final rest place, a
female voice shouted, “My money, my money”.
She pounced on a young man near her and N100,000
was found in the young man’s pocket.
Security agents went for the man; beat him thoroughly
before whisking him away.
At the VIP tent, one of those who lost their phones and
other valuables, Mrs Roseline Okoye, said she lost
N50,000 and a phone.
She said, “I bought that phone just last week and it
was a costly phone. I bought it N60,000. They took
everything with my handbag. There was N50,000 in
that bag. What is all this?
“How can this happened in this high class VIP tent.
No poor person was allowed into this tent where I was
sitting. How can this happen here? I’m confused”, she
lamented.
Pa Richard Okeke died at the age of 88. He was a
retired engineer and contractor. His funeral was
attended by top class politicians in the country.
Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Anambra
State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano; his Enugu
counterpart, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Deputy Senate
President, Ike Enweremadu, were among the
dignitaries that bade the deceased farewell.
Others at the church service held at Immanuel
Anglican Church, Enugwu-Ukwu were former
Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, and five
deputy governors of Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu, Ebonyi,
Cross River and Adamawa.
Former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke;
National Assembly members, Anambra State speaker,
Hon. Rita Maduagwu; industrialist, Chief Godwin
Ezeemo; Senator Uche Ekwunife were also in
attendance.
The Dean of Anglican Communion, Archbishop
Christian Efobi, led over 100 other clerics, including 12
archbishops to the ceremony.
In his sermon, The Most Rev. Efobi, blamed Christians
for the numerous problems bedeviling the country
including Boko-Haram, Niger Delta Avengers, among
others.
He said Christians were not strong in their prayers to
avert some of the problems confronting the country,
adding that all hands must be on deck to salvage
Nigeria from its current situation.
He said, “Christians need to pray hard for President
Buhari to take Nigeria to the Promised Land, all these
problems confronting this nation were because we
have not prayed hard and this is the time for that.”
Efobi described the late Richard Okeke as a unique
person that served God with all his heart.
Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, in his
speech, described the deceased as a great man and
implored the children to emulate their father’s legacy.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, thanked
everybody that had given honour to his father.
He said his father’s death was a celebration of life,
noting that his father lived a simple life that should be
emulated by all.
He said, “There is nothing sad about this process and
my father left a wonderful legacy for the family and
for everybody to emulate. Therefore, this is real
celebration”