Ntezi, Nigeria – Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state and his predecessor, Sen. David Umahi, on Saturday joined hundreds of mourners to bury their ‘”destiny helper”, Chief Joseph Onwe, who died at 70.
Onwe was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in 2014 when Umahi sought to become governor as a deputy against the wish of the then Governor, Chief Martin Elechi.
Nwifuru, who was then a Member of the State House of Assembly, joined forces with Umahi to dismantle Elechi’s structure in the party and subsequently emerged as the Speaker on winning re-election.
Eulogising Onwe at the burial in Ntezi, Ishielu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Nwifuru noted that Onwe’s contributions towards their eventual victory in the 2015 general elections, cannot be quantified.
“That is why I decided to attend the burial despite the fact that Onwe declined to join us at the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“He was a man of impeccable character who stood by us through thick and thin.”
He noted that he had worked with Onwe as an Ex-officio of.the PDP, state chapter in 2008, and enjoyed a father-to-son relationship with him.
While Umahi was the Chairman of party, Onwe was the Deputy Chairman.
Nwifuru promised to build a befitting storey building in Onwe’s compound and offered the family the sum of N20 million.
In his remarks, Umahi described Onwe as one of his “destiny helpers’ who played significant roles in his emergence as the state governor.
“When we left the PDP for the APC, he didn’t join us and we always wanted to reward him on remembering what he did for us.
“I thank the governor for attending the burial in appreciation of all Onwe did for us.
“This is an example of gratitude to be emulated by all as politics is not everything.”
He announced that he had forgiven Onwe’s children who ‘betrayed’ his government, noting that Onwe’s indelible sacrifices for his sake surpassed all wrongdoing.
Chief Ali Odefa, the PDP National Vice Chairman, South East, thanked the governor and minister for their presence, noting that it showed they “remembered the past”.
Odefa recounted their ‘tortuous’ journey to make Umahi the state governor while highlighting the significant roles Onwe played.
Dignitaries from various political divides, among others, attended the burial.
