LATE VETERAN JOURNALIST, ACTIVIST, PROF EMMA OKOCHA, POSTHUMOUSLY CONFERRED WITH IKEMBA TITLE OF ASABA

The Asaba communty, in Oshimili south local government area of Delta State, made history on Thursday, with the posthumous conferment of the title of Ikemba of Asaba on an illustrious son of the community, Professor Emmanuel OKocha, who died before he could complete the title taking process.

The Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien, had on November 22, 2020, rubbed the symbolic native chalk on Professor OKocha, after which he went in indoors, preparatory to taking the title a week after, but took ill in the process and passed on.

Obi Edozien, while conferring the posthumous chieftaincy title on the deceased, described him a a good ambassador of the community who devoted his life and time to the cause of Asaba people, adding that his literally works, particularly the one on the 1967 Asaba genocide, stood him out as a rare gem.

The Asaba monarch said the event was the first of its kind in history, stressing that it was meant to give honour to whom it was due and his own way of imortalising the veteran journalist, activist and scholar of no mean repute.

He prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased’s eternal rest, just as he noted that his legacies would live in the minds of the present and future generations of Asaba people.

In her tribute, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the event, Barrister Bridget Anyafulu, who is also an aide to Governor Ifeanyi OKowa, said the late Professor Emmanuel Okocha, through his literally work on the Asaba massacre, corrected the erroneous impression people held about Asaba women, who were alleged to be linked to the death of their husbands.

Barrister Anyafulu said while soldiers fought battles with their guns, Professor Okocha fought with his work : ” Blood On The Niger “, having given a vivid account of the circumstance that left many women as widows following the October 7, 1967 Asaba massacre, describing him as a hero who deserved to be celebrated.

She thanked the Asagba for honouring him, even in death.

The Obi of Ogbeilo quarters, Dr Benibe Ugboko, also paid tribute to the late Ikemba for his selfless service to the Asaba community and beyond.