Follow Us on Google
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Many people don’t believe that Pa Anthony Anyiam Onyegbule, from Umucheke, Obazu Mbairi, in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, is 128 years old. As a matter of fact, the centenarian celebrated his 128th birthday on March 9, 2026, at his country home.
Coincidentally, his age was revealed on social media, recently, by the Stand for Humanity Foundation when one of his grandchildren, Tochukwu Onyebgule, a visually impaired law graduate who wanted to complete his learning at Abuja Law School, cried for help. Since then, his house has turned to a Mecca of sorts as people troop there in their numbers to get his elderly blessings.
Tochukwu lost his sight when he was three months old. He has lived like that for over 40 years, facing different obstacles and rejection in society. He finished with a Second Class Upper grade in his first degree at the University of Calabar and desired to further his education in law.
It was his quest to study law that made the foundation to visit him at home and, behold, they saw his grandfather.
Pa Anthony’s family discovered his true age when they saw a letter written at the back of a photograph he took with his in-law who wrote, “Your sister just has delivered twins”. The letter was written in 1918 when the centenarian was 20 years old and, today, in 2026, it is clear he is 128 years old.
To support the claims, he told Daily Sun stories about the 1914 World War.
“I was there in 1914 when Adolph Hitler was killing the British. I was small then. If you also heard about the River Valley War in Enugu, by that time I was a servant to a white man, J.R. Lloyd, at the Hilton in Enugu. I have witnessed a lot of things, including the Azikiwe Field. I used to run from there to the 9th Mile. I was one of those reformatories; it was not an ordinary school where a man would register his child. You have to commit a crime to be sent to the Reformatory School. I beat up my mate who wanted to bully me where we were fetching water in Port Harcourt. After the incident, I saw myself at the school,” he narrated.
It was not a surprise to see him still walk unaided. He was a sprinter during his school days; he specialised in long distance races. Papa, as he is fondly called, is built like a Kenyan. According to him, the secret of his longevity is drinking his tea leaves and half cup of Coca Cola every day.
Besides his tale of the 1914 World War, he also revealed that his mother, Uremma Onyegbule, took part in the Aba Women’s riot of 1914.
He said, “My mother was part of the 1914 Aba Women’s riot. They did not fight with knives or guns; they all carried thorny sticks”.
His birthday, after he was exposed to the world on social media, became an event for all who wanted to catch a glimpse of him and get his blessings. The Stand for Truth Foundation, led by its coordinator and president, Chidiebube Okeoma and Nokky Ebikam, sponsored the birthday party through which they raised some cash and got gifts for him. His special big birthday cake was baked by Mrs. Ifeoma Buchi Okpoko, while the drinks were supplied by Darlington Achiever.
The Imo State House of Assembly member representing Mbaitoli constituency, Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie, also visited the centurion and gave out food items to the family with a token of N500, 000.00
Ikpemezie called on the World Guinness Record to recognise Pa Anyiam as the oldest man in the world since their current record of the oldest person on earth still stands at 116.
“I’m calling on the team of the Guinness Book of Records to come to Imo State and recognise Pa Onyegbule as the oldest man in the world. I also want to use this opportunity to make a promise that his matter would be brought before the assembly for necessary actions”, Ikpamezie said.
Similarly, Okeoma has called on Governor Hope Uzodimma to name one of his monumental projects after Pa Onyegbule and graciously make a move to visit him.
“What we’re talking about is 128 years; the governor should be able to name a monumental project after him and find time to visit him to tap from his blessings”, Okeoma stated.
