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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The second son of the late Premier of Eastern region, Dr. Michael Okpara, Chief Uzodinma Okpara has said her mother, Lady Adanma Okpara died at the age of 99.
The media have been awash with reports that Lady Okpara whose demise was announced penultimate Sunday, died at the age of 97.
Speaking yesterday at his country home Umuegwu, Okpala Afuguri in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State when the Oparaukwu Ibeku, Prince Benjamin Apugo paid him a condolence visit, Okpara said the clarification had become necessary to put facts straight.
He blamed the social media for not only coming up with his mother’s wrong age, but also hurriedly announcing the death of their matriach without waiting for the family to make her demise public.
Okpara said her mother’s death ordinarily calls for celebration, but that he was mourning her because of the bond they had.
“When my father lost his mother, I saw him cry like a child for the first time and when I asked him, he said it was the bond they had that made him to cry and I think the same is playing out with me now”.
He apologized to Prince Apugo for not coming earlier to inform him of their mother’s death as custom demands as Oparaukwu Ibeku and promised they would still come for the official information.
Prince Apugo, who is also a BoT and national caucus member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier told Okpara he came to commiserate with the Okpara’s over the death of their mother.
He described late Mrs. Okpara as a good woman who played supportive role to her husband when he was Premier of Eastern region.
Apugo equally visited the home of the first military head of state, Maj-General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi at Ogurube Layout also in Umuahia North Local Area where he condoled the first son of the former military leader, Chief Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi over the death of his mother, Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi.
Chief Aguiyi-Ironsi said his mother died at the age of 88.
