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By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
The death has been announced of a big-time rubber merchant during the rubber boom in Nigeria, Evang. Pa. Michael Okreghe, who died at the age of 80 years. He was also a committed Anglican parishioner and a community elder statesman.
Announcing the death to members of the Okreghe family, members of St. Mark’s Anglican Church, and residents of Unenurhie community in the early hours of Monday April 10, 2021 at his residence, along Unenurhie/Enhwe road, Unenurhie town, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Papa’s second son and also an Anglican priest, Rev. Lucky Omamurhovwu Okreghe, said their father died as a result of health complications.
Hear him: “I just received a distress call early this morning at my station that, our father died. And truly when I drove in, I saw the body lying on the bed and I even thought he was still sleeping.
“The death of my father is very painful to me and all his children. It’s a big blow to the Okreghe family, the church and the entire Unenurhie community. My father’s eldest son, Mr. Christian Okreghe is not just close by for now. This is why I’m taking his position to make the announcement to the people on his behalf. The pain in my heart at the moment is much. I only pray God to give us the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss.”
Sharing the same grief and pain on the death of the octogenarian, another of his sons, Comr. Ejoke Richard Okreghe, also known as ‘Barrister’, a young graduate of Business Administration and Management said, “It’s shocking news to me to hear of Papa’s death this morning. Papa was in church yesterday and even read one of the lessons. He returned from church and was very happy at home. Some of his friends and family members even visited him here after the church service and they celebrated the rest of the day together in joy and happiness. Only to hear that he’s dead this morning is the most shocking news to me.
“Truly, it’s a big loss to us, the children and to the entire Okreghe family. If they asked me to describe the person of my late father, he was a generous man and a great philanthropist, even with the little he had. My father was a lover of education. He tried as much as possible to give education to all his children. I can’t forget him for this singular opportunity he had provided me to go to school. However, I’m bitterly grieved as I just graduated from the higher institution few months ago and my father is no more to enjoy the fruits of his labour in my life because of death. Well, I want to beg us never to cry like those without hope. As Christians, we have hope that Papa will rise again. I therefore pray God to repose his peaceful soul till we meet on that resurrection morning where there shall be no death, sorrow or weeping.”
Late Evang. Pa. Michael Okreghe is survived by a wife, Mrs. Theresa Okreghe, children, grand children, great grand children and many family members.
Until his death, he was a lay reader in St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Unenurhie, a member of the Council of Chiefs/Elders of the Odion’Rode of Evwreni kingdom, an elder in APC, Evwreni Ward (08), and also a member of many other political and social organisations. The remains has since been deposited at the morgue awaiting preparations for funeral rites.
