“Henry Oguike had a sense of community building.” Sir TJ Ehirim.
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The man generally believed to be the next occupant of Imo State governorship seat come 2023, Chief TJ Ehirim has joined the league of mourners for the untimely death of Sir Henry Oguike. In a recorded message sent to Umuaka Times from Chief Ehirim last week while reacting to the untimely death of the widely acclaimed philanthropist, he described Sir Henry Oguike as a loyal, patriotic and accessible legal luminary who used a large sum of his personal resources to work to develop others and many organizations in and outside Nigeria.
“Henry came to South Africa and built his capacity. He had a deep sense of community building and integration. He was a part of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, South African chapter, and a patron of Akah Urban City Development Union (SA) and some other small bodies.”
Chief Ehirim cited the construction of an ultra modern toilet in Afor Umuaka as an example of the late Oguike’s selfless services. According to Chief Ehirim, the late Henry Oguike contributed a lot both in terms of finances, manpower and logistics in making sure that the project was successfully concluded. Umuaka Times was further informed reliably that both Chief Ehirim and Attorney Henry Oguike worked very closely during the time Ehirim was the president of Akah Urban City Development Union in South Africa.
In his own words, Chief Ehirim told Umuaka Times thus: “He was my Legal Adviser at Akah Urban City Development Union (SA) , the umbrella organization of all Umuakah towns and indigenes in South Africa, and shortly before his demise, he was appointed as a patron. He is a co-patron with me on that Akah umbrella organization.”
The concluding part of the recorded message of Chief Ehirim says: “The death of Attorney Sir Oguike is a huge loss to me and a great loss to the entire Umuaka community home and abroad. Henry was my associate, ally and compatriot who supported me in all my endeavours to elevate the homeward consciousness of our indigenes in South Africa towards the development of our home community.”
Ehirm finally prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed.
