How the Omenka 1 of Ibele Went Home.
3 min read
The smooth journey back home of the late Chief Augustine Nwaokorobia Ahanotu, the Omenka 1 of Ibele was indeed a memorable one. The journey started on Thursday 28, August 2025 with a wakes night and service of songs in his compound in Ndiuhu Ibele Autonomous Community in Njaba LGA of Imo State. During the wake keep, many people including the youths of the community, Christian fathers and mothers, chiefs and many others including Umuada Ndiuhu were all present till the following day.
The remains of the octogenarian left the mortuary of Umuaka Community Hospital by 7 am in a motorcade to his Ndiuhu Ibele home town, despite the early morning rainfall. Two stopovers were made before they arrived his family compound. First was at the Ndiuhu Ibele Hall where many indigenes of the community were already waiting to pay their last respect to the elder statesman. After the ceremonies at the premises of Ndiuhu Ibele Hall, his remains were then moved to the palace of the royal father of Ibele Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Rufus Anyanwu. At the palace, a good number of Ibele Council of Chiefs members received his body and prayed for the repose of his soul.
At this moment, it was announced that the royal father of the community was not around and a phone call was made across to him. The royal father also prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed chief and thanked everyone who came to show his or her last respect to the Omenka 1 of Ibele. He appealed to the community to continue to live in peace and love.
The journey again began to his family compound for lying in state. At his compound, many had the opportunity to pay their last respect to the man who loved his community with all his heart. After the lying in state, the motorcade then moved to St. Andrew’s Catholic Parish Ibele where a requiem Mass was celebrated in his honour. Umuaka Times reporters gathered that the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese Rev Dr Augustine Ukwuoma was supposed to be the one to celebrate the Mass but could not personally make it. The bishop however sent his assistant to represent him and celebrate the Mass. Without delay, the requiem Mass then began with a lot of priests and parishioners in attendance.
About two hours later, the requiem Mass came to an end and both the priests and most of the people who were present again headed to the compound of the deceased for internment.
At his compound, several reverend fathers were at the graveside to take part in the graveside prayers and Catholic rituals. In few minutes later, the body of the 84 year old late Chief Augustine Nwaokorobia Ahanotu, the Omenka 1 of Ibele, (Dee Augur) was lowered into the grave for eternal rest.
Reverend Father Humphrey Ahanotu, one of the children of the late Christian father read his tribute to his late father before others did.
The late Chief Ahanotu, a devoted Catholic and respected community leader, was born in 1941 and passed away in 2025 at the age of 84. Umuaka Times gathered that from the day the death of the late Chief Ahanotu was announced, the family had been receiving tributes both from Nigeria and outside by family and friends whose lives were touched by the footprints of the man who had completed his journey on earth. Many people celebrated the legacy and philanthropic spirit of Dee Augur in diverse ways.
