Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has lauded the legacies bequeathed by a foremost professor of Law and development consultant, Chris Chijioke Ohuruogu, saying the consummate teacher lived an impactful life.
Mbah, however, said that he could only recall the last moments of Prof Ohuruogu with great pain, as he died at a time the society needed his wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom.
He stated these in his funeral oration during the funeral service of the late academic at Akabo, Owerri, Imo State, on Friday.
Describing the late professor’s passing as a great loss to not only the deceased’s immediate family, but also to him as a person as well as Imo State and the entire country, Mbah explained that their relationship spanned decades from the point he met him as a lecturer at the Lagos State University during his postgraduate studies.
He lauded him as a disciplined, accomplished and consummate scholar, adding; “Let me say this; I was fortunate to have drunk from the Prof Chris Ohuruogu’s fountain of knowledge as he taught me in the Lagos State University during my postgraduate studies in Maritime and Commercial law.
“So, the death of Chris, as we fondly called him, is not a loss that is exclusive to you, his family. It is a loss to me personally. So I’m also mourning. When I received the news of Chris’ death, my first reaction was a flurry of emotion and one of outright denial and plain anger over how cruel the hands of fate could be sometimes,” the governor said.
The Governor who expressed regret that all the courageous efforts made to save the deceased failed noted that it was the time apportioned to him by God to return to him. He then enjoined the deceased’s family and the people of Imo state to bear the loss as such was the will of God.
He stressed that death remained the ultimate price awaiting all mortals, adding, however, that Ohuruogu’s legacies would continue to serve as exemplary steps worthy of emulation.
In his sermon earlier, the Archdeaconry of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Ven. Peter Duruaku, said the death of Prof Ohuruogu was not without hope as he had lived a godly and virtuous Christian life.
He called on the living to always remember that death was inevitable for every living being and that each person would be called to give account of the stewardship by God.
Appreciating the governor for remaining faithful to a friend even in death, the traditional ruler of Akabo Ancient Kingdom, HRM Eze Evans Njoku Nwasi, said governor Mbah had re-echoed his love for the bereaved family, the people of Imo State people and humanity.
