Thursday night, family and friends converged at the Benin, GRA, residence of the late Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, for a second night running, to pay their last respect to the billionaire businessman, who passed on in August, in London, after losing battle to pancreatic cancer.
The atmosphere was stimulated with awe-inspiring words as guest after guest shared compelling stories of their personal experiences, sacrifices, and endeavours made by the man they regarded as a pillar and a colossal symbol.
A majority of those, who spoke acclaimed that, “Cappi was everything to everyone.”
The creme-de-la-creme of Nigeria’s political class, who were present, also paid their last respect to the late billionaire businessman.
Among them were the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaib and his wife; former Governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori and his wife; former Governor of Edo State, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole; and former Commissioner for Information and Orientation inEdo State, Kassim Afegbua, who represented former Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
The event started with an opening procession led by the Eclectic Praise Group and Pastor Emma Ogidiolu.
Mr. Greg Uanseru was the first among the guests to pay his tributes. The billionaire oil mogul expressed his deep regrets at losing someone he refered to as his twin brother, and described Cappi as “a man of his words; very kind to a fault.”
He outlined “integrity and unwillingness-to-be-deceptive” as the key to Captain’s success.
A family member said, “Cappi was known with many titles, but being called a father and husband were his favourites.”
In admiration of Captain’s contributions to national development, Hon Rasak Bello Osagie, a former member of the House of Representatives, described Captain as “passionate about this country with a nationalistic fervour, and his actions were powered by passion, integrity and purpose.”
The night was equally a testimony of how Cappi cherished and nurtured friendships all through his sixty-three years of existence.
Many close friends, confidants, and old-time friends were present to pay their last respect.
His close friends, which included Captain Mike Williams, Mr Garth Dooley, Mr Peter Okundaye and Tony Idighie, among others, shared fond memories with Captain Hosa.
They spoke about him as “a man that lived well” and further remarked that he “will be missed not just by my family but the family of all Nigerians, because he was a great Nigerian.”
Old friends from the Federal Government College, Warri, led by Mr. Oladimeji Garuba, Mr.Frank Longe, and Mrs. Roseline Ehanire, were also present to pay their last tribute and likened him to “a lion, who would never retreat” and “a lily of the valley that would continue to live even after it was cut down.”
Siblings of the deceased expressed their gratitude beyond grief, describing their brother as “a candle that knew how to share his light with others.”
Declaring their love for Captain, the quartet of Edith, Bright, Morrison, and Dandisson, lauded their brother’s brave accomplishments and giant strides and claimed to be consoled by the destination of Cappi’s soul in the bosom of the Lord as they have learned to continue without him.
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
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