By Ebuka Onyekwelu
Chief Willie Nwokoye, the Principal Secretary to the former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, October 1st, hosted a lavish classic dinner to commemorate the birthday of Uzu Okagbue, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party, YPP. Okagbue, who was the Chief of Protocol and Deputy Chief of Staff to the former Governor Obiano, was Chief Nwokoye’s colleague in government for eight years.
Outside government, Okagbue and Nwokoye have built a friendship that is founded on their shared values of hard work, resilience, intellectual rigour, industry, passion, and commitment to the public good. Uzu Okagbue, known simply as Uzu, has earned a reputation as a hardworking, go-getter, kind, generous, and focused young man, with eyes on details, and who gets things done.
In his honour, the get-together organized by Chief Nwokoye in his home at Amawbia, was graced by some of Anambra’s finest across diverse industries and political persuasions. Among the guests are Chief Dr. Ndubuisi Nwobu, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the ADC, Chief Uche Nworah, an APC stakeholder and former Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service, Professor Ken Nwogu and his wife Dr. Uju Nwogu, former Commissioner for Justice, Dr. and Mrs. Ndibe, Chief Chido Obidiegwu, the Spokesperson of the APC gubernatorial candidate in Anambra State, Chief Everest Uba, the Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Markets, CSP Ben Eke, ADC to the former Governor of Anambra State, Rt. Hon. Beverly Ikepazu-Nkemdiche, former House of Assembly member and the Commissioner of Special Duties to Governor Soludo, Hon. Chief Amala Anazodo, former House of Assembly member and the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Chief Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Special Adviser to Governor Soludo, Lady Ndidi Mezue, former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief Emeka Ozumba, a former senior aide to the former Anambra State Governor, Hon. Chinedu Onwuaso, former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Ichie Uzodimma Anajemba, Barr. Harry Udu, former Head of Service of Anambra State, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike, former Commissioner of Information in Anambra State, among many friends, supporters of the YPP, and well-wishers.
Speaking, Chief Willie Nwokoye said that the gathering was a celebration of friendship. “I welcome everyone to my residence. This evening is celebrating friendship. I want to be counted as one of the people who champion the revolution to celebrate friendship. We should not only be celebrating funerals… Uzu and I were 8 years in the Government, understood each other and learnt each other’s strengths. I, Willie Nwokoye, Ibobo Amawbia, stand here in my compound to say that a lot of Anambra people do not understand who this guy is. Uzu was critical to the success of Obiano’s Government. Uzu is a planning, organizing, and strategic thinker of distinction. I do not owe anyone apologies to celebrate him today. I know that he is standing for election on November 8 for a party; I wish that people stood for election on their own. I want anyone to quote me anywhere; I want the governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party to know that he has a deep thinker. He can go to bed and sleep if he wins the election. Uzu is deep, and his thought pattern is unusual,” Chief Nwokokye said.
The birthday dinner, which started at about 5 pm, lasted until about 9:30 pm, and guests were treated to the finest wine, an assortment of food, and classical music, to the absolute delight of the guests.
Reacting, Uzu Okagbue described the experience as memorable and a remarkable celebration of friendship. “Today is etched forever in my memory. What unfolded was not just a birthday celebration, but the rarest expression of friendship. In my honour, Ibobo staged a feast of splendor, an unforgettable gathering that left me in awe,” Okagbue said while appreciating the host and guests.
About Author
