By Ebriku John Friday
The late Chief Linus Okom, OON, KSGG, KSM, JP II, ADA BEKWARRA, will be buried tomorrow, January 30, 2021 at his country home in Nyanya, Bekwarra Local Government of Cross River State.
The late Ada Bakwarra, who died after a brief illness on January 9, 2021 at a Calabar medical facility was aged 80.
This is just as tributes from prominent citizens of Cross River State as well as the Northern Senatorial District of the state including the governor, Sir Ben Ayade, Senator Stephen Odey, Rt Hon Legor amongst others are being sent in honour of the late patriarch.
Governor Ayade, while reacting to his death described the late Ada Bakwarra as father to all and that his death was monumental loss to the Bekwarra nation, the Northern Senatorial District, as well as the entire state.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Christian Ita, Ayade described late Okom as “an Iroko, an avatar, a unique hen who gathered her brood under her wings. As an Iroko that he was, he offered a canopy to other shrubs.”
He regretted that ”the void left with the painful death of the inimitable elder statesman would be difficult to fill.
“Indeed, as Northern Senatorial Caucus Chairman, Ada Bekwarra was an exemplary politician and a political manure who nourished us through his promotion of public good and enduring probity, sterling and cohesive leadership necessary for the unity of the zone.”
The governor said Ada Bekwarra “was an epitome of humility, a devout Christian who lived his life in the service of God and mankind, noting that “as we mourn the passage of this great statesman and role model, we are, however, consoled by the fact that he lived to a ripened age.
“We pray Almighty God to grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his family as they mourn his painful loss.”
The senator representing Cross River North in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Dr Stephen Odey, who mourned the death of the late elders statesman, noted that he was a man of witty character, an elder statesman per excellence and an accomplished public servant of repute.
He added that he was a notable politician and a sound leader who distinguished himself as an exceptional leader in Cross River State, and assured that the ideals and notable legacies of the late Adah Bekwarra will continue to live on.
In his tribute to the late Chief Okom, the House of Representatives member representing Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Legor Idagbo described him as “a colossus, a legend, a father of the region and the nation at large. A man whose word was his bond, and who says it as he sees it. To me, you were simply a father through and through.”
The emotional tribute further reads, “Uncle I never envisaged that a day would come when I would be asked to write your tribute. We had become so used to your being around taking for granted that you would always be with us, forgetting that one day you will be no more.
I remember like yesterday when I came to you and you encouraged me to venture into politics. With your support I dared to contest for a seat in the Cross River State House of Assembly representing Bekwarra State Counstituency even when I was relatively unknown politically. You stood by me till the end. We may have lost that battle but that outing launched me politically, culminating in my eventual emergence in 2007 as Chairman of Bekwarra Loca Government Council inspite of my young age.
You built a political brand in Cross River State from whose stable emerged Chairmen of Council, Members of the State House of Assembly, National Assembly Members and even Governors.
You have left a vacuum very difficult to fill.
Uncle we will miss you deeply but we are consoled by the knowledge that you have departed to be in the bosom of the Lord owing to the kind of life that you led here on earth.
Outside of politics you lived an exemplary life, both as a public servant and a christian. In public service you assisted numerous people with gainful employment thereby touching several families ; and as a knight you inspired spiritual rebirth in many because of your exemplary christian life.
In the words of Ray Bradbury ” It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away “
Say me well to my Dad, your friend, Justice Ochikry Idagbo and reassure him that the ‘OKOMITIE” scions will continue in your legacies as you both live on. Adieu !!!”
The Director-General Cross River State Due Process and Price Intelligence Bureau, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Esq, on his part described him as “an upstanding Royal Father whose shining virtues should be emulated and put into practice by other Nigerians.”
He stated that “I have lost a passionate, committed and sincere royal Father in my political journey and struggles.
“Ada Bekwarra was a man of great intelligence, humour, deep thoughts, rich vocabulary, great patriot, a rallying point of socio – political interaction in Cross River State and was undoubtedly one of the most respected and dedicated believer in politics of establishment / regards for constituted authority”.
The late Royal Father had demonstrated such virtues in his reign and men of his kind are rare in a society like ours where money is valued more than principles.”
The funeral arrangements announced by the wife of the late Ada Bekwarra, Dr Mrs Monica Okom on behalf of the family outlined activities leading to his final interment, which started on Sunday, January 24 with a service of songs and night of tributes at SPC Hall Calabar.
On Thursday, January 28, was a vigil Mass at St Bernard Catholic Church Marian Hills in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital.
On Friday, January 29, 2021, the body of the late Chief Linus Okom will departs Calabar for his Home town, Nyanya, Bekwarra LGA, for a vigil mass at RCM Parish Nyanya, Bekwarra LGA.
And on Saturday, January 30, 2021, there will be a Funeral Mass at RCM Parish, which will be followed by interment in his country home in Nyanya, Bekwarra.
The late Chief Okom was a former Governing Board Chairman of the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC); Federal College of Education, Obudu and Federal College of Education Technical, Omoku, Rivers State. He was indeed a great patriot, a selfless and detribalized leader, who brought a lot of stability to Bekwarra, the entire northern Cross River and the state at large.
He was a worthy Christian leader in the church, who served the Lord in His vineyard and rose to the rank of the Grand Knight of the Order of St. Mulumba.
The late Chief Okom was survived by his dear wife Dr Mrs Monica, sons, daughters, grand children, host of relatives, mentees and friends.
