Home Events How Bayelsa & Rivers Pastors battled for relevance @ Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s 70th bash

How Bayelsa & Rivers Pastors battled for relevance @ Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s 70th bash

0
How Bayelsa & Rivers Pastors battled for relevance @ Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s 70th bash

The Celebrant with his wife & Six Children (His Daughters   and their Husbands)

In this Part 2 of our exclusive
coverage of Port Harcourt, Rivers State
based elder statesman and Pastor, Luke
Okpuruka’s
birthday celebration; we bring you more details and more
pictures of dignitaries and personalities who graced the April 16 event. Only
on your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog, Asabeafrika. Enjoy.

Pastor Mrs. Olanike Olagboye of RCCG, Bayelsa Province 1   lead celebrant and his wife in cutting of cake

More PH Big Boys storm event
Apart from Peclo
Oil
boss, Charles Akabueze, other big boys in the city of Port
Harcourt
 and environ stormed Pastor
Luke Okpuruka’s
70th birthday bash in their various colors
and attire. Names like George Amangala, Ifeanyi
Obi
of Jazzy Ni Couture, Dan
Udofia
, a construction business expert in Port Harcourt and personal friend of Engineer Sam Anya. Dan Udofia was at the party with his
wife Chioma.
Another top PH big boy who attended Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s birthday is NDDC
big boy Sokaribo Ogaree who attended
the event with his pretty wife as well.  Others are top Port Harcourt business
man Osele
Ebodagbe
and Kattey O. Kattey. 

Portharcourt
big boys, Charles Akabueze (Far Left) Osele   Ebodaghe (In black) and
Ifeanyi Obi of jazzy Ni Couture among others like   George Amangala,
Oyibo Ovido and Katey O. Katey

 Top Bayelsa Govt. functionaries storm
Pastor Opuruka’s
70th
Leading a
cream of powerful delegation representing Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa
State
is the pretty female Justice Ebimi Okara of the Federal
High Court, Yenagoa.  Her presence at
the event was highly acknowledged. She sat on the same high table with
celebrant and his wife.  Other top
dignitaries who stormed the event from Bayelsa State are Honorable
Chief Victor O. Sam-Ateki
the former Deputy Speaker, Bayelsa
State House of Assembly
now S.A to Governor
Seriake Dickson
on Parastatal monitoring
and Revenue. He was at the occasion
with his pretty wife, Chief (Mrs.)
Jennifer Sam-Ateki.
The Present Leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Honorable Akpe Peter and his lovely
wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Favour Akpe also graced the event. The next very
important dignitary from Bayelsa State is Chief
Diekivie Ikiogha
a former Chief of Staff to Bayelsa State Governor.  

Engineer
Sam Anya to Asabeafrika….’My Father in-law   surprises me with the
way he relates with God which has equally affected   his children. I am
privileged to be his son-in-law’

Meet the event’s Most IT complaint
guest
If an award
is to be given to the guest who busied himself most with his I-Pad,
that award will be won not by a Rivers
man but a Bayelsan man in the person
of Honorable
Akpe Peter
, the present leader of the Bayelsa State House of
Assembly.  All through the course of the
event, this gentle politician was busy doing this and that on his I-Pad;
except once in a while when he decides to look into the face of his pretty
Madam, Pastor (Mrs.) Favor Akpe. He
took holiday off his I-Pad only when he was to take his
meal and during the toast. He is one of the early arrivals and equally left
early.

Celebant with his In-law and ex-Custom boss, Sir Mishael   Iwuagu

How Bayelsa Pastors battled Rivers
Pastors @ the event
Apart from
the fact that the “Birthday Boy” is a “Port
Harcourt boy”
by birth and education; it appears to dignitaries who
attended the event that there was a subtle move by Bayelsa Pastors and
Politicians to over dominate the event to the detriment of their host. A large
number of Redeemed Pastors from Bayelsa state stormed the event.
Although few of them like Pastor Festus Irinyenikan (What a
powerful name?) of Tabernacle of His Glory, Rivers Province 4 and
host Pastor, Pastor Edisemi Opokiti of Chapel
of
Testimony (The Grace Place), Pastor Runnson
Williams
of RCCG, Rivers Province 8
and Pastor
Alex Ogie-Patrick
of same Rivers
8
made a bulk of the Port Harcourt based team of pastors who
graced Pastor Luke Chukwumaeze Okpuruka’s 70th birthday. But many like Pastor
Barnabas Ikechukwu
, Pastor
Ikorlie Reuben
from Bayelsa
Province 1
and others too numerous to mention made the occasion look like a
competition between Rivers and Bayelsa. If not for the profile of
the celebrant which was made available to guests, one might take the celebrant
for a Bayelsa born.  However,
analysts believe that the crowd of Bayelsa pastors and politicians at Pa Okpuruka’s
birthday was as a result of the grace of Baba’s Pastor Son in-law Emmanuel
Okolo
who is the Zonal Head Pastor of RCCG, Province 1, Yenagoa.

Pastor Emmanuel Okolo congratulating his father-in-law for   making 70

Port Harcourt top Pastor, Ikponmwosa
storm event with family
He is the
founder of Port Harcourt based Christ Followers Sanctuary, Pastor Ikponmwosa Ehioge. The very handsome man of God who later presented
a well crafted photo frame to the celebrant came with his beautiful wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Ehiogie and their lovely kids, Marcus, Erhun, Ogosa, Prince
Uwa
and his PA, Festus Omosigho.
He was seated next to the celebrant’s table.
Pastor Mrs. Olanike Olagboye storm
event event with Bayelsa Good Women…

Pastor Luke Okpuruka….The Man loved by his   people…

Another top
minister of God who graced the occasion is the wife of Pastor Olagboye, one of
the leading Pastors in-Charge of RCCG,
Bayelsa Province 1. Her name is Pastor
Mrs. Olanike Olagboye
, she was at the event with her husband but she stayed
till the end while her husband had to attend to other ecclesiastical activities
on his schedule.  She was one of the
ministers who directed the 70th birthday cake cutting segment with
good women from RCCG Bayelsa
province.

Mrs. Chinasa Iwuagwu with her friends from all walks of   life

What People said about celebrant…
There was
room for people to share their testimonies on the celebrant which made a lot of
people to struggle to say what they know about the Celebrant, Pastor Luke Okpuruka. Majority of the
speakers turned out to be widows who have benefitted from the celebrant and his
wife’s good gesture towards their cause.  The first speaker, Mummy Imoni from celebrant’s branch of RCCG described Pastor
Okpuruka
as “The man who cares for
God’s wives”
(Widows) She continued “I
am one of the wives of God he (Luke Okpuruka) is caring for. Since I knew him,
his yes has always been yes and his No is No.  I don’t feel pity for myself that I lost my
physical husband because Jesus my
spiritual husband is there for me.  Pastor Luke is the man who looks after
us for Jesus
concluded the very
aged woman.  The next speaker, Madam Chinyere Anyia  who is a relation of
the celebrant described Pastor Luke
as someone who loves everything about God and the words of God “He will ask me when we were young” have you
gone to the choir practice today?”
said Mrs. Anyia who described herself as Pastor Luke’s younger sister. She added “He is lucky to have equally married a wife who loves God. Today they
both take care of widows in Port
Harcourt
and other places. I am happy he broke the record of 70 in our
family”.

Engineer Sam and Mrs. Kelechi Anya with their first lady   Samuela and Ibeji (Twin Boys)

Meet the man who gave the ‘Most
Worrisome Prayer’
 Still on the testimonial segment, Sir (Evangelist) Godson Ndubueze Onyeukwu a friend of 15 years with the
celebrant was the next to speak about the man, Luke Okpuruka. He
eulogized the celebrant by saying “The
man is indeed a good man. I have known him for over 15 years since he was in NITEL.
He is a man whose way is straightforward. His lips speak only the truth. He
doesn’t know how to romance lies. He loves and discuss kingdom business”
Sir (Evangelist) Godson added “Through his kind gesture to the widows in Port Harcourt, we have also founded a
widow’s community in Owerri, Imo
State”
However, the man rounded up his remarks with the most worrisome
prayer point and tongues were literally divided on whether to say their “Amen”
to the later or say it half-hearted. Hear the prayer “You will live another 70 years”
he removed his cap and said a loud “Amen” before leaving the stage.

Guests having a fun time at the event

 Ikoli Reuben a former Assistant
Manager, Exchange System, NITEL
and old colleague of Pastor Luke Okpuruka expressed his
surprise that the man was already 70. Ikoli Reuben who is now a Pastor
with RCCG,
Bayelsa
Province 1,
described the celebrant as a man of his word who hate lies
but loves truth “He is a man that minds
his own business. Working with him at NITEL, I never knew he was this old. He
is a straightforward man. Despite his military background, he doesn’t take
nonsense. He tells you how he feels. You are congratulated in Jesus name”

Celebrant
broke into joyful tears after his first   daughter, Adaku on behalf of
others presented him a key to his brand new   Ford Explorer Jeep

Papa’s 4th child read his
Biography
A short
biography of the celebrant was red by his 4th Child, Master
God’swill
Okpuruka who used only 10 minutes to read the very interesting
biography of his soldier-turned-civilian father before the sermon of the day. God’swill is a Science Student of a
highbrow school in Port Harcourt.

Mama Lovina Chile Okpuruka with a Senior Colleague   appreciating God’s mercy for her husband and her children

What the Pastor said about Luke Okpuruka
Pastor Alex Ogie-Patrick of RCCG, Prevailing World AreaRivers 8 gave the 70th
birthday sermon for Pastor Luke Chukwumaeze Madukwem Okpuruka. The man of God who
was at the event with his pretty wife titled his sermon “Glorious living”
with his major text taken from Genesis
17
. Pastor Alex Ogie-Patrick who described the celebrant as a man
of ‘rare grace’ said Every race without God’s grace is a frustration”. The Pastor
told his listeners that he has a very rich uncle known by majority of Nigerians
“To all of you, he is rich, he is a
celebrity but to us who know him, he is a man living with a secret pain”.

The Pastor later gave kudos to Pa Okpuruka for raising well behaved and level
headed children and a Godly family in such a time like this in Nigeria and the
world at large. He went further to add that the celebrant is a child of grace. “A man who has wayward children can not
have a glorious old age but look at Baba’s children and his in-laws; it takes a
good seed to attract a destiny seed”. “Just like Abraham, Pastor Okpuruka commanded his children in the way of God”

The Pastor who gave a rich 30 minutes sermon reiterated in his concluding lines
that “A father is a face of grace”. The Redeemed Pastor added that it was a rare grace that the celebrant
was standing today and his entire family is with him up to his grand children.
Rounding up, Pastor Alex Ogie-Patrick noted the kind heartedness of the
celebrant and how Baba has been kind and generous to many people that comes his
way;  hear his testimony “A brother lost his job in our church and
was homeless; we didn’t know how to go about it until Pastor Okpuruka came to our rescue”.
He said “Come, I have a place in my house for you to
stay temporarily”
and today the brother is happy. The Preacher reached out
to guests and distinguished personalities at the event to embrace Christ and
earn grace “There is a way that seemeth
right to man but the end is failure. Do not frustrate Grace. Jesus is the Grace
of God”
(John 3:16)

Mr.
Uzoma Iwuagwu to Asabeafrika….’My Father-in-law   deserves more than a
Ford Explorer and we will do more for him because he   is a good
father’

Ijala dance for celebrant
Nobody
believed such a thing could happen in Port
Harcourt
of all places but it happened. The action itself showed how highly
detribalized the celebrant is. A Port Harcourt based fashion designer
and tumbler; Kehinde Amudipe of Kenny Classic Designs (on Elitor
Road, Woji) rendered 15 minutes Ijala Dance (A Yoruba traditional
dance) and Oriki (Native Praise) for Pastor Luke Chukwumaeze Okpuruka. The performer described it
as Ijala
Jesu.
 Majority of the guests who
saw the artful display of Amudipe and how he rendered Yoruba
Oriki
for the celebrant were quite surprised because it was almost the
first time a Yoruba entertainer will render Oriki (A Yoruba native
Praise-Spree) for an Igbo man. The entertainer who did
some skillful acrobatic dance steps to the appreciation of guests rendered
praise words (Oriki) in honor of the celebrant describing him as “A Shining Moon of Humanity”.

Celebrant with wife and last daughter, Chinasa with her   husband, Mr. Uzoma Iwuagwu

Meet the Boy who made Guest to
Cry-Laugh
Maybe it has
never happened to you before that you cry as you laugh. This blogger calls it “Cry-Laugh”. That was exactly what MC Aproko a Port Harcourt based
comedian did to the Okpuruka guests inside The Grace Place on Saturday April
16. The guy whose face looks very tough reeled out some rib cracking jokes on Family Problems, Terror Look, Bad Prayer
Points
and many other funny events of life. His comedy dragged a lot of big
dignitaries off their seats as they jerked front and back laughing their veins
out. MC
Aproko
who rarely laughs while delivering his jokes reeled out more
jokes that turned the entire hall into a laughing symposium. His jokes were
just too raw and real that many equally forgot they were laughing. Real name is
Gift
Loveday
(What a name?)

Adaku with Aunty trying to pull Dad out of the shock of   his 70th birthday Ford Explorer Jeep

Baba & Mama turned Choir experts
It came
under the Exhortation segment as the
Celebrant and his wife stepped out on the stage at exactly 2pm to make a song ministration
to the admiration of their guests. While Mama sang pure Suprano Baba backed her with his upper Tenor and the title of their song is “I am Planted by the Rivers Side
and watered by the Lord”.
The song was sang for ten minutes after which
all the Pastors in the building came out to offer prayer for both the
celebrant, his wife, children and grand children including in-laws and
relatives. It was a rare moment of prayer for the Okpuruka clan.

Celebrant in rare pose with two VIPs at the event

Ex-Customs boss made toast.
When his
baritone voice boomed through the microphone some minutes to three ‘O—Clock in
the afternoon, many knew it was time for Birthday
Toast
of the celebrant, but the man leading the sea of glasses ready for
the click-click exercise was not just an ordinary guest. He is a reputable
in-law of the Celebrant, Pastor Luke Chukwumaeze Okpuruka. His name is Sir Mishael U. Iwuagwu a
retired Comptroller of Customs.  His son,
the very hardworking Uzoma Iwuagwu CEO Maconi Logistic and Engineering
is married to the celebrants’ last daughter, Chinasa. The way and manner Sir
Mishael
directed the toast segment would have made a British man green
with envy as the elderly man dished out his command in pure Queen’s English
matched with diction next to that of Prince
of Wales
.  The segment revived the
hall as guests filed their glass cups and click glasses to wish the celebrant
long live and prosperity. 

Celebrant praying on his brand new toy (A 2016 Ford   Explorer Jeep new chasis)

The Ford Explorer that brought tears
to celebrant’s eyes
It was the
most important moment but nobody saw it coming. Not even the celebrant, his
wife or his guests. But his kids knew all along. They knew they were going to
shake dad’s emotion. They knew Dad was in for an April 16 surprise package
(Not April 1). It was some fifteen minutes past 3 O’ Clock during the Presentation of Gifts Segment. Baba’s
three lovely daughters, Adaku, Kelechi and Chinasa in conjunction
with their successful spouses had conspired to purchase a brand new N10 million naira worth Ford Explorer Jeep, 2016 model for dad.
It was Dad’s 70th birthday gift. Pastor Luke Okpuruka who drove into the venue in an old
looking Nissan Jeep was to drive out of his birthday party in a brand
new Ford
Explorer jeep
(New Chassis). It never crossed his mind at all and what
next? As Adaku Okolo, his first
daughter announced the presentation to Baba and handed over the keys to him, Pastor Luke
Chukwumaeze Okpuruka
burst into tears. The Celebrant wept. But it was a
joyful cry as his children grabbed him and pet him out of his emotional
outburst.

Baba’s Old toy, a Nissan Jeep (Which brought him to the   venue)

How Celebrant reacted to Ford
Explorer Gift
After his
children, wife and well wishers have witnessed his tearful moments of joy, the
celebrant opened up. He said what happened to him that hour is one of the most
interesting events of his life since he was born on April 16, 1946.
Pastor
Luke
told the audience how his
children and in-laws surprised him in a very big way “When they drove me into this venue earlier in the day, I asked the
driver, ‘are you sure we are in the right place? Are you sure this is not a
political meeting venue? But my darling wife assured me that we are at the
right venue. I didn’t believe my eyes”.
Pa Opuruka who arrived
the venue at 12:30 in his old Nissan Jeep said he couldn’t believe
his eyes at the level of generosity shown to him by his children. He went ahead
to thank them for receiving the training he gave them as a father and making
use of the training. He equally thanked their spouses for making him a
successful father-in-law and showered prayers of blessings upon them. It was
obvious someone had made Papa’s day. It was quite sure that Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s stand with God has eventually paid off in the long
run. Guests and well-wishers later joined Papa
and his family to unveil the new car which was neatly packed outside the
venue with a wedding like ribbon strewn
across the car and a tag “Daddy @ 70;
Happy Birthday”
which seated on a green-white-green background.

The Celebrant with his wife and three hefty son in-laws,   Pastor Emmanuel Okolo, Engineer Sam Anya and Mr. Uzoma Iwuagwu

 “What we learnt from our father-in-law”—3 son-in-laws open up to
Asabeafrika
Speaking
with Asabeafrika
after the event, three of Baba’s son-in-laws told this blog what they learnt
from their marriage to the celebrant’s daughters and why they decided to honor
him in a very big way on his 70th birthday. The first to speak was Pastor
Emanuel Okolo
who married Baba’s first daughter, Adaku. The clergy said “He is a great man, why because he is one
person that has encouraged his children and everybody around him to get closer
to God. For me, that is greatness”.
On why the Kogi state, North Central
Nigeria born clergy married Pastor Luke’s daughter he replied “Of course I married her because of her
great background, precisely, everyone that want to get married would know that
marriage is not a show, it is a serious business. And if you want to marry
somebody who will go with you through the thick and thin of life, you have to
also look at the family background and make a choice based on God’s direction.
So, that Christian background is important and as you can see, the man is 70
today and he is still together with his wife. That is a pointer to everybody
that they have grown well with God as the anchor of their marriage life”
Pastor
Okolo
stated.

Celebrant with wife and 1st daughter, Adaku with her   husband, Pastor Emmanuel Okolo

The second
person to speak to Asabeafrika is Abia
state,
South Eastern Nigeria born Engineer Sam Anya. He described his
father-in-law this way “I will describe
him as a great man. I am so happy  to
have been a son to him by marrying his daughter, he is a wonderful father, a
praying father; he has done so many things for me that I cant even express. All
I wish him is many more years and a longer good time on earth”
on what the
Engineer learnt from Baba, “His spiritual
nature
and his way with God” Anya gushed.

Celebrant with former Colleague at NITEL, Chief (Engr.)   Davidson Ekeh

Imo state, South
Eastern Nigeria born Mr. Uzoma Iwuagwu was next to speak
to Asabeafrika,
he told this blog why Pastor Luke is
a great father “Yeah, well, we thank God
for his life, he has lived well and this is one way of saying ‘thank you’ that
we have gained a lot from a life well spent by you.  We have more good things that will come his
way because he has given a lot to his children whom we are married to and we
are also blessed by him. We
(Son-in-laws)
pray that we will do more and more for him than what you see today”
On what
Nigerians can learn from Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s fatherhood, the
founder of Maconi Logistic and Engineering
Ltd
said “Be a support to your
children and God will blessed you with long life”
…Always pray
to be among the Lucky Ones who will celebrate their Events
on Asabeafrika
…Talk to us
on 081-0506-5267
or write Asabeafrika@gmail.com!

A Pretty Guest at the event
Baba’s New toy, a Ford Explorer (Which took him back home   from the venue)
Back View of the Brand New Car for Baba @ 70
Celebrant with wife and 2nd daughter, Kelechi and her   husband, Engineer Sam Anya
Celebrant’s two boys, Godswill and Favour their Cousins   and nephews
Clergy Son-In-Law, Pastor Emmanuel Okolo of RCCG, Bayelsa   Province 1
Engineer Sam Anya with Portharcourt Big Boys Uche and   Ugochukwu
Enginneer Sam and Mrs. Kelechi Anya with Portharcourt Big   Designer Ifeanyi Obi of Jazzy Nicouture
First Daughter of The Family, Mrs. Adaku Okolo
Inside Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s new toy, FORD EXPLORER 2016   Model
Kehinde Amudipe…..Doing his Ijala Jesu Oriki for the   Celebrant
Mrs. Chinasa Iwuagwu with Friends Mfon (L) and Ego   (R)
Mrs. Kelechi Anya with Mrs. Ndidi
Ms Ifeoma, a guest at the event
Pastor Emmanuel Okolo to Asabeafrika…’Pastor Luke   Okpuruka is a Godly Father-in-law’
Portharcourt Big Boy, Osele Ebodaghe at the event
Portharcourt Youths serenade Baba with well-wishes at his   70th birthday Party
The Celebrant and his pretty wife, leaving the event of   his 70th birthday in his brand new toy, a 2016 FORD EXPLORER jeep. Happy   70th Birthday to Pastor Luke Okpuruka
The Celebrant Thanking Everyone for making out the time to   celebrate with him
The Celebrant with wife and his full team; Adaku, Kelechi,   Chinasa, Godswill and Favour (The Complete Family of 7)
The Celebrant, his hearthrob and their 7 Grand Kids   (Number of Completion)
The Celebrant, wife with family, beneficiaries and   well-wishers
The GDA with a very elated Madam Lovina Chile Okpuruka   (Nee Ibe) with another admirer
The Okpuruka Babes; Kelechi, Adaku & Chinasa….They Made   Dad cried with their gracious gift of a Ford Explorer..
The Three Musketeers and the Celebrant’s God given   daughters, Mrs. Kelechi Anya, Mrs. Adaku Okoli and Mrs. Chinasa   Iwuagwu

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here