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| The Lovely Couple, Papa Luke & Mama Lovina Okpuruka |
this Second Part of the exclusive encounter we had with Port Harcourt, Rivers State (Southern Nigeria) based Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastor Luke Chukwumaeze
Okpuruka who turned 70 on Saturday
April 16, 2016, the revered man of God told us the secret of his 39 years
old relationship with his pretty wife, Lady
Evangelist Lovina (Love?) Chile
Okpuruka (Nee Ibe) and why her meals remain the secret of his young look at
70.
We
equally told you in our earlier reports that Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s lovely daughters (Adaku, Kelechi &
Chinasa) with their loving spouses gave Baba a brand new Ford Explorer Jeep as his birthday gift on Saturday April May
16, 2016.
equally told you in our earlier reports that Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s lovely daughters (Adaku, Kelechi &
Chinasa) with their loving spouses gave Baba a brand new Ford Explorer Jeep as his birthday gift on Saturday April May
16, 2016.
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| Baba and Mama in a rare pose for Asabeafrika |
who runs a Widow’s ministry called Widow
Family Care Ministry with his wife, Lady
Evangelist (Mrs.) Lovina Chile Okpuruka in Port Harcourt, started his life as a Biafran Soldier and later got a job at Government Coastal Agency (GCA) in
Lagos after the war ended. He equally worked with Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) among many other
organizations until he retired in 2004 into God’s vineyard.
In the early hour of Saturday April 16, 2016
your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog, Asabeafrika paid a visit to Pastor
Luke Okpuruka’s Port Harcourt GRA residence. It was few hours to his
birthday celebration and his Port
Harcourt GRA home was busy with activities.
The great man of God and helper of the widows shared the story of his
life with Asabeafrika in a two hours
no-hold barred encounter. Enjoy the Part
2 of the encounter and hear what his wife of 39 years said about him in this
interview. Enjoy!
your Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog, Asabeafrika paid a visit to Pastor
Luke Okpuruka’s Port Harcourt GRA residence. It was few hours to his
birthday celebration and his Port
Harcourt GRA home was busy with activities.
The great man of God and helper of the widows shared the story of his
life with Asabeafrika in a two hours
no-hold barred encounter. Enjoy the Part
2 of the encounter and hear what his wife of 39 years said about him in this
interview. Enjoy!
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| Baba telling Asabeafrika affectionately, ‘My Lovina is the Best Choice i took in life’ |
Sir, what can you say is the biggest lesson
life taught you @ 70?
life taught you @ 70?
That
It is still the same God that is directing the affairs of my life. I have
experienced ups and downs in health, in physique, financially and otherwise.
But in all I have come to see the mercy of God playing out in my life and that
of my family. The goodness of God playing out on my life and that of my family
coupled with God’s compassion for me and everyone around me. It is still God.
It is still the same God that is directing the affairs of my life. I have
experienced ups and downs in health, in physique, financially and otherwise.
But in all I have come to see the mercy of God playing out in my life and that
of my family. The goodness of God playing out on my life and that of my family
coupled with God’s compassion for me and everyone around me. It is still God.
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| Lady Evangelist Lovina Chile Okpuruka (Nee Ibe) |
Can you equally recall your most challenging
moment in life?
moment in life?
My
most challenging moment; to be candid, there have been challenges but the most
challenging has been….has been…I cannot…(Tried thinking out one particular
experience)
most challenging moment; to be candid, there have been challenges but the most
challenging has been….has been…I cannot…(Tried thinking out one particular
experience)
(Cuts in) At least there must be one
that tested your faith?
that tested your faith?
The
Bible said that ‘many are the challenges of the faithful but the Lord sees him
through them all’. I have seen many challenges in life but God saw me through
them all.
Bible said that ‘many are the challenges of the faithful but the Lord sees him
through them all’. I have seen many challenges in life but God saw me through
them all.
“I don’t think Abacha is the one who killed NITEL.
It was Obasanjo and EL-Rufai who wanted to sell NITEL to a company that was just
registered today-today in London, I cant remember the name of that company and
I thank God, those of us that are Christians, we went into prayer and you
people of the press helped us, published it and that exercise died down”
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| Papa & Mama Okpuruka glued in love and hapiness |
But you must have one moment of your
life that things seem rough and deadly?
life that things seem rough and deadly?
I
worked in NITEL and all Nigerians that are of age knows about NITEL,
how NITEL
crumbled. We were left with no pension and no compensation. So, when a man says
‘no money for food, no money to change
dresses’ you know it is a very big challenge. If I were to take them bits
by bits, I think that is the most challenging.
worked in NITEL and all Nigerians that are of age knows about NITEL,
how NITEL
crumbled. We were left with no pension and no compensation. So, when a man says
‘no money for food, no money to change
dresses’ you know it is a very big challenge. If I were to take them bits
by bits, I think that is the most challenging.
You mean the NITEL experience?
Yes,
it was the most challenging moment of my life.
it was the most challenging moment of my life.
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| Pastor Luke Okpuruka to Asabeafrika…’If President Buhari can love the People of the South like he love his people in the north, then, Nigeria will be a Great Country’ |
Do you agree with some analysts who said
late General Sani Abacha killed NITEL
because of David Mark’s attachment to NITEL as minister of Communications
during IBB era?
late General Sani Abacha killed NITEL
because of David Mark’s attachment to NITEL as minister of Communications
during IBB era?
If
anybody say that Abacha killed NITEL, I think I will disagree with
that; if I am permitted to blame anybody, Obasanjo and El-Rufai are the people
that got NITEL to what it is now. I don’t think Abacha is the one who
killed NITEL. It was Obasanjo and EL-Rufai who wanted to
sell NITEL
to a company that was just registered today-today in London, I cant remember the name of that company and I thank God,
those of us that are Christians, we went into prayer and you people of the
press helped us, published it and that exercise died down. So, I don’t think it
was Abacha,
it was Obasanjo your brother and EL-Rufai his friend.
anybody say that Abacha killed NITEL, I think I will disagree with
that; if I am permitted to blame anybody, Obasanjo and El-Rufai are the people
that got NITEL to what it is now. I don’t think Abacha is the one who
killed NITEL. It was Obasanjo and EL-Rufai who wanted to
sell NITEL
to a company that was just registered today-today in London, I cant remember the name of that company and I thank God,
those of us that are Christians, we went into prayer and you people of the
press helped us, published it and that exercise died down. So, I don’t think it
was Abacha,
it was Obasanjo your brother and EL-Rufai his friend.
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| Pastor Luke Okpruka to Asabeafrika…’I have faced many challenges in life but God saw me through all’ |
happy…
Can you recall your happiest moment in
life?
life?
My
happiest moments in life is each time I read my Bible and see what God says I
should do and see that he has given me the stamina, the strength, the vigor,
the vitality and the mentality to do it. Like the book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 12
verse 12 says “The whole duty
of man which is the conclusion of the whole matter is to fear God and to obey
His commandments”. So, each time I do anything that tends to showing
reference to God and keeping his commandment, I feel very glad. Like my wife
and I run a widow’s ministry, each time we make the widows feel happy,
mine-o-mine, you see us smiling, you see us rejoicing. Why? We have touched
lives of the people that are down trodden.
happiest moments in life is each time I read my Bible and see what God says I
should do and see that he has given me the stamina, the strength, the vigor,
the vitality and the mentality to do it. Like the book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 12
verse 12 says “The whole duty
of man which is the conclusion of the whole matter is to fear God and to obey
His commandments”. So, each time I do anything that tends to showing
reference to God and keeping his commandment, I feel very glad. Like my wife
and I run a widow’s ministry, each time we make the widows feel happy,
mine-o-mine, you see us smiling, you see us rejoicing. Why? We have touched
lives of the people that are down trodden.
“At least every morning I drink my
Pepper Soup, either with Fresh fish or dry fish. Like this morning I have taken
Agede, you people call it Eko (Pap Cake) it is prepared from Ogi. I have taken some wraps this
morning with the Pepper Soup my wife prepared last night and I am happy”
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| Papa and Mama speaks to the GDA |
widow’s ministry?
It
was God’s doing o, right from her early stage in life (Madam Lovena Chile
Opuruka) she loves giving. She loves giving. Then as we went on in this
Christian race, we found out that it is not just giving anyhow. There are
people you give to; God will not hesitate to reward you back. So, we now went
into getting widows together to help them out. Not giving them only food but
drilling them through the word of God so that they will know that the Bible
says “Man shall not live by bread alone
but by every word that comes out from the mouth of God”. So, we teach them
the word and we give them whatever is available that our money can buy.
was God’s doing o, right from her early stage in life (Madam Lovena Chile
Opuruka) she loves giving. She loves giving. Then as we went on in this
Christian race, we found out that it is not just giving anyhow. There are
people you give to; God will not hesitate to reward you back. So, we now went
into getting widows together to help them out. Not giving them only food but
drilling them through the word of God so that they will know that the Bible
says “Man shall not live by bread alone
but by every word that comes out from the mouth of God”. So, we teach them
the word and we give them whatever is available that our money can buy.
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| Pastor Luke Chukwumaeze Okpruruka with his jewel of inestimable virtue, Lady Evangelist Lovina Chile Okpuruka |
birthday advice to Nigerian’s political leaders; if you are to meet Mr.
President, what would you tell him to do differently? What is your advice as an
elder statesman, man of God and a father?
What President Buhari must do to make
Nigeria one entity…
Nigeria one entity…
I
will advice them, like I have children; I don’t show partial love to my
children. I love all the same way. You understand me? So, if (President) Buhari can love people from the South
the way he loves people from the North; I mean, Nigeria will be a better place.
If he can consider that Christians have a right to live along with Muslims, I
mean that will go a long way to help Nigeria to come together and enjoy better
integration. Now, coming to politics, weather you are APC, PDP or Labor Party,
whatever political party you are and you claim you want to lead people, if you
kill all the people who are you going to lead? Who are you going to rule? So,
the people should be allowed to live so that you can lead them; and there is
one thing, leadership by example is the best leadership. Show good example
while you are leading so that your followers will copy you. If you show bad example and you have your bad
followers, then when the other people that do not go the same way o your
leadership and your bad followers criticize, you begin to witch hunt them. Let
me summarize it all, at the end of the day, God is the creator of every man and
whatever position He gave to you, you will give account of that position at the
end of the day. How you used the position, did my people whom I created in my
own image and similitude, did they benefit from your leadership? So, that will
be your account with God. So, let them rule us with love and passion.
will advice them, like I have children; I don’t show partial love to my
children. I love all the same way. You understand me? So, if (President) Buhari can love people from the South
the way he loves people from the North; I mean, Nigeria will be a better place.
If he can consider that Christians have a right to live along with Muslims, I
mean that will go a long way to help Nigeria to come together and enjoy better
integration. Now, coming to politics, weather you are APC, PDP or Labor Party,
whatever political party you are and you claim you want to lead people, if you
kill all the people who are you going to lead? Who are you going to rule? So,
the people should be allowed to live so that you can lead them; and there is
one thing, leadership by example is the best leadership. Show good example
while you are leading so that your followers will copy you. If you show bad example and you have your bad
followers, then when the other people that do not go the same way o your
leadership and your bad followers criticize, you begin to witch hunt them. Let
me summarize it all, at the end of the day, God is the creator of every man and
whatever position He gave to you, you will give account of that position at the
end of the day. How you used the position, did my people whom I created in my
own image and similitude, did they benefit from your leadership? So, that will
be your account with God. So, let them rule us with love and passion.
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| Pastor Luke Okpuruka to Asabeafrika…’As good leader, you must not kill people you want to lead’ |
At 70, how do you keep fit? Do you do
any exercise that you will want people to know about because when I saw you
today, you didn’t look 70 but looking 50 plus?
any exercise that you will want people to know about because when I saw you
today, you didn’t look 70 but looking 50 plus?
(Laughter)
Right from when I retired, I was telling my colleagues that it is good I
retired so that my wife will be giving me Pepper Soup. At least every morning I
drink my Pepper Soup, either with Fresh fish or dry fish. Like this morning I
have taken Agede, you people call it Eko (Pap Cake) it is prepared from Ogi.
I have taken some wraps this morning with the Pepper Soup my wife prepared last night and I am happy. But if she
gives me anything that will turn my stomach haywire, I might not be looking as
good as this (Laughter)
Right from when I retired, I was telling my colleagues that it is good I
retired so that my wife will be giving me Pepper Soup. At least every morning I
drink my Pepper Soup, either with Fresh fish or dry fish. Like this morning I
have taken Agede, you people call it Eko (Pap Cake) it is prepared from Ogi.
I have taken some wraps this morning with the Pepper Soup my wife prepared last night and I am happy. But if she
gives me anything that will turn my stomach haywire, I might not be looking as
good as this (Laughter)
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| Pastor Luke Chukwuma Okpuruka to Asabeafrika…’I am fulfilled @ 70 because i have a loving wife and obedient children’ |
Do you do exercise to keep fit?
Yes
o, I do. I used to walk from my house here to the New Airport Road every morning. But when I got to this advanced age
and there is something that came with it, the doctors call it Arthritis
which came to weaken my bones; so, I had to mellow down. But I still do small
exercises with the decent food my wife gives me. I can eat only once in a day
but it has to be decent. Moreover, I make sure, when I am in top gear I go for
my church activity. That keeps me happy.
o, I do. I used to walk from my house here to the New Airport Road every morning. But when I got to this advanced age
and there is something that came with it, the doctors call it Arthritis
which came to weaken my bones; so, I had to mellow down. But I still do small
exercises with the decent food my wife gives me. I can eat only once in a day
but it has to be decent. Moreover, I make sure, when I am in top gear I go for
my church activity. That keeps me happy.
“Number two, I cannot go out, you will
see him calling to find out where I am and even when he goes out, I will still
call him, ‘where are you?’ until I see
him coming back. The love is so much and even as I am talking to you, we share
the same identical initials”
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| Pastor Luke Okpuruka to Asabeafrika…’My Wife, Lovina is the pillar of my healthy life’ |
Role
Model, you mean human role model?
Model, you mean human role model?
Yes, sir?
My
role model is Jesus Christ because he is the author and finisher of my faith.
He is my role model.
role model is Jesus Christ because he is the author and finisher of my faith.
He is my role model.
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| Papa and Mama Okpuruka in a rare pose with the GDA inside the Port Harcourt GRA Villa |
to Isaiah 65 — Lady Evangelist Lovina Okpuruka
Mummy, could you kindly say something
about Daddy at 70? How do you feel today?
about Daddy at 70? How do you feel today?
I
am so glad because there were so many things the enemy tried to do but God came
in and gave us victory. God gave us His Covenant that he must reached a hundred
years, according to the book of Isaiah 65 verse 20 which says “No more shall an infant from there live but
a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall
die one hundred years old”. And we all are praying that as God has said it,
He will confirm it, glory be to God. That he has clocked 70 is to the glory of
God.
am so glad because there were so many things the enemy tried to do but God came
in and gave us victory. God gave us His Covenant that he must reached a hundred
years, according to the book of Isaiah 65 verse 20 which says “No more shall an infant from there live but
a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall
die one hundred years old”. And we all are praying that as God has said it,
He will confirm it, glory be to God. That he has clocked 70 is to the glory of
God.
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| Papa Luke Okpuruka in a stylish pose for Asabeafrika |
Why I call my husband, Nkem
What did you find in him that makes him
unique to you?
unique to you?
A
lot of things I have learnt from him. I call him Nkem that is mine. That
is number one, because there is something I saw in him that always make me
happy, the happiness is there, each time I say “Nkem, are you there?”
and God has been seeing us through. Number two, I cannot go out, you will see
him calling to find out where I am and even when he goes out, I will still call
him, ‘where are you?’ until I see him coming back. The love is so much and
even as I am talking to you, we share the same identical initials. On our
wedding day, it was LC Weds LC, Lovina Chile
weds Luke
Chukwuma. That is where the whole thing started. I love him and he
loves me. Our Love is through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
lot of things I have learnt from him. I call him Nkem that is mine. That
is number one, because there is something I saw in him that always make me
happy, the happiness is there, each time I say “Nkem, are you there?”
and God has been seeing us through. Number two, I cannot go out, you will see
him calling to find out where I am and even when he goes out, I will still call
him, ‘where are you?’ until I see him coming back. The love is so much and
even as I am talking to you, we share the same identical initials. On our
wedding day, it was LC Weds LC, Lovina Chile
weds Luke
Chukwuma. That is where the whole thing started. I love him and he
loves me. Our Love is through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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| Pastor Luke Chukwuma Okpuruka to Asabeafrika…’Obasanjo & El-Rufai, not Abacha killed NITEL’ |
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| The Revered Man of God, Pastor Luke Okpuruka’s 70th birthday Portrait by his children |
