Tribute to a Great Man-G.C. Oranika Ochendo Abatete 1935-2024

As his Chieftancy title suggests “Ochendo” actually held that wide umbrella which provided the shade leading to uplifting of the lives of many Oranika family members and citizens of our Great town Abatete and many more across the width and breath of Nigeria in general. On a more personal note when Ochendo returned from Manchester after his advanced degree studies in England he relocated to Suru Lere and on one of his trips to Abatete he picked me up from home informing me that I will be staying with him in Suru Lere-Adelabu street I still remember. After we got to Lagos he told me that he had secured a job for me at National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) on Marina Street Lagos. I just graduated from High School and this was my first job. It was a great experience living with him and his family I remember plays I had with small and lovely Chinwe Ogbatue (Iyom Odueze) when she was a baby. I was very grateful to Ochendo for his kindness to me. I lived with him and his family for about 2 years. The point here is that Ochendo was a mentor to me and he created an opportunity for me for other accomplishments I made in my life and for this I am ever grateful to him. He sponsored a Chieftancy title for me at Abatete and hence I accepted and took the title of “Ugwu Nwanne Amaka” Chief G.C. Oranika had a Federal Civil Service career and held many leadership positions which culminated in his appointment as the Minister for Federal Capital Development Authority in charge of development of the newly created Federal Capital city-Abuja He made significant contributions to the landscape and infrastructure and buildings of the city of Abuja which today stands as a testament to Ochendo’s hard work and sacrifices to Nigeria and the Capital City development. As we mourn the loss of our great father Ochendo, we celebrate his life and great many accomplishments he made. The Oranika family and future generations will ever be grateful for the legacies he left behind. He achieved every goal he had in life and we shall take his passing in the words of William Shakespeare ” All the World is a stage and all the men and women are merely players, they have their exits and entrances and one man in his time plays many parts his acts being seven stages. Adio father Ochendo RIP Prof (Chief) Paul Okechukwu Oranika (Odezuligbo Ugwuoba) Ugwunwanne na Abatete)