Abia State Governor Alex Otti has commiserated with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over the death of her mother, Mrs Kamene Okonjo.
Otti described her death as a personal loss to him and the people of Abia State, noting that the loss of a mother leaves a void that no honour, accomplishment or global recognition can fill.
The governor conveyed his condolences in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njuko-Ukoha.
He said Abia mourned with Okonjo-Iweala not only as a prominent Nigerian on the global stage but also as a beloved sister whose life reflected the values instilled in her by her mother.
According to Otti, the deceased was more than a mother, describing her as a moral compass, teacher, confidant and prayer warrior whose virtues of integrity, hard work, excellence, compassion and service continued to find expression in her daughter’s life and contributions to humanity.
The statement quoted the governor as saying, “To lose a mother is to lose a part of oneself. For us in Abia, this is a personal loss. We have lost a mother, a matriarch who raised a daughter who has become a global pride to Abia, Ndigbo, Nigeria and to all of humanity.
“No matter how accomplished a child becomes, a mother remains that irreplaceable place of comfort, quiet strength and unconditional love. We have seen our sister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, speak of her mother with so much reverence and love. We know how close they were and we feel her pain deeply.”
Otti prayed that God, who had sustained Okonjo-Iweala throughout her journey of service to humanity, would comfort her and her family during the difficult period.
He urged her to take solace in the fact that her mother lived a fulfilled, impactful and exemplary life, adding that her legacy would endure for generations.
Mrs Kamene Okonjo died at the age of 96 on Friday.
She was the wife of the late Obi Prof Chukwuka Okonjo, the immediate past traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State. The couple were married for 66 years.