Gen. Omu: A patriot who lived for his people — Ikpokpo affirms ~ Truth Reporters

By Andy Emephia

A former Chairman of the Delta State Association of Local Government Chairmen ( ALGON) Hon ltiako Malik Ikpokpo , has described late General Paul Ufuoma Omu as not only an illustrious patriot , but one who "lived well, among , and for his people".

Ikpokpo, also a two-time Chairman of lsoko South local government  council, noted that General Omu,s humility and approach to life, were sterling qualities , among others too numerous, that the one time Military Governor of South Eastern State ( now Cross Rivers State), will be remembered for .

In a condolence message to the Omu family of lgbide in lsoko South , the government and people of Delta State, Hon lkpokpo described the departed patriarch of the Omu family as a man of distinguished service and accomplishments , whether as a devoted family man, patriot, statesman, soldier and community leader , whose life was marked by unwavering commitment to the service of Nigeria and his beloved lsoko nation.

Recalling that he worked closely with General Omu when he ( Hon lkpokpo) held sway as lsoko South Council Chairman for six years , he said as Council Chairman , he tapped from Omu,s fountain of knowledge in surmounting most of the protracted peace and security challenges his administration encountered while in office.

Said Hon Malik lkpokpo: " General Omu was an illustrious lsoko son. You don't talk about lsoko in the last 50 years  , and his name is not permanent somewhere. A lot has been said about him but l personally had the pleasure and privilege of working close with him.when l was Chairman of Council for six years. One thing l can tell you is that his humility and approach to life,s issues were very different and l tapped immensely from those virtues".

While condoling the family of the President of the lsoko Development Union ( IDU) , from 2014 to 2015,  the former lsoko South Council Boss, thanked God for the exemplary life of integrity and service to fatherland , lived by General Omu, but though he will be surely missed by all and sundry , they should take consolation that the late General Omu lived to ripe old age  and strive to immortalize his legacies to the glory of God and humanity.

The late General Paul Ufuoma Omu ( rtd), who passed on April 29, 2025, at the age of 84, held various strategic command positions such as Commandant, Command and Staff College , Jaji, Kaduna , member of the then Armed Forces Ruling Council ( AFRC), the highest decision making body then , as well as on the political scene, appointed as Chairman of the Constitutional Conference Commission  , in 1994, which helped shape the constitutional discourse that would influence  Nigeria,s return to civil rule in 1999