Shut Down Otuo: Inside The Celebrity Funeral of Ernest Umakhihe’s Father
By Simeon OSAJIE
Retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe on Saturday June 21, 2025, led his siblings to pay farewell to their late father – High Chief Adewole Ohiozokhai Umakhihe (alias Papa Guy) who died at the age of 84 years.
The burial ceremonies came to a landmark climax on Saturday June 21, 2025 with an elaborate funeral reception in Azama College, Otuo, Owan East Local Government of Edo State.
The carnival-like event attracted captains of industry, civil servants and politicians from different political divides.
The role-call included: former governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Sheriff Agbabaku and some other members of the State Assembly.
Other guests were Senator Francis Alimekhena; Prince Clem Agba, former Minister of Budget and National Planning; retired permanent secretary, Mr. Dan Aigbavboa; Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Gani Audu; Publisher of Midwest Herald Newspaper, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo, JP; Hon. Abbas Braimah and Hon. Patrick Ikhariale amongst others.
The former Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Hon. Taiwo Akerele; former federal legislator, Hon. Joe Edionwele; former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rev Peter Obadan and several some traditional rulers.
High Chief Adewole Umakhihe had 21 biological children, including Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe.
The late Chief Umakhihe was a firm believer of Psalm 127, verse 3-5 which says that: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing. The sons a man has when he is young are like arrows in a soldier’s hand. Happy is the man who has many such arrows; he will never be defeated when he meets his enemies in the place of judgement.”
Born on 6th April, 1941 into the Okhioya Family of Ikhueran Quarters, lyeu-Otuo, he displayed a deep sense of responsibility and hard work from an early age.
According to his biography, his life was marked by commitment to duty, service, tradition and love for his people.
He had elementary education at the Apostolic Standard School, now Abadakhigua Primary School in Amoya-Otuo, between 1948 and 1953 and obtained the Standard Six School Leaving Certificate.
High Chief Adewole Umakhihe married his heart throb – Mopeola Ojemeiri, in 1963 and their union was blessed with children, establishing a household grounded in discipline, values, and love.
In 1968, he answered the call to serve his country by joining the Nigerian Army, where he served with honour. After the Nigerian Civil War, he was posted to the 6 Infantry Brigade Garrison in Akure, Ondo State, as the Intelligence Officer of the Brigade.
He later attended the Nigerian School of Infantry, located at the 2nd Division Headquarters in lbadan. He voluntarily retired from the Nigerian Army in December 1979 with the rank of Sergeant and returned to Otuo to continue his lifelong service to his people.
He was the Enigbeva of the Four Quarters of lyeu-Otuo till 2024.
The celebration of life event witnessed cultural displays, musical carnival and social networking that aptly amplified the national contacts of the first son of late Chief Umakhihe – Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe.
The people of the beautiful scenic Otuo community will forever remember the good works of Chief Adewole Umakhihe, while he was alive and the honour his burial brought to their town.
