Remembering the Legacies Of Chief Obande Obeya (Oche enone 1)

Today, the world pauses to remember a man whose presence still echoes in every lesson he taught, every life he touched, and every legacy he left behind. Chief Obande Obeya (Oche Enone I) ,my father, my king, my namesake, would have turned 80 today. If you were still here, the air would have been filled with the rhythm of the Okanga drums, the finest wine would have flowed freely, and the best meals would have been prepared in your honor because kings deserve nothing less. But though heaven now holds what earth has lost, I know the angels are rejoicing with you. And this weekend, I will celebrate you the way you would have wanted to be celebrated, fiercely, joyfully, and with deep reverence.

You were more than a father to me; you were my first mentor, my guide through the early labyrinth of life, the one who taught me that giving is not helping, it is fulfilling a divine responsibility entrusted to us by God. Your life embodied selflessness, not as performance, but as purpose. You showed me that true kingship is not measured by titles, but by how deeply one serves others. In you, I saw a quiet strength, a relentless builder, a visionary entrepreneur who created not for applause but for impact. Through your words and your actions, I learned that to give, to lead, to serve, and to dream are sacred duties. Your values are the compass by which I navigate life, and your voice still guides me in the silence between decisions.

Though you now dwell in eternity, your legacy continues to breathe through everything I do. I carry your name not just with pride, but with purpose. Thank you, Daddy for every sacrifice, for every lesson, for every moment you believed in me. You showed me how to be a man of honor, how to lead with heart, and how to walk in faith. As the Scripture says, “The righteous man walks in integrity; his children are blessed after him.” I am one of those blessed children. I miss you more than words can express, but I celebrate you more than tears can hold. Happy posthumous 80th birthday, Oyame. You live on in me, and in every life I am privileged to touch because you first touched mine.

Chief Williams Obande Obeya II
Owujoi K’ Idoma