By Ebuka Onyekwelu
Chief Willie Nwokoye, Principal Secretary to former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, October 1, hosted a lavish dinner at his Amawbia residence to celebrate the birthday of Uzu Okagbue, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Okagbue, who served as Chief of Protocol and later Deputy Chief of Staff to Obiano, was Nwokoye’s colleague in government for eight years. Beyond public service, both men have nurtured a close friendship anchored on shared values of hard work, resilience, intellectual rigor, and a passion for the public good.
Widely known simply as Uzu, Okagbue has earned a reputation as a focused, detail-oriented, and result-driven individual described by many as kind, generous, and relentless in his pursuit of excellence.
The dinner in his honour drew a distinguished crowd from across political divides and professional fields. Guests included Chief Dr. Ndubuisi Nwobu, Deputy Governorship candidate of the ADC; Chief Uche Nworah, APC chieftain and former MD of Anambra Broadcasting Service; Professor Ken Nwogu and his wife, Dr. Uju Nwogu, a former Commissioner for Justice; Dr. and Mrs. Ndibe; Chief Chido Obidiegwu, spokesperson for the APC governorship candidate; Chief Everest Uba, Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Markets; CSP Ben Eke, ADC to former Governor Obiano; and Rt. Hon. Beverly Ikepazu-Nkemdiche, Commissioner for Special Duties, among others.
Also in attendance were Hon. Chief Amala Anazodo, former lawmaker and Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APGA; Chief Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Special Adviser to Governor Soludo; Lady Ndidi Mezue, former Commissioner for Women Affairs; Chief Emeka Ozumba, a former aide to Governor Obiano; Hon. Chinedu Onwuaso, former federal lawmaker; Ichie Uzodimma Anajemba; Barr. Harry Udu, former Head of Service; and Chief Joe Martins Uzodike, former Commissioner for Information. They were joined by friends, supporters of YPP, and other well-wishers.
In his remarks, Chief Nwokoye described the event as a celebration of friendship rather than politics.
“This evening is about celebrating friendship. We should not only come together at funerals. Uzu and I worked closely for eight years in government, and I came to understand his strengths. Many people do not really know who he is. Uzu was critical to the success of Obiano’s administration. He is a planner, organizer, and strategic thinker of distinction. I have no apologies for celebrating him today,” Nwokoye said.
He further emphasized Uzu’s intellectual depth, noting that his party’s governorship candidate could “sleep well at night knowing he has a deep thinker by his side.”
The dinner, which began at about 5 p.m. and lasted until 9:30 p.m., featured fine wine, assorted delicacies, and classical music to the delight of the guests.
In his response, Okagbue expressed gratitude to his host and guests, describing the evening as unforgettable.
“Today is etched forever in my memory. What unfolded was not just a birthday celebration but the rarest expression of friendship. Ibobo staged a feast of splendour in my honour, and it was truly remarkable,” he said.
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