“I Have Lost Someone Dear To Me”

Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, the member representing the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has expressed profound sorrow over the passing of the world-renowned evangelist, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai. He described Dr. Ukpai as a father figure, mentor, and a shining pride of Ohafia land.

In a statement personally signed by him, Osonwa stated that the death of Rev. Dr. Ukpai was not only a loss to the Christian community, Abia State, and Nigeria as a whole, but also a personal loss to him and his family.

“I have lost someone dear to me. Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai was not only a revered preacher but also family; he was a relative of my mother and played a significant role in shaping our spiritual foundation. He was a father figure, a father of faith, and a great inspiration to me,” Osonwa said.

He referred to the late cleric as one of Ohafia’s most illustrious sons and one of Africa’s most respected men of God, whose decades of service to humanity transformed countless lives.

“Dr. Ukpai was Ohafia’s greatest gift to the world. Through his powerful preaching, healing crusades, and unshakeable faith, he placed our community on the global map of Christian evangelism. He never forgot his roots; he loved Ohafia deeply and gave selflessly to its spiritual and social development,” the lawmaker added.

Osonwa praised the evangelist’s humility, compassion, and devotion to God, noting that his life of faith and service will remain a model for generations to come.

“His impact went far beyond the pulpit. He was a peacemaker, a giver, and a pillar of strength to many. His legacy will continue to live on in the millions of lives he touched and the generations he inspired,” Osonwa stated.

The lawmaker extended his condolences to the Uma Ukpai family, the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, the Christian community, and the entire people of Ohafia, praying that God grants them the fortitude to bear this loss.

“Though we mourn, we find comfort in knowing that he lived a fulfilled life devoted to Christ. May the Almighty grant his soul eternal rest. Ohafia and Nigeria have lost a true servant of God,” he concluded.