Tributes poured in torrents at the weekend in honour of the former chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Enugu and Anambra States, late Ozo Ramsey Onyia, who died at the age of 79

Onyia, was state chairman of the SDP in Anambra and later in Enugu State between 1991 and 1993.

At a thanksgiving service for the eventful life he lived and the success of his burial, attended by family members, friends, business and political associates, held at the St Peter’s Anglican Church, Okwojo, Ngwo, Udi local government , Enugu state, they all testified to the leadership of sacrifice and examplary life of the late sage.

His eldest son, Ozo Fredrick Onyia, described his father as a man of many noble characteristics, stressing that he was humble and dedicated to the service of his people.

“He loved his place. He loved the people around him. He loved his family so much. My father believed in hard work. He led a principled life. He believed in equity. He believed in fairness. He believed in justice. There are so many good things that one can start saying about my father. But to sum it up, my father was a man who believed in being noble. He lived that life and he mentioned humility almost every time. And in his words, “you’re not humiliated because you’re humble”, he stated.

He added: “I will only say that I am grateful that I have the opportunity to step into his shoes. They are quite big, but he has made sure that my feet are long enough too”.

Late Onyia’s fourth daughter, Dr Chizoba Ijioma, described him as “almost an excellent human being”, explaining that he was kind, loving, and gave himself fully to all his children, the community and every other person that needed him.

“He was always available, he had an open door quality, and he could come down to everybody’s level to relate with them.

” I’m taking away his name. The name he preserved for us. He lived a very reputable life, and we are grateful to God because his free will has been following us from when we were born till now that he has left. His good will has been following us, and I intend to carry on that legacy of good name, that legacy of putting others before myself”, she said

First daughter of the family, Pastor Ngozika Anochirimonye Agu described him as the “model of fatherhood”, saying her father had answer to every stage of her life

“My father had an answer to every question I had at every level of my life. My daddy was the most daunting man that I’ve ever met. He was loving, he was loyal, kind, very sacrificial, extremely sacrificial. He was one man that shared his life with a generation.

“We had the privilege of getting my father steeped down to document a percentage of his life, his work, and his journeys. I will encourage every man out there to get that book and read about the life and the legacy of Ozo Ramsey Onyia. My father is the kind of man that comes in a whole generation. It will teach them how to be fathers, husbands, leaders, and generally servants. I’m just going to pray for my siblings and I that God will help us to bear this irreparable loss. The loss of my daddy has always been our worst nightmare. And that is the worst heat of our lives. So my prayer to my siblings and I is that God, the Holy Ghost, the comforter, will find a way to comfort us”, she said

In a sermon during the service, Ven Dr Pius Chukwu, had urged the gathering to always trust and hope in God, explaining that he had never abandoned those he created.

He stated that current challenges would always find solutions with their sublime trust and faithful service in God.

He praised the children of late Ramsey Onyia for their steadfastness and services to God, urging them not to depart from the good works, reputation, name and courage that stood him out while he lived.