American-based Lawyer and Public Affairs Commentator, High Chief Owolabi Salis has joined millions of Nigerians at home and abroad in mourning Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, the celebrated songstress, who passed on to Glory recently.

The Ikorodu-born Lagosian who also holds the title of Onyema Ndigbo Gburugburu of Etiti Mgboko, in Abia State, described her exit as the passing of an era, adding that at the height of her fame and glory, she set the entertainment scene ablaze with her electrifying showmanship that made her the adorable idol of enthusiastic vast mass of fans across the vast Nigerian landscape.

He described Onyeka as not just a goddess of songs, but a multi-talented genius and all-rounder, who excelled as a veteran reporter, writer, actress, coupled with her outstanding intellect, eloquence and oration. She radiated a supreme confidence, faith and self-assuredness that was rare to come by.

“Not only was she an exemplary symbol of womanhood, she was an illustrious child of Igboland, a pride of Nigeria, Africa and the Black race,” he said.
He lamented that her demise was suddden as was full of life one minute and the next exited the world.

“This is why for a woman who in her lifetime, not only radiated life, but was the epitome of life herself, one cannot but lament the dreary prospect that henceforth, one would have no option than to refer to her in the past tense. This is why I felt highly touched not only as a fellow Nigerian compatriot but more particularly as an Igbo-titled High Chief,”said Salis.

The lawyer-politician who in 2019 contested for governorship in Lagos State on the platform of Alliance For Democracy, described the “Elegant Stallion”,as she was affectionately called in her lifetime, as a quintessential bridge-builder and the very model of a detribalised Nigerian, who in her lifet-time, was unpretensively hundred percent Igbo on one hand, just as she was equally hundred percent Nigerian on the other hand,in judicious emulation of the Biblical dictum to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.

“One also recalls the strong moral and patriotic courage with which she fought and championed the cause of the late Afro-Beat king-pin, Fela Anikulapo Kuti during his detention by the Buhari-Idiagbon regime. The import of this gesture would not be much fully grasped until one recalls the sternly dictatorial nature of the military government in power at the period in question, which was notorious for its intolerance of opposition, especially through the obnoxious Decree 2, with which they gagged the press and hounded journalists in prison.

“Like Miriam Makeba, the universally acclaimed Mama Africa who passed on far away in Italy, right on the act, doing what she knew how to do best, Onyeka Onwenu, her indisputable successor as “Mama Africa”, also gallantly passed out, doing what she knew how to do best. May their great souls rest in perfect peace,” he added.