November 25, 2014, Tuesday, is a day that will forever linger in the memory of the Okoyes. It was the day their father and only surviving parent, Pa Moses Okoye, a.k.a. Jagwa died at the age of 75.
He died of cardiac arrest at about 11:30pm at P-Square’s Omole mansion popularly called Square Ville.
Pa Okoye initially had a successful surgery in a Lagos private hospital after having a torn vein on his left knee and was recuperating in Square Ville before his shocking death.
On that fateful day, he had complained to his children of an occasional muscle strain on the knee, which usually results to pain in a region of his chest.
His doctor was immediately called, and he explained that blood is likely not flowing well in some veins, and gave Pa Okoye an appointment for the following morning, but he died some hours later. The doctor had warned that if such symptom persists, it could lead to heart related attacks.
With his crutches, Pa Okoye usually spend his time at the living room downstairs, watching films on AfricaMagic, and laughing his hearts out when necessary. He would also crack jokes with his children and visitors around.
Photo from Pa Okoye’s burial ceremony
That day of the incident, he was as usual at the living room watching movies, and at about 10pm, Makossa music star, Awilo Longomba, (who was the last guest Pa Okoye saw before death) came to Square Ville to work in P-Square’s private studio, and he was introduced to Pa Okoye.
They both hugged, and Awilo pecked him on the cheek, saying ‘it is a privilege to meet you today Papa.’
When Pa Okoye wanted to retire to his room at about 11:25 that night, Peter offered to assist him walk to his room, but he jokingly said: “are you the one helping me before? I’m okay now, don’t bother…” He had only taken a few steps into the room when the muscle strain returned, eventually leading to cardiac arrest, and he fell.
It was the loud sound of his fall that alerted his kids and friends around, who immediately rushed him in Peter’s Range Rover Sports automobile to the hospital, but he died on the way. He died in Peter’s hands.
Pa Okoye died about two year after he lost his wife, Josephine Okoye. P-Square’s mother who had battled with a prolonged illness. He was laid to rest on January 30, in his hometown in Anambra state. The burial service took place at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Ifitedunu.
The burial ceremony had begun with a service of songs which held a day before the burial, after the Okoye family had visited the monarch of their village.
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