On the 1st of April 2025, I placed a phone call to the late Chris Asoluka—not to tease him with the usual April Fool’s joke—but to remind him that exactly one month from that day, he would be turning 70, a milestone that deserved significant celebration… as usual between us (Chris and myself).
This time, however, he put up a very stiff resistance to my proposal and insisted he wanted it to go unnoticed. After my objection didn’t sail through, I gave in. My initial plan had included bringing a journalist to him for an interview on his 70-year journey on earth.
One week later, he called me to accept the proposal—citing pressure from his wife and daughter, who had also insisted on celebrating the milestone in a grand way. His wife and daughter began planning the ‘wild’ celebration, which would include a beach party and a reflective retreat, an idea initiated by Chris himself. According to him, the retreat would allow him time for reflection and introspection as he transitioned to the “7th floor.”
These were all part of a planned event involving seventy guests to mark the seventieth birthday of Okwuruoha, and I had the honour of being one of the selected seventy.
When Chris finally approved the interview, I brought along an award-winning journalist, Mr. Tony Manuaka of The Sun Newspapers, to his home, where we had a memorable parley. (Excerpts from that parley will be published beneath this tribute.)
Popularly known by his title Okwuruoha Owerri, not many people even within Ihiagwa know that his traditional home title, conferred on him by our late paramount ruler, HRH Eze James Muruako, was Ogbuhoro Uzo Ochichi Ihiagwa. Much like Zik of Africa, who passed away more gloriously as Owelle of Onitsha, I had since 2006 preferred to call my cousin Chris Asoluka by his home title: Ogbuhoro Uzo Ochichi Ihiagwa.
Whenever I did so, he would retort, “My Doctor, you love this title so much.” And I would reply, “Because I believe titles should speak for themselves.” This title affirms Chris as the trailblazer and pathfinder in leadership quests and achievements within Ihiagwa.
Asoluka as a Politician
Indeed, he proved this with his remarkable accomplishment of becoming a Member of the Federal House of Representatives during the aborted Third Republic in 1992 at a very young age
To achieve this feat, Chris demonstrated that he was a true politician who understood that power belongs to the people. He founded one of the most vibrant associations of Owerri intellectuals and entrepreneurs of the time: Mezie Owerri. This group of dynamic young men and women propelled his election to the National Assembly. Beyond politics, the group offered scholarships and was deeply grassroots-oriented.
Not long after, a sister group emerged in Port Harcourt: Dozie Owerri. The two groups eventually merged into what is now known as Mezie/Dozie Owerri, with virtually all notable Owerri figures proudly associated with its membership.
Chris Asoluka was a flamboyant and charismatic politician, an orator par excellence whose eloquence in the Owerri dialect set him apart. His fluency connected him deeply with the grassroots, particularly during campaigns. His absence will be deeply felt in Owerri and across Igboland.
He replicated the Mezie Owerri model with Aka Ikenga, an association of Igbo intellectuals and technocrats. At its peak, Aka Ikenga included luminaries such as Dr. Chris Ngige, Prof. Pat Utomi, Ken Orji, Dr. Ebigwei, Chief Martin Agbaso, Eze Ajoku, Capt. Ihenacho, the Anumudu brothers, and many others whose membership remains valid to this day.
Under Chris’s leadership, both organizations built bridges across communities, ideologies, and generations. He was not just a politician but a beacon of integrity, resilience, and visionary leadership. May history remember him as a pillar of democracy, a defender of the voiceless, and a true patriot whose legacy will continue to inspire generations.
Chris as a Cultural Icon
Chris was a proud ambassador of the Owerri people. He made it a point to always speak the Owerri dialect, regardless of whether his Igbo audience was from Anambra, Ikwerre, Ohafia, or Delta Igbo communities. His philosophy was that the guest should make the effort to understand. Through this, Chris helped to popularize and export the Owerri dialect far and wide.
He was deeply rooted in African culture and arts. His home was adorned with paintings, sculptures, clay works, and mixed-media pieces evidence of his love for African visual art. He was also a gifted storyteller, particularly fond of recounting the history of our people. He once described my own historical research on Ihiagwa and its people as “very encouraging and insightful,” urging me to give voice to our shared dreams and hidden histories.
As a leading member of the Ikedi Ohakim administration, Chris used that platform to compile and edit volumes of the renowned Ahiajoku Lecture Series (1979–2010). These volumes marked a peak in Igbo cultural nationalism and documented the cosmic evolution and traditions of the Igbo people indeed, a cultural compendium.
As a Maritime and Finance Expert
Chris obtained his degrees in Political Science from Nigeria’s premier institution—the University of Ibadan—before pursuing further studies in Maritime and Finance in the United Kingdom. In both disciplines, he rose to the pinnacle and left indelible marks.
In finance, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives and later as Finance Commissioner of Imo State.
In the maritime sector, he served as a major consultant to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria’s apex maritime regulatory body. He was highly respected in maritime circles and played key roles in shaping national maritime policies.
He was a regular speaker at conferences, workshops, and seminars both within and outside Nigeria. Among his published works are Compilation of Nigerian Maritime Laws (in two volumes, 2003) and Nigerian Maritime Resources Development: Issues and Challenges (also in two volumes, 2003).
Chris Asoluka was a seasoned administrator, ambassador, public speaker, policy strategist, and staunch advocate for public welfare. His name will always echo integrity, service, and purpose. He served God and humanity in diverse and remarkable ways.
Ogbuhoro Uzo Ochichi Ihiagwa, Farewell.
You lit the path for many.
You led with wisdom.
You lived with purpose.
May your legacy never dim.
Chief Cele Agoziem, PhD
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
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