Ikpeazu, PMAN, Others Pay Tribute to late Chyke Fusion
The burial of legendary music icon, Chyke Fusion attracts the presence of former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD and other notable personalities from far and near
The remains of renowned music maestro, Deacon Chinweike Chiemela Okoro popularly known as ‘Chyke Fusion’ , the lead singer of the Apostles Rock Group were committed to mother earth in a blaze of glory on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
The funeral service was conducted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) at the Umuobiakwa Primary School Field.
It commenced as soon as his remains arrived from the SDA Mortuary, Ogbor Hill, Aba
In his homily, captioned, ‘Listen’, taken from 11Kings 5:1-18, Pastor Linus C. Nnakwu recounted the story of Naaman, the Army Chief of the King of Syria and how he was healed of leprosy.
He said that the moment he listened to the word of the true man of God after puffing up with pride and plunged into the Jordan seven times he became clean.
He admonished Christians to bury their ego, humble themselves and listen to the voice of God stressing that so many people have lost their bearing in life, missed so many opportunities including deliverance from afflictions, breakthrough and salvation because of pride.
He enjoined all to eschew pride, hatred, envy, surrender their lives to God and continue to live in peace with one another in order to be saved.
He said that the deceased lived a fulfilled life and told his family not to mourn like people without hope adding that God will comfort them and give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In his funeral oration, the immediate past Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, PhD paid a moving tribute to the late music icon, Chyke Fusion.
He described the deceased as a rare gem whose never-say-die-spirit made him to triumph against all odds and eventually catapulted him to enviable height in the nation’s music firmament.
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu recalled a chilling incident in the life of the deceased that would have claimed his life during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War saying that his living up to 75 years was a miracle.
According to him, Chyke Fusion was hit by a bomb in the stomach and his intestines gouged out.
Despite his terrible condition, he courageously held his intestines for several hours before help could reach him.
And when they were stitching his stomach, he was wide awake throughout and groaned with excruciating pains because they did it without given him a general or local anaesthetic. He attributed his survival to the grace of God upon his life.
Undeterred by the near-death experience, he went back to school at the end of the civil war where he was bitten by the music bug and without hesitation, he answered the call, Ikpeazu said.
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu wondered what would have happened to the nation’s music industry if Chyke Fusion had lost his life during the civil war or failed to heed his musical calling.
He said that Chyke Fusion’s life was a classic example of what one can achieve with determination, perseverance and absolute faith in God.
He said that his music had meaning and contained powerful message, which may not really be understood by many people now but as time goes on.
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said that the life of the deceased was a powerful inspiration to the people of Umuobiakwa, Ngwa land, Abia State and beyond to believe in their innate capacity for self-actualization and called on them to remain focused and pursue their dream with determination and perseverance until success is achieved.
He expressed profound grief over what he described as a personal loss to him and his family, the people of Umuobiakwa, Ngwa land, Abia State and the nation saying that
his demise is the end of an era.
However, he expressed optimism that God would open another chapter in the history of Umuobiakwa from his family.
In an address on behalf of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Abia State Chapter, High Chief Walton Arungwa, the leader of the Apostles Rock Group under whose tutelage Chyke Fusion honed his musical talent, described the death of his protege as a monumental loss to the people of Umuobiakwa, Ngwa land, Abia State and the nation at large.
He said that they would continue to cherish him and his great contributions to the nation’s music industry forever in their hearts.
He expressed satisfaction that PMAN gave him a befitting burial and even organized a concert for him at Hills Beverly Hotel, Ogbor Hill, Aba on Monday, October 7, 2024.
He urged the family to continue to leave in peace and uphold those sterling qualities he was known for.
Speaking, the chairman of Wilcox Memorial Old Boys Association 1976 Set and the immediate past Board Chairman, Abia State Secondary Students, Chief Eke Onyeforo described death as inevitable and beyond remedy.
He said that what came to their fallen colleague was death, not sickness. He described his death as a surprise adding that both of them attended the burial of their member who died in the United States of America at Umuakwu Nsulu recently and they proposed to convene a meeting at the deceased’s place in two weeks time to consolidate their plans for their homecoming this year only for him to receive a call that he had a domestic accident and died after some time.
He eulogized him as a very nice person, an organizer, peace-loving and highly dependable and urged his family to emulate his peaceful disposition saying that with peace they would achieve a lot of things.
In his response, the first son of the deceased, Michael Chinjikem Okoro thanked all who attended his father’s burial and a host of others for their support towards his successful burial.
He expressed deep grief over the death of his beloved father saying that it is impossible to imagine life without him.
He described him as a great musician whose enviable contributions to the growth of the nation’s music industry would always be remembered.
He said that they would sorely miss him and promised to carry his spirit forward in everything he does.
He prayed God to comfort them and grant his soul peaceful rest till they meet to part no more.
At the end of the funeral service, his body was taken to his compound and buried.
Thereafter, the whole arena turned into a carnival of sorts. The atmosphere was electrifying and the weather so clement despite that it was in thick of the rainy season.
All those present had the fun of a lifetime as they ate, drank and danced to the non-stop super funk and pop music dished out by PMAN and others in his honour.
The burial was well-attended and attracted the presence of the wife of former Governor of Abia State, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, PhD, two-time Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chief Acho Nwakanma, Hon. Barr. Thomas Nkoro (immediate past member, representing Obingwa West State Constituency), Dr. C. C. Okwuonu, Dr. Eric Egwuibe, the Mayor of Obingwa LGA, Hon. Barr. Chizuru Kanu, Chinwe Nwanganga, Hon. Chief Seth Agomuo (PDP Chairman, Obingwa LGA), Chief Frank Okoro (a.k.a Frank Fyne Nwaonyigbo), Chief Sorochi Mark, Charles Nwangwa, Godwin Adindu, Dr. Ishmael Onyenweaku (one-time education secretary of Aba South LGEA), Hon. Mrs. Uwaoma Olewengwa, Obinna Njoku, Prof. Lawrence Chigbu, Hon. Kingsley Nnaji (Kimbo), Mazi Stanley Nwahiwe, Chief Eke Onyeforo and the Chairman of NNPP, Obingwa LGA, Hon. Chief F. N. Nwangwa (Osisinamiego).
Aged 75 years, the late Chyke Fusion is survived by his wife, Emilia Adaku, three children namely Adaeze Chizurumoke Confidence Okoro, Michael Chinjikem Okoro, Noble King Chiedozie Okoro and many relations.
Chyke Fusion slipped in his bathroom and broke his left leg on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 and died on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
CHYKE FUSION
…What People Say
The following personalities bared their minds on the late Chyke Fusion in a chat with newsmen. Excerpts.
Chief Seth Agomuo
(PDP Chairman, Obingwa LGA)
The late Chinweike Chiemela Okoro was my brother and my friend. We were very close to each other even though he was my senior. We shared so many things in common and we were always seeing each other. He was very creative, humble, kind, accommodating and friendly. He did not harbour animosity against anyone. Even if you offended him he would tell you and the matter would end there. He would be greatly missed by all and sundry, especially his fellow musicians. He was exceptional in his music career. He started early when he was in secondary school. Everybody has come here today to commiserate with his family. But after sometime now you would not see them again. But I want to assure them that even if people abandon them that God would continue to be with them. So, I urge them to always look on to God and call on Him because He will always answer them. I believe that Chyke Fusion is sleeping to resurrect in the resurrection morning.
Emmanuel Nmereole
(Ex-Lecturer, Federal Polytechnic, Idah)
I came home from Kogi State and when I heard of the burial of Chyke Fusion I decided to stay back. He was my classmate in secondary school. We all finished in 1976. He was a very lively person. He was a little older than us. We saw him as a light and we were always very proud of being with him. Even when I was working at Owerri, they came to perform at Alvan Ikokwu College of Education and I had to go and watch them. When I saw him I was proud to tell my friends that he was my classmate but they did not believe me. His music had meaning. It is not the kind of vulgarity you hear these days. They made wave in Nigeria – The Apostles. His death was a surprise to us because he represented our Old Boys Association during the burial of our member who died in the United States of America at Umuakwu Nsulu only for us to hear that he has also died. We heard that it was a home accident. I urge his family to take heart and pray for the repose of his soul in the bosom of God.
Chief Emmanuel Uba
(Eze-elect of Isiala Ukwu Mbato Autonomous Community, Obingwa LGA)
We came to pay last respect to our father and boss, Chyke Fusion. An Iroko has indeed fallen. His demise has created a very big vacuum in Ukwa Ngwa land, Abia State and the entire nation. We pray that God will give his family, the people of Umuokoro Umuobiakwa and the entire Isiala Ukwu Mbato Autonomous Community the fortitude to bear the great loss. Chyke Fusion was a great man and talented musician. He did us proud in his heyday as the lead vocalist of the Apostles Rock Group. We thank God for his successful burial and wish all those who came to honour him safe journey back to their various destinations in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Chief Dr. Nwogwugwu Ikpeaba
(Chairman, Isiala Ukwu Mbato Council of Chiefs)
We came to pay last respect to our departed member, Chyke Fusion. He lived a good life that is why so many people attended his burial including the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. Death is inevitable and will come when it will. The death of Chyke Fusion is a very big blow to us. We have lost a rare gem. We pray that God would comfort his family and give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Hon. Chief Friday N. Nwangwa (Osisinamiego)
I am the Chairman of New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Obingwa LGA. We came to commiserate with our member, Chigozie Okoro on the burial of his brother, Chyke Fusion. We have done what we are supposed to do for him and he has entertained us very well. His late brother, Chyke Fusion was a very popular musician in Nigeria. He started playing music when he was in Class Two at Wilcox Memorial Comprehensive Secondary School, Aba and all his songs were meaningful. All he said are happening now. His death has created a very big vacuum in his family and the society at large. May God give all of us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Onyenaucheya Samuel
The late Chyke Fusion was the family head of Umuokoro compound in Umuobiakwa. I am the next person after him. We all grew up together. He was good to everybody. We loved ourselves. His death is a very big shock to us. We cannot question God than to beg Him to give us the courage to bear the loss. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
