Pa Chief Raphael Odinakachukwu Ezeoba, known to many as Eziokwubundu, was born on February 17, 1926. His life was not just long but full, marked by service, sacrifice, and a steady devotion to doing what was right, even when it was difficult. He lived with purpose, and everyone who crossed his path felt the weight of his sincerity.
His journey began at St. Thomas Practicing School, Ibusa, where he studied between 1939 and 1943. In 1944, he moved to Onitsha to live with the late Mr. Edward Atuana of Ogboli Agbor. The experience broadened his horizon before he returned to Ibusa a year later to continue his studies. In 1945, his curiosity and drive carried him to Jos, where he enrolled at St. Theresa’s Convent School. He completed his Standard Six in 1947 and soon after took up employment at Joeallen Company Limited as a storekeeper from 1949 to 1951. Never one to settle for less, he pushed himself further and earned a diploma in land surveying and mining at the School of Mining Technology, Jos, in 1953.
In 1954, he married the graceful Miss Philomena Okonji. That same year, he began work as an Area Manager with Forum Extended and later served as Manager at Birom Mines Limited between 1957 and 1968. His leadership ability was clear, and from 1963 to 1968, he served as Secretary of the Ibusa Community Development Union, Jos–Bukuru Branch, where his dedication to communal growth set him apart.
His courage and compassion came into sharp focus during the 1967 crisis in Jos and Bukuru when many Igbo residents were killed. While others hid in fear, Chief Ezeoba stepped forward. He hired vehicles to move displaced Ibusa people home, giving free passage to those who could not afford it. In the thick of the Nigerian Civil War, he protected his family and others, fleeing into the bush for three years before moving them to Agbor, where many Ibusa people were suffering greatly.
When the war ended in 1970, he did not look back with bitterness. Instead, he got back to work. With many of his kinsmen stranded and impoverished, he bought a Morris Minor and later a Volkswagen Kunbi bus to convey them to Ibusa from various refugee camps at no charge. He boldly inscribed on the Kunbi bus “IT IS GOOD TO BE GOOD,” a simple message that defined his character. For years, he became a lifeline for many Ibusa indigenes, connecting people across distances and offering help without expecting anything in return.
In 1974, his path led him to Benin City, where he worked at the Military Governor’s Office under Brigadier Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Rtd. until 1978. He later moved into private business and returned homein Ibusa when Delta State was created. His political journey was just as meaningful as his humanitarian one. He served as Ward 2 Chairman of the Social Democratic Party until its dissolution in 1993. In 1999, he together with other people established the People’s Democratic Party in Oshimili North Local Government and was subsequently elected as Deputy Chairman of the local government area. During his time as deputy chairman, he played a key role in encouraging Dr Mrs Nwaeze to join the party and contest for the Delta State House of Assembly, where she became the first woman elected unopposed. His dedication to community structures continued through his involvement in the Ogbeowele Executive Union and his service as Chairman of the Ogbeowele Hall Committee.
A committed Christian and a dedicated family man, he was blessed with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His children are well established in society, a clear reflection of the principles he lived by. Among them is Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba, the 20th Chief of the Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy, whose career stands as a strong testament to the values their father instilled.
Chief Ezeoba lived simply but carried an uncommon dignity. His kindness was steady, his warmth genuine, and his generosity unforced. He did not chase praise or recognition. He simply lived as though helping others was the only reasonable way to live.
His story is one of honour, courage, and humanity. His legacy remains alive in the countless lives he touched and in the community he served with all his heart. May God grant his gentle soul eternal rest. Adieu to a remarkable man who lived with purpose and left the world better than he met it.