By Sam Egburonu

After days of prayers, requiems, tributes and farewell ceremonies, the remains of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Nigerian Minister of Economic Planning, Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, has been laid to rest.

Born 1949 to the royal family of late HRH Eze J J O Ogbulafor, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor died in 2022.

His was rich and prolonged burial rites stretching from a requiem/farewell mass on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at the Church of the Assumption Catholic Church, Asokoro, Abuja to Friday, July 28, 2023, when his remains were put in his final resting place at his country home, Itaja, Obuohia, Olokoro Umuahia, Abia State.

The former political icon was specially celebrated at the Abia Day of Tributes ceremony, conducted for him at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, Abia State. It was indeed his day of glorious remembrance.

On that day, so much was said of this Olokoro, Umuahia Prince, Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, the son of the late HRH Eze J. J. Ogbulafor.

Dee Vin, as he was fondly called, was a top Nigerian politician who diligently served his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during it’s days of glory as Nigeria’s ruling party.

He served the party as it’s powerful National Secretary and later emerged the National Chairman.
He also served Nigeria as the Minister of Economic Planning.

At the farewell ceremony, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, described him as “one of Abia’s greatest gifts to Nigerian politics.”

He said Abians “are proud of the huge accomplishments Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor made while holding various posts within the Party, including positions like Minister of Economic Planning, National Secretary, and National Chairman of PDP.”

According to the Governor, Ogbulafor was a magnificent personality of serenity, transparency, and result-oriented, endowed with a sense of diplomacy and an amazing bridge builder under whose watch there was political balance and synergy.

The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, expressed regret that “Abia had lost a towering and iconic figure by his passing, whose demise at this time is especially painful given the wealth of experience and contributions he would have made to the development of the State under his leadership.”

Other top personalities that paid glowing tributes to the late Vincent Eze Ogbulafor at the event included the chairman of the event, Chief Empire Kanu, Elder Statesman, Chief Tony Enwereuzor, and Prince Okechukwu Nwadinobi.

Also, the State Chairman of PDP, Chief Asiforo Okere, the Party’s Secretary, Chief David Iroh, Senator Chris Adighije, Col. Austin Akobundu Rtd, a former Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu, and the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Ndubuisi Nwabeke, eulogized the late political icon.

This event was followed by a Requiem/Farewell Mass on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral. From that mass, Dee Vin’s remains were taken to the Palace of HRH Eze J J O Ogbulafor and finally to Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor Country home at Itaja, Obuohia, Olokoro Umuahia, Abia State, for interment on Friday, July 28, 2023.

Late Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, aged 73, is survived by his wife, Lady Florence Ogbulafor, aged mother, Ugoeze Abigail Ogbulafor, five children, grandchildren, many brothers and sisters and a host of other relatives.