‘Valerie Of Africa’ Speaks Of Her Father 7 Years After His Death

For many who know Valerie Chinoyeum Opia fondly called “The Valerie of Africa” by all, you will know her attributes as a young talented entrepreneur.

This young black Africa beauty hails from Umutu in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Ndokwa land in Delta State, Nigeria.

She narrates how she has lived with a heavy burden in her heart for 7 years after her father, LATE CHIEF CAPT. I.S OPIA was gruesomely murdered in Obiaruku on his way back from UBA BANK in Abraka.

This sad incident occurred exactly 7 years ago on 13th October, 2014.

Valerie of Africa who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kiddies Carnival Nigeria LTD and also publisher of Ndokwa Aglow Newspaper gave an insight as to how she and her siblings have lived with the sad feelings of knowing that their father is no more and that he left this world in a very painful way as he was assassinated by unknown gunmen along Obiaruku Road.

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She narrates

“My children, Funaya and Chisom were on holidays with my dad from August to September, 2014 and then I was relocating to Asaba from Benin in 2014. So, I was looking for a house in Asaba and I was squatting with my family friends, the Okafors from Okiti in Asaba, Delta State at that time.

On September 22, 2014, I came to Umutu to carry my children for school admission exams which we concluded on 29th/30th September, 2014. I travelled to Ondo State and got back on the 9th of October, 2014 to Asaba. I was always speaking with my dad on phone and he was always asking me to bring his grandchildren back to Umutu to school and live with him (he really loved his grandchildren so much) and on that fateful Monday, 13th of October, 2014, I called my dad in the morning at about 8:40am but he did not take the calls. So, I just thought to surprise him by visiting him with his grandchildren, so I prepared by 11am and with my daughters I went to the Ogbenogo market to buy his favorite dry fish and provisions. I was so worried in my heart but I did not know why. I was still in the market when my younger sister Marian Opia called me and was crying and screaming that “Daddy has been killed by armed robbers!!!” I couldn’t hold myself. I fainted in the market and was rushed to the hospital. I woke up at about 8pm and I did not know where I was. I saw my aunty and my children crying and there I broke down again in tears and it dawned on me the reality that my dad was no more. It pained me so much. The next morning I and some friends and my cousin got to Umutu and went straight to my dad’s house and saw so many people there crying and wailing. All my relatives and his brothers were so sad. I broke down again. When I saw my younger sister Marian and my younger brother Kelvin, we felt lost in a wicked world. At that time, my elder brother was out of the country and my elder sister was far away in Calabar on her way to Delta and in my heart. I kept asking “why is this world so wicked”.

Reflecting back at when I was growing up, we traveled a lot especially with my mum across the world. My mum always traveled out. My mum and dad loved each other so much, although they got separated in1996 but got back after 8years again. My mum was always taking us on vacation within and outside the country, and in 2005 she left to London where she stayed till 2007. She had a surgery in London and some few months after her return to Nigeria she died of heart failure. My mum’s death left me so devasted and at her death I was about 7 months pregnant for my 2nd child during my mum’s burial in Umutu. I was very weak. I felt the pain so much in my heart when my sweet mum, Late Princess Mrs. Theresa Opia (Nee Osuhor) from Umunede past on in 2007. My Dad stood in the gap as a mother, husband and a father to me and my children, it was so comforting as my dad will always bring garri and foodstuffs to I and my kids in Benin City after my mum’s death. And in 2014, unknown gunmen snatched him away from me and my heart has been so bitter since then as I always feel so lost and helpless each time I need help. My dad always prayed for me and believed in my dreams and aspirations and he was always encouraging me and he spoke highly of me to everyone. He was always so proud of me as his daughter.

My father, Late Chief Captain Isaac Opia served in the Nigerian Army for 34years before he retired in 1993 and he was later employed into Shell Development Company as a Police man where he also served for 13 years with Shell Police in Port Harcourt and left as a Chief Supol of Police. My father operated a private Security Guard Company, called Okevi Security Company. My late dad was a very hardworking and focused person that believed in human capacity development and innovations. I really miss my dad and always pray for his soul every day. Every 13th of October is always sad for me as it brings back the painful memories of his death.

RIP DAD!!!