Biography
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CHIEF KALU IKE KALU
(December 13, 1953 – November 6, 2025)
BIRTH:
Chief Kalu Ike Kalu, was born on December 13, 1953 to the family of Late Pa Ike Kalu Oka of Ndi Obu Compound of Ezichi Ikpo Mbila Paternal Kindred, Asaga Ohafia and Late Nne Oma Ike Kalu (Nee Miss Oma Uma Agwu of Ndia Nsi Compound, Asaga Ohafia) of Umu Uyom Maternal Kindred. Chief Kalu Ike was the first child in a family of five (5), comprising Pastor Okah Ikeh, Ogbogo Ike, Agwu Ike and Enyi Kalu.
EARLY LIFE:
Late Chief Kalu Ike Kalu, from childhood, was a special child, endowed with energetic structure, leadership quality and entrepreneurial prowess which earlier manifested amongst his young siblings when both of their parents untimely passed on to eternity during the Nigeria / Biafra Civil War in 1967, leaving the five orphaned children at the mercy of benevolence and fate. When he was just about thirteen (13) years old, lad Kalu Ike, from that juvenile age, started the uphill task of catering and directing the affairs of his younger tender siblings.
Being unjustly orphaned at this teething vulnerable age, this tender lad, Kalu Ike Kalu, was left with no option but to start mothering and fathering his four suckling siblings, whose only survival depended on him and the weakly supportive hands of his aged grandmother, Mma Nwaulari Uduma Okpa of blessed memory from Ndia Uduma Uma Compound, Asaga Ohafia.
When the proverbial slogan, “Survival Of The Fittest”, was a household jingling tantrum in every Igbo household, because of the toll of hardship that the savaging civil war brought to the defunct Biafria nation, the teething tender Kalu Ike Kalu compellingly laid his hands on the plow for the survival of his vulnerable orphaned siblings. At that tender age, he and his late sister, Ogbogo Ike, of blessed memory, did all unimaginable odd jobs in order to make ends meet for the entire starving family of five orphans.
Unfortunately, despite all the umpteenth efforts of pushing through the harsh and inclement environments that little Kalu Ike and his orphaned teenage siblings found themselves, the cold hands of wicked death cut short the lives of Enyi Kalu, Ogbogo Ike and Agwu Ike of blessed memories. Yet, this merciless enemy of mankind is not tired; it has succeeded in taking away my brother untimely. Death, shame on you! You can’t kill all of us because Asaga says, “Anagghi Egbugba Mba Ogo wo” (None can wipe out all the people in a community).
ACADEMIC CARRIER:
After the harrowing 3-year civil war, the undeterred Kalu Ike Kalu jettisoned the continuation of his academic carrier which he started earlier in Enugu, and left for greener pastures in Lagos, in order to lift up the lives of his dejectedly depressed, handicapped and parentless siblings. Like a wounded lion, who never takes “No” for an answer, Ekpo Kamalu Igirigiri, as he was fondly called, sacrificed his academic pursuit and juvenile pleasures akin to vibrant young boys of his age, in order to pursue the course of ensuring that his vulnerable siblings acquired basic educations and quality upbringings. Lad Kalu Ike took this stance as a vengeful payback to this wickedly inclement world, which horrendously left the entire Late Pa Ike Kalu family with nothing but indignation, suffering, pains and parental absence.
ENTREPRENEURIAL LIFE:
When his Uncle, Late Major Agwu Uma (retired) of Ndia Nsi Compound came to Asaga Ohafia around 1973, and saw the high level of poverty savaging the teenage Kalu Ike Kalu and his teething siblings, he decided to take him along with him to Lagos. He enlisted him in a Driving School in Lagos in 1973. After graduation Kalu Ike Kalu committed his lifetime to Transportation and Logistics business in Lagos. Chief Kalu Ikeh also ventured into dealing on Vehicle Spare Parts and Accessories, including Petroleum Products.
CHRISTIAN LIFE:
Chief Kalu Ike Kalu joined the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Yaba parish when he joined his Uncle, Major Agwu Uma (Retired) in Lagos. When he relocated to Asaga Ohafia, he became a founding member of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (Asaga Urban Parish) located at Otodo layout, Asaga Ohafia, and continued being an active and committed member till his demise.
Due to his indefatigable commitment in the House of God, he won the prestigious “Father of the Year” Award by Women Guild of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (Emmanuel Parish).
SOCIAL LIFE:
1. Late Chief Kalu Ike Kalu magnanimously opened his doors in Lagos to all distant and close relations, friends and in-laws, whose house served as their launching pads to higher heights in their live endeavours. Permit me to categorically state that, hardly had any of his first cousins, from his grandmother not lived and eaten in his apartments in Lagos.
2. When a call knocked at his door in 2023, to selflessly serve the entire Asaga Ohafia Autonomous Community, Chief Kalu Ike Kalu did not hesitate to take up the audacious responsibility, despite many mounting disapprovals from his immediate family, friends and acquaintances. As testified by Ezhie Oba Uka Onugu when we visited him, he stated that Chief Kalu Ike was very vocal, vehement and unequivocal in condemning injustices, bribery and corruption which bed evil governance integrity in our society today. During his tenure as the "IBEM-ISHI UMU ACHOMUKWU" in Asaga Ohafia Chiefs -in-Council there was absolute peace, success, progress and economic stability in Asaga Ohafia Autonomous Community.
3. Be that as it may, Chief Kalu Ike was elected into the Governing Council of Umu Ezichi Ikpo Mbila Paternal Kindred, and served in the capacity of Ezhie Agba till his call to glory.
4. This “Orieji-Okpa-Ikwu” (a socialite per fault), Chief Kalu Ike, throughout his entire life, fought for the unity, consolidation and wellbeing of children of Nne Atang Maternal Family Worldwide (an extraction of Umu Okochi-Uyom Maternal Family). Until his demise, Chief Kalu Ikeh Kalu held the position of Ezhie Agba III of Umu Nne Atang Maternal Family.
5. Chief Kalu Ike was a strong and active member of Egwuana Age Grade which got involved in various Community Development efforts in Asaga Ohafia. He participated in building and commissioning of the gigantic Asaga Ohafia guest house during their Izu Uche / Traditional Promotion Ceremony to Senior Citizens. Chief Kalu Ike Kalu was the Welfare Coordinator of the Committee of Friends Club of the Egwuana Age Grade.
6. Chief Kalu Ike Kalu rose to the rank of Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ohafia Branch because of his unquantifiable experience and unalloyed commitment in Transportation and Logistics Services in Ohafia.
MARITAL LIFE:
Chief Kalu Ike Kalu discovered his lost rib in the person of former Miss Ogbonne Okpete Kalu Onuka of Ndia Awa Uma Ukwu, Asaga Ohafia. They got married on December 12, 1988; and this happy amorous union produced a handsome son Ike Kalu Ike (a.k.a. IK Power). After their wedding, the young Kalu Ikeh Kalu had to relocate from Lagos to Asaga Ohafia in order to be with his lovebird, whose primary place of assignment, as a professional teacher, glued her within Abia State environs. After almost thirty years of their happily married life, Mrs Ogbonne Okpete Kalu Ike abruptly relocated to her mansion in heaven, leaving behind her a devastated, heart-broken heart-throb. It took almost ten (10) years of mourning his departed wife, before Chief Kalu Ike searched and found peace with Mrs Eunice Kalu Ike (Nee Miss Eunice Onu), who stood and supported him till he unwittingly joined the Lord Jesus Christ and the heavenly hosts on November 6, 2025.
HIS LAST DAYS ON EARTH:
Chief Kalu Ike Kalu had had a fatal accident over twenty (20) years ago which inadvertently affected and clamped down on his health system; and this ugly tragedy kept on interfering and excoriating his wellness intermittently. He was subsequently placed on regular medication to boost his immune system and assuage associated pains that come with fractured aging bones.
On November 5, 2025, Chief Kalu Ike Kalu was healthy and hearty. He participated fully in the business of the day with his fellow Ibem-Ishi and the Ezhie Ogo Asaga, Ezhie Oba Onugu without any inkling of sickness. At around 8.00 p.m. in the night of same day, Chief Kalu Ike had a tĂŞte-Ă -tĂŞte with his first son, Ike Kalu Ike, without complaining to him of any ill health.
Early in the morning, on November 6, 2025, Chief Kalu Ike Kalu and his wife (Mrs Eunice Kalu Ike) had their Morning Devotion as usual; and as they were happily robbing their minds on some certain issues of the day, he started feeling some pains in the heart and uneasiness in breathing. His wife and neighbours around administered some assistance and rushed him to the nearby King of Kings Hospital. Unfortunately, despite all the efforts in the hospital, Chief Kalu Ike Kalu left this uncanny world filled with uncertainties, sinfulness and wickedness.
This tragicomedy history of Late Chief Kalu Ikeh Kalu encapsulates bittersweet complexity of life, which points to all of us that heaven is the best habitat for every creature. I, therefore, use this opportunity to make this clarion call: “You may be the next person to be called to eternity unannounced. Where will you spend Eternity? Heaven or Hell?”
Long Live King Kalu Ike in Eternity
You are immortalized in our hearts and in your Offspring
Your legacy remains enshrined in the annals of history in Asaga
Goodnight, Sir.
PASTOR OKAH IKEH (for the Family)