…SAYS “IT IS MORE REWARDING TO CELEBRATE PEOPLE WHILE THEY ARE ALIVE“
The Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, celebrates Chika Chukwunonso Okpala, MFR, MON, popularly known as Chief Zebrudaya Okoro Igwe Nwogbo alias 4:30, adding that, it is more rewarding to celebrate people while they are alive than dead.
Governor Otti stated this during the 75th birthday celebration of Chief Zebrudaya by the Abia State Government at the banquet hall of the Abia State Government House, Umuahia.
Chief Chika Okpala is a Nigerian actor, comedian, and veteran in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. He was popularly known as Chief Zebrudaya, a nickname he got from his role in a TV comedy series – New Masquerade, which aired from the early 1980s to 1990s.
At the event on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Governor Otti described Chief Okpala as an icon who made his mark in the early days, pretending to be an old man.
“So, why are we doing this? This is not the first time that we are celebrating our people. This Government celebrates excellence. We celebrate people who have added value to the society.
“It is in our DNA to celebrate our people…we believe it is more rewarding to celebrate people when they are still alive.
Speaking about Chief Zebrudaya, the Governor thanked him for the pioneering role he played immediately after the civil war through the New Masquerade TV series, for bringing Igboland to the limelight, and for comically redefining and inventing his own English language, thereby bringing joy and happiness to homes.
“Thank you for that pioneering role you played immediately after the civil war. Many people in the room may have been too young at that time, but at least, must have heard. Others may not have been born, but may have heard.
“It is what he and his crew bequeathed to the younger generation that gave rise to the big industry today called Nollywood. A lot of people may not remember that what you have as Nollywood today started in Aba – Pound Road,” he added, regretting that we have lost most of those things that started from here.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ctz. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the Governor stated that it is not too late to restore those things, while announcing a plan by his administration to build an entertainment village.
“We have in our programme a plan to build an entertainment village. And, by the entertainment village would be the games village, and by the games village would be the new Abia Stadium city. Some people said is a big dream, but then we must dream. And, if you don’t dream, you are dead. So, today we have a site for the Abia State stadium city. We have a site for the Abia Medical Village. We have a site that we have started construction for the Abia Airport, the runway is currently being built,” Gov. Otti stated, adding that nothing will stop the realization of the dreams.
The Governor reechoed his well-established stance that his administration cares less about where anyone comes from or origin of birth, stressing that, so long as you live and work or have anything to do for the State, you are from the State.
Governor Otti, while declaring that Chief Zebrudaya has been adopted as an Abia man, revealed that the “New Masquerade started from NTA Channel 6 in Aba and was exported to the rest of the world. So, great things happened here.”
Dr. Otti explained that the problem of the world is not money but a lack of ideas, stressing that money follows good ideas.
He thanked everyone who came around to join him in celebrating Chief Zebrudaya Okoro Igwe Nwogbo Alias 4:30.
Governor Otti stated that he came in contact with Davies Ofor, A.K.A Clarius Mgbojikwe (one of the prominent characters in the New Masquerade), through his daughter, Ola Davies Ofor in 1995/96, who wrote a script and came to his office in his previous life as a banker. After looking at the script, he decided to sponsor it and produced a movie called “Abused,” which was rated as the most expensive movie in Nigeria at that time, steering famous Nollywood stars like Kenneth Okonkwo and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, among others.
To the joy and applauds from the gathering crowd, Governor Otti announced that a friend of his and an Abia son who was following the event online and was so excited seeing Clarius and Zebrudaya, said he would be gifting 5 Million Naira to Clarius and 10 Million Naira to Zebrudaya.
The Governor further disclosed that veteran Musician, Chief Paulson Kalu, who would be turning 80 later this year, Dr. Uma Eleazu, and his wife, who would be turning 95 and 85 years old, respectively, later this year, would also be celebrated.
Earlier in his speech, the celebrant, Chief Zebrudaya Okoro Igwe Nwogbo Alias 4:30, expressed his profound gratitude to Governor Otti and the Abia State Government for celebrating him. He disclosed that he reached out to all governments in the Southeast to help him mark his 75th birthday and Governor Otti was the first to respond.
He disclosed that whatever he realized from his birthday celebration would be used to support fellow artists who are now incapacitated and cannot help themselves, adding that, what Governor Otti has done for him will give other artists hope that one day, they would be celebrated as the Abia State Government is celebrating him.
He stressed that artists in Nigeria are hardly celebrated and called on other State Governments and Nigerians to emulate what Governor Otti has done by celebrating those who have made impact on the society while they are still living, adding that, if he dies today, he is fulfilled and thank God that he is being celebrated while alive.
Chief Zebrudaya Okoro Igwe Nwogbo Alias 4:30 disclosed that the New Masquerade was a creation of the late Mr. Iroha, a.k.a Giringori Akabogu, who hailed from Abia State, contrary to believe that he was the creator
The 75th birthday celebration featured goodwill messages from representatives of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN)/Nollywood, who commended Governor Otti for leading the way in celebrating artists and those who have impacted the society, special music interlude, book lunch, book unveiling and book review, screening of an episode of the New Masquerade, cutting of Birthday Cake and other activities marking the event.
The event was attended by people from all walks of life.
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