FRIENDS, relations and indigenes of Edumoga have since Monday continued to express shock and sadness over the sudden death of Arc. Lawrence Adah Ogbu, who died in the early hours of Monday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The Russia-trained architect, popularly known and addressed as Arc. Larry, died following a brief illness, a source close to the family told National Record.
According to the source, the deceased had on Sunday morning gone to a hospital where he was diagnosed with malaria, after which drugs were prescribed for him and discharged.
The treatment, National Record gathered, seemed to have been effective until late in the night, around 2am, Monday morning, when Arc. Larry’s condition relapsed with intense fever, a situation which compelled him to return to the hospital straightaway.
Larry, however died on the way to the hospital.
Breaking the tragic news of Larry’s death on the WhatsApp platform of the Abuja branch of Ede-ma National Development Association, which Arc. Larry was an active member of, at exactly 4:55am on Monday, a close friend of the deceased, Engr. Simon Ogaje, announced: “Sad news!!!! My friend Larry Ogbu is dead”.
The whole of Monday and the proceeding days, saw a deluge of expressions of shock, lamentations and eulogies from members of Ede-ma.
For Amb. A. F. Okoh, the branch patron of Ede-ma, the news was difficult to accept as true. “Oh what a sad news and sad day. It is difficult to believe. If it is true then we have lost a true Edumoga son and talent. I will pause for details. Patron,” Amb Okoh reacted at 5:21am.
“My goodness. Just can’t believe it. So sad,” Clement Onuh stated, while Stephen Adah reacted: “Kai, what happened, this is not good at all.”
Other such reactions include: “What! What happened?” – Barr Otanwa; “Jesus Jesus what a news this is sad God help us 😭😭😭😭😭” – Becky; “So sad. Am at the residence now” – Noah McDickson; “What a sad news indeed. Really really difficult to believe. What a great loss. R I P great Larry.” – Adama Edeba; “Kai! He’s dead not hospitalized? The year has started badly for Edumoga.” Okpe Alhaji Philip; “What a sad news. It is unbelievable.” – Hyacinth; “Nooooo….not uncle. Larry please. I lost my dad on Saturday and am seeing this again today. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. I am too shocked for now.” Victoria Olekwu.
Among many other reactions include: “Oh no…oh my goodness. What a great loss. My deepest condolences to his immediate family, to Edema and to Edumoga in general.” – Prof Paul Onuh; “So so sad” – Oche Joseph; “O my God, so shocking and sad 😔. Who are we to query you O Lord, You giveth You taketh. Eternal Rest Grant him O Lord and let Perpetual Light Shine on him. RIP.” – AVM Steve Onuh; “Dear Chair, this is a terrible loss to us all. I join in the grief of the family and the entire EDEMA Community.” – Amb Nicholas Agbo Ella; “Oh God, this is quite shocking and unbelievable, that Arc Larry is gone. May The almighty see us through this sad moment 🙏” – Ejembi Sylvester; and “Nawao. What a sad news for the new month. A great lose indeed.” – Prof Emmanuel Ejeikwu.
A visit to his residence at No 2, Arc. Larry Ogbu Close, Abacha Road, off Karu, saw a crowd of mourners who took up every available space within and outside the premises, while all available parking spaces were taken up several meters away from the residence.
According to his curriculum vitae, Arc. Larry hailed from Obotu in Edumoga District of Okpokwu LGA, Benue State.
Born January 3, 1968 in Obotu, Larry had his early education at the LGEA Primary School in Obotu in 1979, while his finished his secondary education at the Federal Government College, Enugu where he sat and obtained with flying colours his WAEC GCE O’Level in 1984.
Larry studied at the Rostov State Institute of Architecture, Rostov-on-Don, in the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) now Russia, where he obtained Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) in 1995.
Arc. Larry had garnered vast experience in the field of architecture, working in several organisations and handled multiple projects since graduation before he founded Modular Concepts Ltd, a consultancy firm based in Abuja.
He had between April to July 2003 served as a member of the Benue Advance Plan Committee set up by the George Akume administration to draw up a development blueprint for the state. Larry served in the Infrastructure Sub-committee.
55-year-old Larry, who is survived by his wife, three children and several relations, will be buried in April.
