Tuesday, 5th January, 2021, came like any other day as friends and family members were revelling in welcoming the new year with complimentary greetings and wishing one another a successful year and looking forward to realisation of great expectations. For the family of a Rivers State top businessman, politician and a former member of House of Representatives, High Chief Jerome Amadi-Eke, his beautiful well-built wife, Ogbeti Joan Jerome Eke, breathed her last on Tuesday, 5th of January, 2021. The sad news sent chilling wind of disbelief across the social scene. The question on celebs lips was whether the news was not a fake news.
They wondered, asking if it was possible for a healthy, good-looking society lady, popularly called Ogbeti and Lolo, Igodo was dead and gone with all the traditional titles she held in her lifetime. Her husband, High Chief Jerome Amadi Eke, is the owner of Garden Marriott Hotels, formerly Royal Paragon Hotels along Rumuepirikom/Iwofe Road in Port Harcourt. Lady Joan Jerome Eke was known for throwing lavish birthday parties with her select female friends only. She was a mother of triplet. A Rivers State former First Lady, Justice Mary Ukaego Odili, graced the naming ceremony of the triplets while Odili was in the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
Highly profile citizens across Nigeria registered their condolences via Social Media to comminserate with the family. Friday Elemuwa in his message said “I condole with my former Political Leader, High Chief Hon. Jerome Eke over the sudden death of his wife (Ogbeti Joan Jerome Eke)…Boss please take heart and May God give you the grace to bear this great loss. And May God grant her soul eternal rest”.
Prince Ogbonna Nwankwo wrote –”What a great loss. May her Soul Rest in Peace. And Justice Egbunefu said: “What a great loss, it is unbelievable and quite unfortunate that you left so soon Mrs. Joan Jerome Eke, the wife of my former boss and the immediate past member of House of Representatives, who represented Etche/Omuma in the Green Chamber—Hon. Jerome Amadi-Eke, my heartfelt condolences to you and family members. I lack words. I pray to God to grant you the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. Adieu Lolo Joan Amadi Eke”.
