- Says: God’s general has taken a bow
Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom, His Eminence Dr. Eberechukwu Oji, has expressed sadness over the passing of a renowned preacher of the Gospel, Reverend Uma Ukpai, who joined the Angels on October 6, 2025.
Eze Eberechukwu Oji, in a statement he personally signed, and titled; “God’s general takes a bow”, highlighted the sterling virtues of Rev Uma Ukpai, offering supplication to Almighty God to peacefully rest the soul of His faithful servant.
Below is the full text of the statement:
It is with a deep sense of loss that I on behalf of my family and the good people of Arochukwu kingdom, commiserate with your entire family and the Pentecostal family on the departure to eternal glory of one of the greatest evangelist and father of faith of our generation, Late Rev Uma Ukpai.
The news of his death came to me as a rude shock. All mortals will answer the call one day but we wished he lived longer with us. His wise counsels, teachings, evangelism, prayers and advice are still needed but who are we mere mortals to question God Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth.
He was one the last men standing of great soldiers of God of our time. Despite several challenges and set-backs he experienced in life including losing his children to an accident, he kept the faith alive, matching on and winning souls for Christ.
I recall his visit to Arochukwu during my coronation as the Eze Aro and several other ministry visits to Aro Kingdom. His visits were impactful and will be remembered by many for the life transformation effect it had on our people.
Rev Uma Ukpai will be remembered for many positive things. He was a founder of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria; he touched many lives through his numerous evangelical movements, won many souls for Christ and preached the gospel with vigour and commitment. He will be solely missed.
A man of faith and courage, he ran a good race and I am consoled by the fact that he is resting in the bossom of the Lord till we meet with him again on the resurrection morning. Our generation has lost a great general of God. I pray we would have someone again like him in our lifetime.
May his soul rest in peace, Amen
