Who is Ogbuefi Okonkwo from No Longer at Ease and what is their importance?

The oldest elder in Umuofia, Odogwu calls for peace when Isaac Okonkwo and a non-Christian villager quarrel about kola nuts. While not a Christian, Odogwu goes to church once a year and likes the formula, "As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end".