Awka North TC chairman, Anago, buries mother

●Deputy Governor, Speaker, APGA chieftains, others sympathize with bereaved family

By Obinna Odogwu

People from all walks of life gathered at Irunnebo, Amaezike village in Mgbakwu community, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State last Friday for the funeral ceremony of Ezinne Florence Uduafor Anago (Nee Nmor Tailor).

Ezinne Anago was the mother of Hon. ThankGod Anago, the Transition Committee Chairman of the LGA.

From far and near, very important personalities stormed the community to pay their last respect to the matriarch and also sympathize with the bereaved family.

Some of the personalities at the funeral ceremony were the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Onyeka Ibezim; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze; his deputy, Chukwuma Okoye; Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chief Chikodi Anara, and some members of the state Assembly including Hon. Chimezie Ikwunne (Awka North Constituency) and Hon. Henry Mbachu (Awka South 1).

Others were the Chairman of APGA in the state, Sir Ifeatu Obi-Okoye; Ag. Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Prof. Kate Omenugha; former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Ilochi Okafor SAN and his wife; and the House of Representatives candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for Awka North and South Federal Constituency in last year’s elections, Chief Kingsley Uyammadu (Otosi Achalla).

Also in attendance were the APGA Chairman in the LGA, Hon. James Onwuka, and the Secretary, Ozo Amaechi Obiesili (Chiefoo); former House of Assembly member for Awka North Constituency, Chief John Nwokoye (More Money).

Others were the MD/CEO of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Mr Osita Onuko; Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr Alex Obiogbolu; former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Ken Emeakayi; traditional rulers, presidents-general and TC chairmen of various LGAs in the state among others.

Before the deceased was interred at her compound behind Abogu Primary School, a funeral service was held for her at St. Stephen’s Church in the community earlier in the morning.

The service was presided over by the Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Alex Ibezim, who was represented by Ven. Onyinyechukwu Ilione.

In his homily, the Archbishop who spoke on the topic, ‘Uwe mwuda di ocha na igu nkwu’, harped on the need for righteous living by everyone, reminding Christians in particular that the second coming of Christ was at hand.

“Out of many philosophies, controversies, errors and teachings, some people now take it that there is nothing like heaven or hellfire; that once you die nothing else happens.

“Sometimes, you just sit down and have imaginative thoughts on how you came. Who brought me here? How did I come here? In fact, if there is nothing like God, what would have been?” he pondered, warning Christians not to allow anybody to deceive them because “there is God.”

In his speech, ThankGod, who spoke on behalf of the bereaved family, said that he was deeply saddened by the demise of his beloved mother. He described the deceased as a virtuous woman who cared for her family and their community while she was alive.

ThankGod, popularly known as Okenwa, told his sympathizers that the burial was conducted in line with the burial law of the state and that the money saved from it would be used for community services.

“We are following the burial law of Anambra State in the course of this burial and will follow it to the letter. This programme was produced by you (the church). We didn’t print posters or erect billboards. Everybody can see that we are following the law.

“The money we saved from this modest burial, we will use it to renovate at least three primary schools in Awka North”, he declared.

The TC Chairman thanked everyone who came to sympathize with them, saying that the family deeply appreciated that.

Secretary of APGA in the LGA, Ozo Amaechi Obiesili, while sympathizing with the family, prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

“It is God that gives life and it is still Him that takes away. The best thing that can happen to any mother is for her son to bury her. It is better for a son to bury his mother instead of the other way round.

“We would have loved her to stay longer than this but what do we do? God brings and God takes”, he said.

Obiesili, popularly known as Chiefoo, said that the leadership and members of APGA in Awka North came out in their numbers to support the bereaved family because their son, ThankGod, had presented himself as a good and reliable leader.

“We are all here because of his kind of person. Okenwa Abogu is a good man. Ever since he became the TC Chairman, Awka North has become more coordinated.

“We started witnessing good things here when he came on board. And there is a synergy between him and our House of Assembly member, Hon. Chimezie Ikwunne.

“So, Awka North is in safe hands now. That’s why you see everybody here. We’ve been here since yesterday and we are still here now. All the 23-man exco of all the wards are here.

“All the local government working committee members are here. You can see me carrying things up and down. It is because of the kind of person Okenwa is.

“He is a good person and that’s why we are here. And you know the mantra of APGA, ‘Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya’. And it is not just ‘Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya’ but ‘Nke a bu nke anyi kpom kwem.’ Okenwa bu nke anyi kpom kwem.

“We are proud of him. He has good leadership qualities. Good enough, we also have a good House of Assembly member and other people from Awka North that are doing well like the Deputy Chief of Protocol to the Governor, Mr Emmanuel Obieze (Effectv Emma) and a host of others.

“You could see the House of Assembly member moving up and down just to ensure that things are moving well. He came short of carrying crates. So, there is unity in Awka North. What affects one person affects others”, he said.

Chairman of the party in the LGA, Hon. James Onwuka, also sympathized with the TC Chairman and the members of his family, urging them to take heart.

“He should take heart because it is a son that should bury his mother. And we thank God that he looked after his mother very well while she was alive. Everybody saw how he took care of her while she was alive.

“If one can buy life or keep one alive with money, I am sure he could have paid money to keep her alive but God gives life and takes away. So, he should take heart”, he stated.

Onwuka commended Okenwa for conducting the burial in line with the state’s burial law and also pledging to use the money saved from it to renovate some primary schools in the LGA.

“It is good that he’s conducting this burial in line with the Anambra State’s burial law enacted by the state House of Assembly which was also exemplified by the Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, when he buried his father.

“There is no need spending too much money during funeral events. You can use that excess money to help the needy and also use it to work for the good of society. “So, there is wisdom in his decision to use the saved money to work for the good of the people. I believe that people in this LGA will learn from it and practice same should the need arise”, the APGA LG Chairman stated.