55 Bishops, over 200 priests at Obiano’s mother’s burial

By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—NO fewer than 55 Bishops from  Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches, as well as over 200 priests, yesterday, participated in the Eucharistic burial ceremony of the late Mrs. Christiana Obiano, the mother of Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano.

Apart from the Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, who presided the ceremony, there were also the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Jude Okolo, and Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev Nicholas Okoh.

Altogether, 26 Catholic Bishops and 19 Anglican Bishops as well as heads of other Christian denominations attended the ceremony.

The ceremony, which took place at Father Joseph Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, also attracted the presence of notable Nigerians, including Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), who represented Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Inspector-General of Police, who was represented by DIG Val Ntomchukwu; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu;Chief of Army Staff, represented by Major-General Ogunadare; Deputy Governor of Imo State, Chief Eze Madumere and Controller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali.

Other dignitaries present were former Governor Peter Obi; former Governor Virgy Etiaba; Senator Ben Bruce; Senator Andy Uba, representing Anambra South; Ohanaeze President, Chief Nnia Nwodo; Professor Charles Soludo; former Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife; National Secretary of PDP caretaker committee, Senator Ndii Obi; National Chairman of APGA, Dr. Victor Oye; National Chairman of UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie; former National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh and wives of Abia, Enugu and Imo states governors.

There were also Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi; wife of first republic president, Professor Uche Azikiwe, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, as well as governorship aspirants for Anambra election, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, Oseloka Obaze and Dr. Alex Obiogbolu.

Dambazau, who spoke on behalf of the acting president, said the passage of Mrs. Obiano reminded everyone that death was a necessary end.

He observed that the eulogies and testimonies for the governor’s mother, who died at the age of 90 years, showed that she was a woman of uncommon courage and hoped that even in death, her family would continue to uphold her virtues.

“We give glory to God for a life well spent and are thankful that she lived a good life dedicated to God and to her community. Her great legacy, of course, is Your Excellency and we thank God that she lived to see you serve your people. Without doubt, she will be greatly missed,” the acting president said in a letter addressed to Governor Obiano.

Delivering a homily, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Reverend Hilary Okeke, believed that Mrs. Obiano would live forever because she believed in Jesus Christ.

The cleric said: “Remember that we must all die one day. Death is for everybody— the rich, the poor, the young and only God knows where and when. God had called Mrs. Christiana Obiano at the age of 90 years and tomorrow may be the turn of any of us.

Bishop Okeke told the congregation that death was not the end of everything, but what he called ‘change of address’, adding that that address is heaven.

Addressing the people, Governor Obiano expressed joy at the excellent ecumenism that played out at the burial ceremony whereby the clergy from all the Christian denominations participated and assured that he would continue to treat all denominations in the state equally.

Others who sent condolence messages included the wife of the president, Mrs. Aisha Buhari.

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