* He would have been a father of Anambra Governor – group
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From TOBY CHUKS, Onitsha
It was a moment of grief and eulogies at Ezinifite in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State last weekend as family, Church, friends, colleagues, associates, neighbours and well wishers thronged the late Engr Emmanuel Obiora Agbasimelo’s burial in his compound, to bid him farewell.
Engr Agbasimelo, who died at 80, was the father of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, Mr Obiora Agbasimelo who was kidnapped during the election campaign and yet to be released.
The burial took off with a Church service in his compound attended by a cream of priests of the Anglican Communion, other personalities and groups including a crowd of members of Oga Ndi Oga Foundation led by the Founder/CEO of the Foundation High Chief Godwin Agbasimelo.
Among the personalities that poured in eulogies include the former Managing Director Nigeria Inland Water Ways (NIWA) Chief Dr George Moghalu, the traditional ruler of Ezinifite HRH Igwe S.A.C Obika, the Chairman Ezinifite Town Union Lagos Branch, Mr Ifeanyi Patrick and the Provost Odumegwu Ojukwu College of Health Sciences & Technology, Dr Bath I.D Okafor.
Others are the President Awor Ezinuno Progressive Union (APU) Lagos Branch, Mr Steve Ezenwenyi, Abimolite Sisters Association Chief Mrs Elsie Chileme Achukwu, MD/CEO Benjamin Franklyn Construction Co. Ltd Chief Sir Benjamin Okorie, the General Manager Marudeni Engeering Co.Ltd Engr Amos Christian MNSE, Branch Head of Zenith Bank Openi Branch Mr Ngozidi Jo-Mokwe and Hon Okereke Ujunwa Kelechi, among others.
In his homily, Rev Cannon Arinze Umeakunna Esq described the late Engr Agbasimelo as a devout Anglican who served God well until his death.
Rev Canon Umeakunna lamented that people these days have lost the love of God and settled to worship human beings instead of worshiping God, noting that human worship which manifests in pure practice of paganism, has eaten deep in the fabric of the society and therefore should be put in check to prevent it from destroying the society entirely.
“These days, people are now turning to pagans by worshiping human beings instead of worshiping God Almighty. There are different forms of paganism and the latest dimension is human worship. I call it human worship because people now place those in positions of authority and those in possession of riches above God. People indulge in all kinds of evil practice so that they can make money and get into position of authority to get worshipped by others,” he agonized
The Anglican cleric called on Christians to retrace their steps and focus on worshiping God according to the scripture, because that is the path of life that pleases God and attracts His blessings, including healing, prosperity and longevity.
Rev. Canon Umeakunna noted that the late Agbasimelo was a typical example of God’s way of blessing those who worship Him, calling on Christians in general and the family of the late Engr to emulate their father in sticking to the worship of God.
In his tribute on behalf of the Oga Ndi Oga Foundation, Mr Paul Nnakife lamented that the late Engr. Agbasimelo would have been a father of the Executive Governor of Anambra if his son who was the governorship candidate of Labour Party was not kidnapped ahead of the 2021 governorship election, insisting that Obiora Agbasimelo would have won the election because he had already out-campaigned other candidates ahead of the election, courtesy of Oga Ndi Oga Foundation
“We should have been addressing the late Engr Agbasimelo as the late father of the Governor of Anambra State because Obiora his son would have won the 2021 election clean and clear because we had taken over the political space with a mass movement campaign of Oga Ndi Oga Foundation.
“Our concern now is to see justice prevail in the kidnapping of Obiora. Let those who did the devilish job be brought to book. That is our prayer and may the gentle soul of his late father rest in perfect peace,” Nnakife said.
Caption: One of the daughters doing the fare-well dance with the late Agbasimelo’s framed photograph. internment
