By Iheanyi Enwerem
The Governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Nigeria Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio,Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi ,(Imo East), have commiserated with the senator representing Imo North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Patrick Ndubueze and the people of Umuebi, Amuzu in Aboh Mbaise local government area of the state, as they laid to rest, their patriarch, Mazi Innocent Nnawuihe Bekee, who departed at the age of 78.
Late Mr. Innocent Nnawuihe,( Bekee)was the father-in-law of Senator Patrick Ndubueze. He worked at the finance department of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, where he retired meritoriously.
Speaking at the funeral mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Umuebi Amuzu, Governor Uzodimma regretted the demise of Mr. Innocent, whom he said lived a worthy life.
The Governor was represented at the funeral event by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Dr. Chinyere Ekomaru,who came in company of the husband Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru,SAN.
Deputy Governor said, “Mazi Innocent was a good man, loved and trusted by all who came across him during his lifetime.He lived a disciplined life and will, though, be sorely missed but be remembered by his good deeds”. She opined
She called for the repose of the soul of Late Mr. Nnawuihe, while admonishing all to leave behind a legacy of good life to be remembered.
In his homily anchored on “trust and love”, at the funeral mass conducted by the Bishop of Okigwe Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Solomon Amatu, represented by Rev. Msgr. John Iweh, the Dean of Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Anyanwu preached on the importance of a trustworthy life, saying that a trustworthy life will not only cause people to love you but will attract you fortunes.
He further explained that nobody likes to associate with one lacking in trust. “People love you when you can be trusted, people associate with you when your yes is yes and no is no”, Rev. Fr. Anyanwu asserted.
Earlier in his speech the Senator representing Imo East, Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi,called on the families to continue to promote the values their late patriarch left behind, as he made a donation to the building of the church as a way of immortalizing him.
Senator Patrick Ndubueze profusely thanked the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma and the Imo State Government for their solidified support at their mourning period.
Nigeria Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, ably represented by the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial zone at the National Assembly, Sen. Victor Umeh, said that Late Mazi Innocent was a good man who had an exemplary son-in-law in Sen. Patrick Ndubueze, as he prayed for the soul of Mazi to rest in peace.
The funeral mass attracted people from all walks of life including the Secretary of Imo State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu,High Chief Tony Chukwu,who made a donation for the completion of the church building, Chief Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (represented), the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubarka, (represented), the Chairman Okigwe Global Elders Forum,HRM Eze (Dr). Oliver Ohanwe, the Vice Chancellor, Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Prof. Christopher Eze, host of clergymen and so many others.