52 bishops bury Obiano’s mother, as Osinbajo, Jonathan, others bid farewell

About 52 bishops led by the Achbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev Valerian Okeke, and 144 priests on Thursday officiated the funeral service of the mother of the Anambra State governor, late Mrs Christiana Obiano at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Aguleri. Among the bishops included 26 from the Catholic extraction, 16 from the Anglican Church, including […]

About 52 bishops led by the Achbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev Valerian Okeke, and 144 priests on Thursday officiated the funeral service of the mother of the Anambra State governor, late Mrs Christiana Obiano at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Aguleri.

Among the bishops included 26 from the Catholic extraction, 16 from the Anglican Church, including the Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, while the rest were of other churches across the country.

The Catholic Bishop of Nnewi diocese, Most Rev. Hilary Okeke, who delivered the homily, urged the governor to be consoled by the fact that his mother lived a long life worthy of emulation

Okeke lamented the rate of corruption among the citizenry, urging Christians to be shining examples wherever they would  find themselves.

He said, "God’s reserved area is death. Remember you will die someday. Only God decides when it will be for everyone, and judgment will follow.

 “If anyone believes in God, he will live forever,” adding that he was sure that the Late Mrs Obiano would live forever because she believed in God”.

Speaking, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo said the death of the governor’s mother should teach everybody that death was an inevitable end.

Osinbajo who was represented by the minister of Interior, Abdulrahmam Dambazau, described the late Mrs Obiano as a fulfilled mother, just as he challenged the children to emulate the footsteps of their mother which he said everybody had testified was excellent.

In his speech, the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano described his late mother as a generous woman who assisted most people in her community.

"I am grateful to her for making me what I am today. I will miss her for her wise counsel, prayers and her great sense of humour."

He was prepared to entertain a million guests in his mother’s funeral in memory of the goodness of the mother.

The funeral witnessed politicians from all walks of life saw in attendance, including the immediate past governor of the state, Peter Obi, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Andy Uba, former Governor of Central Bank Nigeria, Prof Chukwuma Soludo,  Prof Uche Azikiwe (wife of a former president of Nigeria), a former Nigerian Ambassadore to Spain, Bianca Onoh-Ojukwu, and a host of other dignitaries.

Mrs Obiano died on June 2 at the age of 90 .