By Agbo Amauche, Abakaliki
Gov. Umahi sent his commiseration message to the deceased family during the burial of the late matriarch at her Country home, Olua Enyigba in Abakaliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
Umahi represented at the burial by the State Commissioner for solid mineral Chief Chris Uchaji urged Otta and his family to be consoled in the loving memories of his dear mother whose life and times were remarkable, especially h commitment to the good upbringing of her children, praying God to give him and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The Governor who said the woman died when her children and Ebonyi people needed motherly advice most, prayed for the repose of her soul
The State Deputy Governor Barr. Kelechi Igwe represented by the senior special assistant to the Governor on capital city development Hon. Emmanuel Nwangele and the Governor-elect chief Francis Nwifuru represented by former chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area Dr Mathew Nwobashi while consoling the family, called on them to maintain peace, unity among themselves and shun division. The duo who noted that even though death came when it was not expected, encouraged the family not to give the devil a chance to come into their midst but rather imbibed the spirit of brotherhood in their interest.
The former minister of State for power and steel Chief Goddy Ogbaga enjoined the deceased children to strive to sustain the good virtues and qualities left by their late mother.
In a funeral mass, the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki diocese Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu urged Christians to always exhibit a high level of love and mutual relationship among one another while alive as demonstrated in the scriptures by the lord Jesus Christ to be at the right hand of God when they left this earth.
Bishop Nworie enjoined Otta's family to sustain the bond of unity and love their late mother was known for while on earth and called on the people Enyigba Community who engaged themselves in tradition to desist from it and return to God as he is the only one that has the power of life and death.
The cleric who described death as a thief and a debt every mortal would pay one day no matter the class of the person, enjoined the deceased family not to weep hopelessly but to have a total dependency on God for the better of their lives.
The father-in-law of Engr Otta Chief Romanus Nwasum and the immediate past chairman of Ebonyi LGA Mrs Chinyere Nwogba as well as the APC zonal vice chairman, Ebonyi North Hon. John Nwankata, admonished the family to continue to be united and never allow anything to separate them and urged them to take solace in God-given that their late mother lived a fulfilled life.
In their tribute, the son of the deceased who is also the special assistant to Ebonyi Governor on the ring road project Engr. Felix Anayo Otta and his wife Dr Mary Cynthia Otta described their mother as a phenomenon, virtuous, hardworking, selfless, loving and peaceful mother to behold.
According to the "My mother did so well by assisting the downtrodden, less privileged ones in the community where she grew up"
They noted that the death of their late mother created a bottomless vacuum too hard to fill but "We are consoled over the legacies she left behind and we will continue to do well in those legacies.
The special assistant however extolled Governor Umahi and other well-meaning Ebonyians for sharing with his family in the time of grief and prayed for God to bless them.
Meanwhile, the burial ceremony attracted members of the State executive council members, local Government chairmen, business moguls and other distinguished personalities both within and outside the State.
NATIONAL PANEL correspondent reports that the late Mary Nwophoke Otta died at the age of 88.
