By Toby Chuks
It was a moment of grief and eulogy at Ezinifite in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State as family, friends, colleagues, associates, neighbours and well wishers thronged in their numbers to bid late Engr Emmanuel Agbasimelo farewell.
Engr Agbasimelo who died at a ripped age of 80 years was the father of the governorship candidate of Labour Party in 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, Mr Obiora Agbasimelo who was kidnapped during the election campaign and yet to be released.
The burial event which was held last weekend took off with Church service in his compound amid a cream of priests of the Anglican Communion, other personalities and groups including a multitude 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 eulogy include the former Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Water Ways (NIWA), Chief Dr George Moghalu; the traditional ruler of Ezinifite, Igwe S.A.C Obika; the Chairman Ezinifite Town Union, Lagos Branch, Mr Ifeanyi Patrick and the Provost Odumegwu Ojukwu College of Health Sciences and 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 enough until his death. Rev Cannon Umeakunna observed that people these days had lost the love of God and settled to worship human beings instead of worshiping God.
He lamented that the negative effect of human worship which he noted manifested in pure paganism practice had eaten deep into the fabrics of society and should be put in check to prevent it from destroying 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 position 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 be worshiped by others, “he added.
The Anglican cleric called on Christians to retrace their steps and focus on worshiping God according to the scripture, describing that as the path of life that pleased God which he said could attract His blessings. He said that such blessings included healing, blessings of prosperity and blessings of longevity.
He noted that the late Agbasimelo was a typical example of God’s way of blessing those that worshiped 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 Oga Ndi Oga Foundation, Mr Paul Nnakife lamented that Late Engr Agbasimelo would have been a father of Executive Governor of Anambra State, if his son who was the governorship candidate of Labour Party was not kidnapped ahead of the 2021 governorship election as, according to him, Obiora Agbasimelo would have won the election since, in his opinion, he had already gone ahead of others in his campaign courtesy of Oga Ndi Oga Foundation.
“We should have been addressing late Engr Agbasimelo as the father of His Excellency, the Governor of Anambra State because Obiora his son would have won the 2021 election landslide because we had taken over the political space with mass movement campaign of Oga Ndi Oga Foundation. Our concern now is to see justice prevail on the case of 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, “he submitted.
