The week-long burial programme for the burial of the first civilian governor of Anambra State, the late Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Okwadike Igbo Ukwu, began at the weekend with an interdenominational service of songs.
The service of songs held at the National Ecumenical (Christian) Centre Abuja on Friday night was conducted by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other choir groups amid bible readings and prayers.
According to the burial programme of Okwadike who died on December 14, the Anambra State government will conduct his state burial in Awka, Friday and he will be interred and given an Igbo burial in his hometown of Igbo Ukwu, Saturday while a thanksgiving service will be held in the same place on Sunday.
Speaking at the service, CAN president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh described the deceased as a freedom fighter, a traditionalist and principled man, saying; “he was a member of the Salvation Army Church and died as a member of this church which shows that he was a highly principled man.
“Ordinarily some Christians have jumped from one church to the other before they passed on they belong to so many denominations. On behalf of the Christian community in Nigeria which CAN represents, we condole with the family and pray for them.”
On his part, Archbishop Emeritus, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan while extolling the virtues of the deceased said death is end of life on earth and its inevitable reality.
Onaiyekan said: “Like Saint Paul in the Bible, we should be able to say at the end, I have run the race, I’ve kept the faith, all that is left for me is the crown of glory which the Lord the just judge will give me.”
The service was attended by clerics and members of the Salvation Army, a religious organisation where the late elder statesman worshiped before his demise; former Senate President Pius Ayim, former chairman of the Police Service Commission, Simon Okeke, former PDP zonal secretary, Ozichukwu Nze, a former governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, among others.