AJUCON Mourns Ebisike’s Father in Aba
The chairman, Association of Judges of Customary Court of Nigeria (AJUCON), Abia State Branch, His Worship, Dr. Diamond Olewengwa led the executive and entire members of the association including other Magistrates to identify with one of their own, His Worship, Chibuike Ebisike on the burial of his father, Chief Sir Innocent Ogbonna Ebisike (KSM) who died at the age of 79 years.
The funeral mass held at SS Vincent and Valentine Catholic Church, Nkoro by Okigwe Road, Aba. It was officiated by His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Prof. Augustine Ndubueze Echema, the Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese.
Bishop Echema paid glowing tribute to the life and times of Chief Sir Innocent Ogbonna Ebisike (KSM). He described the deceased as a special gift to mankind, a man of extraordinary faith and a peerless role model who lived for God and man.
He commended his good deeds in the Catholic Church, his community and the society and urged his children to sustain his legacies and continue to live in peace.
He prayed for the repose of his soul in the bosom of God and admonished them and all those present to live a life that pleases God adding that everyone would give account one day.
After the funeral mass, his remains were laid to rest in a blaze of glory at his Osusu-Aba country home.
Immediately after interment, the whole place turned into a carnival of sorts as notable personalities and different groups from far and near paid condolences to his bereaved family amid entertainment.
On his part, His Worship Chibuike Ebisike entertained his guests, friends, colleagues and members of Association of Judges of Customary Court of Nigeria (AJUCON), Abia State Branch at Motel Mentabel, Brass junction, Aba.
Some of those present were His Worships, Onyeamama Akpulonu, Obioma Nwachukwu, Ebere Orji, Sunday Isikwu, Nnamdi Amalaha, Doris Nwogu, Jane Ifeoma Nwokocha, Barr. Chukwuma Aliga, Chief Chinenye Irondi, Hon. Chief Emeka Iheduru, His Honour, Chief Gabriel Nwaobilor, Comrade Victor Nwosu, Comrade Charles Ohiagu among others.
In a chat with newsmen, His Worship, Dr. Diamond Olewengwa bared his mind on the death and burial of the father of his colleague and friend, His Worship, Chibuike Ebisike and prayed God to grant him and the entire family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Excerpts.
Sir, let us meet you.
I am His Worship, Dr. Diamond Olewengwa. I am the Chairman, Association of Judges of Customary Court of Nigeria (AJUCON), Abia State Branch.
Can you tell us why you are here?
Yes. One of our members, His Worship, Chibuike Ebisike is burying his father today. It is part of our constitution that an injury to one is an injury to all.
What does it mean?
It means that when any of our members is celebrating, we celebrate with him and if he is mourning, we mourn with him. So that is exactly what we are doing today. His father is gone. We were in the church to bid him farewell and we are here at the reception to also identify with him as a member of AJUCON.
What is your advice to him?
I buried my father, HRM Eze Dr. Philip Nwachinemere Olewengwa – the longest enthroned monarch in the Southeast on Friday, March 22, 2013. It shows that I have passed through the crucible of what His Worship, Chibuike Ebisike is doing today. So my advice to give him on the demise of his father is that it is not the end of life. He should bear it with equanimity because there is a day to be born and a day to return to the Almighty God. His father has gone home. What is important is his ability to sustain the good legacies of his father and unite the entire family. He is a Chief Magistrate. His other siblings may not have attained that height. He may not be the eldest among them. But his knowledge and position have placed him on a higher pedestal. So he should see himself as a rally point in the entire family, embrace his siblings, bring them closer and make them understand the importance of unity in their family.
