By Chisom Okpala :
The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the entire Ibezim family, friends and well wishers have paid their last respect to their late father, brother, uncle and friend, Sir Nnamdi Clifford Ibezim who died at the age of 65.
Sir Nnamdi Ibezim was a brother to the Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim and the Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim PhD.
In a sermon during the funeral service at St Lawrence Church Parish, Mbaukwu, Awka South Local Government Area, the Bishop on the Lake, Rt. Rev. Chijioke Oti, reminded Christians that they are mortals and shall one day depart from the earth to a place of eternity.
He noted that there is time for everything on earth, a time to be born and a time to die, charging them to use their lives to make positive impact while on earth.
Rev. Oti, then, encouraged the family of the deceased to hold God firmly and to trust him at all times as he will not leave nor forsake them.
Speaking at the funeral service, the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, commiserated with the Ibezim family for their loss.
The governor commended the family for adhering to the state burial law, stressing that it is essential to give people a befitting living rather than celebrating and giving them a befitting burial.
On the recent development of Local Government autonomy, Gov. Soludo still maintained his stand in conducting a local government election in the state, as this was part of his inaugural speech and clearly captured in his campaign manifesto.
The Archbishop and Deputy Governor Ibezim thanked those that came to commiserate with them, saying that their consolation was that their late brother lived a good life and that his legacy would be uphold.
In attendance were members of the State Executive Council including the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Ugochukwu Obiefuna, Bishops from Anglican and Catholic churches, former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, and Traditional Rulers.
*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State