By Eche Nwaobasi- Onitsha.
The parish priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, Abacha, Idemili North LGA, Very Rev. Fr. Jude Uchegbusi has urged Christians to always strive to live a holy and exemplary life in order to impact positively to the society, to demonstrate that they are Christ ambassadors in this earth.
He gave this admonition while delivering a homily during the funeral mass of late Princess Mrs. Assumpta Ugodie Odiegwu, the wife of Prince Sam Odiegwu, the brother of the traditional ruler of Abacha HRM Igwe Godwin Nwabunwanne Odiegwu, Abachacheleku III. Late Assumpta died a few months ago in Atlanta, USA.
The Catholic clergyman while narrating the life of the deceased both as it concered the church activities in Abacha town and the community in general, as well as her life as a decent woman of good virtue, who lived an exemplary life of service to humanity and holiness. She did not only live for the family members where she was married to but for the entire people who came across her. He enjoined all Christians as a matter of priority to strive to live a life worthy of emulation just like our Lord Jesus Christ did during his sojourn in this earth.
Said the Catholic priest, the late Mrs. Assumpta Ugodie Odiegwu, has ran a good race, she was a peacemaker who maintained a good relationship with members of Odiegwu family where she was married to as well as everybody that came in contact with her. She was a bridge builder, she was a virtuous woman who has left a good legacy, and I am joining the body of Christ to ask God to accept her good soul in his paradise.
Speaking also, the husband of the deceased, Prince Sam Emeka Odiegwu, while weeping profusely, noted that he has lost a rare gem who he won’t find a replacement for, stressing that his wife wss his mother, comforter and a friend. He said that if he can die and comeback again, that he will still marry her again. He bade her goodbye to heaven where she will keep resting in paradise.
Also in his speech, HRM Igwe Godwin Odiegwu, the traditional ruler of Abacha, eulogized the deceased and said that the late Mrs Assumpta Ugodie was a rare gold for the entire Odiegwu royal family, adding that they are pained to have lost an irreplaceable gem who was a bridge builder in their family. He prayed God to accept her good soul in his bossom.
Speaking to journalists immediately after the mass, Engr. Simon Adabanya, Ichie Ogidi, a cabinet chief of the town, who was also a onetime president general of the community, and retired staff of Shell Oil Ltd., extolled the qualities of late Mrs Odiegwu. He noted that she was a peacemaker in their town even as he consoled both the husband and the traditional ruler of Abacha, as well as the entire family of Odiegwu.
Contributing her tribute while speaking to journalists, the wife of Igwe of Abacha, her royal majesty, Barr Lolo Stella Obiageli Odiegwu, described the deceased as a good woman, a sister, a co-wife, and a close confidant. She prayed God to accept her soul in heaven.
The Late Mrs. Assumpta Ugodie Odiegwu nee Onodingene was born 57 years ago to the family of Chief Theophilus and Theresa Onodingene of Abor town, Enugu State, before she married Prince Sam Emeka Odiegwu (Ichie Ezeafulukwe), of Umudisi village, Abacha. Until her death, she was living in Atlanta, USA with her husband and children.