By Uzo Ugwunze
It was a roll call of creme de la creme in Igbo land weekend as the member representing Onitsha North/South in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Idu Emeka, buried his mother, late Iyom Chinelo Emeka, aged 83, in Mgbago Umueri community, Anambra East Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Among those that paid tribute included the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP in the 2023 Presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, who found it very difficult to get to the podium where the Chief mourner, Idu, stood receiving sympathisers due to intimidating crowd that wanted to touch or have a glimpse of him.
Obi, had on managing to get to Idu, urged him to take heart saying he is to bury his mother and not the reverse even as he prayed God for the repose of the soul of late Iyom Emeka.
Also at the arena was Senator Tony Nwoye, representing Anambra North Senatorial District at the Senate and immediate past Rep’s member who represented Orumba North/South at the Green Chamber, Hon. Okwudili Ezenwankwo.
Senator Nwoye urged Idu to take heart adding that his mother lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation and was a virtuous woman.
Felicitating with Hon. Idu, Okwudili Ezenwankwo described late Iyom as a good mother who lived a selfless life and thought her children Christian life.
Ezenwankwo however frowned at the insecurity situation in the state and urged Governor Soludo to beef up security and also advised that security is everyone’s business.
“Security is everyone’s business and all hands should be on deck in achieving this. The youths should have something doing and all hands should be on deck as security should not be left only for the governor,” he stated.
Contributing, some lawmakers in the State House of Assembly that included, Fred Ezenwa, representing Onitsha South 1, Umennajiego Jude representing Onitsha South 2, and Justus Azuka representing Onitsha North 1, all urged the bereaved family and Hon. Emeka Idu to take heart stating that late Mrs Iyom lived a fulfilled life.
According to Azuka, “Idu is our leader in Onitsha North/South and that is why we are here to mourn with him over the death of his beloved mother. We pray that God in His infinite mercy will grant Idu and his family the heart with which to bear the loss.
On Insecurity Hon. Azuka stated that, “Security is everybody’s business. I assure my constituents of watertight security especially this festive period. If everybody can protect his constituency there will be less crime in the state and entire country.
“Even in provision of dividends of democracy I have been very active in the State House of Assembly. To curtail the hunger in my constituency I provided big yam tubers to the people. 50 people in each ward received one big yam each,” he further disclosed.
Also the lawmaker for Onitsha South 2, Umennajiego, commended Idu for giving his mother a befitting burial ceremony adding that his mother lived a fulfilled life.
“Longevity is what God decides and one can as well have longevity through what he eats to keep body and soul together. We thank God for giving Idu a good mother,” he stated.
On insecurity he said it is a worrisome situation and urged Governor Soludo to beef up security in the state especially at this festive period that people are coming home for celebration of Christmas/New year period.
In his own contribution, Hon. Ezenwa who represents Onitsha South 1, described Idu’s mother as a virtuous woman that contributed immensely to the upliftment of both the family and womanhood.
He urged the Rep’s member to take heart as God in His infinite mercy will grant the family the heart with which to bear the loss.
A former lawmaker in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Aniebonam, who said he was the first to fumigate Onitsha against mosquitoes before others keyed in, pleaded to Idu and his family to take heart even as he described late Iyom Emeka as a good mother.
He said that late Iyom enjoyed longevity pointing out that one can also approach longevity through what he eats and exercises to keep a healthy body.
On insecurity he said, “Crime is everywhere not just in Anambra. Soludo should beef up security, he has done well in the area of infrastructure,” he stated.
The former lawmaker disclosed that he was a pioneer member of APGA hinting that he will soon stage a come back into politics but was not specific whether to remain in APGA.
Hon. Ejor Ibuza, coordinator of Idu Vanguard, had in his own tribute stated that the Rep’s member, Idu Emeka, gave his late mother a befitting burial ceremony which according to him attracted people from all walks of life.
His words, “People came from Abuja, Lagos, Anambra, name it, to pay last respect to late Iyom Emeka who lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation having attained the ripe age of 83 years. Whoever that crosses 70 years is blessed because he is having extra years,” he disclosed.
He described Hon. Idu as a man of the people who is always interested in the welfare of his constituents stating that such philanthropic nature was emulated by Idu from his late mother, a virtuous woman.