A-List Igbo leaders say final farewell to Adanma Okpara

Lady Adanma Okpara

Lady Adanma Okpara

By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom

The remains of Adanma Okpara, wife of the late former Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Michael Okpara, were on Saturday laid to rest amidst eulogies by prominent Igbo leaders.

Adanma died on Aug. 22 at the age of 99 and was buried in her country home in Umuegwu-Okpuala, Umuahia North Local Government Area.

Many dignitaries attended the burial ceremony.

Governor Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu was the chief host. His deputy Use Oko Chukwu, the Speaker Chinedum Orji, the Senate minority leader, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe also attended.

Gov. Ikpeazu the chief host at the funeral
Gov. Ikpeazu the chief host at the funeral

Others are the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, former PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu, and former Senate President, Sen. Adolphus Wabara.

Dr Uche Ogah, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development and Sen. Theodore Orji (Abia Central-PDP), Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, the former governor of old Enugu State also came to bid Adanma farewell.

At the funeral service held at Williams Memorial Grammar School, Afugiri, the Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria (MCN), Dr Samuel Uche, expressed delight that the Adanma lived a life worthy of emulation.

He said she lived a life full of humility, decency and sacrifices, with which she touched the lives of people that encountered.

Uche said that the event was a time for the living to ruminate over the transient ephemeral nature of life.

“Late Dr and Mrs Okpara were neither extravagant nor ostentatious. Mrs Okpara was virtuous and prayerful and did not want her husband to acquire stolen wealth.

“I encourage today’s leaders and their spouses to emulate the Okparas as well as understand that what matters is the good name you leave behind; not the wealth,” he said.

Gov. Ikpeazu said that the funeral was a moment of sober reflection on the glorious era of late Dr Michael Okpara as Premier of the former Eastern Nigeria, as his achievements were a great challenge to leaders.

Ikpeazu said that the deceased did not fail to teach humility and service to the people she came in contact with.

“So let us use today’s event to raise our feelings of brotherhood, reawaken our strength, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit as a people,” he said.

Dr Uche Ogah, described the deceased as “one of our best”, who supported her late husband to bring Eastern Nigeria to limelight.

He stated that the deceased and her husband lived exemplary lives which ought to be emulated by all.

Sen. Theodore Orji (Abia Central-PDP), said that the lifestyle of the deceased showed that she was a peaceful person and this reflected in her marriage and family.

Orji prayed God to give the family and the people of Abia the fortitude to bear the loss.

Nwodo described the deceased as a woman of virtue, who upheld the principles of discipline.

Nwodo said that the deceased was a worthy companion to her husband and urged families to learn from their relationship.

In a funeral oration, the First daughter of Adanma, Mrs Chinyere Eccles-James, said their mother was a great source of inspiration to many.

Eccles-James said that their mother lived a life of continuous goodwill and service to God and humanity.

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