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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Friday, June 16, 2023, will remain indelible in the life of Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo State and ex-deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. That was the day the remains of his beloved mother, Dame Dorothy Ihedioha, were interred in grand style.
The pomp that signposted the burial activities were second to none in this part of the world. Ihedioha undoubtedly lived up to his chieftaincy title of Omenkahuruaya, meaning, one who did what people could see, when he thrilled the teeming guests from different parts of the world with spectacular Igbo traditional culture.
Most of the guests at the ceremony will gladly attest to the rich cultural display that added glamour to the occasion.
One striking cultural display that caught the fancy of everyone at the event was the magnificent walk on cloth, commonly called George in Nigeria, spread on the floor from his house to where the mother’s body was laid.
He was accompanied by family and friends with the pallbearers thrilling the crowd with different dances while carrying the magnificent casket.
It was fun for the mammoth crowd that gathered at the event after the body was laid to rest. The legendary Oriental International Band reeled out their old highlife songs, as well as new tracks that electrified the whole place.
Ihedioha went completely emotional as he gave his last words to his mother, he narrated how he drew his strength and discipline from the woman who he fondly called Ada Zion. Many might not know that his selfless service and humanity were inspired by his mother.
In the farewell speech, he said: “In the 90 eventful years that Mama sojourned on Mother Earth, what marked her out was a rare combination of strength, resilience and adorable love. Her wisdom illuminated our paths. She was zestful in words and action. Yet, Mama had her own challenges.
“But she never allowed them to define or defeat her. She was the epitome of uncommon strength and unwavering courage.
“My mother was a strict disciplinarian who ensured that the virtues of hard work, discipline and respect were inculcated in her children. It was, therefore, little wonder that as I grew up, I was always conscious of how disappointed Mama would feel if I took the wrong turn.
“Mama inspired me to live by the ideals of love and service to others. And that remains the guiding principle in the choices I make in both my personal and public life.
“Although her loving husband, my father of blessed memory, Nze BMG Ihedioha, died 28 years ago, Mama trudged on like a Spartan, guiding and guarding the family with her wisdom, love and gracefulness.”
Like her son, till her death, she was a disciplined Christian, a Dame of Saint Christopher, Lolo Nzeudo 1 of Mbutu, Eze Nwanyi Udo of Mbutu.
Born on August 28, 1932, to the family of Chief Nwaobasi Okereke of Okpala Eziama in Imo State, she was the only child of her mother who was the second wife among Nwaobasi Okereke’s seven wives.
Incidentally, she was her father’s most favourite child and was named Nnennaya (her father’s mother).
She attended Okpala Central School, from where she passed her First School Leaving Certificate Examination in 1949. She got married in 1950 to Mr. Bernard Ihedioha of Aronta Mbutu Mbaise and the marriage was blessed with 13 children, two of whom died after birth.
Like a football team, all her children were raised in love and unity. She painstakingly and successfully nurtured and raised a team of 11 children who all graduated in different areas of study and raised their own respective families, despite the loss of her husband, Nze Ihedioha, Nzeudo 1 of Mbutu, in 1995.
It is noteworthy that, having succeeded in the maternal and domestic areas of her divine calling of mothering and nurturing, she went into the field of education where she obtained Teacher’s Grade Two Certificate from Bishop Shanahan Teacher Training College in 1983. This enabled her to teach in various primary schools in Mbaise, after which she retired from teaching service.
Today, wherever she is, she would be proud to have raised a worthy son like Emeka Ihedioha. If really the dead could speak, Dame Dorothy would be smiling and acknowledging the array of personalities that graced her burial.
Among the esteemed dignitaries were presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February general election, Mr. Peter Obi; Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti; Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah; and his Anambra State counterpart, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Others were Imo State Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku; former governors of Sokoto and Delta states; Senator Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; and Senators Osita Izunaso, Samuel Anyanwu, and Athan Achonu.
In fact, the list of notable guests was inexhaustive, including from the diplomatic community, judiciary, traditional institution, clergy, public and private sectors, business community as well as academia.
