Follow Us on Google
From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
The remains of late Bonnie Iwuoha, former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, was on Thursday laid to rest in his Umuokochi, Umuode Ihie country home, in Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of the state.
Iwuoha, who also served as media adviser to then Gov Theodore Orji, died on December 20 last year, after a brief illness.
Born in 1953, Boniface Chukwuechefulam Iwuoha began life as a teacher in Ehime Mbano, Imo State, from where he joined the state newspaper company, The Statesman, and later moved to Abia Newspapers Corporation, Umuahia, publishers of National Ambassador newspapers, at the creation of the new state in 1991. He also served as Managing Director of Daily Times Newspapers, Lagos.
He was very visible in trade union affairs, as he was the Imo state Council Secretary, Deputy President and member of the National Executive Council and Leader of the Conflict Management Team (1992-1997), before being elected National President of the NUJ, thereafter.
He will be remembered for initiating the building of the NUJ National Secretariat complex project in Abuja.
In a sermon during his funeral, an Anglican clergyman, Archdeacon Kenneth Onuka, urged Christians to be in good relationship with God.
He said Bonnie’s death was a further reminder that no man will live on earth forever, and therefore needed to live in the fear of his maker.
“In whatever you do, remember that life is terminal. Death came because man did what God asked him not to do, so if one dies in sin he is a great loss as God had given everyone of us the opportunity to repent and be in peace with him.”
Mr Iwuoha is survived by a wife and five children. His burial attracted dignitaries from all walks of life including former school mates, public servant and politicians, among others.
