From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Abakaliki/Enugu expressway and Ngbo road, in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, witnessed an unusual gridlock on May 16 and 17, 2025, during the funeral of the late madam Mary Aje Ogbuinya, the mother of a Supreme Court judge, Justice Obande Ogbuinya.
The late matriarch of the Ogbuinya family died at the age of 105 in February. May 16, 2025, was the service of songs in her honour, while May 17 was the day of interment, which took place in Umuogudu Akpu, Ngbo, in the local government area.
The two events attracted eminent Nigerians from all walks of life and their coming into the state caused heavy human and vehicular traffic on the ever-busy Abakaliki/Enugu expressway and the entire Ngbo community.
Those who were at the funeral included Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice M.O. Kekere-Ekun, Governors Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Charles Soludo (Anambra ), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Alex Otti (Abia), and some former governors.
Mbah, Otti and Uzodimma were represented during the event, which also attracted judges of the Supreme Court, appeal courts, state high courts, former deputy governors, senators, House of Representatives members, former president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, and heads of boards and parastatals, among other dignitaries.
In his sermon, the Methodist Archbishop of Ebonyi State, Obineche Igwe, said the caliber of persons that attended the funeral was an indication that the late matriarch trained her children very well. He described her as a woman who lived a fulfilled and purposeful life.
He implored the living to live a life that their families, humanity and eternity will be proud of when they die, noting that the late Mary Ogbuinya left many legacies worthy of emulation.
He said: “The greatest tragedy that will happen to man is to live a purposeless life, to live a life that at the end, the essence of your living is not relevant to the agenda of He who made you who you are and that is why we need to be very careful while we are living.
“I am sure if Mama did not live the kind of life she lived, if she didn’t raise the kind of family she raised, the children, I am not sure you will have these arrays of big men.
“For the governor of a state to come for this burial, it means a lot. We have at least two governors here and I am sure otters are still on their way. They are all coming because a woman lived a life that impacted not just her family but impacted the wider society.
If she didn’t raise those children very well, if they are vagabonds, if they are touts, tell me whether we will all gather. So, we celebrate a woman that lived and made impacts and by the reason of her impacts, almost the whole segment of professions are here.”
Nwifuru, in his speech, described her as a woman of inestimable value. He said her death was devastating and has created a deep scar in the hearts of those she was endeared to.
He said: “Death is a shadow all of us are carrying which does not announce its presence. It is a cessation of life and existence and all of us here are aware one day, we will die.”
The governor, while celebrating a life of fulfillment of purpose, philanthropy, excellence in social works and industry, added that her sojourn on earth was greeted with great success, given the rise of her son, Justice Ogbuinya, to the peak of his career as a learned jurist of the country’s apex court.
In his tribute, Justice Obande Ogbuinya, said his mother was a family builder, a woman of peace and integrity who lived an exemplary and fulfilled Christian life worthy of emulation.
“At every opportunity, our late mother preached peace, the first gift Christ bequeathed to his disciples after resurrection, and cordial relationship among people. She always challenged us to mention her enemy in our community. She charged all her children to worship peace faithfully and eschew divisive life in any form,” he testified.
Justice Ogbuinya also said that his late mother was a bundle of talents, which she harvested during her life time and excelled in them.
“Our late mother was a known singer who possessed a rare mellifluous voice. During her teenage days, she featured prominently and showcased her singing potential during the traditional moonlight troupe performances, which usually took place during dry season of Ngbo calendar,” he added.
Meanwhile, traders at the popular Okwor Ngbo Market in the area made good sales following high patronage by visitors who attended the funeral.