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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang; the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Emmanuel Akabe; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; the immediate past deputy governor of Imo State, Professor Placid Njoku; and the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, were amongst dignitaries who graced the Requiem Mass held in honour of Mama Ezinne Christiana Opara at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.
Mama Ezinne Christiana Opara, is the Mother of Professor John Kennedy Opara, the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) and the Chairman, CSS Group of Companies.
Also in attendance were the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite; the Senator Representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Revd Yohanna Amos; the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, the Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja, Anselm Umoren, amongst others.
Speaking after the Mass, Ihedioha said Mama Opara was like a mother to him.
The former Governor of Imo State prayed God to grant Mama Opara’s soul eternal rest.
“We thank God for her life. We pray that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Also speaking, Njoku said certainly from their fruits, you shall know them.
“One has seen what Professor John Opara has done in his lifetime and it is quite clear that he had one of the best upbringing from a mother who cared and the emotions he displayed today, certainly showed that he valued his mother. But God is the ultimate. God decides when everything happens.
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“As she has gone, all we can do is to condole him and wish him well.”
Adegbite said himself and Opara have come a long way in NCPC, adding that he is building on the legacy of Opara.
“There is no way we will not identify with such a person at a time like this. And our mother is our mother. It is not just only Professor John Kennedy that is the son. We are all children of Mama and that is why we are burying her, giving her a befitting burial by the special grace of God,” Adegbite said.
Delivering the homily, Kaigama said what affects Opara, affects the archdiocese and his sadness is the archdiocesan sadness.
Kaigama said Mama Opara lived well and lived to be 83 years, saying going by the tributes, it showed that Mama Opara was a just woman.
He noted that the lesson he learnt from Mama Opara is to do good to others and as we do good to others, the world will be a better place.
Kaigama added that the greatest legacy parents can leave for their children is not property, but values – values of faith, integrity and fear of God which Mama Opara did so well.
Opara said it has not been easy coming to terms with the demise of his mother.
He said Mama taught him a lot. “She taught me the fear of God, she taught me relationships and she was a wonderful strength,” he had.
