The Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the INSIDE AGWA Newspaper, Hon. John Uchenwoke-Ekperech, on Friday, 13th December 2024, buried his demised father, late Mr. Barnabas Ndubuisi Ekperechi of Umuikegwuonu Umuahii, Obudi Agwa, in Oguta LGA of Imo state.
In a statement made available to newsmen,the remains of late Mr.Barnabas Ndubuisi Ekperechi left Gateway Mortuary, Ogbaku, in Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State, in a motorcade and arrived at his compound at 11:15 am and was welcomed by Mr. Emmanuel Ekperechi, the first son, before it was taken inside a well-decorated room for lying-in-state
This session allowed his children, relatives, church members, friends, and well-wishers to see his lifeless body for the last time before lowering it to mother earth.
During the funeral service by The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Hon. John Uchenwoke, who gave a brief testimony of his late father, described him as a man of peace, truth, honesty, faith in God, and hard work.
He highlighted some of the difficulties his late father went through—losing his father barely three months after his birth, having nothing to lay hold on, being sacked from work seven times in Lagos in the 1970s, sickness, and sequential hard times,yet, these challenges didn’t change his philosophy about honesty, truth, peaceful existence, hard work, and faith in God. “My father was a man of peace, truth, and hard work. He loved his children and protected us. He can do anything lawful to put bread on the table of his family. He treasured his wife and did not trade her for anything, Uchenwoke remarked.
Apostle Meshach Alamezie, a maternal relative who also testified about the life of the late Barnabas Ndubuisi Ekperechi, said he was an honest man, peaceful, loving, and hard-working.
In his sermon, Pastor Emmanuel lambasted the youths for giving in to the deadly lifestyle that caused the crisis in Agwa, Izombe, and other places in Oguta and Imo State at large, as well as telling them the consequences of their actions.
I am here today to talk about the man we have come to bury. As a representative of the Eberendu-Alamezie family, I want to tell everyone that “Nda Barna,” as we called him, was an honest and sincere man. He was fearless, courageous, and hardworking. He loved God and worked for Him, starting from when we were worshipping together as members of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Agwa Branch.
His late mother, Christiana Chimezie, nursed him at his maternal home, and since we grew up to know him, Nda Barna carried himself with humility, honour, and service to God and humanity. May his soul rest in peace. In his sermon, Pastor Emmanuel Ishiocha, the Izombe Autonomous pastor of the Lord’s Chosen, preached to the audience on the need to live a life worthy of emulation just as the late Barnabas lived before God called him home.”We are here today to celebrate the life of our brother, the late Barnabas Ndubuisi Ekperechi, who lived a Godly lifestyle while he was alive.
From all the testimonies and my account of him in the service of God, he was conscious of eternity, and at last, he made it because he reconciled with God. “I never knew that you could see this number of people in Agwa because of the crisis that took so many lives and properties. This is not the plan of God in your life. Call unto Jesus today, repent and confess your sins, and be saved”.
Pastor Ishiocha, as he was fondly called, reminded the people of Agwa of the importance of peace with God and how it affects other developments in the affairs of the living. “For you to make any appreciable progress in life, you must make peace with God. When you are at peace with Jesus, it will drive other human development in your life. “So, I am appealing to the leaders of Agwa and everyone under my voice to embrace peace, because Heaven is a place of peace.”
Shortly after the sermon, the corpse was taken from the Uzii playground to his compound amidst hymnals by the members of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries to be committed to mother earth until the resurrection morning.
it would be recalled that the late Barnabas Ndubuisi Ekperechi died on the 3rd of September, 2024, after a short illness.
The burial ceremony witnessed dignitaries from all walks of life from far and near, including Pastor Vitalis, the host pastor; Pastor Charles; Agwa 1; Pastor Laz of Uzele Church; and the pastor in charge of Okwa Church. Dr. Oscar Iheanacho, PhD, of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education; Bishop Dr. DivineKing Akalador, Founder and General Overseer of Mercy Assembly International; Comr. Saviour Abiaziem, HOD, Finance, Imo State Ministry of Finance Rev. Chinedu Mike Daniel, Rivers State Coordinator of the Overcomers Christian Mission (OCM); Rev. Albert Okwundu, Coordinator, Ikwerre District, OCM, Rivers State; Rev. Sunny Nwalozie, Coordinator, Owerri-North District, Imo State; Pastor Kenneth Anosike.
Others are the Co-ordinator,Oyibo District, Rivers State; Pastor Thompson, OCM, Agwa Branch. Hon. Engr. Felix Ejiogu, former House of Assembly aspirant, Owerri Municipal; Hon. Udochukwu Ogbonnaya, Council,reprinting Mgbala/Ubah Ward in Oguta LGA,Comr.Johnbosco Chimokwo Obodo,former Oguta LGA
Chairmanship
Comr. Johnbosco Chimokwo Obodo, former Oguta LGA chairmanship aspirant.
The funeral ceremony continues with lively entertainment by the Divine Stars Live Band International, led by Nnamdi Benson (Nnaa Base), at the Uzii playground while DJ Utigas entertains people at the compound.
