LATE ELDER NWAKA’s THANKSGIVING: UCC Honours Ikwuano Mayor, Nwaka As ‘Omepuru Oha’
*Do not fidget, be determined, Clergy to Nwaka’s
The Pastor of United Church of Christ, UCC, Itunta Ibere Circuit, in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Rev. Pst. Samuel Emetu has urged the Mayor of Ikwuano, Mayor Osinachi Nwaka and the entire Nwaka’s family to remain resolute and unflinching amidst the passing of their beloved father, late Senior Elder Mark Nwaka.
Famousreporters.com reports that the Council boss on Friday, December 22, held a befitting inhumation of his late father, whose demise occurred on the night of Monday, September 18, 2023, at age 89, following a protracted illness.
Speaking at the thanksgiving service yesterday, at United Church of Christ (UCC), the resident pastor reiterated that the Octogenarian who was an ardent member of the church, lived a good legacy, as he advised the Nwaka’s to emulate the lifestyle.
He charged the family to be determined, saying, “do not look back. Your late father, our Senior Elder saw some potential in you before he handed the mantle to you. The ones he did well, he asked you to carry on with and the ones he did not get well, he has asked you to amend”, he admonished.
According to the Minister who drew his anchor scripture from the Holy Book of
2Chronicles Chapter 22:13, a good legacy such as the one left behind by the Mayor’s late father, “ought not to be discarded.
He, therefore, implored the bereaved family “to imbibe the attributes of your late father. Follow it up and never allow it to be thrown to dust.
Continuing, he said: “Our late Senior Elder handed over the mantle to you before his departure. Please, do wenot throw away his legacies. Follow a good legacy so that it will be well with you. Let us also strive to leave behind a good legacy. Never you abandon what has been handed over to you.
He reiterated that the deceased left behind memorable legacies and urged the living to emulate the same.
Also, he urged the congregation to endeavour to leave behind good legacies so that posterity would speak good of them.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the event was a conferment of an Award of Honour as ‘Omepuru Oha’ on the Mayor by the church.
Earlier, the Minister commented on Nwaka for his humanitarian services especially the arrival of New Era Foundation (NEF), an organisation which he admitted had enabled the latter to reach out to the poor in the Council even before his emergence as the Mayor.
Presenting the award, Emetu who described Nwaka as the present day’s Jeremiah and a born king, stressed that his prominence on the earth was predestined, noting that he was yet at the foot of his success as greater heights, according to him, awaits the Mayor.
Hear him:
“A king can be born or crowned; you’re a born king. You’re the Jeremiah of this age because the Bible said he knew you before you were born. This is just the beginning; the ladder has been placed before you; you shall be climbing and never be weary; you shall prosper, you shall be enthroned and people will like to identify with you;
“Wherever there’s a decision, yours will supercede; you will never be incubated; it is well with you and your entire family; your ways are guided and no evil planned against you shall prosper. Whether you are moving on the land, in sea or on the air, your feet shall be guided by the Almighty. No weapon formed against you or your family, your business or office shall prosper.
Responding amidst glaring consternation, Osinachi Nwaka expressed profound gratitude to the Rev. Minister and his wife, Evang. Mrs. Samuel Emetu and the entire church, for standing by his family all through their period of bereavement up until at the time of interment.
He used the medium to enjoin every member of the body of Christ and all creations in general not to lose their faith in God in times of decay, assuring that there is usually ‘light at the end of the tunnel’.
In his words:
“I didn’t expect this today, I only came to thank God for the successful burial of my late father; and I humbly apologise for my lateness.
“I thank you so much the pastor,
on behalf of my wife, children and family. I’m just a product of grace. It’s not about me being a graduate or intelligent or being trained by my father. It’s just all by the grace.
“And I am here today to announce to you not to give up. No matter your condition today, tomorrow is better. Do not question your destiny when you see your mates excelling. Tomorrow is better. My life is a testimony.
“We went through hell when we lost our older brother in a plane crash. He was the bread winner and when he died, our world crumbled and it was then that my father began to carry lanterns. It was that lantern he carried that gave rise to the grace you see in me now.
I am a product of UCC just like my late parents were.”
Corroborating, the first son, Dcn. Kennedy Nwaka who recounted how his late father lived in the fear of God upon his conversion which took place almost at the peak of his age, assured that he and his siblings would uphold the good legacy of their father.
According to him, his late father despite his ripe age, converted many souls and prayed for the blessings of God upon them.
He thanked the church, friends, loved ones and well-wishers of the family for standing by them at their time of grief.
Furthermore, the guest Minister also in his remarks, urged the bereaved to emulate the lives of their father.
While recalling how the deceased evangelised to him, thus enabling him to get rid of pride and arrogance.
According to the guest Minister, hiss life was previously characterised by pride and arrogance, as, prayed for the promotional blessings of God upon Mayor, and everyone who supported them in the course of the funeral.
Furthermore, he urged the Mayor and the entire family of Nwaka to embrace God as demonstrated by the late Elder Nwaka, saying, if you serve God committedly, your political career will be skyrocketed to some unimaginable height.”, he prayed.
