Jonathan, others eulogise Nwodo at burial

From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

President Goodluck Jonathan, among other dignitaries who graced the burial of the late Justice Regina Oby Nwodo, an Appeal Court judge and wife of former Information minister, Chief Nnia Nwodo described the departed jurist as a woman of virtue, honesty, truth, peace and one who left a legacy worthy of emulation.

The president, who was represented at the burial in Ukehie, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State by Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said the late Justice Nwodo was a model, an iconic figure and expressed the hope that a memorial would be established in her name for the younger ones to share.
Said he: “I have come to share in your pains, your sorrows and grief; all I have known and heard about her are stories of honesty, virtues, truth, peace, and I hope her life would serve as a lesson in ‘classrooms’ because she is a model to be emulated.”
The president noted that when a person of such caliber passes on, she leaves a vacuum in the family and society as well as a traumatic experience to those she left behind and urged the former minister and his family to be courageous and have faith in God.
Also speaking, the Senate President David Mark said he has never been as disjointed as he was when he heard of the death and could not summon enough courage to call the former minister considering what he must have gone through.

He said: “When I finally called him, I thought I would be able to console him and told him to have faith; at a point, I felt we were becoming emotional and I switched off the phone. I later told one of my aides to call him and say that the network was bad.”
In a homily, the Metropolitan of the Onitsha Catholic Province, Most Rev Valerian Okeke urged politicians and Nigerian leaders to emulate the life of the late judge, which many people have testified to and apply it to the day-to-day running of the country.
He condemned the level of corruption in the society and called for a change of attitude and emulation of the worthy example of the late judge for the overall good and development of the country.
Also speaking, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who said he was at the burial as a friend of the family as well as the Chairman PDP Governors’ Forum, condemned the attitude of some politicians who want to cause trouble in Nigeria.
Said he: “Nigeria is too large and cannot be handed over to parties that change name on a daily basis. Our party, the PDP remains the same. God does not change and as His children, we do not change.
“The fate of more than 167 million Nigerians cannot be left in the hands of an opposition party that continues to change its name like a chameleon. The opposition is in disarray. They have changed name six times. I urge Nigerians to rely on PDP to deliver the much expected dividends of democracy”.
Dignitaries at the burial included the Senate President, David Mark, Speaker House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, governors of Enugu represented by the deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi, Liyel Imoke, Cross River; Godswill Akpabio, Akwa-Ibiom; Theodore Orji, Abia; Peter Obi, Anambra and Rochas Okorocha, Imo.