THE Ebonyi State Government has declared
seven-day mourning for late Deaconess Margret Umahi, the mother
of the State Governor. She passed on in an Enugu
hospital Tuesday afternoon after a brief illness.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe,
made the declaration yesterday in Abakaliki when members of the State
Executive Council paid a condolence visit to Governor Dave Umahi in his
temporary lodge along the Ezza Road.
Igwe, who is also a lawyer, said the
seven-day mourning period was a mark of respect and honour to the
late Deaconess.
The deputy governor said all State Executive Council
members, chairmen and members of boards and parastatal are expected to converge
at the government house chapel from 9am for a one-hour praise and
worship service in honour of the deceased for seven days.
Igwe further state that between the hours
of 6pm and 7pm, another praise and worship service would hold at the Akanu
Ibiam International Conference centre. The programme will continue until the
expiration of the seven days.
The deputy governor praised the good
qualities of Late Mrs. Umahi and enjoined the 13 caretaker committee chairmen,
64 development centre coordinators and all permanent secretaries in the
ministries to replicate it within their jurisdictions.
Igwe, who described the death of late Mrs.
Umahi as tragic and unfortunate incident, said that the state did not just lose
a virtuous woman but a mother to anyone that encountered her.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Ebonyi
Central Senatorial District, Obinna Ogba, the member representing, Ikwo/Ezza
South Federal Constituency, Laz Ogbee, the former Commissioner for Grants and
Donor Agency, Fred Udogu, and the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Afikpo South,
Eni Uduma Chima, yesterday expressed shock over the death of Mrs. Umahi.
In a telephone interview, Senator Ogba
described Mrs. Umahi as the pride of the state and urged the family to bear the
irreparable loss. Ogbee and Udogu, who also expressed regrets over the loss,
stated that their little encounter with the late Mrs. Umahi was life-touching
and memorable as the woman was full of wisdom, energy and fear of God.
Late Mrs. Umahi touched a lot of lives in the
state and in Nigeria as a whole. She is a disciplinarian, a God-fearing woman,
a philanthropist and one with a heart of compassion. During the electioneering
campaign, she prayed fervently for a peaceful and violence-free election. The
peace of the state was paramount to her mind until her death,” Oghee said.
Eni, the Afikpo South caretaker committee
chairman, described her death as a big blow to the family, the State and the
nation, saying that she died when her wise counsel was needed the most.
Guardian
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