The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, declared on Friday in Awka, Anambra State that the core values of sincerity, honesty and integrity have been eroded in Nigeria.
Okoh, who stated this while preaching at the burial of Colette, the wife of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, called for a collective effort to revive those values so that the nation could be rebuilt and the people reconciled to God.
He attributed the erosion of values to mindless material acquisition, but urged Christians not to give up like people without faith.
“We should live like people with faith, people who have inheritance behind time and space; we should not live like people who have lost hope in God.
“Our values have been eroded because of our quest for material wealth, weep not for Lady Collete, but we should weep for ourselves.
“Let us weep for our country and seek complete reconciliation between us and God, we shall repent to see our Father,” Okoh said.
The primate urged the family of Colette to take solace in the fact that she lived a life of faith, humility and was known generally as a woman of great virtue.
The President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Ayo Oritsejafor, urged Christians to leave behind legacies that can endure.
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, who described Senator Ben Obi as a man ready to stand for justice, urged Colette’s family members to respect her by following her good works.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said Deaconess Obi would be remembered as a devout Christian, who touched many lives through her just and exemplary life.
President Goodluck Jonathan, in a tribute he sent to the family, described her as an inspirational wife and a uniquely supportive partner.
Her husband, Obi, described his late wife as adorable, loving and God fearing.
Narrating his experience with his in-laws to the congregation, Obi said his wife’s wish was to be buried in Awka instead of Warri.
“My late mother came from that part of the country, when she passed on in those days, we said it shall be well, we grew up with the Olu of Warri, and we thought it would not be difficult to bring the corpse of my mother to Awka but my mother was buried in her native place, Warri.
“So, I thought my wife’s burial would be same but behold, my in-laws made things easy for me because they wanted to please their daughter and make her rest in peace and moreover, it was a decision my late wife made to rest in her husband’s place,” he said.
Dignitaries at the burial included Ambassador Bianca Onoh, Prince Arthur Eze, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Enugu Anglican Communion, former Senate Presidents, Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani, Prof. Chinwe Obaji, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Chief Tom Ikimi, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and former Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu.
Others were Governors Theodore Orji of Abia, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, House of Representatives’ Deputy speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Chief John Nwodo, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Audu Ogbe, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Gen. Ike Nwosu, Senator Ayogu Eze, among others.
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