The Archbishop of the Province of Aba and Bishop of Aba, The Most Rev. (Dr) Isaac Nwaobia has called Nigerians to believe in Jesus Christ, as failure to do so will bring condemnation. He said God’s judgment at the end of time would be based on whether people believe in Him or not.
Quoting John 3:17-18, which states that Jesus was sent by God to save the world, the cleric urged everyone to prepare for the end of times.
Nwaobia, who preached on the topic: “After these things,” taken from Rev. 7:9 at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter Arondizuogu, Diocese of Ideato, Imo State, during the burial of the traditional ruler of Ejezie Autonomous Community, Arondizuogu and Chairman of Agura Hotel, Abuja, HRM Eze Dr Sir Maxwell Omeire Kanu (Ochiriozuo), described “After these things” as after the lives and evils of this world. He urged everyone to prepare for eternity. He said the late Kanu, who built an eight-storey building, the longest building in Aba, was “an international guru, hero of our time, commercialist, industrialist and a one-Nigeria man.”
Consoling members of the bereaved family, Nwaobia prayed to God to continue to uphold them. He said: “It is normal for children to bury their father. But there is no way I will ask you not to cry. You will cry, especially when you remember your father’s achievements and impacts. What we ask you is to hold yourselves and look unto God, Who has been with you this far and will not leave you.
Also, Bishop of the Diocese of Ideato, The Rt. Rev. Henry Okeke, who commiserated with the family on behalf of his Diocese, said the deceased was “a big name in Arondizuogu,” who impacted so much on people’s lives. He recalled that the late Kanu was one of the pillars behind the creation of Ideato Diocese and had contributed immensely to the Diocese’ development.
Okeke, while counselling Christians to always support their local churches, disclosed that the late Eze Kanu had, before his exit, proposed to build a Church House and Centre in the Cathedral premises. He urged the family to immortalise the name of their father by fulfilling his desire of building a befitting and outstanding Church Centre in the Cathedral.
In attendance was Bishop on the Lake, The Rt. Rev. Dr Chijioke Oti; wife of the Bishop of Ideato, Mrs. Julie Okeke; wife of the pioneer Bishop of Ideato, Mrs. Evelyn Echefu; cream of the clergy; a retinue of traditional rulers; Knights and Ladies; and Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, among others.
By Princewill Ireoba