Ozigbo joins Obi, Elumelu, Dangote, Ovia, other dignitaries to pay final respects to Thisday Publisher’s late mother
The Evangelist edition, August 20, 2022. By our Correspondent
Owa Kingdom of Delta State was agog on Saturday, August 20, 2022, as the who-is-who of Nigeria stormed the town of Owa Oyibu to join Prince Nduka Obaigbena, the publisher of ThisDay Newspapers, who buried his mother, Late Princess Margaret Onyemakonor Obaigbena.
Valentine Ozigbo, a respected Nigerian business leader and politician, was one of the dignitaries at the event, which had in attendance prominent Nigerians such as Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group; Mr. Tony O Elumelu, the Chairman of UBA Plc and Heirs Holdings; Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Mr. Jim Ovia, the Chairman of Zenith Bank; Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and a host of others.
The funeral service held at St Andrews Anglican Church in Owa Oyibu and was officiated by His Grace, the Most Revd Dr Henry Ndukuba, the Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigerian Anglican Communion who was represented by Rt Revd Godfrey Ekpenisi, the Bishop of Ika Diocese, and other Anglican priests.
In his sermon, Rt Rev Ekpenisi reminded the congregants of the need to leave a legacy of righteousness and charity. He admonished Christians to store up their treasures in Heaven, where we go on to spend eternity. He urged the Obiagbena family to take solace in the admirable legacy that their mother left behind.
While speaking to journalists after the funeral service, Mr. Ozigbo eulogised the late Princess Obiagbena, describing her as “a great woman of substance who blessed humanity with her wisdom, grace, and presence”.
“We are here today to pay our last respects to Princess Margaret Onyemakonor Obaigbena, the beloved mother of our dear friend, Prince Nduka Obaigbena,” Ozigbo, who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 2021 election, said.
“Princess Obiagbena was a great woman of substance, and she blessed humanity with her wisdom, grace, and presence. You can see the number of prominent personalities here today to honour this remarkable woman’s life.
“We commiserate with her son, the Duke [Nduke Obiagbena], on the loss of such a pillar in his family and the entire Owa Kingdom.
“May the good Lord receive the soul of the departed and grant all her loved ones comfort and peace,” he prayed.
Other dignitaries who attended the funeral were Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State; former governors of Cross River, Mr. Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke; Hon Ndudi Elumelu, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Group; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the immediate past Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank; Olorogun Oscar Ibru, Chief Dele Momodu, and many others
