TRAGEDY HITS OHAFIA BURIAL SERVICE
■ Pastor drops dead conducting funeral of herbalist
The sleepy town of Asaga-Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State has been thrown into a deep shock and controversy following the death of a cleric who dropped dead while conducting the burial service of a renowned herbalist.
Saturday Sun gathered that Pa Oji Okoko, who was not only a notable herbalist but a leader of some powerful cult groups such as Uke Abaa, Akpan and Ekpe, had warned his family before his death that his corpse should not to be taken to any church for funeral. However, his burial few days ago was turned to a show of power in the community torn between two religions: Christianity and idolatry. The same town has produced Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and popular Evangelist, Rev Uma Ukpai who has taken evangelism around the globe.
Findings showed that the man at the centre of the controversy, the late Pa Okoko, a native of Nde Uduma Ukwu compound in Eziukwu village, Asaga, Ohafia in Ohafia local council, was a great hunter, a farmer and native doctor of repute. Being a member of several traditional and cult groups in his community like Uke Abaa, Akpan and Ekpe, Pa Okoko, before his death at the age of 104 years, was said not to have entered any church in his life time.
A polygamist married to six wives that bore him 26 children, Okoko was said to have called his first son, Kalu Oji Okoko along with others at a point when he knew he was nearing his grave and warned not to deposit his corpse in any mortuary when he dies and never to take him to any church or conduct any Christian funeral for him.
It was learnt that the order was to ensure that his traditional group members, particularly the Ekpe society, would conduct his burial ceremonies and rites. Pa Okoko’s children and close relations reportedly acceded to the latter request but pleaded with him to rescind his decision on the former, in the sense that putting him in the morgue when he breathed his last would afford members of his Ekpe group and others enough time to prepare well for his burial. This he accepted, but taking his body to any church was no-go area.
Saturday Sun gathered that when Pa Okoko eventually died last month, his children decided to respect his wish by depositing his corpse in a morgue in the area but were not interested in organising a church funeral service in his honour. Trouble, however, started when the maternal side of the deceased’s family on whose shoulders Igbo customs place much of the burial responsibility prevailed on the children and close relations of the late centenarian that church service be conducted for him. In order not to give room for any hiccup during the burial, as according to custom, the maternal family members could disrupt the ceremonies if their opinion was not factored in, some of the children of the deceased acceded to the request.
■ Pastor drops dead conducting funeral of herbalist
The sleepy town of Asaga-Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State has been thrown into a deep shock and controversy following the death of a cleric who dropped dead while conducting the burial service of a renowned herbalist.
Saturday Sun gathered that Pa Oji Okoko, who was not only a notable herbalist but a leader of some powerful cult groups such as Uke Abaa, Akpan and Ekpe, had warned his family before his death that his corpse should not to be taken to any church for funeral. However, his burial few days ago was turned to a show of power in the community torn between two religions: Christianity and idolatry. The same town has produced Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and popular Evangelist, Rev Uma Ukpai who has taken evangelism around the globe.
Findings showed that the man at the centre of the controversy, the late Pa Okoko, a native of Nde Uduma Ukwu compound in Eziukwu village, Asaga, Ohafia in Ohafia local council, was a great hunter, a farmer and native doctor of repute. Being a member of several traditional and cult groups in his community like Uke Abaa, Akpan and Ekpe, Pa Okoko, before his death at the age of 104 years, was said not to have entered any church in his life time.
A polygamist married to six wives that bore him 26 children, Okoko was said to have called his first son, Kalu Oji Okoko along with others at a point when he knew he was nearing his grave and warned not to deposit his corpse in any mortuary when he dies and never to take him to any church or conduct any Christian funeral for him.
It was learnt that the order was to ensure that his traditional group members, particularly the Ekpe society, would conduct his burial ceremonies and rites. Pa Okoko’s children and close relations reportedly acceded to the latter request but pleaded with him to rescind his decision on the former, in the sense that putting him in the morgue when he breathed his last would afford members of his Ekpe group and others enough time to prepare well for his burial. This he accepted, but taking his body to any church was no-go area.
Saturday Sun gathered that when Pa Okoko eventually died last month, his children decided to respect his wish by depositing his corpse in a morgue in the area but were not interested in organising a church funeral service in his honour. Trouble, however, started when the maternal side of the deceased’s family on whose shoulders Igbo customs place much of the burial responsibility prevailed on the children and close relations of the late centenarian that church service be conducted for him. In order not to give room for any hiccup during the burial, as according to custom, the maternal family members could disrupt the ceremonies if their opinion was not factored in, some of the children of the deceased acceded to the request.
No comments:
Post a Comment