By Timothy Ekpo
ONNA
The Akwa Ibom governor has eulogised the late Elder Edo Jonathan Ekim, who passed on at the age of 86 years.
Pastor Umo Eno, presented the condolence message recently at a funeral service in honour of Late Elder Edo Jonathan Ekim, aka, Elder Edo Unwana, which took place at Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area and conducted by Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Life Tabernacle, Eket.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the governor, on behalf of the government and people of the State, presented his condolence to Nollywood actress, Iniobong Edo, said the passing away of a loved one indeed evoked a painful and agonising feeling, and affirmed that he shared in the pain of the family over the bereavement.
He encouraged members of the family to take solace in the scripture that the passing of a believer was the key that opens the vault of heaven, notwithstanding how emotionally wrenching this moment may represent in their lives, particularly the wife of the departed.
The governor described the late Elder Ekim as a devote Christian, who led his life with Godly virtues and had successfully implanted these enabling values in his children and those who came in contact with him.
He expressed gratitude to God that the late Ekim lived long enough to see his children grew up and added commendable value to humanity, like actress Ini Edo, described as nationally and internationally celebrated Nollywood actress.
Eno urged members of the family to sustain the noble values such as love for God and community which had defined their father’s life while on earth.
“That way, you will write the most cherished epitaph in his honour and pencil his name in the hearts of the thousands who knew him,” he stressed.
He prayed God to grant the family members the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and keep the soul of the departed in the bosom of Abraham.
The immediate past governor of the State and cousin of the deceased, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, in his tribute maintained that the hope of a Christian lied in the Church and that without the Church there could be no hope.
Emmanuel particularly appreciated the wife of the deceased for her commitment to the welfare and well-being of her late husband, saying without the steadfastness of the wife, Ekim would not have lived to the ripe age of 86 years.
He recalled with admiration the deceased’s times in Lagos where he would receive and accommodate Akwa Ibom people as his own people, with bountiful love.
The former governor equally thanked God for the conducive weather which made the funeral hitch-free as well as the leadership and members of Solid Rock Kingdom Church for coming out in their numbers to honour their late Elder Edo Unwana.
In his homily, the general secretary of the Church, Pastor Linus Ukoenang, who spoke on the theme, “The Race of Life,” said life is a race.
Ukoenang, who took his preaching from Timothy 4:1-8, stressed that everyday we wake up and begin to run, bemoaning that one of the troubles we have as humans in life was that we are never always prepared for death.
Describing death as inevitable, he emphasised that no matter how successful one may be in life, he or she will depart this earth plane in due time.
He likened life to a relay race, saying the deceased was a ministering Elder, an extrovert and outspoken person who will never fail to bare his mind during church meetings.
“What will you be remembered for? Leave a legacy of love, kindness and charity,” he advised, noting that the essence of life was to touch lives, because at the end of life, nobody will remember what he or she had, the position he or she held, but the lives he or she touched and urged Christians to be guided.
The funeral was graced by numerous members of the political class, Nollywood actors, friends of the Edo Ekim’s family and sympathisers.
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