…As Mom Is Laid To Rest In Okika
People from all walks of life gathered at Ibaka, Okrika Local Government Area on Saturday to bid farewell to late Mrs. Patience Aduko Johnson Okpoko who died on August 16, 2018.
The deceased who was the mother of the Rivers State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Samuel Okpoko died at the age of 73.
Spiced by colourful choral renditions by the church choir, a funeral service held at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, Ibaka before her interment, was graced by friends, relations and party chieftains including former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and Rivers PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah.
Others are former and serving members of the National Assembly, former and serving members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Local Government Chairmen, Commissioners, Special Advisers to the Governor, royal fathers, youths and women groups.
Delivering his sermon at the occasion, the Anglican Bishop of Okrika Diocese, Rt. Rev. Tubokosemie Abere JP, harped on the consequences of sin, while urging all present to emulate the godly life lived by deceased.
Bishop Abere enjoined Christians to live righteously, adding that those who take to God’s instructions are rewarded with peace and prosperity.
He described the deceased as an epitome of a blessed woman, adding that she produced godly and spiritual children as evidenced by the plethora of encomiums being showered on her.
The cleric who took his text from Psalms chapter 23, likened human lives to a vapour which appears and vanishes in a twinkle of an eye, warning that every minute of our lives counts and should not be wasted in sinful living.
“We need to give ourselves completely to God as we shall all return to him to face judgment when we die. We must acknowledge him as our maker and the only one who can save us from our sins”, he preached.
Highpoint of the event was the traditional disengagement of the deceased from the 6th Company, Boys Brigade of St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, Okrika where she featured prominently during her life time.
During the brief but soulful performance, her name was called up among those of other members who were present in church.
With her remains lying firmly on the casket which was draped in the colours of the Boys Brigade, ‘Mrs. Patience Aduko Johnson Okpoko’ was called up three times, but when it become obvious she would not respond, Benjamin Kiofori, the Captain of Okrika Boys Brigade, then removed the drape from the coffin and declared her discharged, formerly disengaging her from the group.
