…As Journalists Bid Farewell To Late Azubike
The body of late veteran Port Harcourt based journalists, Chief Godfrey Azubike who died on Saturday, October 12, 2019 was on Friday laid to rest in his home village, Amuzi, Dim-Na-Nume in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State.
Among sympathizers who turned up to pay their last respect were members of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by Chairman, Mr. Job Stanley Job and Secretary, Mr. Ike Wigodo. Also present were members of the State chapter of the Federated Correspondents Chapel led by Chairman, Chief (Sir) Ernest Chinwo and Secretary, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo.
Late Chief Godfrey Azubike was until his death, Vice Chairman of the Federated Correspondents Chapel and leading voice in the state NUJ.
It was rain of tears from his loved ones as his remains was moved from St. Mary’s Joint Hospital mortuary, Amaigbo where it was taken to his maternal home, Umuozu Town. It later proceeded to Umuopara Town where it was received by the executive members of Dim-Na-Nume Town Union, a body which Azubike, until death served as National Vice Chairman.
Before interment at his family compound in Amuzi Village, Dim-Na-Nume in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, the body of the late journalist which at many times in his career, worked as Rivers State Correspondent to Champion, Punch, Newswatch and lately Verbatim Magazine, was taken to New Covenant Anglican Church, Amuzi for a special commendation service.
Delivering the sermon, Resident Priest, Rev. Benjamin Okonkwo while extolling the sterling virtues that was embedded on the late journalist, noted the need for Christians to ‘die in Christ’ as that is the only prerequisite to become a true child of God.
The cleric who preached a message he captioned ‘Dying in Christ’, urged humanity to be conscious of relationship with God before they leave the earth.
“Oftentimes, people misunderstand ‘dying in Christ’ as being in the church. They think that since they are there in the church and fulfilling all the obligations, nothing will stop them from making heaven.
“But that is not the truth. The truth remains that before one can die in Christ, one must be in Christ and for one to be in Christ, he or she must have accepted the call of Christ according to Rev. 3:20 where He said that He stands at the door and knock, that whosoever that hears and opens, He will enter”, Okonkwo submits.
He went on: “Those in Christ can be known even while on earth because if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. His old ways of life would pass away and people around him will see a new person as reflected in his attitude and manifestation of the fruits of the Spirit”.
He said if the larger society and nation would imbibe the teaching, Nigeria, according to him, would be a better place for all.
He charged humanity to the reality of the inevitability of death, stating that death is not the end of life but, according to him, the beginning of eternity.
He said in view of this, it is incumbent on humanity to get prepared because, according to him, God could call anytime.
