It was harvest of tears on Friday as the body of the slain Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebony State Council, Comrade Samuel Nweke, was laid to rest in his hometown, Anumocha, Ezzama in Ezza South Local Government Area of the State.
The funeral service was officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Dioscese, Michael Okoro, represented by Rev. Father Richard Igwe, while the coffin was borne by the Knight of St John International, of which Nweke was a member during his lifetime.
The first son of the deceased, Chigozie Nweke, delivering a tribute, described his father as a friend and best father in the world.
He bemoaned the fate of the family as very pathetic without his father and expressed hope that he would meet him on the resurrection day.
In a condolence message by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Senator Emmanuel Once, the State Government described the death as very painful.
Umahi however, noted that there was light at the end of the tunnel as the legacies left behind by Nweke has started taking a positive toll on his family.
While encouraging the family to take solace in God, the Governor presented to the family a cheque of N5 million, representing his earlier pledge for the Education Foundation of the children as well as empowerment for the wife and parents.
The State Government also donated a Sienna bus to the family for conveying the children to and from school as earlier pledged.
Meanwhile, the Council Chairman of Ezza South, Sunday Ogodo, pledged to undertake the payment of the late Nweke’s Children’s school fees throughout the period of his tenure in the council area.
In a condolence message signed by the National President of the NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, and its Secretary, Shuaibu Leman, the late Nweke was described as a young, vibrant and dynamic comrade who was cut down in his prime when the Union and indeed the country needed his services the most.
They prayed God to unravel the mystery surrounding his death as well as give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
In an interview, the State Chairman of the Union, Deaconess Veronica Osim, eulogised the late Nweke as humorous, cooperative and easy going professional reputed for kindness and respect for constituted authorities.
Osim lamented that the NUJ in the State would miss his effective representation in the national affairs of the union and prayed God to give his soul eternal rest.
In a sermon earlier, Igwe admonished Christians to imbibe the virtues of Christ and shun all forms of evil.
He added that the power of life and death lies in God’s hands and called on all believers to live righteously so as to be able to face death at anytime without fear.
The national, zonal and state officers of the NUJ, including Isiguzo and the South East z
Zonal Chairman, Petrus Obi, were in attendance at the funeral.
The Management and Staff of the Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation, where the late Nweke worked as a Principal Reporter, also showed unprecedented solidarity.
The Union had on Thursday night held a candle procession in honour of the late Nweke, starting from the NUJ Secretariat through the major roads and terminating at the Government House, Abakaliki.
Recall that the state NUJ Vice Chairman lost his life on October 5 during an armed robbery attack on the Ebonyi State contingent along the Nkalagu axis of Enugu-Abakaliki Highway on their way back from the 6th triennial Conference of the Union held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
