The body of Chief Mathias Ekweremadu, Enugu State Commissioner for Transport and a brother to the former Deputy Senate President, Professor Ike Ekweremadu, was on Friday laid to rest in his home town, Mpu, Aninri Local Government area of Enugu State.
Mathias Ekweremadu was a serving member of the Enugu State Executive Council and was defending budget of his ministry when he slumped and died on February 4, 2021.
In a sermon at the funeral service, Bishop of Awgu and Aninri Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Benson Chukwunweike, advised Christians to use their position to worship God and touch lives.
Speaking on the Theme “Do not waste that grace”, Bishop Chukwunweike stressed the need for man to use any oppurtunity he finds himself positively.
He said that it was appointed unto man once to die and after that judgement adding that death was divine.
” Death does not respect age or position because all great, small, rich and poor must go the same path.
” It would have been you but the will of God for all mankind that are alive is to repent, amend your ways so that you will not only die but perish, ” he advised.
In a vote of a thanks, Mr Bright Ekweremadu, the elder brother of Senator Ike Ekweremadu thanked all that supported the family.
According to him, ”The family received various positive advice from the church, clergy, friends and well wishers.
” I promised the wife of my late brother and the children that they will not be left to suffer”.
Ekweremadu called on friends and well wishers not to abandon their family after the burial.
He said that members of the Ekweremadu family were united and that, there had not been any form of quarrel and would never be.
Ekweremadu thanked the Enugu State Government for the befitting burial given to his brother.
Eulogising the late commissioner, the chairman, Enugu Tricycle Riders Association, Mr Benjamin Ekah, described the late Ekweremadu as a humanitarian.
He described his death as a big shock to Enugu Tricycle Riders and the Transport sector at large.
Ekah said that he sat with late Ekweremadu days before his death where he advised him on how to manage tricycle association in the state positively.
”I never knew he was going to die but we cannot question God. Right inside me, I lost a brother, friend, mentor and a team leader”
The former Deputy Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, James Onyeabor, described Ekweremadu’s death as a big loss to Aninri Local Government Family.
” Ekweremadu was a philanthropist and he touched lives right from his time as the chairman of Aninri Local Government Area.
” Aninri will miss him as a member of the one big family known as, ” Aninri family.
In his words, Chief Gabriel Mbanusi said that Igbo Council of Chiefs in Plateau State initially, did not believe the news of the death of their member.
Mbanusi who is the President of Igbo Council of Chiefs Dengi in Kanan Local Government Area, Plateau State said that the news of Ekweremadu’s death was unbelievable.
” Ekweremadu was a member, Council of Chiefs in Plateau State before he left us to join politics.
The church service, which took place at the Mpu Community Primary School, amid tears, was attended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, the deputy governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, Clerics, traditional rulers, members of the Enugu State Executive Council, House of Assembly members, security chiefs in the state and others.
