By The remains of the wife of the former Senate President and Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,Her Excellency,Lady Grace Nwakaku Nwafor Orizu (Obi Odu Akweke) was laid to rest at her country home, God’s Own Village, Ndiakwu Otolo Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria, on Friday the 5th of August 2022, aged 75 years.
She was married to His Excellency The Rt. Hon Dr. A.A. Nwafor Orizu ( GCON) and blessed with very successful children, among whom are Pharm. Dr. Chisolu Agbomma Okoli ( Nee Nwafor Orizu) (Deputy Director Pharmacy Department NAUTH Nnew), and wife of the former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice C.J.Okoli, Princess Ugoabo Nwafor Orizu and Hon. Prince Nnamsom Mbanefo Nwafor Orizu ( The Political Tiligada) former Chairman Committee On Petroleum, Anambra State and SSA to ex Governor Obiano on Youth Entrepreneur,, Mobilization and Strategy. Speaking to this Medium last Sunday shortly after the Thanksgiving/ Outing Service, the first daughter,Pharm. Dr. Chisolu Okoli ( Nee Nwafor Orizu) has this to say about her mother: “My mother was a versatile woman.peaceful,homely, artistic, sober and always thinking of what to do for other’s.She lived a good and examplary life.She was a Role Model and loved the work of the Almighty God. She was a Chorister and loved Music a lot.
She wouldn’t miss her Choir Practice for anything. In a nutshell, my mother was a loving woman that was cherished by everyone around her.”. On the qualities she imbibed from her, she replied: ” I imbibed so many qualities from her and if I am to mention some: a heart of giving , a peaceful nature and so many other qualities.” On the words of advice she gave to her, she answered: ”
She advised me that in whatever I’m doing, I should place God first.and that I should do my work diligently and to render selfless service to humanity to the best of my abilities.”.
On the fond memories she had with her, she replied: “Very many, we played a lot. She used to sing for us. She used to dance Calabar Dance for us. And so many other things.” On the kind of impact she had on her, she responded that it was so much, like being industrious, being hardworking, being truthful and helping others.. On her prayers for those who came from far and near to attend the funeral ceremony, she offered:. ”My prayer is that things will work out for them and they will receive God’s blessings in Jesus name. “.
Asked how she intends to carry her siblings along, she revealed: “Like I said, we should all gear up and leave everything in the hands of God. He has been leading us, guiding us and protecting us. He will continue to help us and cause doors to be opened for us.” Advising the upcoming young ladies in Nigeria, she said: “They should live a disciplined life and have God in their lives. They should have something they are looking forward to and it is important for them to have a Mentor. ” She finally gave God the glory and thanks for making everything successful especially in waging the rain, for the three days the ceremony lasted. And for making everything to work very well as everyone went back to their respective destinations happily without any hitch or ugly incident or accident.
In his comment, the first and only son of the deceased, Hon. Prince Nnamsom . Nwafor Orizu ( Tiligada) on what his mother meant to him: “”What she means to me is that she was my Best. She was my Best in this life. What I can say at this point in time is that I will really miss her. I no longer have a father or mother. I’m now a full father to my children and siblings. Without her, a lot of things would have gone wrong even in the Nwafor Orizu Family. She always towed the way of peace. And because I have no one else to listen to,I always gave her all my attention.So, anything she told me whether right or wrong,I always took it. And most of the times, they turned out to be positive, but now, I don’t know who to turn to for such words of advice. That vacuum will remain there for a long time.” On the words of advice she used to give him as a young man, he answered “”She didn’t talk too much. She was a very quiet woman. She always told me,” my son you know how your father is and I know you are the true son of your father. I won’t talk much. You should shine your eyes.Nothing more.’ “.
Asked if she gave him corporal punishment, he answered in the affirmative : ” Yes of course, she didn’t pet me and that is what made me to be strong today. I remember when I finished school and I bought my first car in Benin,after trading for about 6 Months, a BMW 5 Series. On my way to Awka,I stopped over. When she saw the car,she collected the key and seized it, saying that I’m now a Criminal, that where did I get money to buy a car. It took about 2 months to convince her. I had to bring the person I was trading with from Benin to talk to her and other people’s intervention before she released the key. The next thing I did was to cut her off for like 6 months. I didn’t talk to her and she almost died. She was a strict disciplinarian and she knew I could not challenge her for any reason. Some of these things made me to be more careful and to be protective of my father’s image.becaose of the kind of family I came from.”. Expressing his gratitude to all the people that came from far and near, he said: ” Well, I didn’t really expect people to be here the way they turned out due to the situation of the country. Most people already did what they supposed to have done if they had come physically. They showed me a lot of love. I got over 20 cows for the burial. If I can get over 20 cows to bury my mother,I think it is a good one.”. Asked to appreciate the people who made the event a success, he replied: ‘ Yes, starting with my elder sister,Pharm Dr. Chisolu Okoli Nee Nwafor Orizu. She is a wonderful woman. She really made me proud.She is a real daughter of my father. She is a great source of inspiration and relief to me. She happens to be the one that singlehandedly trained me in School, because I hadn’t entered the University before my father died. She trained me from Year1 to my Final Year. And now, she came and backed me up. I won’t stop thanking her for what she has done. Also Onwa Nwafor Orizu my brother, he has always been there for me, both in the planning and execution of the funeral ceremony. Then Ifeamuma my younger brother and Ide Obodo, I also want to thank Prince Ekenyen Nwafor Orizu and Prince Ofodile Nwafor Orizu. Also Dr. Uju Nwafor Orizu and Dame Esom Nwafor Orizu my sisters and my niece, Uma Obi Nwafor Orizu who wrote a very beautiful Tribute, and all my other brothers and sisters.Most importantly, I wish to express my profound gratitude to His Grace Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi, the Bishop of Nnewi, Anglican Communion, whose fatherly advice, receptive nature and cooperation was very encouraging.
And of course, General Garry Garry who was the G.O.C. here, then, he was a Colonel. We thank God also for the very clement weather. Rain did not drop for the entire period of the burial ceremony, no loss or theft was recorded, no accident or ugly incident, everything went on peacefully. For this and others,we remain very grateful to the Almighty God.”
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