By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Abuja
A senior renowned journalist, Abbanobi – Eku Onyekachi, former chairman of Association of Igbo Media Practitioners (Ogene Ndigbo), Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has lost her elder sister, Late Mrs Margaret Onyekodi Nnebe, nee Abbanobi – Eku.
Speaking on the sad development, Abbanobi –Eku said that late Margaret, a native of Akwuoba Village in Ogbunka, a Community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, until her death was married in neighbouring Agbala Village, also in Ogbunka’ He said that late Mrs Nnebe, AKA Address Umuagbara, died around 3am, on April the 5th, 2024.
Until her death, late Margaret was a leader in the church, in politics mobilizer and in the community and pioneer chairlady of St Philip’s Zone, under St Monica’s Catholic Parish, Ogbunka Community, under Ekwulobia Catholic Dioceses of Anambra State. Address Umuagbara as she is fondly called by Umu Umuagbara (the women group in the society), was born in 1951and died at the age of 73 years.
However, her remains had since been buried to the mother earth, but her funeral has been fixed from July the 4th, 2023 in her father’s compound, Akwuoba Village and her husband’s place in Agbala, all in Ogbunka Community.
Calling on mothers, Christians and non Christian to emulate Address Umuagbara, both in the church activities, politics and in the community, the chairlady of St Monica’s Catholic Parish, Ogbunka Community, Mrs Chizoba Mbadugha confirmed that as the first chairlady of St Philip’s Catholic Zone, she used her leadership acumen to make the zone very strong.
“If she isn’t a good Christian, who until her death was participating selflessly in church and other leadership, the popular Asamma Dancing Group won’t come to her funeral. But for the fact that her contribution to the church and other areas, members of Asamma Dancing Group had concluded all arrangements to ensure that she is given a befitting funeral” she said.
Speaking to journalists, while shedding tears, Abbanobi – Eku said,
“Although, she was my full blooded sister, this woman that has just died was like a mother to me. As a baby, she was my baby seater, carrying me on her back, from time to time; from one place to the other. Infact I used to take her to be my mother, and that was the reason why, I usually go to her whenever I travelled to Ogbunka, our home town. But now, I have lost her and there is nothing I should do other than to live everything to God Who knows it all.”
Left to mourn her were her daughters, sons, grand children, great grandchildren, inlaws, brothers and sisters, among whom is Abbanobi – Eku Onyekachi.
