Former Special Adviser on Health to former President Shehu Shagari, and one-time President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), late Archbishop Friday Osaro Nwator, has been laid to rest in his home-town, Ogale in Eleme local government area of Rivers State.

Until his death on April 6, 2015, at the age of 74, Nwator was the President of the Integrity Bishops and Faithful Ministers Network Worldwide, and a member of Nigeria’s first Constituents Assembly in 1977, an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), a philanthropist and bridge-builder.

In his sermon at the funeral service held at Otor-Eleme civic centre, a cleric, and senior Pastor of Redemption Ministries, worldwide, Rev. Stephen Akinola urged Christians to emulate the virtues of the late Archbishop, stressing that the late Nwator touched lives positively in his lifetime.

Akinola, expressed confident that the late clergy was now seated at the right hand of God in view of the good virtue he exhibited while alive acknowledging that the late revered Archbishop left behind a big shoe that will be difficult to fill, urging his children to strive to occupy it.

Quoting the book of Numbers 36 verse 6 and Ecclesiastics 71, the Cleric said it pays to live an honourable life, noting that good name was better than wealth, and urged the people to ensure that their garments were kept clean by not soiling their hands in evil.

In his tribute, Senator Magnus Abe described the late Nwator, who was the first medical doctor from Eleme local government area of Rivers State as a man of God in many ways, all of which were wonderful and exemplary.

Abe said the deceased Archbishop did not only take care of his immediate family, but extended same to all who were opportune to come in contact with him, and advised the family to take solace in the fact that he lived an exemplary life and has gone to rest in the bosom of his maker.

The first son of the deceased and a Commissioner representing South-South in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dominic Nwator, had while reading his father’s biography described him as a medical doctor with a heart of gold.

Among dignitaries at the funeral service were the former Governor of old Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-George; the Chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and President Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Gininwa, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside; and several others from across the world.

•Photo shows late Archbishop Nwator.

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