A clergyman has decried the attitude of purported sympathisers who flock to accident scenes but who instead of extending a helping hand, get busy stealing the belongings of the victims. He said such evil acts, perpetrated by even professed Christians, portray the present generation as people with dead conscience and who convert every given opportunity to an advantage.

“People now see everything as an opportunity, an advantage and forget that one day, they will die,” he said. “We no longer fear committing evil. Why is evil multiplying in our generation?”

Venerable Okwui Chibogwu, the Archdeacon in charge of St. Luke’s Church, Anglican Communion, Osusu Parish in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, spoke during the funeral service in honour of late George Aliche a.k.a Chikwado.

Late Aliche, a retired driver, was killed in an accident when a 911 lorry rammed into his bus while he was conveying people to Ntigha market, Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, on the eve of this year’s Easter Sunday. Aged 63, his remains were buried in Osusu on Wednesday, June 23, 2016.

Ven. Chibogwu, who is also the Vicar of Diocese of Isiala Ngwa, Anglican Communion,

enjoined Christians to see life as an opportunity to sow good seed for which they would be remembered after their sojourn on earth.

He also enjoined every human being to eschew committing sins because their consequences were calamitous.

The clergyman noted that the problem of this generation consists not in hearing the gospel but in bearing good fruits as expected. He observed that people have continued to wallow in sin because they have erroneously embraced the church instead of Jesus Christ and called for a change of heart by Christians in such category for them to make heaven.

“Today, Paul says in the Bible that if anyone be in Christ, he did not say if anyone be in the church. We have given Christ the back seat in our lives, and embraced the church. The church seems to be the Christ because today, people could be in the church and not in Christ.

“The Bible says if any person be in Christ, he is a new creature. It means that you have accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ and have to forgo evil,” he said.

He said Nigeria would be a better country if Christians would genuinely accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ, stressing that only those who received Christ were given power to be children of God.

“Today, late George is inviting you to wash your hands off every evil and embrace Christ,” Ven. Chibogwu said, while extolling the virtues of their departed member.

He recalled that the late George was the Chairman of their church project committee and rendered selfless service with great commitment and dedication, even then, other members deserted the committee.

“He was the chairman and sole supervisor of our church hall project which we had resolved to roof this year. It is painful that he would no longer witness the roofing of the building.

“He was a very quiet, calm man who never worked out of force or coercion. He did things willingly, gently and maturely. His death is a very big blow to the entire community and the church. We thank God for the life he lived. He touched and affected lives positively. He took Christ as his role model,” the man of God said.

In a tribute to his late elder brother, Dr. Azubuike Aliche, said George literally became the breadwinner of their family few years to the death of their father. Dr. Aliche said George formally assumed the headship of their family after the death and catered for the education of his five younger siblings. Aside from his family, he said George used his time and talent to serve others with sincerity and happiness.

In the biography of the late George, Dr. Aliche wrote that the deceased earned his First School Leaving Certificate in 1970 and could not proceed with secondary school education because their parents were poor but went to live with their cousin who put him in charge of a provision store which he managed well.

According to the biography, George returned home in 1976 to set up his business by trading in stockfish heads and later expanded his business to buying, storing and reselling palm oil and was able to save enough money with which he bought his first mini-van in 1982, and by 1984, his fleet of vehicles had increased to three.

“The purchase of a van started a new phase in George Aliche’s life. Under the brand name of Chikwado Transport Company, he launched an inter-city bus service covering Aba to Umuahia.

“Getting into transport business at the time he did enabled George to make a fundamental difference in the lives of members of his family. Soon he quickly became a rock and pillar in the family helping to pay school fees and other important needs of his younger brothers and sisters,” Dr. Aliche recalled, adding that his late brother equally used his resources to serve the church and his community. He prayed God to grant George eternal rest in his bosom.

•Photo shows late George Aliche a.k.a Chikwado.

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