By TINA TIMOTHY

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has expressed gratitude to God and ‘critical stakeholders in Anambra State and beyond’ that the funerals held for two ‘respected daughters and heroines of Ezinifite in Aguata, Anambra State, Lady Ngozika Umeoji (ADA GBARU-ODU) and Lolo Patricia Umeagbalasi’ in April and June, 2022 respectively were both successful and hitch free, despite the ‘raging security threats and other unsafe conditions that have gripped the area in recent times’.

Intersociety, in a “thank you all” press statement issued in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria on Sunday, June 12, 2022 and signed by its Head, Campaign and Publicity, Barr Chidinma Udegbunam, also deeply appreciates all who joined to bid ‘farewell to the heroines’ of Umeoji and Umeagbalasi families.

The statement reads: “The Int’l Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) is deeply thankful to the God Almighty and critical stakeholders in Anambra State and beyond for successful funerals held for two respected daughters and heroines of Ezinifite in Aguata, Anambra State: Lady Ngozika Umeoji (ADA GBARU-ODU) and Lolo Patricia Umeagbalasi. The two daughters and what they stood for during their lifetimes are special gifts to Ezinifite Community. While Lady Ngozika Umeoji during her irreplaceable time was ‘a symbol of modern day humanitarianism and philantrophism’, Lolo Patricia Umeagbalasi during her time belonged to ‘apostleship of human rights and societal decency’, through which Intersociety was born. Late Lady Ngozika Umeoji was the mother to the ‘Godmother of modern day philantrophism and humanitarianism’; Lady Adaora Umeoji. Late Lolo Patricia Umeagbalasi, on her part, was the mother to ‘Eastern Nigeria’s Human Rights Godfather’, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi.

“Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi is locally and internationally respected human rights and democracy campaigner and founder of Intersociety and Intersociety he founded is Nigeria’s leading research and investigative rights group.

“Lady Adaora Umeoji, on her own part, is an unrivalled philanthropist and humanist who presently holds forth as Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank Worldwide. Through her late mother (Lady Ngozi Umeoji) and late father (Sir Andy Umeoji), thousands of Nigerians of different ethnic and religious divides have secured gainful employment in various banks including Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of others under them or their dependencies have also benefitted and still benefit from their scholarships and other critical social interventions.

“On the other hand, through research and investigative findings and other strategic advocacy interventions, tens of thousands of citizens have benefitted and still benefit from Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi or Intersociety which he founded. Millions of others have also benefitted and still benefit at large. Intersociety is also one of the highly respected and authoritative sources of information for policy makers, local and int’l nongovernmental, governmental and intergovernmental institutions/bodies, activists, campaigners, informed critics, academicians and academic/research institutions as well as security, defense and intelligence authorities in Nigeria and beyond. Intersociety and Emeka Umeagbalasi have saved and still save lives and exposed, documented or archived state actor and non-state actor atrocities and their perpetrators.

“It is therefore on the basis of the foregoing that Intersociety wishes to deeply thank the critical stakeholders within and outside Anambra State for the two successful funerals organized by the two respected families and their friends and well-wishers for their departed Heroines. Granted that the two funerals can never be compared in terms of size, shape, expenditure and attendance, but they uniquely and truly represented the symbol of human decency, conscience, protection, happiness and nobility. Their respective social bearings are also worthy of emulation. In other words, society will always fare much better if it is blessed with such priceless humanity gifts and sacrifices, technically referred to as ‘posterity rewarded in-kind resources’.

“It must be remembered that the funeral of Late Lolo Patricia Umeagbalasi was held on 21st and 22nd April 2022 with outing service on 24th April 2022 while that of Late Lady Ngozika Umeoji was flamboyantly held on 8th to 10th June 2022 with outing service on 12th June 2022. The most important of it all was that two funerals were successfully held without danger and harm in the midst of raging security threats and other unsafe conditions that have gripped the area in recent times. It must be remembered too that Lady Adaora Umeoji has other beloved siblings including Sir Chukwuma Umeoji (first son/chief mourner), who is also current member representing the Aguata Federal Constituency at Nigeria's House of Reps. Among them too are the serving Assistant Commissioner of Police, Barrister Ifeanyi Umeoji, Emeka Umeoji, a billionaire/doctorate degree holder in Computer Engineering, Bosah Umeoji as well as Reverend Father Prof Charles Umeoji, pioneer Catholic Priest in Ezinifite Aguata/Lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

“Finally, our special thanks go to all that participated and ensured that the burials/funerals were successfully and peacefully conducted. They specially include the "rain and bullet magicians" that heeded our earlier public appeals for warm weather and secured environment for the two funerals to successful take place in immortal honour of the two worthy and respected families and their departed daughters.

“Noted and appreciated were the efforts of the deployed security operatives at the two funerals. However, it must be incontrovertibly pointed out here that all the state actor security arrangements would have been a ruse if “rains and bullets” and their “magicians” had turned their back and caused the “rains and bullets” to wreak havoc during the two funerals at Afor Umunze or Nkwo Umuchu or Orie Uga or Nkwo Igboukwu or Afor Nnobi or Eke Ekwulobia or Afor Amaekwulu-Ezinifite Roundabout, among others. It is a truism that if these had happened, the scenes of the two funerals would have become a ghost town irrespective of the number of security operatives deployed.

“We will not end this "thank you all" statement without singling out the following personalities for commendation and appreciation. Commended and appreciated for attending Lolo Patricia Umeagbalasi's funeral on 21st and 22nd April 2022 include Professors Orabueze (Dean, Faculty of Arts, UNN), Jerry Chiedozie Chukwuokoro, C. Ubanyonwu, Maurise Umeakuka, Obasi gwe (a renowned Prof at UNN), Uzodimma Nwala, (President of ADF), among others. Lawyers in attendance are Barristers C. Ubanyonwu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor (Nnamdi Kanu's Lead Counsel), Aloysius Ejimakor (Nnamdi Kanu's Special Counsel), Val Obienyem, Chidinma Udegbunam, Obianuju Igboeli, Justus Ijeoma and Violet Ezekweike, among others. Among Ndi-Ichie in attendance are Ichies Ezenofor, Umeatuegbu, Obiohana, Aloysius Olike, among others. Other highly respected personalities in attendance are His Excellency, Chief Peter Obi (former Governor of Anambra State), Onowu Nkporogwu (Traditional Prime Minister), High Chief Emma Okenyeka, Media Guru, Tai Emeka Obasi, the Ekwulobia Branch Manager of Zenith Bank and his team. The leading Civil Society leaders in attendance are Comrades Aloysuis Attah of Southeast CLO, Nnana Nwafor of FENRAD, Abia State and Vincent Ezekwume and other key members of the Southeast Civil Society Coalition and the Anambra State Branch of the Civil Liberties Organization. Among Billionaires in attendance are Chief Engineer Ikechukwu Umeaku of TESMACO Group, Chief Chukwuma Iloh of INCO Group, Chief Finbarrs Ofodum of OKWUISM Group who also holds the traditional chieftaincy title of ‘Eze Ofor Eji-eje Mba of Aguata’, Chief Josiah Umekesiobi (Aku Atu-Egwu N’Uga). Chairman of the Ogbo-Ogwu(Drugs) Int'l Market, Onitsha, Chief Ndubuisi Chukwulota as well as Uchenna Umeozuluorah and Ikenna Umeh (young millionaires) are also thanked in a special way. Intersociety also wishes to thank former Commissioner Azuka Enemo, former SSG, Oselloka Obaze, the Ekwenche Research Institute, Chicago, USA/Prof Justin Akujieze, the Alaigbo Dev Foundation/Prof Uzodimma Nwala and Chiefs Mbama Amadiebube and John Greg (an influential US citizen/friend) for their supports and good wishes.

“Commended too are those in the long list of the personalities that graced the funeral of Lady Ngozika Umeoji including Anambra State Gov, Charles Soludo, Prof former Gov Peter Obi, Prof Stella Okuna (DVC, Paul University, Awka), Senator Nnamdi Ubah, Reverend Fathers Ejike Mbaka, Obimma (Ebubemmuonso) and 300 other Catholic Priests, Cardinal designate, Bishop Peter Okpalaeke and eighteen other Catholic Bishops; two Anglican Bishops and nine Anglican Priests, eleven Pentecostal Pastors and dozens of Traditional Rulers and Ndi-Ichie. Others are top security chiefs and Government functionaries, major political players, etc.”

•PHOTO: Ex-Governor Peter Obi, Onowu Nkporogwu, High Chief Emma Okenyeka and others in a group photograph with Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi