TheHILL | News | MARCH 4.
Top contender for Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District election in 2023, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-Eyen and wife; Mrs Ime Inyang-Eyen were among eminent personalities who on Friday, attended the funeral service of the late Elder Emmanuel Udoka, at Ikot Okpok, Edemya, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
The deceased, father-in-law of Engr. Uwem Akpan, a senior Engineer in the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Works and Fire Service, died at the age of 76.
The funeral service conducted by the Methodist Church Nigeria, held at Methodist Group School ground, Ikot Okpok, Ikot Abasi LGA.
In his message, Akparawa Inyang-Eyen, who led an array of his supporters to the agrarian community, said, the gathering was to celebrate not just the passing of the father-in-law of a brother and friend but to celebrate the passing of a rare breed.
“Elder Emmanuel Udoka was a man who loved God and things of the LORD. He worked so hard to provide for his family and community. This, he did conscientiously.
“He enjoyed the grace of God and the mercies of God himself; if you look at his biography, you will find that he enjoyed the mercies of God. He was a member of the Diocesan Council and Synod of the Methodist Church Nigeria, an accredited laypreacher and an ordained Elder,” Inyang-Eyen said.
The former Commissioner for Works and Chief of Staff to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, said that, the above mentioned inheritance was neither in possession nor in money, pointing out that it was the gospel of Jesus Christ that the deceased gave to his children and to all of those that he came across.
Earlier in his sermon, the very Reverend Unyime Effiong Udoh, said that `death is a debt’ which everybody must pay.
The man of God urged Christians to live their lives in a manner that would earn them heaven when they die.
He said that one’s status would not earn one heaven unless one lived a worthy life.
The Clergyman thanked God for the ‘impactful life’ of the deceased as a Christian father.
Meanwhile, the long list of sympathizers at the funeral service included, a former member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon (Engr) Otobong Ndem, former member, ONNA State Constituency, Hon Charile Oton, former Chairman, Mkpat Enin Local Government Council, Hon Ephraim Akpan, among others.
