Professor Ezeala goes home in a blaze of glory.
2 min read
The moment the VIP ambulance conveying the body of Prof JOL Ezeala was cited in Umuaka in a motorcade from Owerri, the atmosphere of the community immediately changed. People started running helter skeelter with the aim of catching the glimpse of the man who lived a peaceful life. The long motorcade caused a heavy traffic logjam especially at the UBA area of Orlu Owerri Road. The security architecture at the event, which was comprised of policemen, civil defence and some other paramilitary forces spent big chunk of their time trying to control both human and vehicular traffic on the road.
Many people who were interested to enter the royal compound of the Ezealas in order to pay their last respect to the famous Egbendu and Papa Onye Eze, were barred by the security men from entering the compound. This was so serious that even some photographers were not allowed into the compound. When an Umuaka Times reporter who witnessed the event tried to get into the compound, some security officials who did not know of Umuaka Times tried to prevent him. The intervention of Mr Justin Ehirim, an Obinwanne youth and a friend of Umuaka Times, gave the reporter an express “visa” to the compound.
Then came the lying-in state. Lawyers, Catholic Knights, Christian fathers, Obinwanne Council of Chiefs, Christian mothers, royal fathers, family relations, community leaders and a host of others too numerous to mention took time to pay their last respect to the iconic legal luminary.
As this was happening, the St Mary’s Catholic Church Umuaka, where the late Professor mostly worshipped during his life time had been put in shape for the requiem Mass. Students of Santa Maria Secondary School had all lined up from the gate of the church compound with the school band, waiting for the arrival of the motorcade carrying the remains of the erudite professor of law. In no distant time, the motorcade arrived and the Mass service kicked off.
The Bishop of Orlu Diocese, His Lordship Ukwuoma was in attendance with a host of priests. The officiating priest who happens to be the parish priest at St Mary’s Catholic Church Rev Father Martin Egwuogu took his time to explain a lot about living and dying. Despite describing the late JOL Ezeala as a real child of God who had the vision of eternal glory, he appealed to Christians to always appreciate death because it opens the door to eternal glory for children of God who would meet and remain with Christ.
At the close of the church service, the body of Prof Ezeala was taken back to his compound where the priests prayed and blessed the grave and it was immediately interred, bringing to an end a journey of 82 years on earth.
Umaka Times sympathizes with the entire Ezeala family over the death of her son.
