All is set for the burial of Sir Mathew Oguike.
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Every activity and preparation including traditional and religious rites for the burial of the late Uba Umuaka born sage, foremost chieftaincy title holder, Catholic Knight, educationist and politician of the old order, Sir Mathew Oguike have been successfully concluded. Uche Oguike, the first son of the deceased and a UK based doctor who is the chief consultant of Hildebrant Ltd Group of Practices disclosed this in an exclusive interview last week when the local affairs correspondent of Umuaka Times called on.
The late sage Sir Mathew Okoroaku Oguike until his death held the chieftaincy title of Ogbuhrozo n’Umuaka and was also the patriarch of the Oguike dynasty of Umuduruori Umuezikoha Uba Umuaka in Njaba LGA Imo State Nigeria. He passed on a few months ago precisely on Tuesday July 9, 2024 after a brief illness.
Sir Mathew Oguike’s farewell journey begins on Wednesday 18 December 2024, where a Christian and traditional wake keep and service of songs have been scheduled to hold at his residence by 8pm in Umuezikoha Uba for the repose of his soul.
By 7 am the following day being Thursday December 19, the remains of Sir Mathew Oguike will leave Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Nne Enyemaka) also known as the Shrine in a motorcade to the palace of His Royal Highness, Eze Henry Izuchukwu Ojinnaka in Uba for a brief stopover and homage. Immediately after the stopover, his remains will arrive at Obiukwu Umuduruori briefly before heading to his house for a lying in state to enable his people, family, relations, friends and special guests to pay their last respect to the man who helped to shape and inspire academic education in Umuaka over 5 decades ago.
A requiem Mass follows immediately by 10 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The church service is scheduled to start by 10 am. Interment will follow by 12 midday at the compound of Chief Mathew Oguike in Uba Umuaka. Thanksgiving Mass holds on Sunday December 22, 2024 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help also known as Nne Enyemaka Shrine.
Umuaka Times investigations on the life and times of the late Sir Oguike showed that the late gentleman was a foremost principal and the first Akalite and indeed in the then Mbano of Umuaka, Ekwe, Amandugba and Amurie to study in the United States of America. His sojourn to the United States made great news among his age mates and non-age mates in the entire Mbano communities. He indeed inspired others to follow his footsteps in the acquisition of academic knowledge in the United States.
The death of Sir Mathew Oguike did not only create a historical and academic vacuum in Umuaka Municipal Council, it also created a strong vacuum for point of reference; young historians and researchers in Umuaka will henceforth have no one to run to for research questions. Sir Oguike died at the age of 91 years.
