The Bishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Awkunanaw Diocese, His Lordship, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Dennis Okechukwu Mark has condoled with the family of Hon. Barr. Emeka Okeke, former Enugu state Commissioner, over the death of his father, Chief Okeke J. Omagu. Chief Okeke passed on, peacefully, aged 92, on Saturday, 24th of February, 2024, at his home, Obuoffia Awkunanaw, a suburb of Enugu.
Visiting the Obuoffia country home of the Okekes, the Bishop said he recieved the news of the passing of the patriarch with empathy to the ex-Commissioner and the entire family, and that his thoughts and prayers have since been with the family for the irreparable loss. He said he was in the Okeke family home in solidarity. He prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed head of the family, extolling the virtues of the fallen patriarch who, according to the Bishop, was a renowned community and religious leader whose exemplary life and dedication to community and religious causes are worthy of emulation.
Bishop Mark advised the ex-commissioner and the Okeke family to be consoled by the worthy legacies of their late father whose outstanding track record of hard work, honesty and integrity is being testified to by all and sundry in the community.
Earlier, the Presbyter, Very Rev. Chinedum Emmanuel Okonkwo of Immanuel Methodist Catheral, Obuoffia Awkunanaw, where the patriarch worshipped, had sent a message to the ex-commissioner expressing the condolences of himself, the Church Council and entire members of the Catheral, stating that “it saddened my heart to recieve the shocking news of your father’s demise … I was opportuned to have had contacts with him alongside your beloved mother in my pastoral visits in Obuoffia community and administration of the Holy Eucharist to the sick and the aged. Though Papa’s health was fragile when, Iast, I visited him and Mama, sometime, early this month (February, 2024) I was thrilled by their mutuality, age notwithstanding. His passing was just unexpected to me as it further confirms the uncertainty of life and death as the way of all mortals. No doubt, Papa will be greatly missed by your family, the Church, and the entire Obuoffia community, especially Mama with whom he built a family reflecting the awesome grace and mercies of God. We … encourage you to take solace in Papa’s life and times as a fulfilled man and an illustration of a man that saw tomorrow and worked for it … Your Daddy came, saw, and, now, has conquered. Now, he lives on with the greatest of men”.
Bishop Mark was accompanied in the visit by Very Rev. Chinedum Emmanuel Okonkwo, Presbyter, Immanuel Methodist Cathedral, Obuoffia Awkunanaw, Barr. L. S. Ugwu, Diocesan Legal Adviser and a host of other members of the Church Council.
