The serene town of Ora-Eri in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State may not have ever seen the kind of crowd that thronged the town Friday, September 17, for the burial of Hon. John Ewelukwa Udegbunam, copyright activist and member of the Board of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), who died on July 3, 2021.
The expansive St Mary’s Catholic Church in the town could not contain the surging crowd that showed up for the special requiem mass officiated by His Grace, the Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese, Most Rev. (Dr) Peter Okpalaeke. It is a waste of time counting the reverend fathers who came from different dioceses across the country for the distinct requiem mass. There were priests and priests and priests everywhere and Rev. Sisters and Rev Brothers, so much so, that there was no place in the large pew of the beautiful church to accommodate them.
In his sermon, Bishop Okpaleke who had begun the day by visiting the country home of Udegbunam and saying prayers there, pointed to the unprecedented out-pouring of emotions and turnout of the catholic clergy at the funeral. He praised the profound service to the catholic faith of John Ewelukwa Udegbunam whom he said contributed immensely to the growth and spread of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN) around the country and used his unique talent to promote the Praise & Worship Ministry and till his death, remained an unflinching catholic.
The cleric compared the service to the Catholic Church of Udegbunam to his unwavering dedication to the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) where he was a staunch Board member and concluded that the linkage was clear. He said that one of the problems plaguing the nation was that there were many who want to reap without sowing and that COSON’s full engagement to curb that was commendable and consistent with biblical teachings.
Bishop Okpaleke commended the strong presence of the leadership and members of COSON at the funeral and that of the national officers of CCRN.
COSON whose flags were prominent everywhere from the vigil to the mortuary and from the church to the burial, had a strong delegation of the Board led by the Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji. Other Board members who stormed Ora-Eri include gospel minister, Kenny Saint Best who raised her voice to the heavens after the body was committed to mother earth. Also present was drummer-boy emeritus, Richard Cole; Engr. Sharon Esco Wilson Joshua, Evangelist Olusegun Omoyayi and Chief Uche Emeka Paul who did a first-class job in the organisation of the funeral. The COSON Management was represented by the General Manager, Mrs. Bernice Eriemeghe-Ashibogwu and Deputy General Manager, Mr. Vincent Adawaisi.
There were also several COSON members from different parts of the country at the funeral.
Some national officers of CCRN at the burial include National Chairman, Sir Uche Manu; Assistant Chairman, Bro Emmanuel Mobikwu; National Coordinator of the Praise & Worship Ministry, Bro Bede Amadi and other national, provincial and diocesan executives.
Said Chief Okoroji after the burial: “I am exceedingly satisfied that we have kept our word and honoured our dear friend and colleague like the special person he was. I believe that once again, we have shown that whether in life or in death, the COSON family does not forget its own. That is part of what makes COSON a respected and unique organisation. There is no one who represented that tradition more than the late Honorable John Ewelukwa Udegbunam who cared deeply about every COSON member, in good times and the not so good times. I have also said that there are two kinds of human beings in this world, the givers and the takers.
“Honourable Udegbunam was a giver. He gave his all for the good of all. We will never forget him”.
