Dana Crash: ‘How Prof Onwuliri Was Interred’

The June 23, 2012, will always remain indelible in the mind of every Mbaise son and daughter as the remains of one of their foremost erudite scholars, professor Celestine Onyemobi Elihe Onwuliri was lowered into the mother-earth. The burial of professor Celestine O.E. Onwuliri who was one of those that died in that fatal Dana Air crash recently drew the attention of Who is Who in Nigeria to his home Village, Umuokazi Amuzi, Ahiara Mbaise in Ahiazu Local Government of Imo state.

The body of professor Onwuliri which arrived his compound at about 9.20am was received by the Catholic Knight of Saint John International who were clad in their tick black uniform. Members of his Age-grade, Ozuiri Age Grade were also there. Having brought in the body into his beautiful mansion and properly arranged, the normal Christian viewing ritual of the body lasted for an hour.

The body was then taken to Saint Jude Catholic Church, Amuzi with a wonderful procession led by the clergy, the members of the Knights, family and the members of the Christian Men Organization at exactly 11.20am. The special requiem mass was celebrated by over two hundred priests and nine bishops including Bishops Mathew Kukah of Sokoto, ArchBishopJohn Onayakan, Amatu of Okigwe, Bishop of Aba and Arch Bishop A.J.V. Obinna of Owerri.

In a homily tagged “Let The Lord Be” and drawn from the books of Isaiah and Corinthians, the Bishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kigama stressed that the departure of professor Celestine O.E. Onwuliri  would enable him to meet his maker (God).

He cautioned that Christians should not always associate every mishap of man to God’s making even when it was obvious of being caused by man’s mismanagement of our God’s given resources and corruption by certain group of people in the society.

ArchBishop Kigama frowned at the insensitive nature of leaders and attributed the bane of our development, to human errors and gross irresponsibility.

He pointed out three things in human existence which man cannot change. These according to him included sickness, disease and death. He, described death as a point of no return and therefore alerted all Christians to strengthen their faith in God just like professor Onwuliri did during his life time.

Bishop Kigama referred Professor Onwuliri as a ‘Nigerian without a border’. He also used the session to warn members of the Boko Haram to desist from bombing of Christian churches in order not to cause religious crisis in the country.

The Bishop drew some lessons from Prof. Onwuliri’s sudden death which included our ability to place God first in all our dealings, ability to be conscious of death regularly and our ability to practise death always.

The special mass which  the representative of the president, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Senator Chris Ngige, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, immediate past governor of Imo state and wife, Governor Okorocha and wife, Governor Peter Obi, Governor T.A. Orji, Governor Elechi, Governor Chime and numerous members of Imo House of Assembly.