Body of late Hon. Chidi Ofo-Okenwa, 50, Executive Member
of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was interred at St. Stephen’s Methodist Church, Akpugo, Nkanu West local government area of
Enugu, weekend.
The solemn ceremony elicited tears and eulogies from football administrators, the clergy, friends and well wishers.
A cleric, Very Rev. Charles Ogbunisi, in a homily, enjoined Christians to live righteously for God by shunning all forms of evil and wickedness while alive.
Ofo-Okenwa until his death was the Chairman of Enugu State Football Association and husband of Mrs Chika Okenwa, South-East Zonal Marketing Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Ogbunisi, who is the Presbyter of Ebenezer Circuit of Methodist Diocese of Agbani in Enugu State, said that death remained a great mystery only understood by God and could come to any human at any time.
``The message of repentance and call to God’s righteousness and holy life is for us here today. Ofo-Okenwa here had finished his race on earth and gone.
``However, we believed and as confirmed by the Holy Bible that it does not end in death since there is great judgment and eternity after the physical death.
``So for us to earn eternality through the grace of God Almighty; we, who are living, must walk in the light and footsteps that pleases God,’’ he said.
The cleric, however, said that in the very little mysteries of death revealed to us, is that death is the most dangerous thing to happen to an unbeliever.
``Since God does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner.
``However, death is also a precious thing in the sight of God especially when `a child of God goes home’.
``As the word of God says it is a precious thing for a child of God to death and return graciously to his maker,’’ he said.
Ogbunisi appealed to Christians not to take the fleeting and short-lived issues and pleasures of life to lose eternity that last forever.
Later, Mr Nkem Okenwa, brother to the deceased, thanked the Church and clergy for the service and also standing by the family in its trying time.
He also thanked the NFF and all its subordinate bodies, groups and football clubs as well as the burial committee of friends for all their support to make the burial a success.
``On behalf of the Okenwa Aneke extended family, we thank you people for standing by us and we pray that sudden death will never be your portion,’’ he added.
The burial was attended by NFF executives, top officials of Enugu State Youths and Sports Ministry, management of Rangers International FC, Enugu, executive members of Enugu State Football Association, Enugu Football Referees Association among many others.
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