Dear Ike Ukehe and Family,  Please accept my heartfelt condolenses on the passage of your best friend and wife Oby.It is my utmost wish that you accept the verdict in good faith knowing that our Father could not have been wrong in calling her home now.  Remain steadfast in your belief in God as the passage is a testimony that  God is great in accepting nice people at times they are most needed on earth.  Take heart Bro.   


Paul Kizito Eze   (Ozo Ehum Laka)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      September 23, 2013

Our Eminent Chief Nnia Nwodo                                                                                   
Ike Ukehe, 
                                                            My Condolences

                      It is inexpressible in words how I feel about the death of your wife who was also my caring mother during my one year stay at Ukehe as a curate in 2010. In your wife, Justice Oby (Humility) Nwodo, I saw a rare perfect mix of in-born greatness, prosperity, intelligence and humility. She left permanent positive marks in the lives of all who encountered her. The memories are forever in me. Good people do not last, many say, but the Bible was succintly informative about that when it said that "Length of days is not what makes age honourable nor number of years the true measure of life; understanding, this is grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age" (Wis. 4:8-9). Her life was untarnished by the ups and downs and corruption that has come to be an unwholesome point-mark in our judicial system in rencent times. The incorruptible Judge she was; glowing with all the virtuous qualities of a Catholic Mother. She stood tall among her peers. I cannot but be consoled she is on her way to the bosom of her Saviour as we celebrate her glorious exit from this earth.
                    I am not also blind to the love both of you shared. That is why the weight of the loss is certainly heavy on you. But you have to be like Peter: the one to rise and gather his brothers (Lk 22:31). I pray you rise from this, knowing that your service and love for her will now be epitomised in those lovely children both of you sired. Be consoled. You did all within human power to keep  her here but the Lord wants her now. And the like the man with the donkey in the biblical story of the Lord's entry into Jerualem (Lk. 19:30-31) all we can say is YES LORD! No Questions. Chukwuma!!!!
            Let her life be a source of consolation to you and your family. I will keep praying for the repose of her soul in my Masses as well as I pray God to grant you and your family and indeed, all of us the fortitude to bear the loss. The Lord is your strength. Jisie ike. Obi sie gi ike.
 
Rev. Fr. Ernest Makata
Walsh University, North Canton
Ohio, USA 

That Tuesday morning, I woke up from sleep with the news of your demise. I went back to bed immediately because I wished to sleep on with the believe that you live than waking up to face the fact that you are no more. The knowledge of your death killed me too.                           

You were a blessing to this generation. Your ill health didn't change who you were, even on your sick bed, you were still so caring. I could hardly recognise the difference between you and my biological mother. Your good heart was incomparable. I am blessed to be the last person that got a gift from you before this inevitable entity took you away. I thank God you came my way.

Nigeria has lost a damsel, Enugu state has lost a rare gem and Ukehe has lost their greatest woman ever.                           I am consoled because I know you are resting in the heart of the Almighty.                                                                                   

Adieu mom,                                                                                         Adieu Auntie,                                                                                    Adieu my shooting star!    

Chima Nwodo, London UK.

Ijeoma,

I find the words of the British poetc David Harkins apt to empathize with you on the death of your lovely mum.

  "You can shed tears that she is gone,
    Or you can smile because she has lived.
     You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back,
     Or you can open your eyes and see all she left.
      Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
       Or you can be full of the love you shared.
        You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday.
         Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
         You can remember her only that she is gone,
          Or you can cherish her memory and let it Live on.
           You can cry and close your mind,
            Be empty and turn your back.
            Or you can do what she'd want:
            Smile, open your eyes, love and go on"

Accept my deepest, heartfelt condolence.

Uvo Odonwodo Esq. 

Aunti Oby became a symbol of peace, stepping with ease into the huge culturally different shoes of Mama Ukehe. Amidst  towering career achievements, she found time to be there for us (Ukehe people). When politics and unbridled capitalism continually threaten to tear Ukehe further into shreds, she found abundant time to open her palatial gates and host us to community building parties in such cullinary elegance that had a way of washing acrimony away. She became Auti Ukehe just like Mama Ukehe. We will miss seeing her graceful appearance, hearing her gold streaked voice, beholding her calm mien and beauty.

Aunti Oby, quickly left the role she has so well imbibed, the examplary mother, wife, judge, activist and model of humility and peace, qualities we desperately need in today's deprived Ukehe and in the world. I am happy to be in the generation that witnessed her sojourn here in Ukehe to learn from the lessons she taught with her life, that life is larger than one or two crosses and we can choose to bear whatever cross calmly and lovingly.

Let us all be condoled knowing that she is dwelling in an even sweeter place out of time, in eternity and work towards eternity with our last end in focus for life is just a means to an eternal end.

Goodbye Ukehe rose, Goodbye our princess!!!

Rest on Angel on transit.

Oby, you and I were as close as sisters can get. Having known her since I was 10 years old, we did fight and make up. We did bicker and make up. We did argue and make up. We did quarrel and make up. We did agree and then disagree and then agree to dis-agree and then make up. We did fuss over what we bought, restaurant to dine and then compromised. Many people would have hated this and split up but this pattern of friendship continued – right to her end.

 We often stayed up late at night talking. As we grew up and became adults we still remained close. We didn’t always live in the same country, but no matter where we were, we talked and remained best friends.

Oby accomplished a lot of wonderful things in her life. I never saw her as a Judge – just my Sworn Blood Sister - Oby

 My sister also accomplished a lot personally. She married a wonderful man, and she could not find a fault in him.

 Your memory will live on forever in all of our hearts.

 

Domine Jesu Christe, memento Obi Nwodo, etiam fratrum nostrorum, qui in spe, et requiescent omnes in spe resurrectionis mortuorum, et eos in lumen vultus tui.

 

Oby, we all miss you.

 Marie Otigba.  London UK

My People,

At a time like this, we cannot but pray that the mission, which it has pleased God to choose our dearest Aunt, Mum, Wife and Friend, would be more fruitful than what she was able to achieve while with us!

At a time like this, we can only remniscence and take solace in the fact that the reason why we weep now was more than a Mum, more than a friend and a superlative friend and Ever Loving and Caring Wife!

For me, Aunty Oby lives on!

Where do I start from? Humility, Supportive, Ever smiling face and outstanding performance in her pursuit of her profession which she held to heart...

Really words elude me but I am confident that she has found eternal peace in the Lord.

May Her Soul Rest In Perfect Peace.

Amen.

Barr & Mrs. Nnadi Justus.

Dear Ike Ukehe, Ijeoma and Siblings,

Sometimes in this earthly journey called life, our faith in God is shaken and we are forced to question the genuineness and goodness of God. Aunty Oby’s divine recall is one of them! When my brother called and informed me that she has left us, many thoughts and memories came back to my mind with two most profound.  At a function I attended with a friend in Ikpogwu- Ukehe some years back, food was not served on time and people were very hungry including me and my good friend. As we were deciding on whether to go and buy something, Ike Ukehe arrived with Aunty Oby. Expectedly, his arrival attracted wide jubilation and exchange of pleasantries of which I and my friend both enjoyed. However, my friend suddenly became very quiet and absorbed for about 30minutes of which I enquired if he was getting too hungry as his two hands were clutched to his stomach. He said that he was fine, no longer hungry and then confessed as follows:  “Her beauty is angelically captivating and filling. Her smile sincere and calming. Her carriage and conduct immensely humble and divinely scripted.  Irrespective of her position as a wife, mother, aunty, sister or friend, you will always be happy to be with her. I now understand why Ike Ukehe is consistently vibrant and ravishingly happy”.  As it was the first time my friend was visiting Ukehe, he further asked if Oby is from Ukehe. I said yes and no and provided full explanation of my answer. My friend then said that he will seriously fast and pray to God to give him a wife like Oby and that he will narrow his search to Abagana and Ukehe. He asked if I agreed with him to which I affirmed and assured him that the feeling is mutual. When I heard the news of her recall, I called my friend and informed him, his reaction is for another day.

On a certain day during the period of celebration and grief on the recall of our father, ‘Okwu Nna l’ ed Nwa’, I was particularly worried about our Mother and called her to ascertain how she was fairing. Her voice was happy, strong and reassuring. I was surprised and wondered if a miracle had happened and ‘Okwu Nna’ came back to earthly life. She then said that somebody wants to greet me and passed on the phone. When I heard the voice, I felt like my mother. The voice was filled with genuine love and care. My heart and spirit were lifted.  I wished that my mother and I could hear the voice every day or regularly. She confirmed that even though Ike Ukehe had reminded her that he has fully commiserated with our family, she still considered it worthwhile to visit my mum. She was correct and the impact of the visit immeasurable. Ike Ukehe, like your other good deeds, thank you for allowing her to make that visit.

Dear Ike Ukehe and Ijeoma, while all of us are right in questioning God, I am confident that there is a reason for her recall. While we will immensely miss her earthly presence, compassionate companion and love, be assured that she was recalled by God for a higher and better responsibility. She has gone to join Sir Joe and Iyom Nwankwu, Igwe J.U and Mama Nwodo, Ozor Okwu Nna and other people of good heart and conscience to fortify our divine protection and guidance amidst increasing life challenges.  With the Litany of Saints and I am sure Aunty Oby will do more. Adieu Aunty Oby!! Bodee Chi!!

Dear Ike Ukehe & Children,
Please accept our heart-felt condolence on the demise of our beloved wife and mother, Oby.
She was a virtuos woman-despite her noble, her lofty ideals and outstanding achievements, she maintained humble mien and sagacious disposition in social life and in her legal profession. To us in Ukehe, and to many Nigerians, she would be the Chief Justice of Nigeria, whose appointment was unduly aborted by death.
Through her disarming humility and tremendous love for all, she became the Ike of Ukehe and all of us, transforming from being just our wife to being our cherished mother.
If anyone is likely to be canonized, Oby sure, is one. For she came into the world an angel, acted an angel through life and departed in a most angelic manner.
Ike Ukehe and kids, we all are deeply grieved that we lost our crowned pearl, our majestic model. Be consoled. 

Engr. & Dr (Mrs) O.K.P Ozoemena