NNEWI – THE retired Bishop of Ihiala Diocese, Rt Rev. Ralph Okafor, Friday told the families and relations of the victims of Okija stampede that claimed 22 lives during December rice distribution in Okija community to stop mourning, and not to mourn like those who have no hope.
The Bishop also told Chief Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obijackson, whose foundation was distributing the full bags of rice, a gallon of vegetable oil and five thousand naira to each beneficiary before the stampede occurred, and other rich people in the society not to be discouraged in assisting the less privileged because of some unfortunate incident, like the stampede.
Preaching during the Okija Kingdom- interdenominational burial service for the victims of the 21st December 2024 stampede, titled “Okija Mourns” the retired Bishop Okafor, told the bereaved families that something drastic must happen to somebody’s life before the person experience new life.
According to Bishop Okafor, “The whole world mourns today not only Okija, Abambra State or Nigeria. The world is a global village. We are in the world where bad things happens everyday and therefore, we are all mourning today as a people.
“Today is not the day to blame anybody for what has happened. We should rather thank God for people that are giving to the masses and am calling on Obijackson and others like him not to be discourage in giving to the poor masses.
“What is important today is that we should not ask God why this kind of thing happen, because we don’t have that right, but what we should ask God is now that this thing has happened, what do He want us to learn as a lesson from it. The past is past and we must move forward.
“There is life after death, so the important question is if am the person that is concerned, what will be my faith. This world we are living in now, there is suffering hardship and tears, but God said that heaven is the only place we will not suffer and cry and therefore, we should strive to make heaven.”
Quoting copiously from Psalm 23, the retired Bishop Okafor, said, “Stop mourning and never to mourn like people who have no hope. God is always with you peopke and will never abandon you in time like this.”
The Lord is our Shepard, despite the economic, political and other situations anybody that believes, God will take care of us and solve our problems. Whatever it is, we should know that it is God that take care of us, and God protects us more than anybody.”
In his speech during the ceremony, visibly sad Chairman of Obijackson Foundation, Chief Ernest Obiejesi, said he will make sure that the incident does not happen again in Okija.
He also said that the tragedy should bring Okija people together, and make the community stronger and have a resolve to continue to forge ahead, saying that this kind of situation can deter one from doing future good and remove the kind of kindness we extent to our brothers and sisters.
We as a foundation, in looking at responsibilities we have as a foundation are committing that going forward, we are going to continue to ensure that we do everything within our powers, limits and with everything God has empowered us with, to make sure that Okija never suffers this kind of loss again.
To my beloved Okija community, this has been a dark moment in our shared history. We are humbled and reminded on fragility of life and importance of putting safety first in the heart of everything we do. We are taking decisive actions and our mission to serve and uplift Okija people will remain steadfast.
Together we heal, together we will rebuilt, together we will honour the memories of those we have lost for making our future brighter and for making Okija a safer place and a place where you will always eat, share and remember your brothers and sisters.
May I also say on behalf of the foundation that God being on our side, that the Obijackson Foundation, will continue to do good. As the founder of the Foundation, we have done this for 15 years and this kind if thing has never happened. I will still reassure you that as long as Obijackson Foundation exist and as long as am still the Chairman, that we will continue to bring support, succour and help to Okija people we love in Jesus name I pray.
May all those families that lost their loved ones continue to relate with the palace of Igwe Emeka Okezie, the foundation will continue to carefully isolate them and look at the needs they have especially, the ones they left behind and will support them and give them the opportunity to have a good life.
Also in his speech an Okija born industrialist, Chief Daniel Chukwudozie, who is the Chairman of Dozzy Group of Companies, regretted the incident saying that the loss was a general one for Okija people, but urged the believed families to take heart. He donated N10 million to be distributed to the families of the believed.
In his speech the traditional ruler of Okija Igwe Emeka Okezie urged the families of the deceased never to loose hope but pray to God for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
He expressed happiness that Chief Obiejesi is not discouraged from helping the people of Okija by the unfortunate incident saying that withdrawing such help would send many families in the community to hunger.
I was afraid that this incident will discourage Osuifia Okija, but I’m happy today that he has assured our people publicly here that he will continue the distribution of rice every December. That distribution is the hope of every family in Okija every December and he should please continue as he has promised. I urger him to even increase the distribution to two bags.
©CDA News
