ECLIPSE OF A RARE AMAZON

ECLIPSE OF A RARE AMAZON

BY LEO EZEKIEL

Death is a priceless debt. No matter the age, race, colour, and social status, death still remain a heavy cross awaiting all living. It is just a matter of time, despite the circumstances or travails that heralded such painful departure from planet earth Madam Dorathy Nkpulunma Azukaego Osu nee Odiaka would not have died if monies were the issues.

Even at the age of four scores and five, she was receiving her children constant attentions. She had sex children, five males and one female all with sound academic background. They are Charles, Gabriel, Kate, Peter, Ben and Paul. These are men and woman of virtue who benefitted immensely from mama’s motherly care. Born in 1932 to Odume and Iweegbue Odiaka family of Abuedo, Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Dorathy displayed a stoic and displinary character that won admiration from her numerous peers, though not privileged to attend school due to life vicissitudes, she was able to make amend via evening school at adult stage. She got married to Gabriel Okolie Osu of Ogbego quarters, Ubulu uku Kingdom. She was married off from Enugu to Lagos in the early fifties, where she lived with her eldest sister late Victoria Uwalumeaka Chukwuka.

She was extremely hard working woman who did all manner of jobs to eke out a means of livelihood for herself, her children, her siblings, her numerous relatives from left, right and centre. Her services of songs took place at the ground floor hall of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos, where Rev Fr Christian Usifo who delivered the homily with kind words in appreciating the uncommon life style late Mama Osu lived.

The commendation mass also took place at the St Anthony Catholic Church, Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos where more than 100 priests of various ranks and cardinal emeritus Anthony Olubunmi Okogie attended the said commendation mass. The second commendation mass took place at the our lady of star of the sea catholic church, Northern Forest, by Chevron bus stop, Lekki phase one Victoria Island Lagos. In that commendation mass the celebrant who delivered the homily also appreciated the life style of late Mama Osu with the kind words he used.

The next services of songs did take place at the open field of St Stephen Primary school Idumuosemeh quarters, Osbeego village, Ubulu-uku kingdom of Amocha South Local Government Area Delta State. The next day a commendation mass was held in her honor at St Charles Catholic Church, Idumunbo quarters Ubulu-Uku Kingdom and her commendation mass attracted wide crème  de la crème of the society and after her interment at her country home of Ogbeego quarters Ubulu-Uku kingdom.

The grand reception of her burial did take place at the open field of St Mark Model Primary School, Akpama/ Agbonta Oseji quarters Ubulu-Uku Kingdom. The said burial reception turned out to be a carnival where family members, Department of Petroleum Recourses (DPR) staffers who came in honor of their colleague, Mr Paul Umunna Osu, the St Charles Catholic Church Christian Women Organization (CWO) Christian Men Organization (CMO) in laws of the Osus, the Nwachies of Abala Oshumili Kingdom with their dancing group the uncommon oil and gas workers who came in brotherhood fraternity of one of their own Paulo. 

The priests were not left out from the socialization and these clergy men came in honour of one of their own MSGR Gabriel Osu who is the parish priest of Our Lady of Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Northern Forest, by Chevron bus stop, Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, Lagos and also the Director of Social Communications, Lagos Archdiocese. 

Ogbuefi Eric Enunah and his band boys supplied the music which held the uncommon crowds dancing their good hearts for mama Osu. 

The next day been June 25, 2017 the outing and thanksgiving mass was held at St Charles Catholic Church, Ubulu-Uku Kingdom. 

This writer wishes the children, grand children and in-laws of mama Osu the graces to bear this unimaginable loss to humanity. It is still not over until it is still over.