Jonathan, Dangote, others bid Anenih’s wife farewell in Uromi

Dame Patricia Ebehiremen Anenih, wife of a former Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, was on Saturday buried in Uromi, Edo State, with eminent Nigerians bidding her farewell.

Her remains were brought to the Uromi country home of her husband at exactly 2:25p.my before being committed to earth at about 2:35p.m.

Earlier, a requiem mass held in her honour at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Uromi, and was delivered by the Bishop of the Uromi Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Ogun.

In his homily, Bishop Ogun noted that the late Dame Patricia Anenih died on Easter Sunday morning and was being buried on May 27, the day of her investiture as a Papal Knight of St. Sylvester in 2006.

Bishop Akubeze observed that Mrs Anenih fulfilled the biblical expectations of a wife, adding that she was a good wife, mother and a devout Catholic, who used her lifetime to promote her religion.

He admonished the congregation to live refined lives, adding that “how the world will celebrate our exit should matter to us.”

He said, “If the world does not miss us and the heaven does not recognise our passage, we have not lived at all.”

He said, “Dame Anenih was special in that God decided to take her on Easter Sunday. Is it not glorious to die on Easter Sunday?”

In a tribute, Chief Tony Anenih said “Patricia showed an undiluted love, constancy and steadfastness through the changing phases and scenes of my life,” describing his late wife as a “mother par excellence”.

First son of the deceased, Tony Anenih (Jnr), in his tribute said, “You were given few hours to live but you defied the doctors and lived for ten more days and died on Easter Sunday.”

Those in attendance included former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, Captain Hosa Okunbor, former Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Others were two former governors of Delta State, James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Minister of Works, Architect Mike Onolememen; Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Dan Orbih, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Senator Clifford Ordia, Senator Odion Ugbesia, Hon Leo Ogor, Mr Tunde Ayeni, members of the National Assembly and members of the Edo State House of Assembly.