by crossriverwatch admin
Unprecedented crowds gathered at the village of Begiaba in Obudu Local Government Area over the weekend to pay their last respects to Frater Sylvanus Ikem, the father of Mr Venatius Ikem, the erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the PDP and the immediate past Commissioner for Works in Cross River State.
Frater Ikem who passed away on 6 March 2014 was given his final funeral rites on 29 March in his country home in Begiaba amidst pomp and festivities.
In a funeral oration delivered by Frater John Omore, the Regional Overseer of the Apollonius Lodge of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, Frater Ikem was described as someone who was committed to the quest for knowledge and the service of mankind. “He was committed to the service of his community and mankind but death is a necessary experience for the evolving soul in us and the highest transformation that can be attained at the end of our earthly intervention that is why Frater Ikem has gone to be closer to God to commune with him with full awareness having served out his time on earth”.
Frater Omare said many people who deny the existence of the soul and of God are often ill prepared and disturbed when the moment to die arrives. He said such people live in anguish believing that they will leave this world one day and consequently lose all contact with their dear ones but such people are mistaken because. “Death does not put an end to our conscious life and does not separate us permanently from those we love and those who love us but we end up meeting again in spiritual happiness”.
According to the AMORC Regional over seer, at the point of death when man finally takes his last breath, the soul gradually rises from the body conscious of the fact it is in a transition which takes it to another world. “It moves to a place where all is light and knows that it has left those it shares experience but this separation is only temporary because a time will come when they will find each other again”.
He calls death a transition point between two successive incarnations and at the end of the earthy existence there is another existence in a new world which has been reserved for us. “Let us therefore not weep for the one who has just left us because he is saying right now ‘where I am, I am completely happy and suffering no pain”.
Mr Vanatius Ikem in a tribute described his father as a courageous person who is a pride and a source of inspiration to the family and those who knew him while he was alive.
He said though his father never went beyond the Teachers Training College, TTC in educational acquisition, he gave his all for his children and relatives to acquire education which has today made them strong and courageous.
Mr. Mike Aniah, Secretary to the State Government represented the Cross River State governor, Senator Liyel Imoke who was in Bauchi to attend the PDP rally.
Also in attendance was Mrs Rosemary Bassey, who came in with the AMORC delegation, Mr Paul Ada, the NDDC representative for the state, Mr Victor Abang, who brought a message from the Senate President, Senator David Mark, Hon Essien Ayi, the House of Representatives member for Calabar South/ Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency, Hon Daniel Asuquo, another House of Reps member representing Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency, Dr. Sandy Onor, and a host of others.
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