By Ushang Ewa
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River on Monday visited the family of the late former military Governor of River’s State, Brigadier General Anthony Ukpo two weeks after he passed on.
He was accompanied to the late General’s private residence by his deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, Chief of Staff, Martin Orim among other aides.
Mr. Ayade was on tour of projects in northern Cross River when CrossRiverWatch broke the news that the former minister had passed away on September 6, at his hospital in Calabar – The Asi Ukpo Medical and Diagnostic Center.
And, on Monday, Mr. Ayade took to his verified Facebook page to announce this.
“Today I visited the family of late General Anthony Ukpo,” Ayade wrote, adding that: “The death of the retired General only reinforces my philosophy about life, which is that ‘life is but vanity, from nothing to nothing, life is just a waste.'”
“General Ukpo was a great man, a great warrior, he lived very strongly for this country. He had established factories and industries to create jobs for his people. And today, he remains one of the major investors in Cross River State as a Cross Riverian.
“It is so sad that we have to lose him at this time, particularly with his huge investments in social medicine, where he was setting up a cancer treatment center that is almost due for commissioning. Having gone at this time is really regrettable and God knows best.
“I urged the family to stay strong and not despair, knowing that their late father left behind legacies that will etch his name in the sands of time,” he added.
His visit comes a few days after the Ukpo’s had perfected plans to bury within 12 days, the late general and two of his siblings who passed away over the course of 13 days from August 24th 2021 to September 6th 2021.
Engr. Emmanuel Ukpo who passed on August 30th and Brig. Gen. Ukpo will be buried on September 27th and October 2nd respectfully in Okpoma while Lelia Udeozo who passed on August 24th will be buried in Awka, Anambra State on October 8th.
A further breakdown shows that Engr. Ukpo’s obsequies will begin with a vigil mass on Sunday, September 26th at the Christ The King Catholic Church, Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area. A funeral mass will hold at the same church on Monday, September 27th, and will be followed with his interment.
A few days later on Friday, October 1st, a vigil will be held at the same church for Brig. Gen. Ukpo. A funeral mass will then precede his internment on Saturday, October 2nd.
The Ukpo’s will then travel over 200 kilometers to Awka, the Anambra State capital where a funeral mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Awka in honor of the eldest of the family, Lelia Udeozo, will precede her internment on Friday, October 8th.