- Asks her to handover surviving child
The estranged husband of Senator Stella Oduah, a former minister of aviation, Lt. Col. Satchie Emmanuel Etoromi (Rtd.), has appealed to his ex-wife to urgently return the corpse of his late son to him for burial in Warri, Delta State.
Etoromi also begged Oduah to hand over to him his other surviving son still in her custody.
The retired Army officer, who spoke with newsmen in Warri, shortly after sending a powerful delegation to his royal majesty, Igwe D. O. Oduah, the Igwe of Akili Ozizor, Ogbaru in Anambra State, expressed sadness over the death of his son and how the deceased was allegedly treated by the former minister.
In his letter to the royal father, entitled, “Appeal To Intercede To Ensure Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah Brings My Son, Maxwell Chinedu Obiechina Wereyesigha Toritseju Etoromi To Me In Warri For Burial,” the bereaved father said he read about the death of their 28-year-old son in the newspapers without prior information from his ex-wife.
The letter made available to newsmen reads, “His Royal Highness Igwe Oduah 1, betrothed Stella Oduah to me on 18th November 1984 in Akili Ozizor. We married on the 16th of December 1984 in His Highness` Palace in Akili Ozizor. After the payment of dowry and exchange of gifts, we were taken to Nde-Mili where we performed the final rites.
“I am surprised to see in the internet stories that my son MAXWELL OMABUWA TEMISAREN OBIECHINA WEREYESIGHA TORITSEJU CHINEDU ETOROMI, who Stella delivered for us on 14th March 1988 at 05.00 hour in St Mary`s Hospital, Ugboroke, Warri, is dead.
“Up till now Stella has not told me my son died in her custody. There is a rumour that my son will be buried in Akili Ozizor.
“THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL. My son must be brought to me in Warri for interment.”
The letter, which was copied to the Arch-Bishop of Onitsha, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke and the Parish Priest, Rev. Father Donald Uzoh of Sacred Heart Parish, added that, “Stella should also bring back EYITUOYO FELIX KENNETH ORITSETIMEYIN IKECHUKWU ETOROMI, who was delivered on 1st August 1989 at 0 5.30 hour in St Mary`s Hospital, Ugboroke, Warri, who she took away from our home over twenty years ago.”
Etoromi explained to the monarch that the stories needed not be told now, but his grief at his son’s death was too much to bear and that informed the manner he had reacted.
Akili Ozizor, the sleepy country home of Nigeria’s former Aviation minister and incumbent senator representing Anambra North Senatorial Zone, on Monday, witnessed an unusual heavy vehicular and human traffic as sympathisers, friends and dignitaries from across Anambra State thronged the town for a vigil mass for the repose of the soul of her late son who died last Friday at the age of 28.
The Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev Valerian Okeke presided over the mass with four other priests co-celebrating.
The Archbishop condoled with the entire family and described the death of Chinedu as a big trial for the family, urging them not to mourn like people without faith.
According to the cleric, it was not the age one lived that should matter but what one achieved in his life time.
In his homily, the Episcopal Vicar of Dunukofia Region, Onitsha Archdiocese, Very Rev Fr. Theophilus Odukwe, likened the death of Chinedu to that of the Biblical John the Baptist, whose life was cut short at a young age, an occurrence which he said faith had ordained.
Odukwe pointed out that in many cases and particularly in history, many achievers in history concluded their earthly journeys early in life, adding that God in his infinite wisdom called the late Chinedu home after he had concluded his earthly assignment.
He drew analogy on the vanity of life, when he pointed out that neither wealth, power nor money could give life but only God Almighty who could give and take as he wished.
Amongst those at the mass were the former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim; Anambra State PDP Chairman, Chief Ken Emeakayi; former Onitsha South Local government Chairman, Chief Ejidike; the Chief of Staff, Princess Stella Oduah Foundation, Princess Nwaka Ononuju; Director of Stella Oduah Campaign Organisation, Chief Pandola Okwuosa and many other dignitaries.
