God is the secret behind my old age - Mama Ezinne Ezezue

She clocked 90, still strong and energetic, amiable mother of six, great grand-mother, kind hearted, loving, caring, religious, generous and a peace maker. Celebrate our Super Mum at 90, Awube-Nwanyi, Mama Rev. Father, Mama Ora, Mama Ukwu, Mama Ezinne Grace Amanjide Ezezue! ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU filed the report.
Mama Ezinne Grace Amanjide Ezezue is from Umueze village, Amawbia community, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra state. Our Super Mum says the secrets for her old age is God and she would not relent in her faith in God, adding that openness to God guarantees much to life. She encouraged all Christians irrespective of their denominations, to seek God first at all times and tarry with God in all situations.
Mama Reverend Father, as she is fondly called says a prayerful life, without bitterness and acrimony as well as absolute trust in God and generosity with God’s blessings has helped her to actualize her dreams in life, and she is full of gratitude to God for making her clock 90 years. She says she has no regrets serving God.
The benefits of celebrating old age cannot be overemphasized, as one cannot talk of relishing motherhood without mentioning children, the bedrock of every relationship. Just as the Bible says: “children are heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward,” Mama says her children are the best. She is full of praise and appreciation for them; she commended her children for taking good care of her and enjoined other children to take care of their parents.
The first son of the family, Mr. Peter Ezezue, thanked all who witnessed the 90 years birthday bash and prayed for blessings upon their own families.
Speaking on Mama’s qualities, her second son, Mr. John Ezezue said his mother’s “humility, religiosity and generosity” are unique and exceptional in the community, adding that she sets a standard unequalled in moral values. While describing her as a blessing to the family, he requested God for more grace upon her to live more to guide them and others aright as she has impacted much on the society.
For Mrs. Ngozi Okafor, her second daughter, she says they could have done nothing without her as our “Su¬per Mum” taught her to be at peace with all men irrespective of ethnic and religious lining. She expressed gratitude to God for sparing their mother.
As for Mr. Samuel Ezezue’s, her fourth child, distance did not pose a barrier in celebrating his amiable mother, even though he is based in the United States of America. He described her as dogged and determined in anything she sets her mind on, hence they took after her and their late dad who he said, took good care of them. He said both made them appreciate life’s values, adding that people should celebrate their parents and relatives while alive.
Her daughter, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ezeora, prayed God for better health as she ages. She also prayed God to guide and protect their guests and their families, just as a relative , Prof I.E.M. Nwana, retired Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, insisted that celebrating aged people prolong their lives. He condemned the at-titude of throwing a party for the dead rather than the living.
The Anambra state Head of Service, Mr Harry Uduh, a lawyer, was not left out of the occasion as he did not hesitate to encourage in the support of celebrating people while they are alive rather than dead.
Uduh said: “I found it meaningful and the lyrics by the musical maestro Gozie Okeke happens all the time, as many would not value celebrating their own until the person is dead. Celebrating one while alive has been the most colorful, the reason being that what you do for the dead person is meaningless and a waste of resources. I congratulate them for celebrating their mother’’.
Family friends also graced and eulogized this remarkable and ami¬able “Nne ora”. Chief Chukwukadibia Nwannebuike Aron Onwelukwue, Owelle Ugbene a family friend affirmed the celebration of the 90 years birthday is a good act. He encouraged children to celebrate their parents, praying that Mama Ezinne lives beyond 100 years.
His Holiness, Pope Francis sent his blessings, and prayed for God’s abundance of Divine Graces as she ages gracefully. He said their mother remained a blessing not only to the family but to numerous others adding that she is instrumental to the peace and unity of the family.
Though our Super Mum is a widow, the encomiums she showered on her late husband, Late Patrick Nnaemeka Ezezue, attests to the fact that once a loving wife, always a loving wife and that even death cannot put any wedge to that.
Her brother, Rev. Ekene Nwosu, was full of praises for Mama, even as Mrs. Anuta Josephine, prayed that every child should learn from the Ezezue’s and celebrate their parents when they would appreciate it.
Rev. Fr. Francis Nonso Okoye, equally expressed gratitude, saying the celebration of Ezinne Ezezue coincided with the celebration of Virgin Mary’s Divine Motherhood, adding that the celebrant’s life of “holiness, prayerfulness love and charity” to others as well as hard work assisted her to live long.
The Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye, called on Christians to celebrate their parents while alive and not in death. He commended the Ezezue’s for celebrating their mother every year, especially at her 90 years birthday. He admonished her not to relent in seeking heaven as her virtues stood her out, even as he called on others to emulate her qualities. According to him, the Ezezue’s learnt their kind heartedness, generosity and prayerfulness from their mother. He encouraged the family not to stop doing good nor praying.
“This celebration is worthy of emulation, because it helps to prolong life. That’s why we are thanking the members of the family for doing the right thing because I charge people to celebrate their parents while alive and not when they are dead. It is beneficial to gather people to celebrate when one is living and not when one is dead. It is appropriate”.
Three Catholic Bishops including Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev. Dr Peter Okpaleke and Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr Hillary Odili Okeke, as well as the Auxiliary Bishop of Awka , Most Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye jointly celebrated Mama’s birthday mass.
Our Super Mum is so special as 89 Catholic Priests led by the Parish Priest, St. Matthew’s Catholic Church Amawbia, Rev Fr. Valentine Offormata and Enugu Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Nneji, numerous Rev. Sisters across the globe, including Oklahoma, Canada, all graced the occasion, as they jointly and individually prayed for God’s blessings on the family.
Prof and DVC at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof I.E.M Nwana; Prin-cipal Secretary to Governor Willie Obiano, Mr Willie Nwokoye, as well as business tycoons and educationists, guests from United Kingdom and United States of America, all honored mama’s birthday, which was celebrated amidst pomp and pageantry.
Motherhood is a great honor and privilege. Every day women are called upon to selflessly meet the needs of their families. Sometimes, they are awake at night nursing a baby, or preparing meals; mums continuously put their children before themselves. Motherhood can be said to be the most tedious, yet rewarding job in the universe, thus very important to celebrate mothers.
To Mama Ezinne Grace Amanjide Ezezue, all the mothers, wives, grandmothers and women of goodwill out there, The AUTHORITY Newspaper on Sunday, Celebrate You!!!