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The corpse of Late Hon. Promise Anaroke being covered in Kingsley Anaroke’s compound in Inyi, Oji-River, Enugu State at the weekend. As Shippers’ Council directors, veteran journalists, ANLCA President pay homage
By Kenneth Jukpor
The Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo led a rich delegation of commissioners and some members of the State House of Assembly to the burial ceremony of Late Hon. Promise Anaroke at the weekend in Inyi, Oji-River, Enugu State.
The burial of Promise, wife of the President of League of Maritime Editors and Publishers, Mr Kingsley Anaroke, was labeled a political burial by participants as the event pulled two directors at Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Mrs. Ada Okam and Chief Cajetan Agu, President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike, seasoned Enugu State politicians and members of the LOMEP.
Late Mrs Anaroke’s body was laid to rest in Anaroke’s compound after the Church service at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Enugwu-Inyi, Inyi, officiated by Rev. Chris Onyia who preached about the need to live a life worthy of emulation with the realization that the judgment of God is real.
Rev. Onyia stressed that Promise Anaroke’s life made significant impact on several others following the encomiums lavished on her and the rich representation of delegates from all spheres of endeavour.
The event was also attended by the leadership of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria where Promised had functioned as the Public Relations Officer (PRO). The President of WISTA-Nigeria, Mrs. Mary Hamman led the delegation to the event, even as she pledged support to Kingsley Anaroke and rest of the family of the deceased.
The event also saw feuding maritime stakeholders, President of the Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike and Publisher of the Shipping World Magazine, Elder Asu Beks, reconcile their differences. Nwabunike and Asu Beks had been sworn enemies for about a year arising from the Board crisis that hit ANLCA soon after the emergence of the former as President.
Asu had battled Nwabunike from all fronts to get him to deploy all resources to settle the crisis to no avail until recently when the matter was laid to rest. Asu wanted Nwabunike to appeal to Chief Henry Njoku to step down as the Chairman of the association’s Board, but Chief Njoku insisted on completing his term of office, in protest against the election that produced Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha to the position and Nwabunike was at a point was very bitter with Asu on the approach.
However, on Friday, November 29, the two put their differences behind them with a huge hug inside the Anglican Church, Inyi, during a church service for Late Mrs. Promise Anaroke. Asu congratulated Nwabunike on the resolution of the crisis in the association. Nwabunike later rode with Asu to Awka in the same vehicle after the event.
The recurring testimonial of Late Mrs. Promise Anaroke was that she was someone who brokered peace throughout her lifetime. This was reechoed by her political colleagues in Enugu State who testified that she brought a rare trait of transparency never seen in the state politics before. Therefore, it isn’t suprising that the ocassion of her death has seen another feud reconciled.
Indeed, Late Promise was a kind hearted and hardworking woman who touched many lives while she lived. This was also evident in the large turnout of the villagers who attended the ceremony.
