Long stretch of vehicles parked
around the 311 Road, Festac Town
with most of the passengers
trooping to the A Close residence of
The Nation’s Senior Crime
Correspondent, the late Jude Isiguzo.
Hanging on the walls and gates into
the Close was the obituary
announcement, which had a
photograph he took at the Crime
Reporters Association of Nigeria’s
(CRAN) annual seminar a few days
before his death.
Although the late Isiguzo had his
trademark smile on, the look on the
faces of his family members,
colleagues, friends and well wishers,
who walked into the canopies to
have their seats, was devoid of
happiness.
The solemnity of the evening was
later compounded at the
commencement of the service, as
the congregation, led by
parishioners of the Holy Family
Catholic Church, sang several dirges.
The late Isiguzo’s wife, Gwendaline,
dressed in black and looking forlorn,
was held by two family members as
she cried while ‘Jerusalem my happy
home’ was being sung.
The scriptural verses and hymns,
which were delivered in turns,
according to Rev. Harrison Okoli, the
representative of the Parish Priest,
Rev Simeon Irabor, was a call for the
living to reflect on their lives.
In his sermon taken from the book of
Luke, Okoli admonished the people
to direct their love to good because
it breeds respect, love for oneself
and obedience to God’s words.
He said that as human, the people
must live in the image of God and do
things to promote the good of
others and enhance development.
“We can accumulate wealth of the
world and knowledge of ancient and
modern, but it will be lacking in
meaning and content if such
accumulation is not channelled
towards the good of others.
“We have the capacity of igniting
people to be able to able to do good
by doing the best we can.
Sometimes, attention is directed to
those we presume to have and less
attention to those we presume have
nothing.
“We should learn to extend hands of
fellowship to others. Our mortal
bodies will depart but the hand of
friendship and love we establish in
the hearts of others will never
expire. We should promote our
personal good and dignity and by
this, I do not mean being self-
centred.
“I mean you should accept yourself
as God’s child and live as he has
designed us to by loving your
neighbour as yourself,’’ he said.
At the service were The Nation
Online Editor, Lekan Otufodunrin;
Admin Manager Mrs. Folake Adeoye;
State Chairman, Nigeria Union of
Journalists, Deji Elumoye; CRAN
President, Chris Orji; Area E Police
Commander, ACP Dan Okoro, who
represented the Commissioner of
Police; Lagos Police spokesman, DSP
Kenneth Nwosu and spokesman,
Police Special Anti Fraud Unit (SFU),
DSP Ngozi Nsitume-Agu, among
others.
Commiserating with the family,
Otufodunrin said Isiguzo was a
diligent worker, who took his job
seriously and earned the nickname
Olopa.
He said as The Nation NUJ Chapel
Chairman, the deceased provided
exemplary leadership. He prayed
that God will give his family the
fortitude to bear the loss.
For Elumoye, Isiguzo was a
professional to the core, who was
also up and doing as an NUJ
executive.
He said Isiguzo always gave the
association reports of cordial
relations between journalists and
The Nation management, adding
that the NUJ will miss his advice and
experience.
Orji described the deceased as a
jovial and good man, who made
immense contribution to the growth
of CRAN.
To Okoro, Isiguzo was a complete
gentleman, who stood tall among
his equals.
He said: “He was a compendium, a
man who was straight and he stood
tall among his equals.
“I have interacted with him for so
long and he had been with the
police through thick and thin.
“He contributed immensely to the
relationship between the police and
crime reporters.
“He has done his part and it is now
left for us to do ours. I want to use
this opportunity to pledge that his
family will not stand alone. We will
remain with those he left behind.”
Giving the vote of thanks, the
deceased’s elder sister, Mrs. Juliana
Okezu, thanked the speakers for
their kind words, noting that their
pains were relieved by the go
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
