Physically challenged persons pay last respect to former A’Ibom CAN Chairman...as Ex-Nat’l Lawmaker donates .4m to charity in A’Ibom

 

Members of the Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities last Friday, December 23 moved everyone into tears when they thronged into Ibiaku Issiet in Uruan Local Government Area last Friday to pay their last respect to the immediate past Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Oron chapter, Late Senior Apostle Tom Etim. 

The event, which took place at the St. Peters Primary School, had in attendance the political class, business moguls, clergymen as well as scholars.

The physically challenged persons, who invaded the venue of the event, however attracted the attention of the entire guests when they all creep on the floor saying that a man who was responsible for their wellbeing is no more. 

They noted that their mission at the event was to pay their final respect to Late Senior Apostle Tom, who they described as their ‘earthly god,’ adding that it will be difficult to find a man in his like manner who pay their children’s schools fees, pay their rents, carter for their upkeeps and many other things. They said that the Late Apostle Tom was everything to them and prayed for God to accept his soul. 

In his sermon,  the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of CAN, Bishop Christian Nyong said Late Apostle Tom was not dead, which according to him, God only decided to take him home for a closer relationship.

Taking his message from Ecclesiastes 9:4-6, Bishop Nyong noted that one day, everyone shall be in the same situation, demanding to know how prepared people are. According to him, “Nobody has the monopoly of giving life to anyone, but how prepared are you? Death can penetrate anywhere to get whoever it wishes. The best choice in life is for you to have a good relationship with God. Death is a messenger and it has no respecter of any man. What you do with your life determines where it will take you to,” he said. 

Speaking at the event, the younger brother to the deceased and a former member of the National Assembly, Hon. Bassey Etim described Late Apostle Etim as a man who truly loved God and cared for his entire family and the society at large. He noted that the deceased was a special breed who lived his life for the benefit of mankind and announced an initial donation of four hundred thousand naira for the support and continuation of his late brother’s charity work. 

Condolences messages were received from the Church, village, friends, family and other spirited organizations and individuals. 

High point of the event was the commissioning of the International Headquarters of Prayer Tower City by the Akwa Ibom State CAN chairman, Bishop Chriatian Nyong.