For Mama Janet Ogolibueze Aburime, a  Thousand Epithets At Asaba

BY CAMI EZENWA

Anybody could have mistaken it, and justifiably too, for a carnival train, rather than a gathering to accord a departed one final rites of passage. Guests  just seemed to pour in from all access routes, to the home of the Aburimes’ and other venues where one ceremony or another had been earmarked to honour  Mama Janet Ogolibueze Aburime

She had gone to be with the Lord after 89 years of eventful sojourn on earth, but of additional reckoning were the legacies she epitomised, especially the many lives she had impacted in the course of those 89 years.

Born on February 13, 1932, to the family of Pa Okulunmo Chukwura of Umu-Onya, Umu-Onaje quarters and Ma Ape Chukwura (nee Julugah) of Opechi, Isieke, Ugbomanta quarters, Asaba, traversed other cities in the country like Aba, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Oturkpo, and had in those years and journeys left postive impacts in the lives of those that came in contact with her.

Having lost both parents, early, she was forced to live with relations and learnt early in life, the virtues of personal industry, tolerance, perseverance as much as hospitality.

These were to become the hallmarks of her adult life, and she became mother to many, a pillar of support for her family as well as a source of inspiration to the Catholic church branches where she was involved, especially in Asaba and Ibadan.

The legacy of philanthropy never left the veins of the family but indeed characterised Mama’s obsequies. There was literally nothing that the guests required that was not provided in double measure, in fact, triple measure. Mama just gave and gave, even in death!

For example, before the arrival to Asaba, of the contingent of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) where Mrs Patricial Kalesanwo, one of mama’s many children,  is currently Registrar,  an army of sympathisers had already thronged the home of the Aburimes. You could mistake it for a carnival of sorts.

They were drinking, they were chewing, and they were swallowing. Nothing else could have triggered such out-pour of people, men and women, adults and children from their different abodes, other than that they had been impacted, one way or another by Mama.

They were unanimous that the woman had lived well, and having departed in peace, should be celebrated rather than mourned.

At the vigil mass at the St John Bosco Catholic Church, overlooking a running stretch of the famous River Niger, the choir sang its heart out, sympathisers continuously streaming in even towards the conclusion of service.

It was not a particularly easy officiating experience for one of the lady wardens who laboured to keep the service as orderly as possible because of the eagerness of the sumpathisers. One way or another, everybody wanted to be involved in paying mama her deserved last respects.

At the funeral service the day after, there were no less than eight Catholic Reverend fathers, though five were officially designated to conduct the mass. These included Rev Fr Leonard Biachi, the Parish Priest;  Rev Fr Anthony Banye, Rev Fr Felix Ethapemi, Rev Paul Asawale, Rev Fr Austin Ibe of the Holy Ghost Corps from the United States as well as Rev Fr Charles Ubanwa who ministered.

He, like all others had a  litany of positive things to say about Mama Aburime, in addition to declaring that the day’s event should point people to the right path, in worshiping God, and in being of value to others around them.

Tributes and honour for Mama Aburime continued at the St Patrick’s Catholic Church, this time with even more sympathisers trooping in. It was truly an evening of worthy tributes, from the prayers, down to the ceaseless humour by the anchor of the day, to a woman of substance,  Mama Janet Ogolibueze Aburime.

In addition to an inspiring early life, marked by total devotion to her family, Mama also had an inspiring social life. She was a member of the Asaba Ladies Football team in the 50s and she played in the centre forward positon. She was a member of the Joyce Oni (nee Odili) footbal team as well as that of Mrs Stella Asia Odiachi (nee Chukwura of Umuaji) both of blessed memory.

Her social engagement included identifying wit the women in Asaba using the platform of the Asaba Women’s meeting Ibadan branch from the 60s down to teh 70s; the Umunaje women’s meetign Ibadan, which she hosted until 2018 when she left Ibadan; member of Ekpoma Women’s Meeting, Ibadan, in Kaduna and also in Kano all the 70s and 80s.

A fashionista of first order in her time, she was an outstanding customer of the two leading shoe outlets of those days – Lenards and Bata, and in her complete fashion accessories would set the pace fof others.

“Mama was a good dancer. She excelled in dancing Waltz, Tango and Jitterbug. Her taking the right and unique steps in response to Asaba traditional music was super”, noted a tribute on her.

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Mama Janet Ogolibueze Aburime had about seven distinguished awards in the Catholic Church and had relocated to Asaba in 2018, after spending more than 50 years in Ibadan. Thursday April 8 was the day she handed over the baton, leaving behind a trail of accolades.