Departure Of A Rare Gem: My Mentor

Good evening beautiful people of Steemit platform, hope we all are doing pretty good. I missed posting in my favourite community @steemcameroon, I was bereaved, I am back now. Please stay glued as I take you around step by step preparation of my mentor's departure.

Obong Augustine Ikpe was an influential and inspiring political leader who came to limelight via hard work, consistency and grace. He was a man of honour and dignity in our community. He was my mentor, he played a very vital role in my life, marriage, church and even in my community at large. During my traditional marriage ceremony, he was the chairman.

Sickness, a powerful agent of death struck in dimensions and style in 2021. He was diagnosed of Keratinizing Squamous Carcinoma. He had his first chemotherapy and Radiation treatment in India. Despite intensive follow-up treatment at the University of Calabar and Uyo Teaching Hospitals respectively, his health kept deteriorating until he passed on, on June 4th, 2025.

The vigil Mass of late Obong Ikpe was conducted by the Bishop of Uyo Catholic Diocese Bishop E. E. Ayah with other priests from different parishes of the Catholic Church.

This was me arriving at the Catholic Church where the vigil Mass and the funeral mass took place respectively.

The mass was conducted by the Bishop, the choiresters led with the liturgy of the word. Everywhere was crowded because people came from far and near.

The mass came to and end with a recessional hymn and the Bishop with other priests and mass servers processed out.

At the compound of Obong Ikpe and as I title man both in the village and politically, the mounted two live cows for Obong Ikpe and as tradition demands, one was slaughtered that that and shared to all the Village heads in Offot Clan, shared to Clan head and to different family heads in the village and then, remain for the bereaved family. I witnessed the sharing formula as I was mounted the secure the ones for the bereaved family. I also witnessed that cow's large intestine consists of good quantity of grass and when the grasses are removed what will remain will be very small amount of large intestine.

It started with a lying in State at the deceased compound and the corpse was move to the church for funeral mass and the corpse was received into the church by the parish priest of St Philip's Catholic Church.

This was me arriving the church for the funeral mass. I quickly arranged myself before going inside.

The choiresters led with the liturgy of the word, first reading, second reading and gospel was read respectively, followed by homily, then prayer of the faithful and followed by offertory before the mass was conducted. This is a standard doctrine in the Catholic Church whenever mass is celebrated. These was also the process at the vigil Mass.

After the mass came to an end, the bereaved family went for family Thanksgiving of my Mentor and this is also a standard doctrine of funeral mass in the Catholic church.

After the final commendations, the corpse was processed out and was conveyed to the deceased compound via ambulance that was already on a standby.

Late Obong Ikpe's corpse was received by the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) which he was a member and was matched to the grave yard where he will be laid to rest.

The mass servers and the priest were already at the grave yard, the priest blessed the grave with holy water, ready to receive my mentor to commit to mother earth.

Indeed, dust we came and dust we shall return. May the soul of my Mentor, Obong Augustine Ikpe Rest In Peace. Amen.

As a title man and a political leader, there was enough to drink and eat. All the political leaders, visitors from far and near, church, inlaws, communities and sympathisers were entertained with food and drinks.

N/B All images are my property and was shot with my Infinix Smart 9 HD