A tribute to Late Brigadier Anthony Okoro Eze (Rtd)

 Commander Nigerian Army Signals Corps

 

I first met Brigadier Eze in 1949 when he entered Government College Umuahia. Though my junior, he soon became close to me mainly because, like me, he played many games. Eventually, as seniors, two of us were in most of the school teams like football, hockey and cricket. Before I left the school to join the army in 1954, Tony, as he was popularly called, told me that he would also join the army when he finished his Higher School. I thought he was joking until I saw him in London in December 1956 about to enter into the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as I was leaving the Academy.

 

Tony entered the Military Academy Sandhurst in January 1957. After the two-year course, he undertook several specialist courses in military communications or SIGNALS. He returned to Nigeria to become the first Nigerian Signals Officer. With the rapid departure of British officers after 1960 Nigerian Independence, Tony' became the first Nigerian to command the Nigerian Army Signals Corps - a command he held until the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. The story of his miraculous escape from Lagos to Enugu in 1967 during the pogrom against the lbos, is a thriller of its own.

 

Under my command, Tony as a Brigadier fought the civil war on the Biafran side. He commanded various Divisions of the Biafran Army at various times depending on the situation in the war fronts. Invariably, wherever the situation got out of hand, Tony went there and was expected to perform a miracle. Quite often, he did. Thus, when the enemy began their offensive at Nsukka, Tony was there to try and stop them; when the enemy began his final push to Onitsha in January 1968, Tony was at Dunukofia waiting for him, having destroyed his main convoy at Abagana. There, unfortunately, Tony was wounded by the same motar bomb that killed Col. Chudi Sokei. When the
enemy began his offensive to capture Aba, Tony was there to stop or at least delay his advance for as long as possible. He did it successfully until he ran out of ammunition. Not to talk of his courageous exploits at Onitsha, Ikot-Ekpene and so on. If a defeated Army can boast of heroes, Brig. Tony Eze was one of those in the Biafra Army. I have no doubt in my mind that the Igbo nation will sooner or later, realize this and honour those who deserve it.

 

Tony is married to Miss Joan Ferguson, a West Indian from Grenada. The day she arrived by boat at Apapa Port in August 1961, I was there in full military uniform as the ADC to the Governor-General, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, to welcome the Oba of Lagos expected to be on the same boat. By the time I learnt that the Oba was not on the boat, I had seen Mrs. Eze on the balcony of the boat. I recognized her because I had seen her photograph with Tony. My police escorts went into the boat and brought her out within minutes and on my instructions, took her to Eze's house in Military Hospital compound, Yaba.

 

With the massacre of the lgbos in 1967, rather than go back to London like most non-Nigerians married to lgbos, Joan insisted on going to the East despite the obvious dangers involved. From the middle of 1969, the situation in Biafra was so bad that I arranged for her to leave with her children, but she refused to go anywhere without her husband. She stayed in Biafra until the war ended in January 1970. Thereafter, the couple continued to live together happily like two peas in a pod for over 56 years until Tony passed on, on the 10th of July 2016. If there is a medal for the most devoted House Wife in Nigeria, it should be awarded to Mrs. Joan Eze!.

 

In addition to his wife Joan, Brigadier Eze is survived by his daughter - Mrs. Yvette Asika (Abuja); his two sons - Mr. Andrew Eze (Switzerland), and Mr. Chukwuma Eze (London), as well as many grandchildren. May God grant them the courage to bear the great loss of their father. Amen.

 

Major-General Alex. A. Madiebo (Rtd)

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MY SWEETHEART OF LASTING FOND MEMORIES

I met my husband in June 1958 at a birthday party, when he was a cadet at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England.  He seemed very interested in me and wanted to know where I was from etc.

 

What struck me about him was his humility; he was not boastful and seemed to get on with everyone. We danced a lot as we discovered we both loved dancing. He waltzed as a feather and taught me also. We were married on December 31st 1960 in London. Two weeks later, he was posted to the Republic of Congo to work with the United Nations.

 

He was always very protective of me. He made sure I always visited my parents. He has been to Grenada at least 5 times. He really loved my island and knew all my relatives. He was always a good father, he loved his children. He also took good care of his extended family. So many of his brothers died during the war, and after the war, he trained all their children.

 

During the Biafran Civil War, he was always at the warfront where he commanded a Division. Sometimes, I did not see him for 4 months or more. I have many beautiful memories of our life together. We were always able to weather any storm because of our Christian faith.

 

God has given me the strength to accept His will. In all things, good or bad, we must give thanks to God. I will miss his physical presence, his laughter and his deep voice. I know he is resting with the Lord and that one day we will meet again to part no more.

 

The lovely memories of our life together will keep me strong. Sleep on beloved, sleep and take your rest. I love you but Jesus loves you best. Goodnight.

Your loving wife,

- Joan Eze

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A FATHER IN A MILLION

A highly intelligent, powerful and very great man he was. A man of true grit and honor and also filled with humility.  A man of not many words and one who never blew his own horn, but we all know his achievements not to talk of the souls he touched and saved. I will simply say it was the greatest honor to have him as a father and mentor. God preserve his beautiful soul forever.

We will love and respect him until the end of our days and we will always miss his incredible presence and aura.

Love you always and forever.

Your son,

-Andrew.

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MY BELOVED FATHER

Dear Daddy,

It is still feels unreal that I am writing a tribute in honor of you on your passing. As I write I picture your face not dead in the mortuary as I have seen you –even though you look as if you are sleeping which is consoling in itself – but with you calm caring face always full of concern for me and as you always were over by busy lifestyle of shuttling between cities due to being posted outside Lagos, our family base.

 

You were a rock in our family, always there for all whether family, relatives, friends and even acquaintances and ready to assist in whatever way you could, often at great sacrifice and personal expense.  But you did all this with a good heart, willingly and with joy. This showed an aspect of Christianity in action – you lived it by your deeds.

 

You thought us the value of a GOOD NAME. From you we your children learnt that one of the most important things in life was not money or fame which are only means, but to be able to go through life and hold your head up high. You achieved so much in your life, an A student at school, excellent in sports, attended one of elite military Academies in the United Kingdom, rose to the top of your military career, yet you were such a humble human being.  In this you also lived the Gospel. I learnt from you that humility is not weakness which unfortunately in this world of ours is sometimes seen as the converse.

 

I recall how after the war when we lost everything, you came back to Lagos and began your career outside the military from scratch and worked hard to give us the best education to enable us succeed in life.  You were strict with us but it was after I grew up that I realised the value of that because it instilled discipline in us your children.

 

I have so many overwhelming and joyous memories of you from my early childhood until the day before your passing when I saw you before leaving Lagos.  I never knew that as you bid me good bye and safe journey you were bidding me your final goodbyes on earth.  I know that the memories of all the good times, hard times, struggles etc will sustain me for a lifetime and that help when I am hurting at the pain of your loss.  Some say “but your dad lived long” and I say yes, but he was still MY dad no matter whether he lived to be a 100years I would still have felt the pain of his loss.  However I also find consolation whenever I consider how despite your challenges with memory in recent years, you still had a VIVID recollection of the past. I saw you singing all the hymns at Mass both in English and Latin without using a Hymn book – all of which you must have learnt during your school days. What was so uplifting as I watched you was how you sang with joy.  I know the Angels would have taken your joyful offerings of song and praise and laid them at the feet of God our Father in heaven.  I feel peace even though there is still a void which I know only time will heal because I know you are resting now. You spent yourself during your time on this earth and God our Father has called you to rest. Thank God for the Resurrection because even as tears well up in my eyes as I write, I am nevertheless consoled by the fact that  Christ has said that we shall all rise on the last day and so I know I will see you again.

Rest my dearest father. You deserve to.

You will be in my prayers at every Mass I attend for the rest of my life.

I love you daddy.

Your daughter,

-Yvette

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DEAREST DAD

Your  passing unto greater glory was initially a shock. But a fulfilled and gifted life has to be appreciated. Leadership and responsibility were thrust upon you at an early age, which you accepted and enhanced. As a father, your principled advice was priceless. As an officer you were gallant, brilliant and brave. You became a true friend. I miss you. Rest in perfect peace till we meet to part no more.

Adieu

Your Son,

Chukwuma

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GREAT IMPRESSION

Remember, when we met in Zürich?

You left quite an impression on me. What a long time ago!

I liked the way you treated people, always with respect, as you treated me. The first day I met you, I loved you.

I know, we have not seen each other very often, but you will always be in my heart!

May your soul rest in peace.

-Love

Claudia

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A HONOURABLE MAN WITH GENEROUS HEART

I never got to know Grandpa well as I was living abroad in England and he was generally a man who spoke only when there was something important to be said.  However, I would often hear stories of not just his caring ways and his kindness and generosity to those less better off than himself but also of what an honourable and upstanding figure he was. It was very sad for me then that I never got the chance to spend more time with the wise and exemplary person that he was. I pray that this spirit may live on as he goes to be with the Lord in his final resting place.

-Linda Eze

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A KIND-HEARTED GRANDPA

Grandpa, I always looked up to you.

You and my dad have the same kind heart and are so alike.

I really wish I could have seen you more often but the moments, which I was able to share with you will always remain.

May your soul rest in peace grandpa.

-Love , Onyema

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A FANTASTIC GRANDFATHER

My grandpa was a fantastic grandfather. He was a loving man. He was a man of good intention. Grandpa was advanced in age even when I was in primary school but he never missed any event. He was always there. Grandpa never missed any of my races and trust me there where quite a number (not to brag).I can never forget the times that we will go to grandma and grandpa's house and grandpa will make us some really nice tea and put on his radio that was literally the size of a microwave.

 

Even though grandpa took us out to places like Cactus, Chicken Republic and so many other places when we were younger it never stopped him from introducing us to the road side delicacies of life. When people hear the word 'Grandfather' they picture in their minds someone that reads the newspaper and someone who thinks the only channel to watch on television was the news but on the contrary to that popular stereotype our grandpa was quite different.

 

Before the days of the Telemundo channel (a channel that shows telenovelas), they showed these telenovelas on channels like AIT, STV and Channels. I can never ever forget Paloma and Diego. Even though grandma and grandpa's house was on road 51 and ours on 2, without fail whenever it was time for Paloma and Diego we all assembled in their house.

 

We moved on to Zee world with our telenovelas long forgotten, Destiny, Married Again and Eternal love were what we started with, Destiny being a favourite of grandpa but when Saloni started he was glued. He watched the final episode of Saloni before he passed on. The strangest thing that grandpa watched to me was golf. Grandpa was a Man United fan. He loved all sorts of movies, comedies and action packed blockbusters a prime favourite. He watched the Sound of Music a lot, and even went with us to watch all the Avengers movies! He even watched the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun.

 

I know grandpa is resting in peace but the fact that I wouldn't be able to see him physically like I always have hurts. I will miss him cheering me on at my races. I will miss him telling me happy birthday. I will miss him sitting next to me on the plane and the times he would offer me his cupcake or his dessert. I will miss getting his honey for his tea.

 

Grandpa, I thank God for your life and I thank him even more for choosing me to be one of your grandchildren. The memories we spent together will forever be in my heart. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. La anu Grandpa.

-Alita Asika

2nd Grandchild

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MY HUMBLE GRANDPA - COL. A. O. EZE

My grandpa was a humble man. In fact, humble is an understatement. He was always a kind, gentle and observant man. Never selfish, always self-less.

My first memories of my grandpa are of him sitting on the balcony of his old house in the late afternoon solving the Sudoku and crossword puzzles at the back of the newspaper.

 

I was beyond shocked when my grandpa died because in my mind I always thought my grandparents would live till they were great grandparents. He didn't even look like he was dead when I saw him but like he was asleep.

 

The saying “You never realise what you've got till it's gone” is really true. I never realised the huge impact my grandpa made in my life until now that I feel an empty void in me.

My grandpa's room was next to the living room and I remember so vividly how sometimes my sisters and I would be watching television when it way past our bedtime and immediately we heard the creaking of my grandpa's door we would run off so that he would not find us there! Until now when I hear the creaking of the door I still think it's him because the fact that he has passed has not really dawned on me.

 

My grandpa that never uttered a bad comment about someone behind their backs but told them straight up as he was not man for sugar-coating of words. My grandpa who would buy us suya after school when we were younger, my grandpa who would call me his eccentric grand-daughter, my grandpa the man of little but honest words, my grandpa, my soldier has left me.

He will forever be missed, I have no doubt about that. Rest in peace grandpa, you have lived a good, prosperous and God-fearing life. Ụra na fọduru, ruo anyị na-ezute ọzọ mee ka ya ọzọ.

Your eccentric grand-daughter,

-Arlene Asika

3rd Grandchild

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MY ONLY GRANDFATHER - COL. A. O. EZE

My grandpa Col. A. O. Eze was the only grandpa I ever knew. Grandpa was always humble and kind; I never knew he was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Hockey Federation until he passed on. He always gave up something just so the other person could have it. He was loved by all but as the saying goes if you love someone let them go. Grandpa was always happy anytime I came back from school with good results, asking what I would like and encouraging me to keep up the good work. I am very happy that he died a peaceful death. I hope wherever he is, he is happy. We love you Grandpa but God loves you more. Goodbye until we meet again.

-Anjelica Asika

Grand Daughter

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I LOVE YOU, GRANDPA

Dear Grandpa, I have known you for a very long time and loved you. So it is very hard thinking of you now dead. May you rest in peace. I love you.

-Max Eze

5th Grandchild

 

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MISSING YOU, GRANDPA

I miss my grandpa. I ask of him every day but my mummy has told me that he is in heaven. I love you Grandpa.

-Alvaro Asika

6th Grandchild

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REST IN PEACE, GRANDPA

Dear Lord Jesus,              

Thank you for making the Holy Spirit our protector. Please help me to spread the word around the world.

Please protect my grandpa in heaven and let him rest in peace. Amen.

-Josemaria Eze

7th Grandchild

Order of Funeral Mass for

Mazi Col Anthony Okoro Eze

At St Theresa Catholic Church, Arochukwu

20 August,2016

 

BURIAL DAY
(Before the body was removed from the country home)

Priest:  The Lord be with you                 

All:  And with your spirit

Priest:  Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comforts, who comforts us in all our afflictions.

All:  Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(The Priest sprinkles the body with Holy Water)

A Psalm and Response (Ps. 129).

 

Priest:  Lord, remember me in your Kingdom.

All:  Lord, remember me in your Kingdom.

 

Priest:  Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord be attentive to the voice of my pleadings.

All:  Lord, remember me in your Kingdom.

 

Priest:  If you, O Lord should mark our guilt, Lord who would survive?  But with you is found forgiveness, for this we reverence and worship you.

All:  Lord, remember me in your Kingdom.

           

Priest:  My souls is waiting for the Lord, I count on His word.  My soul is longing for the Lord more than the watch man for day break; let the watchman count on day break, and Israel on the Lord.

All:  Lord, remember me in your Kingdom.

Priest:  Because with the Lord there I mercy and fullness of redemption.  Israel indeed He will redeem from all its iniquity.

All:  Lord, remember me in your Kingdom.

 

Priest:  The Lord be with you!

 All:  And with your spirit.          

 

The Body was then taken to the Church

RECEPTION OF THE BODY INTO THE CHURCH

All the faithful remained  in the church to await the body while the family

awaits outside for the priest to pray over the body.

The Body was carried into the church by

a team of Nigerian Army Officers ,Drawn from 82 Division

LET US PRAY

Listen to our prayers.  Lord as we humbly beg your mercy to grant the soul of Anthony Okoro Eze eternal rest.

All:  Amen.

Priest:  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 

All:  Amen.

Priest:  The Lord be with you.

All:  And with your spirit.

Pirest:  Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation.  He comforts’ us in all our afflictions and this enables us to comfort those who are in trouble with the same consolation we have received from Him.

All:  Amen.

 

 

CELEBRANT              

I bless the body of Anthony Okoro Eze, with holy water that recalls his baptism of which St. Paul writes “All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death.  By baptism into his death were buried together with him, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father we too might live a new life.  For if we have been united with Him by likeness of His death, so shall we be united with Him by likeness of His resurrection.

 

 

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

Just as Jesus died and rose again, so God will raise up with Him those who have died in Christ.  As we all died, we shall live again in Christ.

 

OPENING PRAYER    

O God, to whom it belongs to have mercy and to spare, we humbly entreat you for the soul of your servant Anthony Okoro Eze whom you have summoned from this world that you would not deliver him into the hand of the enemy or forget her forever, but bid your home a paradise.  Since he placed his hope in you, may he not know the pains of hell, but bring him into eternal happiness in heaven.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ your son, who lives and reign with you in the Unity of the Holy Spirit on God world without end – Amen.

 

LITURGY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 25:6-9)

On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all people a banquet of rich food.  On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all nations, he will destroy death for ever.  The Lord God will wipe away his people’s shame everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so.  That day, it will be said: see, this is our God in whom, we hoped for salvation; the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.  We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us.

This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (PS. 23)

His goodness shall follow me always, to the end of my days.

1.         The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.  Fresh and green are the pastures, where he gives me repose, near restful waters he leads me, to revive my dropping spirit. (R)

2.         He guides me along the right path; He is true to His name.  If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.  You are there with your rod and staff; with these you give me comfort. (R)

3.         You have prepared a banquet for me, in the, sight of my foes.  My head you have anointed with oil, my cup is overflowing. (R)

4.         Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life.  In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell, forever and ever! (R)

 

SECOND READING    

ROM. 8:3-35,37-39

With God on our side who can be against us?  Since God did not spare his own son but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give.  Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen?  When God acquits could anyone condemn?  Could Christ Jesus? No!  He not only died for us He rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand He stands and pleads for us.  Nothing therefore can come; not any power or height or depth, nor any created thing can ever come between us and love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked.  These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loves us for I am certain of this neither dead nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power or height of depth, nor any created thing can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is the Word of the Lord.

 

 

ACCLAMATION: REV. 14:13

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “write this: Happy are those who from now on die in the service of the Lord!”  “Yes indeed!” answers the Spirit, “They will enjoy rest from their hard work, because the result of their service goes with them”.

 

GOSPEL

A Reading from the Gospel according to St. John 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples; do not let your hearts, be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many places to live in; otherwise I would have told you.  I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you to myself, so that you may be with me where I am going.”  Thomas said, Lord, we do not know the place where you are going, so how can we know the way?  Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

HOMILY

 

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Let us pray with faith and confidence to the

Almighty Father who raised Christ His Son from the dead for the salvation of the living and the dead.

 

Response: Open the door” the door of heaven, open the door for Anthony to enter.

 

1.         For our brother Anthony Okoro Eze, that he may share the light of Christ’s resurrection and come into new life of happiness and peace.  We pray O Lord.

 

2.         For those suffering on account of bereavement, at the generosity of their fellow Christians may give them new action and help them to relieve their anxiety.  We pray O Lord.

3.         For all who are gathered here to pray for brother Anthony Okoro Eze that we may always live, act and speak in full realization that one day we shall be called upon to answer for our thoughts, words and actions.We pray O Lord.

4.         For the sick and sufferings that Jesus Christ who showed mercy to the infirm will bestow upon them, every heavenly blessing and restore to them lasting health of mind and body.  We pray O Lord.

5.         For all who have passed from this life, that our Lord Jesus Christ to whom it belongs to grant mercy and to spare, may remit their sins and welcome them into His Kingdom of peace and glory.  We pray O Lord.

 

LET US PRAY           

God the Creator and the Redeemer of all the faithful      departed, grant them the forgiveness of all their sins, and through our heart-felt prayers the pardon they have always desired, you who live and reign forever and ever. (R). Amen.

 

PRAYER OVER THE GIFT

Lord, receive the gift we offer for the salvation of your servant Anthony Okoro Eze.  May Christ be merciful in judging her for she believed in Christ as her Lord and Saviour (R). Amen.

 

 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord if anyone believes in me, even though he dies, yet shall he live.  Anyone who lives and believes in me shall not die.  Alleluia.

 

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

God of mercies, we who received the sacraments of salvation, pray for Anthony Okoro Eze your servant and our brother by Baptism while on earth.  He shared in your life, now that he has left the world, may your merciful love join him with your saints in Heaven, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

FINAL COMMENDATION

It is our Christian duty to give a worthy burial to deceased Christians.  Let us pray with confidence to God who gives life to all things that he will raise this mortal body of Anthony Okoro Eze to the perfection and company of the saints.  May God give him a merciful judgment and forgive him all his sins.  May Christ, the good shepherd, lead him safely home to be at peace with God our father.  And may he be happy forever with all the saints in the presence of the Eternal King.

 

(The corpse was  sprinkled with Holy water and incensed while the choir sang the following verses).

 

V.         Saints of God

R.         Come to his aid

V.         Come to meet him angels of the Lord.

R.         Receive him soul and present him to God the Most High.

V.         May Christ who called you, take you to Himself.  May angels lead you to Abraham’s side.

R.         Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.

V.         Give him eternal rest, O Lord and may your light shine on him forever.

R.         Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.

A Platoon of Nigerian Army performed a parade ,followed with a 21 gun salute. The Commander of Nigerian Army Signal Read his Military citation and thereafter  handed over  his military  Boot, Cap, Belt  and Nigerian National flag to His son-Andrew .

CELEBRANT

Father, into your hands we commend our brother Anthony Okoro Eze.  We are confident that will all who have died in Christ, he will be raised to life on the last day and live forever with Christ.  We thank you for all the blessings you gave him in this life to show your fatherly care for all of us, and the fellowship which is ours with the Saints in Jesus Christ.  Lord, hear our prayers, welcome and help us, to comfort each other with the assurance of our faith until we all meet to Christ to be with our brother, Anthony Okoro Eze forever, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

BLESSING OF GRAVE

Priest:  Lord Jesus Christ, by the three days you laid in the tomb, you made holy the graves of all who believe in you, and even though their bodies lie in the earth, they trust that they, like you will rise again, give your servant Anthony Okoro Eze peaceful rest in this grave until that day when you, the resurrection and the life will raise him up in glory.  Then may he see the light of your presence, Lord Jesus, in the Kingdom where you live forever and ever.  Amen.

(The Priest  sprinkled the grave with Holy water; incenses it..)

Priest:  Since Almighty God has called our brother Anthony Okoro Eze from this life to Himself, we commit his body to the earth from which it was made.  Christ was the first to raise our mortal bodies to be like His in glory.  We commend our brother  to the Lord; may the Lord receive him into his peace and raise his body on the last day.

 

The body was now lowered into the grave by the Team of commissioned Army Officers

V.         Lord have mercy

R.         Lord have mercy

V.         Christ have mercy

R.         Christ have mercy

V.         Lord have mercy

R.         Lord have mercy

V.         Our Father in Heaven.

 

 

CELEBRANT

Let us pray for our brother Anthony Okoro Eze to our Lord Jesus Christ, who said “I am the Resurrection and the Life.  The man who believes in me will live even if he dies and every living person who puts his faith in me will never suffer eternal death.”

 

V.         Lord you wept at the death of Lazarus your friend, comfort us in our sorrow, we ask this in faith.

            (R) Lord hear our prayers.

V.         You raised the dead to life; give your servant Anthony Okoro Eze eternal life.  We ask this in faith (R).

V.         You promised Paradise to the thief who repented, bring your servant Anthony Okoro Eze to the joys of heaven.  We ask this in faith (R).

V.         Our brother Anthony Okoro Eze was washed clean in baptism and anointed with the oil of salvation; give him fellowship with your saints.  We ask this in faith (R).

V.         He was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant him; a place to table in your heavenly Kingdom.  We ask this in faith (R).

V.         Comfort us in our sorrow at the death of our brother  Anthony Okoro Eze, let our faith be our consolation and eternal life our hope.  We ask this in faith (R).

 

LET US PRAY

Lord, listen to our prayers for our brother and your servant Anthony Okoro Eze.  As he always desired to do your will, so in our mercy forgive whatever wrong he may have done.  By his Christian faith, he was united with all your believing people.  Now, in love and mercy, give him a place with your angels and saints.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

V.         Eternal rest grant to him O Lord.

R.         And let perpetual light shine upon him.

V.         May he rest in peace.

R.         Amen.

 

PRAYER FOR THE MOURNERS

Grant, O God that while we lament the depature of your servant, Anthony Okoro Eze, we may always remember that we are most certainly to follow him.  Give us grace to prepare for that last hour by a good life, that we may not be surprised by a sudden and unprovided death, but be ever watching that when you call, we may enter into eternal glory; through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.

 

FOR THE DECEASED

May Mary, the Most merciful Mother of God, kindest comforter of those who mourn, commend to his son Anthony Okoro Eze, who has departed this life, that through her maternal intercession, he may quickly reach his longed for, home in the heavely fatherland, and live forever and ever.  Amen.

V.         Eternal rest grant to him O Lord.

R.         And let perpetual light shine upon him.

V.         May he rest in peace.

R.         Amen.

 

Mazi Colonel Anthony Okoro Eze [Rtd] N35

 

Mazi Colonel Anthony Okoro Eze [Rtd] was born on 23 December, 1932, in Ekka present day Ebonyi State, as a scion of the Eze-Ole dynasty of Amangwu-Arochukwu. His parents were the famous Customary Court Judge, Mazi Eze Ole and Madam Grace Nwaite Eze. He was born into a large polygamous family as his father married twelve wives.

 

His early education was at Joint Community School, Achiagu and St Theresa's School, Abakaliki. Following his academic propensity, he won a scholarship to the prestigious Government College, Umuahia in 1949. There, he not only distinguished himself academically but also in the sporting arena notably at football, hockey and cricket. Due to his leadership qualities in the Boys Brigade, his School Principal - Mr. Simpson - advised him to pursue a career in the army. This he wholeheartedly accepted.

 

He had a brief stint at P&T Engineering School, Oshodi before joining the Nigerian Army officers’ cadre. After basic training, he was sent to Teshie Military Academy in Ghana from where he was chosen to attend the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in January 1957. In 1959, he headed to the Royal School of Signals, Catterick where he undertook several courses in military communications.

 

It was while on a course in England that he met and married his darling wife Mrs. Joan Angelina Eze, a nurse, in 1961. She was from Grenada in the Caribbean and would be his rock through thick and thin.

 

Not long after his return to Nigeria, Col. Eze was sent to the Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping force. On his return, he rejoined the Signals Regiment and became the first Nigerian commander in 1964. He served there with distinction till he was made the Lagos Garrison Commander in January 1966.

 

It was from this post in Yaba that he had a miraculous escape during the coup of July 1966 when mutinous Northern troops tried to assassinate him.

 

During the ill-fated Nigeria-Biafra Civil War from 1967-70, he served as GOC 12 Division of the Biafran Army as Brigadier. The environment brought out the best in him as he served with merit in a severely depleted Biafran army.

At the end of the war in 1970, he had to deal with premature retirement but in his usual way forged ahead and set up a Communications Consultancy Firm that helped bring Siemens into Nigeria. He had extensive consulting services with Federal Ministry of Communications and the Signals Regiment over the next decade.

In the 1980s, he became Chairman of the Nigerian Hockey Federation where he pursued a vigorous path of growth for Nigerian hockey and distinguished himself with his upright and forward-thinking leadership. He also became Chairman of Land Use Allocation Commission in Old Imo State. He was a Board member of Nigercem Cement Company, Nkalagu. In all his business dealings, he was always watchful of anything that would besmirch his family name.

He was very passionate about his community affairs, notably his village, Arochukwu. He served Nzuko Arochukwu as the President of Lagos Branch and first Vice President-General at the national level. He helped champion the formation of Eze Aro Advisory Council and served in it for many years. He was a member of Okpankpo Arochukwu.

He was a devoted family man with three children - Andrew, Yvette,
Chukwuma - and seven grandchildren. He was also a man whose hobbies included tennis, photography and travelling. He travelled extensively with his immediate family in Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. He was a devout Catholic and was quite passionate about social justice and the betterment of society.

 

He was a deeply humble, intelligent and articulate man with high self-esteem. He never hesitated to help others and was always available to advise people. He believed passionately in Scholarship and helped many Aro sons and daughters to attain their educational dreams.

 

A distinguished Aristocrat who never tolerated mediocrity. In life and
death, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN.

Andrew Onyema Eze.