Chief Bassey Ekpo Bassey jnr; leading a procession of family members and others during the memorial service at A.M.E. Zion Church on Saturday.
By Anietie Akpan
It was a week long of celebrations and protocols in memory of a veteran journalist and an Ekpe title holder, Etubom Bassey Ekpo Bassey that culminated in a memorial service on Saturday, April 5 at A.M.E. Zion Church, Diamond, in the city of Calabar, Cross River state.
It was a beautiful and solemn service that commenced with a processional hymn of, “it is well with my soul” ushering in the family members led by Chief Bassey Ekpo Bassey Jnr.
Typical of church services, the congregation was called to worship and invocation and hymn of adoration, “Great is thy faithfulness”rendered before Bassey jnr and one of the sisters, Uyi read their father’s biography.
Delivering the word, the officiating Minister, Rev. Uwem Usen stressed the need for people to be good in the society and impact positively in whatever position they find themselves.
Drawing reference from Mathew 26:6-13 where Jesus told his disciples not to consider the very costly fragrant oil the woman at Bethany poured on Him as a waste because “wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what the woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her “
She said from the biography presented by his children, it is obvious that Etubom Bassey “has done much and he is remembered for it, so for us the living, what will you be remembered for?”
“We should make name for ourselves in good things we do”, Rev. Usen said, adding that, “Etubom Bassey worked for mankind and his community”.
The woman of God told the large congregation that, “life does not end here on earth but after this life, there is another life that we don’t have control over”, hence we should give account of ourselves while on earth.
She said some take working for God by participating in various church activities as a waste and warned, “don’t take your work with God as a waste. Give God your time for it is not a waste” just as when Jesus told his disciples not to consider the expensive fragrant oil the woman poured on Him as a waste.
“Etubom is remembered for so many things but what will you be remembered for;” she asked.
Making reference to Philippians 1:3, which Paul and Timothy told the people of Philippi, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you”, Rev. Usen emphasized the need for us to do good things saying, “don’t take any position you hold for granted …Certainly his family and the people will remember Etubom for his good deeds.
“Your commitment to God, your family, community is not a waste . The life that you live is for Christ”.
The about two and half hours service ended with another procession to the deceased refurbished beautiful colonial edifice, that tells the story of Calabar and tourism.
There, the “Thou my everlasting portion” hymn was rendered and prayer offered for the departed soul of the radical politician and socialist who “constantly sought platforms, obviously not to feather his nest, but to be used in whatever way possible to change the lives of the people he cared about”.