14 Years Remembrance of My Dearly Beloved Mother Madam TAMUNOENE BEN OPUDA 1929-2011

Flashback: On this day May 26, 2011 my dearly beloved Mother Madam Tamunoene Sunday Titi Bennett Opuda , died, at the age of 82. Shе passed away peaceful in Port Harcourt ,Rivers State.

My memories of her are full of Joy and happiness to the Glory of God Almighty, continue to rest dear mother in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. A great blessed mum that loved me and her beloved grandchildren beyond words.

We missed you, Bye.

Did you know? The remains of my Beloved Mother late Madam Tamunoene Bennett Opuda of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area was interred on Saturday 2nd July 2011 in her country home, Ogu. After a Day vigil and funeral service officiated by the Diocese of Okrika, St Martin’s Anglican Church, Ogu Town by the Vicar in charge Venerable G.T.Orabere, assisted by Rev T.K. Daka and Reverend Friday Ogbonna.

A Tribute of Madam Tamunoene Bennett Opuda. Published on

 Saturday, August 6, 2011, 13:52 on Spyghananews . Ghana’s most popular online news portal, Spy Ghana (www.spyghana.com ) is now referred to as News Ghana (www.newsghana.com. gh).

 Obituary.

I would like to begin this tribute by thanking Almighty God for his mercy on

the life of my Beloved Mother, an exemplary Christian woman.

All of us must die eventually, ‘our lives are like water that is poured out on

the ground, it cannot be gathered up again”( Holy Bible,2nd Samuel,14v 14

Like all mortals do, the life and times of the late Madam Tamunoene

Bennett Opuda on planet earth were no different. She came, she saw, and

she conquered, but she returned to the clay from which she was formed:

Genesis 3:19

To God be thy glory. I had the premonition of her death; I was with her and

we went to pray together. This took a longer time than the usual practice.

Then I suspected that she was getting ready to go on a journey of no return. I

left for bed only to saw her early morning sleeping, so peaceful; I knew she

had gone to joined the saints triumphant.

I will miss everything about her, her counsel, love and other things. This is a

mother that will not sleep each time I went out for work until I return. We

are just too close; she was a Mother in million.

Mama was an embodiment of Motherhood. She was indeed a priceless gift

from God. Her influence knew no limits. She specially taught me to be

humble and respectful. IBI-NYEGIBO DEIN-NA MU, means in Wakirike

dialect, of the Ijaw language, Good Mother go and rest in perfect peace.

The demise of Tamunoene Bennett Opuda on Thursday 26 th May 2011,

Wakirike clan in Ijaw ethnic nationality has lost one of its community

woman leaders in contemporary times.

The remains of late Madam Tamunoene Ben Opuda of Ogu/Bolo local

government area was interred on Saturday 2 nd July 2011 in her country home

at about 0217 pm. I watched as the Mahogany brown casket bearing my

beloved Mother body was lowered into the grave being covered with sand

and tears flowed from my eyes at the last respect moment. After a Day vigil

and funeral service officiated by the Diocese of Okrika, St Martin’s

Anglican Church, Ogu Town by the Vicar in Charge Venerable G.T. Orabere,

JP, assisted by Rev T.K. Daka and Reverend Friday Ogbonna.

Delivering his sermon at the commendation service, Venerable Orabere

noted that he knows the late Mama as a devout Christian of the Anglican

Communion, her level of commitment to the service and things of God

while she was alive on earth.

Madam Ene died at age of 82 years.

Family members, friends, in-laws, traders, fishermen, students and

sympathizers from the neighboring communities paid the late Madam Ene

their last respect.

Speakers after speakers, by the faithful, families’ members and sympathisers

extol the shimmering Christian’s qualities and tributes to the deceased.

For the purpose of this tribute, I will talk brief of her biography of the

celebration of amiable life worthy emulating. Nothing and nobody can

replace Mama for what she represented in life.

Madam Tamunoene Bennett Opuda was born on Sunday 28 th July 1929 at

Ogu town to the families of late Chief Bennett Opuda a well-known palm

produce merchant of Furubowarifama War-Canoe House, then Omodara

War-Canoe House, One of the Original Main-group of Houses and Late

Madam Bernice Jinwarilakabofori Obuoforibo, a Granddaughter of

legendary Obuoforibo (Onye) of Abeji Chieftaincy in Ofiomani Main-group

of Houses all in ancient city of Ogu Town in Ogu/ Bolo Local Government

Area of Rivers State. She was the 3rd daughter and the 9th child in a family of

ten of her father and the fourth Child of her Mother Children.

Her father died when she was eight years old, leaving the family with

serious grief and grew up in a close-knit family. Her father belonged to the

distinguished pantheon of great Wakirike leaders as one of the real palm-

produce merchants of the colonial-era

As it would please the Lord, she was married to Mr. Inuomesa Micah of

Chiri war-Canoe House of Ogu and had her first son Late Micah in 1953;

Micah died during the Nigerian Civil War. She later got married to Late

Warisenibo (Elder) Karibo Erasmus Olube Owutoku of Sateh-Tuboyesi

family of Chuku Omuaru of Ogu Town and was blessed with a son. Titi as

she was fondly called was dutiful quite, cheerful and accommodating.

Madam Tamunoene Sunday Ben Opuda was active and industrious, she

traded on garri in Old Finima Town, Kalaibiama, Oloma, Grand Bonny and

bought dry fishes in fishing settlements in Bonny sea, namely Fankpa,

Orumokiri, Owubipi and also from Bouotoru, Igbeboko in Kalabari sea and

to sell in Creek road market in Port Harcourt City. She later commenced on

buying and selling dry fish at Olobulo market which she traded on until a

certain age before she retired.

Mrs. Tamunoene Sunday Opuda was a devout Christian of Anglican

Communion and Baptized at Martin’s Anglican Church Ogu on 4 th January,

1959 by Late Reverend.J.O. Buseri, Confirmed 25 June 1989 by the Late Rt

Rev. S O. Elenwo, JP. Then Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese and she was

also a dedicated member of the Mother’s Union in the Church.

By 2000, when she came over to Port Harcourt, she started to fellowship at

The Glory in The House Church situated at # 1 Okarki Street, Borikiri. She

was dedicated member of the House fellowship center (Home cell), off

Okarki lane. She had a very close and personal relationship with her God,

whose presence and power permeated her entire life. Mrs. Opuda was a very

simple and kindhearted woman. She would give out her only meal to the

hungry, she had confidence in God as the source of her supply and knowing

that she would never lack was a vivid demonstration of this basic Christian

principle. She embraced everyone with Love. Though Mama was a very

strict, stern and thorough disciplinarian whose love was sunshine to every

child’s heart, her faith in God was the source of her strength; and wisdom

sustained her through life’s challenges. She was a moral blessing to all who

came by her. She was well-bred and taught. Best of all, she heeded and

profited from her upbringing. She was a woman without deceit. She envied

no man or person. She rejoices genuinely in the success of others and was

generous. She was jewel in her paternal and maternal families, an

embodiment of love, care and hard work. She encouraged the helpless. She

was a great pillar of support to her extended families. She however breath

her last on Thursday 26, 2011, leaving a vacuum that can never be filled.

Though she passed on, we still give Glory to God for he knows all things.

She is survived by. Mr. Jinbobaraye Karibo-Nelson, SIPM, a Social

commentator, writer and security analyst, Grandchildren, Sisters, Nephews,

Cousins and Brother, Supt General Apostle Maxwell Tamunomie Iyama, JP

a Clergyman, Peoples Democratic Party chieftain and former Local

Government Chairman of the defunct Okrika /Oyigbo/Tai-Eleme local

Government Area (OTELGA), and former Chairman of Rivers State owned

Delta Rubber company, Elder G D.Atemie, Prof Josiah D.Atemie; and Dr

George Obuoforibo of the University of Port Harcourt, Sir Sobiaye Sika.JP

and Madam Oribi Eugene Wakama.

EXTRACTS FROM THE CONDOLENCE MESSAGES

Sorry to hear of the demise of your loving Mother. A mother so good has

gone to be with the Lord May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Navy Surgeon Commodore G.T. Epelle.

On behalf of my family sympathies with the Karibo-Nelson’s on the demise

of your loving mother. May her soul rest in perfect peace.

Mr. Jekiri Atamuno Festus

May her soul rest in peace

Mr. Olarewaju Toyin

A painful loss indeed. Please accept my heart-felt sympathy and may the

good Lord give you the strength to bear the loss Amen

Rev Marcus Obianemi

May her soul rest in perfect peace. May God give the family she left behind

the grace to bear the loss.

Mr. Taiga Ebisebera (House fellowship teacher)

A loving, caring mother worth having. Rest in the bosom of the Lord.

MWO & Mrs. Wilfred Amatemeso

About the Author

By: JINBOBARAYE KARIBO-NELSON, JP, SIPM

(SON). A Social Commentator, Writer and Security Analyst

Wrote in from Ogu Town, Rivers State

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Ma Cousin's

Ma cousin's

Ma Tamunoene cousin, Late Prof .George Johnny Obuoforibo. Picture taken during Ma's Funeral Church Service at St Martin's Anglican Church Ogu, July 2,2011.

Late Madam Tamunoene Opuda Son and his friends after the day vigil.

St Martin's Anglican Church, Ogu Town.

Late Ma. Tamunoene Bennett Opuda's Thanksgiving Service at St Martin's Anglican Church, Ogu on Sunday July 3,2011

Ma family House Year 2011

Year 2017

Picture of Ma Son's wedding at Redeemed Christian Church of God RGGC, 28 Club Road, Port Harcourt on May 24, 2003 . Picture from Left to Right 2nd Ma. Tamunoene Ben Opuda ,Mr. &Mrs. Jinbobaraye Karibo-Nelson and Ma youngest brother, Elder Hon. Maxwell T. Iyama JP

Madam Tamunoene Titi Bennethh Opuda Parent .This photo was taken in 1860.

Left to -Right: Ma Bernice and her Husband Pa .Bennett Opuda and Ma bosom friend Ma. Adain of Apibikienka -Igio House.

Photo: The original black and white photograph from the Source: Ma Titi archive.

Now you know

See how clear a 165 year old image is.

Beautiful to see.

Late Ma Tamunoene Opuda's Mother, late Madam Bernice Obuoforibo died Nigerian Independence day 1st October, 1995 aged 105.

Ma. Tamunoene and her dear Husband late Elder Karibo a community leader in Ogu kingdom in the 70's before his passage.

Ma was laid to rest at her Son's compound in Ogu Town.

Ma having handshake with the revered King, Amanyanabo of Ogu Kingdom King Elliott Ada Loko, during her Confirmation in the Anglican Communion at St Martin's . The King was Ma maternal second Cousin. During his reigned their was absolute peace, stability and development. The sand filling , Reclamations of the massive mangrove forest in Ogu Town in the 80's.