Tears, shock, and disbelief have gripped the family and community of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah following the sudden passing of his immediate elder sister, Mrs. Fidelia Ezinwanne Chigbogu, who reportedly slumped and died while preparing for church service in Lagos. She was 61 years old.
Mrs. Chigbogu, fondly called “Darling” by her husband, died suddenly last Sunday morning, leaving her family and well-wishers in deep mourning.
Speaking amid tears, her husband, Mr. Chudi Chidinma Chigbogu, an indigene of Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, expressed utter heartbreak over the sudden tragedy.
“It was like a shock to me, because even as I am talking to you now, I never believed it,” he said.
How The Tragic Incident Happened
Narrating to ABT NEWS the events leading up to the tragic Sunday, Mr. Chigbogu revealed that the family had experienced an electrical accident earlier in the week. On Thursday, their electrical meter exploded and burnt down their change-over room. The family immediately alerted officials of the power distribution company, who promised to visit on Monday to replace and relocate the meter.
“We were busy waiting for them. My wife said she would give testimony in church on Sunday, and we were preparing for that,” Mr. Chigbogu recalled.
He emphasized that there was no prior sign of illness or medical complaint before her sudden collapse.
“That Sunday morning, she woke up; there was nothing like a headache, nothing like fever, nothing. She finished bathing and was preparing to go to church. She usually leaves home between 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. because of the roles she plays in the church.
I went to wash the car because of dust. Around 8:00 a.m., I called my son and said, ‘Why has mummy not come down? Go and check.’ Only for the boy to go and start screaming that he called his mummy and she did not answer. He lifted her hand, and her hand dropped.”
Mr. Chigbogu rushed upstairs to find his wife lying unresponsive on the bed.
“I called her names, no way. I alerted neighbours; we carried her to six hospitals. Anywhere we went, they would take me aside and say I didn’t bring her on time, that she had passed on. I said no, it is not possible, until we got to the Navy Hospital, where they refused to admit her.”
Final Moments and Vision
In denial and desperate hope, family members held intensive prayers at their home for hours.
“Around 4:00 p.m., someone told me she had seen my wife in a vision, moving fast without looking back, and that she had made it to heaven,” Mr. Chigbogu stated. “That was when I changed my mind and allowed the ambulance to come. She left here after 6:00 p.m. and got to the village around 7:00 a.m. the next day.”
A Legacy of Leadership and Philanthropy
Describing his late wife as a pillar of strength, Mr. Chigbogu remembered her as a natural leader, peacemaker, and community philanthropist.
“Aside from calling her darling, I called her many names because she was a leader. No matter the case in the family, she would settle it. She is the founder of a women’s group, played a very big role in the church, and was known for her charitable work.
Before her passing, she was working on her orphanage project. Even though she is no more, I will not let her down—I will make sure that project comes to pass.”
Family Background
Late Mrs. Fidelia Ezinwanne Chigbogu was the second daughter in a family of seven children (three sons and four daughters) born to the Ubah family. She also served as one of the key trustees of the Ubah family estate prior to her untimely death.
Burial arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.
© ABT NEWS | www.abtnews.net
By
