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The family of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie; the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and many others gathered on Saturday to mourn her as she was laid to rest in her father's compound.
The late news anchor was buried around 1:30 PM in Agulu, located in the Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, which is also the hometown of Mr. Peter Obi.
During the burial mass at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Agulu, Reverend Father Peter Ezewuzie, a priest from the parish, offered words of comfort to the family, encouraging them to find solace in the knowledge that Sommie lived a fulfilling life.
He stated: “The Lord who created us knows the beginning from the end. He is all-knowing, and while some of you may feel sorrow over a life taken too soon, we cannot know if this is part of God's plan.
“God is an all-knowing father, so I urge you to grieve less. The God who entrusted Christelle Somtoo Maduagwu to your family loves her even more than you do. The best tribute you can pay her is to keep her in your prayers. She is in a better place now and will always remember us.
“The essence of life is not measured by its duration but by its quality, and we can be certain that our sister lived a meaningful life. Let us all strive to live well. We are not here by mere chance; there is a purpose behind our existence, and we are expected to live good lives because no one knows when their time will come.”
Mr. Peter Obi also spoke to those in attendance after the Mass, saying: “We cannot question God. When I learned of her passing, I was unaware that she was from Agulu until I tweeted about it.
“Our presence here is meant to provide some comfort, but we recognize that this loss is profound. It is God’s will, and none of us can question it. Please keep her and her immediate family in your prayers.
“Before I left Birmingham yesterday, I informed some friends that I was hurrying back to Nigeria for the burial of one of my daughters. I asked them to keep her in their prayers always as she would be laid to rest today.”
Mr. Obi Maduagwu, the uncle of the late Sommie and the elder brother of her father, expressed gratitude to Arise News Channel for their support during this difficult time.
He remarked: “We are thankful to the management of Arise News. They have stood by us from the very beginning. We appreciate everyone who traveled from afar to be with us.”
