Spotlight | 2 July 2011 15:11 CET

My memorable moments with Christy –Husband •Jonathan, Obi, others mourn

By EMERSON GOBERT and JULIANA TAIWO,

As Nigerians mourn the passing on of ace musician and actress, Chief (Mrs) Christy Essien-Igbokwe, her husband, Chief Edwin Igbokwe, has recalled memorable times with her. His revelation is coming amid outpouring of condolences and empathies of Nigerians to the family.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, Igbokwe said there are so many memorable things about his wife he won't forget. Specifically, he recalled her “spirituality and humility.”

According to him, he would dearly miss his musician wife, “especially her passion for the underprivileged and pursuit of equity and justice and of course, her crusade for peaceful co-existence in every family and her life in totality.”

Similarly, other Nigerians have been paying tribute to the later Mrs. Igbokwe.In his condolence message, President Goodluck Jonathan described the death of Mrs. Igbokwe as shocking.

A statement from the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, noted that the President condoled with the family and members of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) on behalf of himself, his family, the Federal Government and people of Nigeria.

The President enjoined her family and loved ones to take solace in the knowledge that while Christy Essien-Igbokwe may have been called away in mid-life, memory of her will live forever through the rich repertoire of soul-stirring songs she bequeathed to the nation and the world.

President Jonathan prayed that God Almighty will grant her peaceful rest from her earthly labours and bless her family with the fortitude
and strength to bear the pain of her departure.

Also, the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi empathized with the family of Chief Edwin Igbokwe and the people of Akwa Ibom State on the death of Mrs. Christy Essien-Igbokwe. Obi said he was pained to hear of her sudden death.

“She was a vibrant, pleasant fellow; very talented musician and actress. She was a consummate artiste. Her death is a great loss. She enriched our culture. We've lost a cultural ambassador”, Obi said of her.

Governor Obi urged upcoming artistes to emulate the late Christy Igbokwe's regard for both indigenous and modern influences in her music and asked her family and the people of Akwa Ibom State to take solace in her legacies.

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