By Danjuma Auta
The paramount ruler of the Eggon nation, the Aren Eggon, HRM Dr. Bala Abaine Angbazo, who died recently at the National Hospital, Abuja, has been laid to rest in his home town, Awayi, Akwanga LGA of Nasarawa State.
The burial, which was held at ECWA Awayi, witnessed a large turnout of sympathizers from all walks of life.
Delivering a sermon at the funeral service, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Vice President and ECWA President, Rev. Dr. Stephen Baba Panya, eulogized the paramount ruler as a humble and dedicated Christian who lived his life for the church not only in his community but Nigeria at large.
Taking his reading from John 14:6-7, the cleric stated that, Jesus had made it clear to the world that He is the way, the truth and the life that would lead everyone to God’s salvation.
He lamented that, the world was full of troubles and temptations and that the only way that humanity could find rest was through salvation in Christ Jesus.
According to him, the paramount ruler had paid his dues on earth and satisfied all the requirements of living a true Christian life and urged his family, the country and the Christendom at large to emulate the good legacies he left behind.
Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule, said that the late Aren Eggon lived a fulfilled life and played his role well as one of the founding fathers of the state, adding that he was a symbol of unity not only to the Eggon nation but Nigeria at large.
Going down memory lane, he remembered the paramount ruler as a politician who played politics with all sense of godliness and later ruled with justice and fairness when he became the Aren Eggon.
The governor disclosed that the state government would construct a market at Awayi and the road leading to the ruler’s village to be named after him as a mark of honor.
Wife of the deceased, Mama Juliana Bala Angbazo, gave testimony that the late traditional ruler was a husband, friend, father and everything to her and the family and lived his life by sacrificing his luxury for the good of his family and the Eggon nation.
She assured that her husband had answered the call to be in a better place, as he was only sleeping in the bosom of Christ where they would one day meet him.
His children described him as a large-hearted and generous father who was driven by the goals of equipping them with the best education and godliness and would be remembered for his well-known passion of investing in people which made him a father to hundreds across tribes, religions, races and countries.
In a condolence message signed by the ECWA General Secretary, Rev.(Dr) Yunusa Sabo Nmadu, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), described the late Aren Eggon as a colossus who had gone to be with the Lord.
According to the statement he was an epitome of selfless service to the church and humanity who serve the church and his people with all his heart adding that he was a great supporter of mission work who was the first indigenous person to donate a vehicle for missionary work in ECWA.
He said that the church would continue to celebrate his legacy even as they mourned with the family and prayed the Lord to comfort his immediate family, the Eggon nation Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large.
There where goodwill messages from the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, the People’s Democratic Party, Catholic Diocese of Lafia, ERCC, Eggon Cultural and Development Association, Ministers, members of the National Assembly and captains of industries, among others.
His body was later interred in the Angbazo family compound.