I hear my dead wife’s voice, feel her presence – Sen. Ndoma-Egba

By NSA GILL, Calabar

The former Senate Leader of the 7th National Assembly, Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, has revealed that one year after the death of his wife, late Amaka Lauretta Ndoma-Egba, he “still hears her voice and feel her presence at home”.

Ndoma-Egba spoke at the weekend at the Memorial Service for Amaka held in Our-Lady, Queen of Peace Catholic Church Parish in Akparabong, Ikom Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State.

He explained that it was her physical presence that he missed the most, adding that her legacies on the children at home were still very impactful and evident.

“The house is kept clean and organized by the children. They correct themselves by simply telling the other, ‘Mummy will not like what you did.’ Or ‘is that how mummy did it’?” Ndoma-Egba said.

He explained that God had continued to keep and bless his family.

“Over the last one year, we have had two additional grandchildren in the family. The school my wife established in Abuja is still doing well and the population is rising as well,” he added.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was the Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), revealed the four stages of grief that he had to pass through after the loss of his wife and three other close relatives who died before her.

His words, “The first stage is that of emotion – which in self-denial you are saying, this hasn’t happened. Then you move from that stage to that of anger. Sheer anger; then you get to the stage of questioning virtually everything and then finally you come to the resolution stage where you come to terms with what had happened.

“I’ve had to go through all those four stages. I have gone even past the resolution stage to the stage where now I’m savouring the memories of the life we shared. I’m no longer angry. I’m no longer questioning, I just keep on remembering the life we shared.”

The one-year memorial service officiated by the Bishop of Ogoja Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Donatus E. Akpan, was climaxed by the dedication and consecration of St. Lauretta Adoration Chapel built by Sen. Ndoma-Egba in memory of his late wife. (The Nation)