Ahead of the funeral of the departed Assistant Director of Information, Comrade Joseph Robert, the Honourable Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong has paid a condolence visit to his bereaved family, where he asserted that both Life and Death are involuntary, only controlled by God.
Comrade Ini Ememobong who was accompanied by Directors and some staff of the Ministry, reminded the Widow of the late Assistant Director, Mrs Ethel Joseph Robert that, she, the Ministry and the medical personnel who cared for and treated Robert, did their best, but since Life and death are Involuntary, which cannot be controlled by man, the inevitable occurred, Death.
He therefore urged Mrs Ethel Robert not to cry uncontrollably as unbelievers but take solace in the fact that, her late husband, Joe, as he was fondly called, has departed to a better place of rest, where she, and all mortals will join anytime the creator calls and demands the Life He gave. “For God gives Life and takes it whenever He wants and no man can stop or question Him”, Ememobong emphasized.
The Commissioner who charged the widow and indeed the entire bereaved family to keep strong to continue with the legacies of the late Assistant Director, who while alive had created significant impact where ever he served, particularly in the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, where he was once, the State Secretary and also in the Ministry of Science and Technology, where he was the Head of the Information Unit.
Comrade Ememobong therefore extended the condolences of all the past Honourable Commissioners that the late Assistant Director worked with, mostly that of Dr. Iniobong Essien, who narrowly missed the condolence visit due to other pressing official engagement.
He pledged the support and assistance of the Ministry towards the burial of the Assistant Director and the educational needs of his children and prayed the good Lord to grant Mrs.Ethel Robert and the entire bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss and the soul of the departed, solace in the bosom of God Almighty.
Responding, the Widow of late Joseph Robert, Ethel, who was with her in-law, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, State Director of the Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) and Wife, Obonganwan Uduak Franklyn Isong, expressed deep appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner for the condolence visit and for all the support to the family.
Accordingly, the Director of Information, Mrs Blessing Urua has invited staff of the Ministry, friends and sympathisers to attend the funeral obsequies of the late Assistant Director, Comrade Joseph Robert, as follows: Vigil Mass at St. John Catholic Cathedral on Thursday 23rd March, 2023 at 6pm while Funeral Mass is on Friday 24th March, 2023 at the same St. John Catholic Cathedral, Abak Road, Uyo by 10am. Interment will follow soon after at the deceased compound at Ikot Abasiakpan in Mkpat Enin LGA.
Adieu our Assistant Director, Comrade Joseph Udo Robert, you will remain ever in our minds.
Fare Thee Well, Joe.