Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has sympathised with the family of the late Pastor Ezekiel Atang, a renowned preacher in the state.
Atang, until his death, was the General Overseer of the God’s House of Refuge, Udobio Street, Uyo .
He died Monday morning after a three-day programme of Wordspring Gospel and Worship Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Emmanuel, who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo and members of the State Executive Council on the condolence visit, Tuesday at the late clergy’s residence in Uyo, expressed shock and grief over the loss of the Pastor.
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The governor while recalling memories with Pastor Ezekiel Atang, expressed grief over the passage of the clergy, describing him as a dependable friend, brother and a credible pastor whose demise remains a colossal loss to the state and the Christian faith at large.
While condoling the family of late pastor Ezekiel Atang, he prayed God to comfort the wife, Mrs. Dara Atang and their children.
According to him, the family should take solace in the fact that he has gone to be with the Lord, although his demise has caused pain and grief, God knows the best and will console the family.
“Honestly if I say I lack words, I got confused yesterday when I got the message during an official engagement in Abuja. My colleagues noticed what happened, I couldn’t recover at all, but I summed up courage and strength.
”Pastor Ezekiel was one of the fewest credible pastors we have around here in all ramifications and it is just so painful. It is a difficult thing and if I feel this way only God knows what the wife and children will feel.
”There is nothing that happens that God does know the end from the beginning, we can’t question God. But I know he is in heaven, because he was such a credible Christian in all standard by all means, our prayer is that God will not forsake his family, the wife, brothers, mother and his children.
“On behalf of all of us we came to say let God be the one to take over this matter, let God be the one to step in and strengthen this family and console you all.
”On behalf of us who were his friend we will do our best to see how we can help but nothing can replace a father, nothing can replace a husband, nothing can replace a brother, nothing can replace a son. On behalf of all of us we say our sincere condolences to the family of Pastor Ezekiel Atang,’’ Emmanuel added.
Responding for the bereaved family, Pastor Emmanuel Atang, an elder brother to late Pastor Ezekiel, mourned the passage of his brother, describing him as a light whom God raised to play the role of a father to them.
Atang thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel who led his Executive Council members to condole with Atang’s family and appealed for State Government’s support to assist in the funeral of Pastor Ezekiel Atang.
Straightnews gathered that clergyman who before leaving home complained of stress died at Onitsha Monday morning after complaining of chest pain on Sunday.
He had preached in a programme at Onitsha on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday while preaching, he was seen sitting down.
His corpse arrived Uyo Tuesday evening due to the sit-at-home order by IPOB in Anambra state. His driver had to use short cuts to get to Uyo.
