The couple died the same day, month and year. Their caskets were displayed same day for lying-in-state. One funeral service was conducted for the the husband and wife at the same venue. And their remains were emptied into the same grave and covered with sand.What a bonding in marriage till death!
The Biblical allusion of “what God has joined together, let no man put asunder” was fulfilled during the times and burial of Mr. & Mrs. Etuk-udoh Sampson in Atong Adiambuk from Atai Ndon Afaha- Eket in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
Their numerous chidren, grand-children, great grand-children and siblings could not separate the deceased. The Salvation Army which they served till death and the two grave diggers dared not. None was able to separate the husband and wife except death.
Aged 93, Ete Sampson died in the morning of Wednesday, July 12, 2017, while his beloved, Glora, 81, joined him in the land of no return in the morning of Wednesday, July 26. What a fated death!
Sampson married his heartthrob, Gloria- the first newspaper vendor in Aba 63 years then. Though they met in Abia now in Abia State, Bajuwa as he was fondly called, married Eke-Anwa as she was nicknamed who hailed from Nung Inyang Akuro in Afaha-Uqua. They struggled together in love and completed their earthly assignments before they honourably bowed out from this plane last year.
Their first son, Akanimo, a journalist of no mean repute said “Though there is no perfect matrinmonial relationship, my paraents understood and loved themselves. They almost died the same day. In fact, they died the same period and we decided to bury them the same day.”
Saturday, April 7, 2018, the bereaved were paraded for interment. Two white caskets with their remains were displayed at at 95, Afaha Eket Road, Eket. The morning house was decorated with white lace and blue one.
The Salvation Army corps, Afaha Eket conducted the funeral service. Lt. Col. (Dr.) J. U. Akpan, who officiated the service, described the deceased as pillars in Afaha Eket corps of the church.
He challenged the living to emulate their shining example in serving God wholeheartedly.
Traditional rites were observed. Men and women fellowships march past the caskets and sentry was mounted for the departed.
Meanwhile, some of the online publishers who are associated with Akanimo Sampson, one of the front line Niger Delta journalists and editors, have expressed their condolences to him over the death of his parents, Chief Etuk-Udo and Princess Gloria Sampson.
Sampson has made a number of incisive reports over the years to Scoop of New Zealand,The Times of Nigeria, Elendu Reports, Pointblank News, Straight News, The Next Edition
News, Frontiers News, The Bridge News, The Southern Examiner, Watchdog Reporters and some other international news portals.
Ben-Bright Mkpuma, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Watchdog Reporters who spoke said the lives of the departed couple were a success.
According to Mkpuma, ”they are leaving behind one of the finest journalists and editors from the Niger Delta Region who we are very blessed to be associated with.
”We wholly agree with The Salvation Army, the family church of these great parents that their transition was promotion to glory.”
Meanwhile, the editorial board of Straightnews joined in sympathizing Akanimo, an editor at large of the online newspaper over the demise of his parents.
In the message signed by Israel Umoh, the board prayed God to give him and his siblings the fortitude to bear the loss.
Similarly, Chief Ernest Chinwo, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Rivers State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has phoned in and commiserated with the family.
