The Late Sir Samuel Obiorah Obidile was born on May 29, 1941 as the second child and first son of his parents, the late Pa Mathias and Rose Obidile of Mbarakwa village, Ihiala in Ihiala Local Government Area at Holy Rosary Hospital, Waterside, Onitsha, in Anambra State. He attended Obi Anazonwu Primary School, now Holy Trinity Primary School, Onitsha and King’s Institute of Commerce, Onitsha.
He worked at Atuchukwu Transport Company, Onitsha between 1960 and 1963, Our Lady of Lourdes, Ihiala between 1963 and 1967 and African Continental Bank (ACB), Ihiala during the Nigerian Civil war before he was conscripted into the Biafran army towards the tail end of the war.
He got married in the thick of the war, in 1969, to Chinenye Cecilia from Isseke, a neighbouring town where incidentally his own mum came from as well. The marriage was blessed with seven biological and many other adopted and fostered children.
After the civil war, he worked briefly at Tabansi Transport Company, Onitsha before he was recommended to the then Archbishop of Onitsha, Archbishop Francis Arinze, Later Francis Cardinal Arinze, and his Executive Secretary, Father Simon Okafor -later Bishop Simon Okafor at CKP, Onitsha where they resided and used as temporal office while the renovation of the then civil war ravaged Catholic Secretariat at Holy Trinity Compound was going on. The then Archbishop Arinze employed Samuel as an office clerk from where he rose to the position of the Confidential Secretary to the Archdiocesan Catholic Secretariat, Onitsha.
He meritoriously served under four Archbishops namely, Archbishop Francis Arinze (now Cardinal), Late Archbishop Steven Ezeanya, Late Archbishop Albert Obiefuna and the incumbent Archbishop, Most Reverend Dr Valerian Okeke.
Simon who was popularly known as “Chibuike Ifemelumma” became a member of the Knight of Saint Mulumba (4th degree) in 1989 and Papal Knight of the Order of Saint Sylvester in 2000.
He was at different times the National and provincial Secretary of the Papal Knights of the Order of Saint Sylvester and Medalists. He was an active member, Catholic Men Organization (CMO) of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha and Saint Martin De Tours Parish, Ihiala. He was pioneer member and patron of Saint Theresa of the child Jesus and Saint Jude Society of Basilica of Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha. He was also a member of Friends of Prisons, member and co-founder of the Blue Army, pioneer member and co-founder of the Focolare movement, Nigeria in the early 1980s and many other pious societies. He was also an active member, Amamu Ihiala Welfare Association, Onitsha Branch and member, Mbarakpaka and Nwajiobi Ihiala Welfare Association, Onitsha Branch.
Sir Samuel Obiorah Obidile transited to eternal glory on 9th September, 2023 at the age of 82 after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Lady Cecilia Chinenye; his sons, Ceaser Sams Chimezie, Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kanayochukwu, Jude Nnanugo, Paschal Chinonso, Francis Chibueze, and Valentine Chidi Obidile and his daughter, Mrs. Bibiana Ebelechukwu Madu.
Others include: his daughters in-law: Justina Uzoaku, Ebele Vivian, and Ezinne Lois Obidile; his sister, Mrs. Augustina Nwabineli; Otitochukwu Madu for Grand Children, Ekene Nsofor and Ifeyinwa Okoro Anekpo for adopted children and numerous nephews and nieces.
The burial arrangement of the Late Sir Samuel Obiorah Obidile (Chibuike Ifemelumma) is as follows: Today, Wednesday, 8th November, 2023 by 5pm, there will be Christian wake at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha while tomorrow, Thursday, 9th November, 2023 by 7:30am, his remains will lie in state at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha. Funeral mass starts by 10am officiated by Archbishop Valerian Okeke. Interment follows immediately after mass. Thereafter, condolence visits and reception will hold at the premises of the Archdiocesan Secretariat, Onitsha. On Sunday 12th November, 2023 by 10am, Thanksgiving mass will hold at Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.
Jee ije gị nke ọma, Chibuike Ifemelumma, Amen!
CEASER SAMS OBIDILE
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